HIZZONER, Chief Judge James S. Burns, has this overwhelming sense of deja vu. Judge Burns: Don’t
give up the dreamHe still recalls the many conversations his late father, Gov. John A. Burns, had with other community leaders more than 25 years ago about the need for the University of Hawaii to upgrade its football program to Division I.
Burns never got to be governor by thinking small. He never had a Division-II mentality.
Burns believed Hawaii needed a first-class university in every way, with athletics being a major component because he knew the state's love of sports, especially football.
That's why Aloha Stadium was built to seat 50,000.
That's why UH played a Division-I schedule in earnest beginning with the 1977 season under a new coach, Dick Tomey.
That's why the Rainbows joined the Western Athletic Conference in 1979.
Burns never lived to see his dreams fulfilled. He died on April 5, 1975, five months before Aloha Stadium opened.
How disappointed he would have been today to see the Rainbows failing to keep up with what's required to compete successfully in Division I football.
Also, how disappointed he would have been over people again voicing that maybe Division I football isn't for UH because of its lack of success. Don't improve, just lower your standards is their mentality.
Playing on the Division II level is just that -- lowering your standards. Of course, Division I-AA is a more politically correct term. But who's kidding who? It's still Division II.
AS far as his son, Jim Burns, is concerned, it's like the early 1970s all over again.
"We're back where we started," said Burns, who is president of Ahahui Koa Anuenue, a support organization for UH athletics founded in 1967 by his father.
In other words, UH is at the crossroads once again with the firing of head football coach Fred vonAppen after three disastrous seasons. It's worse than when Bob Wagner was fired three years ago because nobody harbored thoughts of going Division II then.
Like his father, Burns believes the UH administration should fully commit itself to Division I. And doing so with an athletic budget not based on 1970s dollars but with what it is required to run a Division I football program today.
"VonAppen's firing was regrettable but necessary," said Burns, pointing out the declining fan interest during the Rainbows' three worst football seasons in history.
"But now we need to renew our commitment for a first-class Division I football program and do everything necessary to cause that to happen."
AND it can't be done, thinking small, Burns said.
"They (the people involved) have to decide if they want a first-class program or not. And if they do, don't be half-assed about it. Don't nickel-and-dime it."
That includes upping the salary scale of the head football coach to attract more qualified candidates, Burns said.
UH president Kenneth Mortimer expressed budgetary concerns when asked if he would consider matching the salaries some other major schools pay their coaches.
Burns said UH might have to in order to compete.
"Whatever it is. Pay him. Let's go. We wound up paying vonAppen $263,000 anyway," he added.
Burns believes Division I football can continue to be a viable option for UH.
"It will pay for itself many times over, if you make a full commitment and do it right. If you're not willing to do it, then let's close shop and all go home," he said.
"But I hate people who say we can't," said Burns, sounding very much like his father.