Tuesday, December 15, 1998
By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
University of Hawaii President Ken Mortimer, left,
and Governor Ben Cayetano, right, flank new Hawaii
football coach June Jones at Washington Place, with
the portrait of Queen Liliuokalani in the background.
Royal
Treatment
New UH coach June Jones
By Paul Arnett
receives a lavish welcome:
'I'm 12-0 right now'
Star-BulletinSomeone walking down the street near Washington Place early yesterday evening must have wondered if President Bill Clinton made an unscheduled stop in the island chain.
For many of Gov. Ben Cayetano's guests, who were there to meet and greet new Hawaii head coach June Jones, this was even better.
"Just to spend a minute with June, you know he has a love for Hawaii and our people," Cayetano said to about 600 prominent community and business leaders. "Just the fact that so many people came out, and I know if we had invited more people, they would be here as well, shows you there's a great feeling in this audience today."
Jones can only hope that feeling of euphoria exists a year from now. He even joked about it when it came his time to take the stand.
"It's going to be a tough task to get it turned around, but with the help of everybody in this room, we can do it and we can accomplish great things," Jones said.
"And that's what excites me about this opportunity. I promise we're going to play hard and give you everything we've got. It may take us awhile to get it going, but we will get it going.
"I hope that I can stand up here a year from now and we still have this many people in this room because I'm 12-0 right now."
Keeping that unblemished mark in place will be difficult from the outset. The Rainbows open the 1999 season with the talented Southern California Trojans, who will play in Hawaii for the fourth time in the school's history.
By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
June Jones: "We'll run three wideouts and four
wideouts quite a bit. I think that will attract, not only
some of the local kids, but it also is going to attract
players from the mainland. Skill players like to play
this offense and make it fun."
Many of the remaining teams on next year's schedule are with a bunch of strangers. Hawaii is playing Rice, Texas Christian University, Eastern Illinois and the Naval Academy for the first time.The Rainbows are facing Southern Methodist University and Boise State for the second time, and Tulsa and Washington State for the third time ever.
But overcoming this "Who's that?" schedule and Hawaii's uncertain future in Division I football aren't concerns for Jones. He believes he can return it to days gone by.
"I was talking to (Arizona head coach) Dick Tomey the other day," Jones said. "And we were talking about scheduling and different things. Hey, 48,000 people used to come watch us play Idaho.
"There are some concerns about the WAC, but I kind of get the feeling that those potential problems are still three years down the road. I may be wrong.
"But regardless, I think by that time that we should be seeing some benefits of our work here to be in a position to be more attractive to everybody."
To do that, Jones plans to implement a version of the run-and-shoot offense that he helped conceive under Portland State head coach Mouse Davis in 1975.
That season, after transferring from Hawaii, Jones broke the Division II passing record with 3,518 yards. Davis went on to introduce this offense at several professional levels, including the Canadian Football League, the United States Football League and the National Football League.
Earlier this decade, this offense was particularly popular in Detroit, Atlanta and Houston, but pure run-and-shoot attacks have died out at the NFL level, and are rarely run in college as well.
"But it still exists," Jones insisted. "It's existed at St. Louis (School) for quite some time, I know. Parts of it are still being run throughout the NFL at certain times. But not as a total scheme.
"We will obviously use a lot of those base principles. We'll run three wideouts and four wideouts quite a bit. I think that will attract, not only some of the local kids, but it also is going to attract players from the mainland. Skill players like to play this offense and make it fun."
Fun is something the Rainbows haven't had much of over the past few years. Hawaii won only five games during former head coach Fred vonAppen's three-year regime. And the Rainbows haven't had a winning season since former head coach Bob Wagner led them to the Holiday Bowl in 1992.
"We believe June is going to make football fun again for the players and the fans," said KHNL-TV general manager John Fink, who was one of three members of the selection committee.
"Give June some time and we feel he can make Hawaii a viable football team again."
By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
New Hawaii football coach June Jones talks with
UH boosters Alec Waterhouse, John Fink, Ed
Wong and Dr. Edison Miyawake yesterday.
Sodden change
for practice fieldBooster Alec Waterhouse says he'll
By Paul Arnett
spend 'whatever it takes' to fix it
Star-BulletinBob Wagner got the new weight room.
Fred vonAppen got the new locker room.
June Jones gets the new practice field.
It's not the final piece of the puzzle for the Hawaii athletic department, but refurbishing the grass field does reflect a renewed commitment that extends beyond a $2 million package for Jones.
Local booster Alec Waterhouse, who is represented by fellow businessman Ed Wong, said yesterday that he will do whatever Jones feels is necessary to make the Rainbows a competitive football team once more.
"No matter how much it costs, we're going to redo the field," Waterhouse said after yesterday's Washington Place press conference. "We want to do it so the boys don't get hurt. We're even going to build a fence around it. So, whatever he needs, we will probably go with."
Wong stepped in and said, "That issue has to be resolved by the administration because of the Title IX implications. We're going to be working with the administration and the new coach to figure out his priorities. Mr. Waterhouse is very supportive. He wants to really elevate the program."
Having Waterhouse back in the fold is key for the Rainbows to have any lasting success. Earlier this decade, he was courted heavily by Wagner, who said a couple of weeks before he was fired that Waterhouse was willing to put $2.5 million into the program.
That money wasn't forthcoming during former UH head coach Fred vonAppen's regime. VonAppen said several times over the course of his three-year career that he didn't believe Waterhouse trusted Yoshida after he fired Wagner in 1995.
"I always sensed some tension there between the two of them," vonAppen said.
That tension eased somewhat after Yoshida and the three-man selection committee landed Jones in an 11th-hour decision a week ago. Jones was who Waterhouse wanted all along.
