Tuesday, March 20, 2001

Jones to take it
easy this spring

The UH head football
coach won't participate in
practices until fall

FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK

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By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

There won't be any June Jones sightings at this weekend's spring scrimmage after all.

The University of Hawaii head coach will wait at least a month to return to work while he tries to regain his strength from an automobile accident he suffered on Feb. 22 on the H-1. Last week, there were some indications he might make it out for a practice or two, but that has since changed.

"And that's probably a good thing," UH defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said yesterday afternoon. "If we have a big crowd, it might be hard to control things. Still, I thought he might come out here. I know he has missed it."

Jones hasn't watched any spring footage, but is hopeful he'll be up to it physically this week. He said he is getting stronger every day and expects to make it back for fall camp. But at this point, he's still feeling the effects of the accident.

"It's not going to change anything that we do," Lempa said. "We're going to approach the game the way June would have wanted us to. At this point, I think we're going to take a harder look at the younger players. The veterans may play a series or two. We'll see.

"I know June would be pleased with how hard the kids have worked. Those first three days, man, I thought we were getting ready for a regular-season game. Some people feel like we've been a little flat in the scrimmages. We'll see how it goes this Sunday."

Hawaii has two more practices tomorrow and Thursday. In addition to the scrimmage, there will be a variety of games and activities for the players and fans to take part in. So much so, Lempa jokingly said he hoped there would be time for the game itself.

"I was talking with our marketing people today because nobody would tell me anything," Lempa said, then smiled. "We've got all these interactive games. I'm not sure if the tug-of-war takes place before the game or after. Seriously, though, I think it will be great for our fans.

"That might have been too much for June to take right now."

That means UH associate head coach George Lumpkin will have to serve the role as head coach a little longer. He jokingly said after yesterday's practice that he was ready for Jones to come back for good.

Before that happens, Jones will have to go through some intensive rehabilitation. He left the hospital a little early because the walls were closing in on him. That doesn't surprise Lumpkin in the least.

"We all knew they were going to have to hold him down once he felt like walking," Lumpkin said.

"That's just June's restless spirit. Like he said, God has a plan for him. It's up to June to find out what that is."

Jones still doesn't remember what happened at the accident. He said in an interview that he was fortunate to be alive and was overwhelmed by all the support he had received in the community.

Jones interviewed on TV:

Jones said in an interview with KFVE broadcaster Jim Leahey Sunday that he's doing better, but doesn't recall anything from the day of the accident.

Looking frail in the broadcast interview, Jones wanted to thank everyone for all their prayers and is hopeful he'll be back for this Sunday's scrimmage at Cooke Field.

He said he was proud of the coaches for continuing the spring practice sessions as planned.

Jones felt like it gave assistant coaches Ron Lee and Dan Morrison a chance to grow with the offense.

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UH Athletics
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