Statue to honor '99 UH team?

Hawaii football coach June Jones is looking into the idea of a shrine at Aloha Stadium

Hawaii football coach June Jones said he is looking into the idea of a shrine at Aloha Stadium to commemorate the 1999 UH football team.

That team -- Jones' first at Hawaii -- went 9-4 following an 0-12 season in 1998 and snapped a 19-game losing streak. It executed the greatest single-season turnaround in college football history.

"I will show (the idea) to some people," said Jones, who is meeting with Aloha Stadium manager Scott Chan tomorrow. "It might be involved because it's Aloha Stadium and not on campus."

Jones said the State Legislature would have to approve such a project.

David Miller, who is writing a book about UH football, and Jones discussed the idea recently, the coach said.

"David and I talked about it. After talking with so many players from that 1999 team, he's real emotional about it," Jones said. "When you think about those guys, Jeff Ulbrich, Dan Robinson, Kynan Forney and so many others, it's pretty powerful stuff. It's kind of like the Fabulous Five (UH basketball teams of the early 1970s) to me; everyone knows about them. I think the '99 (football) team will be like that in 20 years."

Corner coming I

A high school cornerback accepted a scholarship offer for 2008 yesterday. Jeremiah Alexander intercepted nine passes last year as a junior at Yates High School in Houston.

Alexander, who was named second-team all-state by the Texas Football Web site, said he is 5-feet-7 and 170 pounds. He helped lead Yates High School in Houston to a 10-3 record in the 4A division.

"The distance isn't a problem for me," said Alexander, who is a member of the National Honor Society and fully qualified academically. "I like the teamwork that they show (at UH) and the NFL coaches that they have."

Corner coming II

Jakeem Hawkins is enrolling at UH for the fall semester and joining the football team. He was a teammate of incoming Warriors defensive end Josh Leonard at Sierra College (Sacramento, Calif.) the past two seasons and his training partner this summer. Hawkins said he is 5-11 and 180 pounds and has been timed at 4.5 in the 40 and has earned his associate's degree.

Hawkins, who originally enrolled at Alcorn State in 2003, received no Division I scholarship offers out of Sierra because he has just one year to play one season.

"I'm going to petition that with the NCAA," Hawkins said. "Alcorn State withheld my transcripts and kept me from transferring."

Hawkins said he will come in as a walk-on.

Vince visits

Former UH offensive lineman Vince Manuwai, now headed into his fifth season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, took in yesterday afternoon's voluntary workout. Last December he signed a five-year, $20-million contract extension. Manuwai said the signing bonus allowed him to buy a house in Kaneohe. He already owns one in Jacksonville.

He reports to camp July 27 after speaking at the UH football camp next week.

"I enjoy Jacksonville, but we keep hearing talk that the team is going to move to Toronto or L.A.," Manuwai said.

CJ's catching on

Senior wide receiver CJ Hawthorne looked sharp in yesterday's unsupervised 7-on-7 drills. He caught seven passes, including deep ones from walk-on freshman Shane Austin and senior Colt Brennan.

"It's all reads," Hawthorne said of getting loose deep. "We've only got two or three set routes."

Not bad for a guy who played cornerback last year.

"It was OK today. Last Sunday was probably our best day," Hawthorne said.

In addition to outstanding speed and quickness, Hawthorne has dedication going for him. Every time he drops a pass, he drops down himself -- for pushups.

"That's something I've done since my JC days," said Hawthorne, who dropped just one ball yesterday. "It was an easy catch. I was jogging and no one was covering me. There's no reason I should drop a ball ever in that situation. I'm always going to be a smaller guy. So I've got to be strong, fast and dependable."

Short yardage

Yesterday afternoon's large turnout included about 40 players. The five quarterbacks completed 22 of 38 passes. ... Sophomore running back Mario Cox displayed good mobility and hands out of the backfield on swing passes. ... The player he is trying to replace, Nate Ilaoa of the Philadelphia Eagles, pitched in as a linebacker for a few downs. ... Brennan is wearing dreadlocks, while No. 2 quarterback Tyler Graunke is sporting a Mohawk.