Sports Notebook
Star-Bulletin staff
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UH ATHLETICS
Confirmed Clapp gets to work
Carl Clapp won't take the entire weekend off.
Hawaii's new interim athletic director had a foot-high stack of folders on his desk that he took home with him. Clapp wants to make sure he doesn't make the same mistake as his predecessor, Herman Frazier.
One of the biggest criticisms of Frazier, who was fired last week, was the 2007 football schedule that was short a game and included two meetings with Division I-AA teams.
The 2008 schedule is set, and Frazier was nearly done with 2009.
"We will pick up on work in progress," said Clapp, a few minutes after being approved by the Board of Regents yesterday. "It's probably something I delve into this weekend, get myself a little more up to date. I think we are in pretty good shape, but we have to remain vigilant to stay there and continue to work on it and see what opportunities there are."
Clapp handled day-to-day internal operations for the past two years under Frazier.
Clapp's new salary was approved at $227,808 by the board yesterday, up from his previous $136,000. There is no timetable yet on when a permanent athletic director will be chosen.
In his week as acting AD, Clapp completed one of the most important jobs in an athletic director's realm -- hiring a football coach. He co-chaired the selection committee that hired Greg McMackin on Wednesday to replace June Jones nine days after he resigned.
"First thing I'm going to do is probably take a breath," Clapp said yesterday. "I'm going to inhale once, deeply. We've been workin'."
Next up: Facilities.
"Probably my next priority is to begin creating as much effort as I can to addressing some of the facility needs," Clapp said. "I should mention, too, that it's still a priority as to the football coaching situation to help Coach McMackin get the staff in that he wants and make sure we get them completely set up, and assisting them with getting out on the road and doing some recruiting.
"Priorities haven't changed a whole lot. They're still transitioning the football coaching and strategizing facilities."
Clapp said refurbishing of Cooke Field and the third floor of the athletic offices, a comprehensive list for repair and maintenance and developing a long-term master plan for the facilities are on his immediate to-do list.
Clapp will be making the drive from Manoa to the state Capitol on a regular basis in the next few weeks to try to secure funding and passage of other bills that help UH.
"I'm anticipating that I will be spending time with the legislature, and will do everything we can to make sure they're informed as they can be," Clapp said. "I also respect that they have a lot of priorities and some really key decisions to make as well. Anything I can do to get them information and assist and facilitate, we'll definitely be doing."
In addition to Clapp's appointment, Frazier's buyout settlement of $312,510 was approved yesterday by the board. It is one year plus 90 days (notification period). Frazier interviewed for the Miami (Fla.) AD job yesterday. If Frazier takes a job within 90 days of his last day at Hawaii, some of the amount might be refundable to UH.
Shift to slot?
Running backs
Daniel Libre and
Kealoha Pilares may be shifted to slotback, McMackin said.
"That's a possibility, but I want to talk to the players and see what they think," McMackin said. "They're both quick and have great hands. We want them to touch the ball."
Pilares led UH in rushing as a freshman last fall, carrying 68 times for 388 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught 20 passes for 249 yards and a score.
Libre, a junior in 2007, emerged late in the season. He carried 23 times for 190 yards, leading the team with 8.3 yards per carry. He also caught nine passes for 76 yards.
Morning glory
The Warriors will continue to practice in the morning, McMackin said.
"I really like that," he said. "When I first got here I didn't because I thought it was too early. But June's (predecessor Jones) smart. You get the kids up for breakfast and class, and the coaches can work all day. I always felt our success on the road (UH is 9-0 in regular-season road games with McMackin on staff) is because the team is actually playing around the same time it practices."
Tickets moving
UH started accepting deposits for 2008 season tickets on Wednesday. As of yesterday afternoon, it had received 378 deposits of $50 each for the intent to buy around 1,300 new sets of tickets.
The athletic department has set a goal of 30,000 season tickets sold.
Short yardage
An ESPN crew, including reporter
Shelley Smith, is here filming a segment on UH football for "Outside the Lines." ... Damien Memorial standout running back
Kama Bailey has been asked to walk on to the Warriors. The Star-Bulletin's 2007 offensive player of the year is visiting Idaho and will visit Navy next week. He also visited Idaho State. ... McMackin attended a dinner with six visiting recruits last night. "They're all good kids," he said. "We'll make some offers and I hope we get some commits."