Tuesday, August 21, 2001
[ UH WARRIOR FOOTBALL ]
Maui field not yet Several people involved with a high school football game at War Memorial Stadium last weekend said the field isn't in the best condition to host the University of Hawaii's season-opener against Montana on Sept. 8.
ready for rigors
of Division I
But an official says War
Memorial Stadium will be
OK come game timeBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comBut Maui Parks and Recreation Director Floyd Miyazono said the field will be ready for UH's first-ever game on a neighbor island.
"It's like patchwork," said Don Chapman, father of a Kamehameha player who was there to see his son play against Baldwin. "There's some green grass, some brown grass and a lot of bare dirt. Maybe if they bring in (NFL groundskeeper) George Toma he can do some wonders."
Two high school games were played on the field Saturday and three more are scheduled for this weekend.
"They have work to do," said Fred Guzman, sports director at KMVI on Maui. "It needs some irrigation and sod work. After Saturday, the field was chewed up."
Guzman said the field's condition made for lively debate on his SportsPhone 55 radio show yesterday afternoon. He said he spoke with Miyazono on the air.
"They feel confident it will be ready," Guzman said. "Floyd gave assurances on the show that he and his staff will have the field in playable shape."
The War Memorial field has been in good shape for the past four Hula Bowls, and withstood a heavy storm during the 1999 Hula Bowl.
Kamehameha head coach Kanani Souza, a former UH assistant, said the field was not in good shape Saturday, but that he felt it could be improved in time for the game.
"They have some work to do," Souza said. "It's not quite up to what their expectations are. But I've been on worse."
UH head coach June Jones said yesterday he wasn't aware of the field's condition, but is confident it will be fine when his team arrives for the Montana game.
"It'll be ready by the time we play," Jones said.
The Warriors were originally going to open their season at Aloha Stadium against Iowa State on Sept. 1. But after the Cyclones pulled out of the game, the Montana meeting on Maui became the season-opener.
UH does not play at Aloha Stadium until its Sept. 29 game against Rice.
2001 UH Football Schedule
All times HST
Sept. 8 MONTANA (at Maui) 6:05 p.m. Sept. 15 at Nevada 10:05 a.m. Sept. 29 RICE 6:05 p.m. Oct. 6 at Southern Methodist 6:05 a.m. Oct. 13 TEXAS EL-PASO 6:05 p.m. Oct. 20 at Tulsa 9:05 a.m. Oct. 26 FRESNO STATE 3:05 p.m. Nov. 3 SAN JOSE STATE 6:05 p.m. Nov. 10 BOISE STATE 6:05 p.m. Nov. 17 MIAMI (OHIO) 6:05 p.m. Nov. 24 AIR FORCE 6:05 p.m. Dec. 1 BRIGHAM YOUNG 6:05 p.m.
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