"There are still some things there that obviously need to be done," Jones said of the football facilities. "But the bottom line is, I think the feeling is everybody is in the same boat going in the same direction."
Jones said he would also be actively involved in fund-raising.
"If everybody isn't working together, like fingers in a glove and pulling together, then you're going in the other direction," Jones said. "It's hard enough to win when everybody is on the same page and everybody is pulling in the same direction."
Jones also said that the commitment must extend beyond boosters and the UH administration, that other people need to get involved as well.
"The Hawaii football program is not only important to the university, but to the state of Hawaii, and that's different than a lot of other places," Jones said.
"I feel like there will always be a commitment here regardless of our affiliation to support the football program. If the people feel like we're headed in the right direction, they're going to come watch football."
Jones adds Suan
By Paul Arnett
as assistant
Star-BulletinWes Suan has spent the past 20 seasons at Linfield College doing a little bit of everything.
The newest member of the Hawaii coaching staff not only was the offensive coordinator this past season, he also is the assistant athletic director, equipment manager, and has served as the men's tennis coach since 1981.
Jones isn't sure what phase of the offense Suan will direct. It depends on which coaches come available at the National Football League level at season's end.
But Suan can handle just about anything. For the past three years, he has worked with the quarterbacks. Before that, he coached the offensive line from 1992-95 and the defensive line from 1988-91. He also has nine years coaching the running backs at Linfield, so Suan is versatile.
"He is somebody I've been thinking about having on my staff for years," Jones said of the former Waialua High School standout. "We'll have to see how it plays out, but Wes will be on my staff and recruiting as soon as he gets settled in here."
Jones mentioned he was interested in a coach currently on the San Diego Chargers staff. Although he wouldn't confirm it, Ollie Wilson is his likely choice should he come available in two weeks.
Wilson currently coaches running backs for the Chargers. He was Jones' running backs coach at Atlanta from 1994-96. Wilson began his tenure with Atlanta in 1991.
Under the tutelage of Wilson, former Utah standout Jamal Anderson rushed for 1,055 yards in 1996, Craig Heyward gained 1,083 yards in 1995 and Erric Pegram picked up 1,185 in 1991.
Heyward earned a Pro Bowl bid under the direction of Wilson, the first running back for the Falcons to receive that honor since 1988.
"I want to remain patient with some of the guys I'm interested in," Jones said. "I've learned over the years it pays off to wait and see how things shake out."
Milt Jackson is another NFL coach to catch Jones' eye. He is currently working with the wide receivers for the Seattle Seahawks. Prior to that, he was Jones' wide receivers coach in Atlanta.
Much like Wilson, Jackson also experienced some success in Jones' run-and-shoot offense. In 1995, he coached three wide receivers for the Falcons who gained more than 1,000 yards each.
"June has so many resumes, he couldn't possible have read them all yet," Rich Miano said yesterday, who was officially named the secondary coach for the Rainbows by Jones yesterday afternoon. George Lumpkin is also on the staff. He will serve as assistant head coach and work with the linebackers.
Two local names mentioned as possible candidates are former San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Jesse Sapolu and Farrington High School head coach Skippa Diaz.
"I know my name has come up, but I don't know how serious it is," Diaz said. "I like what I'm doing, but you always leave the door open just in case."
Jones reiterated that he wants to meet with the Lee brothers, but it's unlikely any are interested in the job. Cal Lee already has said he won't join Jones' coaching staff, but wishes Jones, "All the luck in the world. He deserves our full support."
Tommy Lee will likely remain in Utah as Ron McBride's offensive coordinator and Ron Lee will stay at Cal's side as offensive coordinator for St. Louis School.
Sources said Jones met with former UH defensive coordinator Tom Williams yesterday. UH athletic director Hugh Yoshida reportedly wants Williams to stay on, but Jones said yesterday he didn't plan to keep anyone off Fred vonAppen's staff.
UH hopes ticket
By Paul Arnett
sales get boost
Star-BulletinHawaii athletic department officials were pleased with all the aloha for new head football coach June Jones that was on prominent display yesterday evening at Washington Place.
Starting Friday, they're hoping the general public follows suit by ordering season tickets for football that will go on sale for five weeks at the UH ticket office.
These tickets are for people who don't already have a package in place and won't cost any of the current season-ticket holders their seats. They will be able to renew their packages in the spring of 1999.
For yet another season, UH officials won't be able to scale the house, which is costing the university big money the longer the current system remains in place.
Season-ticket packages will be $140 for sidelines and $122 for end zone. There will be a surcharge for the season opener with Southern California. That will be $21 for the sidelines and $19 for the end zone. Individual tickets for the other eight home games are $16 for sidelines and $14 for end zone.
Season-ticket holders will enjoy a $9 discount as promised by athletic department officials last year. It's not exactly a family package, but officials believe it's a move in the right direction for their more loyal fans.
Next year's schedule isn't as attractive as some. For one, Brigham Young University won't be on it for the first time since 1983. San Diego State is missing for the first time since 1980.
The four home games in the Western Athletic Conference are with Rice, TCU, Fresno State and UTEP. The three away games in league play are with SMU, Tulsa and San Jose State.
The four remaining nonconference home games are against Eastern Illinois, the Naval Academy, Boise State and the season finale with Washington State.
"I don't think we should be playing teams like Michigan right now," Jones said. "But I am looking forward to opening the year with USC. That should be an exciting ballgame."
For those interested in buying season tickets early, they can go to the UH ticket office from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. starting Dec. 18 and ending Jan. 22. You can also call 944-BOWS and order tickets by telephone. All season tickets ordered over the phone will have a $1 surcharge.
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
