Notebook
Thursday, December 19, 1996
Niumatalolo feels
By Paul Arnett
he made right choice
Star-Bulletin
Kenny Niumatalolo made the right decision after all.A few years ago when the former University of Hawaii assistant decided at the last minute to join Paul Johnson at the Naval Academy, some wondered if it was the right move for the local boy.
The second-guessers were silenced yesterday after Navy head coach Charlie Weatherbie announced that Niumatalolo would be his new offensive coordinator.
The former UH quarterback will have to wait until after the Aloha Bowl to move into his new office, but that's OK with him. He figures another week under Johnson's guidance can't hurt.
"I've been following in his footsteps for years," Niumatalolo said after Navy touched down yesterday afternoon at Honolulu International Airport.
"And they will be some big shoes to fill, but I think I'm ready. Leaving Hawaii was difficult for me, but I definitely made the right choice going to Navy."
Niumatalolo got the job thanks to the departure of Johnson, who will return to Georgia Southern as that Division I-AA school's head coach. Johnson was at Georgia Southern when hired in 1987 by former UH head coach Bob Wagner to be the Rainbows' offensive coordinator.
Johnson said yesterday that he was happy for Niumatalolo, a sentiment echoed by Weatherbie.
"Hiring Kenny will allow us to continue the continuity we have on offense," the second-year head coach said. "He has run this system as a player at the University of Hawaii and has coached this system for five years at Hawaii and Navy."
Johnson, who chose Garrett Gabriel over Niumatalolo as the No. 1 quarterback for the Rainbows in the late 1980s, feels Niumatalolo is the right man for the job.
"Kenny knows pretty much everything about this offense," Johnson said.
"I'm happy and excited for him. I was about the same age Kenny is now when I was hired as offensive coordinator at Hawaii," Johnson added.
The Midshipmen have finished fifth and seventh in the nation in rushing the last two seasons. Navy was last in the country in rushing in 1994.
Aloha Bowl chief executive officer Lenny Klompus said yesterday there are less than 2,000 sideline seats remaining for the Christmas Day game. TICKETS GOING FAST
With more than 200,000 people stationed at Pearl Harbor, it's possible the game could be sold out for the first time since Hawaii played Michigan State in 1989. Klompus said the largest in-house crowd was the Notre Dame-Southern Methodist matchup in 1984.
"We had more than 40,000 for that game," Klompus said. "We're pleased with how ticket sales are going. There aren't that many sideline seats available."
Sideline seats are $28 and end zone seats are going for $22.
For ticket information, call 947-4141.
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