Clapp: UH gaining
STORY SUMMARY »
Progress is a good thing.
As the University of Hawaii draws closer to naming a permanent athletic director, interim AD Carl Clapp is seeing some issues draw closer to resolution.
Yesterday, the state House of Representatives passed a bill that would give UH $600 million over six years for repair and maintenance projects on the Manoa campus, both academic and athletic. The bill moves to the Senate for consideration.
"I've done some testifying on various bills," Clapp said during his weekly meeting with the Star-Bulletin. "That's good news for the entire University of Hawaii."
One athletic facility in need of immediate repair is Cooke Field. Used by myriad teams and groups, Clapp considers replacing the turf a priority.
"We want to do that as quickly as possible and get it functioning," he said.
FULL STORY »
New uniforms but no new contracts.
Hawaii was scheduled to trot out its new look for football at a news conference this afternoon, part of the athletic department's $4.1 million, eight-year deal with Under Armour.
However, the deals for television and radio remain unfinished. KFVE's proposal deadline has been extended to next week and discussions with KKEA 1420-AM are ongoing.
The contracts for both expire June 30. Both contracts also had a clause for an exclusive negotiating period, which originally ended Feb. 29.
Associate athletic director John McNamara said there was a meeting with John Fink, general manager for KHNL/KFVE and "he informed us about the direction KFVE is heading with its extension proposal," McNamara said. "They are still finalizing certain details so, in the spirit of partnership, we are allowing them some extra time to submit their official proposal. John estimates that he will have it in our hands by the middle of March.
"With (1420-AM) we've discussed exposure and promotional opportunities. We want to give them the latitude that, when they put something on the table, it will be a benefit to the university and the (athletic) department."
A bill that would give UH $600 million over six years for repair and maintenance projects on the Manoa campus, both academic and athletic, would also be beneficial. Yesterday, the state House of Representatives passed it and it now moves to the state Senate for consideration.
"Obviously, anything that will benefit the department is a positive," McNamara said. "The need has clearly been demonstrated."
One big need is to have the turf on Cooke Field replaced.
"It is a priority," interim athletic director Carl Clapp said in his weekly meeting with the Star-Bulletin yesterday. "Cooke Field is used by so many. ROTC, soccer, football, kinesiology, band. We want to get it done as quickly as possible."
Clapp said one item involving the department at next week's Board of Regents meeting will be a review of the ticket pricing and premium seat charges. He stressed that this was a review of the current situation, not a discussion of raising or lowering prices.
Any request to change pricing has to go through the Board of Regents.
The Thursday and Friday meetings could also be quite eventful for another reason: It is expected Manoa chancellor Virginia Hinshaw's recommendation for a new athletic director will be presented to the BOR for approval.