June Jones didn't go for the bait. Despite being asked by reporters at his weekly press conference yesterday, Jones refused to address what Warrior fans would see as questionable officiating no-calls in the fourth quarter of Hawaii's 28-21 loss to Boise State Saturday night. WAC silences Jones
-- until game timeStar-Bulletin staff
He was asked if his team was frustrated over the officiating.
"I don't think they're as frustrated ...," Jones began, before holding his breath. He then declined to give his opinion on a play involving Justin Colbert that wasn't ruled as pass interference.
"No comment," Jones said.
Was he under orders from the Western Athletic Conference not to speak? "Um hmm. Yes," he said, noting the threat of a possible suspension if he criticized officials.
Jones said that he is allowed to vent his frustrations directly to officials during the game. "Yes," he said. "So I do."
Mirror bowl: Miami of Ohio had a seven-game win streak snapped last week, when Marshall scored the deciding points on a late drive at Yager Stadium in Oxford, Ohio. It was Miami's third loss.
"They're a lot like us," Jones said. "They play four wideouts and spread the field and they do a lot of four wides and three wides. That's primarily their deal."
Jones said that Miami will be the best defensive team UH has faced, with, "big-time D-linemen."
Still missing: Two of Hawaii's defensive standouts may sit again this week, as linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa remains likely out for the rest of the season with a lower leg injury. Defensive end Travis Laboy could come back this week, but, "I would say he's still iffy," Jones said. "You know, he's still limping around."
Defensive back Chris Riccardi, who was injured in Saturday night's game, is out.
Bowl talk: There is no bowl talk according to Jones, who insists that he, his staff and his team are only taking things one game at a time.
"I would think that if we finish 9-3, there's a shot," he said. "I don't talk about it, I haven't talked about it, and I won't talk about it. Just do your job, and go play. You can't worry about things you can't control."
Short yardage: Roberts Hawaii School Bus is offering shuttle service to Aloha Stadium for the Miami of Ohio game, from the Hawaii Kai, Mililani Mauka and Kaneohe areas. Call 832-4886. ... Jones on speeding up the slow starts of quarterback Nick Rolovich: "For whatever number of games he's started, you try to do that. But for whatever reason we've started always a little slow. But we're 5-1 with him starting slow, so we ain't going to change too much."