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Thursday, March 9, 2000

Longhorns’ coach
Brown ‘un-invited’
to Hula Bowl

Bowl Games Hawaii officials
feel the Texas football coach shouldn't
be part of the 2001 all-star
contest on Maui

By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

Bowl Games Hawaii officials confirmed today that Mack Brown will not be a head coach in next January's Hula Bowl on Maui.

The University of Texas head coach had an open invitation extended to him two years ago by the American Football Coaches Association. Because he had just taken over as head coach of the Longhorns, Brown declined the trip to Hawaii because he wanted to be directly involved in recruiting.

This year, AFCA executive director Grant Teaff asked Brown if he wanted to coach in the January 2001 game and he said yes.

But in light of Brown's recent decision not to honor a contract to play the University of Hawaii on Sept. 2, all parties concerned agreed Brown shouldn't come.

"We're going to meet with Coach Teaff in April to discuss the logistics of next year's game," Klompus told the Star-Bulletin this morning. "At that time, we will decide who will replace Coach Brown."

Teaff contacted Brown yesterday morning. He will begin an immediate nationwide search for another coach. Brown helped the AFCA convince Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams that he should play in the 1999 Hula Bowl.

"He is a friend of this game," Klompus said. "We believe we'll be able to find a suitable replacement."

Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer is still slated to take part in the AFCA's college all-star game. Klompus said that Purdue University's Joe Tiller will serve as one of the assistants.

As for the Rainbows, head coach June Jones said yesterday he hoped Hawaii could find a comparable replacement for Texas. Brown's decision not to honor the contract prompted critical columns in the Dallas Morning News, the Austin American-Statesman and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram this week.

"It will be difficult for us to replace Texas at this late date," Jones said. "I know we've spoken to several schools in major conferences, but it's tough to get something done on such short notice. I'm hopeful we can get a marquee opponent like Texas."

UH athletic director Hugh Yoshida is having some difficulty talking with athletic directors this week because they are involved in their respective conference basketball tournaments. He will try to get something done over the next two weeks because Hawaii needs to send out its season-ticket renewals soon.

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Rivals.com