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Friday, February 23, 2001
Coaches, players UNIVERSITY of Hawaii assistant football coach Mike Cavanaugh held a quiet vigil outside the Stan Sheriff Center.
in state of disbelief
Many rushed to the hospital in a
show of support for injured
head coach June JonesBy Paul Arnett
Star-BulletinInside, the joint was rocking in response to the basketball team's victory over Texas Christian. Cavanaugh didn't even ask the score.
Shock. Disbelief. Concern.
These were the words he muttered outside the university weight room, barely acknowledging those coming and going around him.
"He's the reason I came to coach at the University of Hawaii," Cavanaugh said. "I'm still in shock. We all are."
UH head football coach June Jones was listed in critical, but stable condition after undergoing two operations from injuries he suffered in a one-car accident yesterday morning on H-1.
Cavanaugh was among many family and friends who hung on every word issued by the doctors who performed the two surgeries at The Queen's Medical Center.
"There was a lot of waiting around," Cavanaugh said. "Everyone was in shock. I still can't believe it happened. I don't think anybody down there could."
Fellow assistant Ron Lee had just returned from the mainland when he heard the news. At first, it wasn't very good, but at approximately 3:30 p.m., he said the latest news was more promising.
"We heard he was out of surgery and that they had stopped the bleeding, but they're not releasing much information," Lee said.
The former St. Louis School offensive coordinator underwent bypass surgery following a mild heart attack last September. Although he could relate to some degree, he said Jones' condition is much more serious.
"It's scary. He's in intensive care and we can't see him," said Lee.
UH assistant Rich Miano was the first coach to hear the news about an hour after the accident. He contacted as many coaches as he could, who dropped what they were doing to get to the emergency room to lend support.
"You hear 'car accident,' you hear 'critical condition,' you immediately pray for the best," Miano said. "So, I and the other coaches headed for the hospital to wait for reports.
"When it was life-threatening for Coach Jones, I felt like, oh, this is just like a family member because it hurt so bad. To me, it was like when my brother passed away and my mother passed away when I was young."
UH football players also responded to the news and made it to the hospital as quickly as they could. Like their coaches, they were in shock over the news.
"When I first found out, I was in class," defensive lineman Lui Fuga said. "Rumors were going around, so I wanted to see if there was any truth to it.
"I just couldn't believe it. Everyone was real hurt. We went in the lounge of our locker room and we got us some guys and we prayed for Coach Jones.
"Spring ball is coming up and we knew we couldn't be focused with him missing. I felt like I wanted to cry. It was like somebody stabbed me. Why Coach Jones? He's such a great man. He treats us with respect, like we're adults. He's like a daddy to us. Any one of us would give out our heart to him. We love the guy to death."
Wideout Craig Stutzmann heard about the accident after getting out of class at around 1:15 p.m. He went to the hospital, joining a crowd of some 60 people, including about 30 current and former football players.
"From what we heard, it sounds like things are getting better," Stutzmann said. "We're just trying to stay optimistic. He's like a dad to all of us. It's hard but we're keeping him in our prayers.
"If the family or coaches need us for anything, they know the players are there for them. We're all a close-knit family and whatever happens, we will see through this."
Close friends Artie Wilson and Jim Leahey thought long and hard before deciding to do the broadcast of last night's basketball game for KFVE-TV (Channel 5).
General manager Jim Fink talked with them briefly before they went on the air. Wilson even stepped outside at the half to check on Jones' condition.
"We almost didn't do the broadcast because we weren't sure we could," Leahey said at halftime. "It's very hard to concentrate because you're thinking about Coach.
"It's a shock. Things like this always are because June is more than just a football coach to this community. He came in and helped give people hope. Now, he needs our prayers."
Outgoing UH president Ken Mortimer said his thoughts and prayers were with the family, and that he looked forward to seeing Jones once he was better.
As for spring football that's scheduled to begin on Thursday, Cavanaugh wasn't sure what would happen. Lee thought the coaches might meet today to discuss it, but for now, Jones' condition is the only thing that matters.
"We haven't even thought about it," Cavanaugh said. "I don't even know if we'll have it until Coach Jones gets better. His health is the only thing on our minds."
Miano said he's confident Jones will be back on the field by the fall and possibly even this spring.
"I feel very confident for the fall and I feel like he'll even be back with us in some capacity in spring, depending on when we start," Miano said.
"Obviously, there's a tremendous amount of rehabilitation needed after you've had internal bleeding and your chest cavity is opened up. But he's a strong man and a fighter, and whether he's out there in a golf cart or something, I think you'll see him in spring and for sure in the fall."
Pat Bigold and Dave Reardon contributed to this report.
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
