Press Box
MAYBE, just maybe, Evan Dobelle's ideas will work. The new president of the University of Hawaii certainly has a lot of them. Getting smart with JC athletics
One is building a 60,000-seat stadium out near the new UH-West Oahu campus in Ewa. (Build it and the Pac-10 will come? Doubtful.)
Another is turning Maui Community College into a four-year institution renamed UH-Maui. Now that has merit.
During a recent press conference with Dobelle, the question was asked: Will UH-Maui have intercollegiate athletics?
Those of us in attendance never got a real answer.
Instead, the new president spoke of how the focus is on UH-Manoa becoming a premier university with a premier Division I athletic program.
He also spoke of having collaboration, not competition, between the 10 UH campuses.
Dobelle was referring to competition for educational resources, funding and even students. Athletically, competition would be a good thing.
A very good thing.
There are over 1,500 junior and community colleges offering two-year degree programs -- as well as athletics -- in the nation. Hawaii is one of only three states without a junior/community college system that includes sports (Alaska and Nevada are the others).
THE QUESTION IS: Why?
If Dobelle really wants to make a statement about educating the young people of Hawaii, of having them stay home and contribute to their communities, then instituting athletic programs could be the catalyst.
Right now, there is no place for Hawaii high school athletes to go if they want to stay home but aren't recruited by UH-Manoa, UH-Hilo, Hawaii Pacific or Brigham Young-Hawaii. Adding UH-Maui and UH-West Oahu to the NCAA Division II mix would increase opportunities.
However, a number of Hawaii high school graduates aren't ready for a four-year institution. Or they can't afford to try and walk on.
Some have grades that fall a little short of the entrance requirement. Others won't be able to survive on the mainland without their ohana's support.
So many times we have seen kids leave with a promise of a scholarship at a mainland institution. But first they are stashed away at a junior college to develop academically, athletically and socially.
Why can't it be done here?
Football might be too expensive of a proposition. But certainly men's and women's volleyball, basketball and soccer and baseball and softball would be viable. Other sports as well.
There is a sense of pride in competing for one's school. We see it over and over when it comes to prep athletics here.
How many park league games finish in the parking lot with a rehash of some playoff contest from high school? All those "if onlys'' and "what ifs'' make the drive home as well.
Now, what if there was a place to play and answer those nagging could-have-been doubts? Those marginal student-athletes just might have the incentive to get a two-year degree.
Build THAT infrastructure into UH's community colleges.
They will come.
Reach Cindy Luis at cluis@starbulletin.com