| | HONOLULU -- Two Oregon State football players were stabbed early Sunday outside a Waikiki fast-food restaurant, hours after playing in the Oahu Bowl game.
Charles O'Neal, a 288-pound defensive tackle, was stabbed in the
lower back, and Paul Luoma, a 285-pound defensive tackle, was cut
on the torso, according to police.
O'Neal was in stable condition at The Queen's Medical Center,
and was expected to remain hospitalized another day, Oregon State
athletic director Mitch Barnhart said. The hospital declined to
release any information.
"The last 24 hours have been a little tough," Barnhart said
Sunday night from his home in Corvallis. "My biggest concern at
this point in time is in Charles' safety."
The knife with a 4-inch blade was still in O'Neal's back when he arrived at the hospital, according to police, who opened an attempted murder investigation.
Luoma was treated and released and left Honolulu with his teammates Sunday.
Oregon State coach Dennis Erickson declined to talk with
reporters at Honolulu International Airport.
"It's not a nice way to end the trip, that's for sure," said
Hal Cowan, Oregon State's sports information director.
The two players had been at the Deja Vu nightclub in Waikiki and were leaving the nearby Jack In The Box restaurant when they were attacked around 4:30 a.m., according to a police report.
O'Neal and Luoma told police the attack was unprovoked.
Police were looking for two suspects, one who was armed with a
knife and a stick, the police report said.
Oregon State lost to Hawaii 23-17 in the Oahu Bowl on Christmas
Day.
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