Thursday, December 13, 2001
Jones dispels report Hawaii football coach June Jones said he is not pursuing the vacant Georgia Tech job.
linking him to
Georgia Tech job
The UH coach says he's heard
the NCAA will OK another
game for the WarriorsBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com"I have not spoken with them," Jones told the Star-Bulletin yesterday. "I'm intending to stay here. We want to solidify things now."
Jones, whose name has been linked to at least three coaching openings in the past month, is renegotiating his contract at UH. He makes a base salary of $150,000 per year with incentives and other considerations that can push his income to $400,000.
A report yesterday on ESPN.com said Jones has been contacted by Georgia Tech alumni to gauge his interest, but not directly by the university.
After two days of reporting Jones as a candidate, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution did not mention Jones in its latest online story this morning. Jones is a former Atlanta Falcons quarterback (1977-81), assistant head coach (1991-93) and head coach (1994-96).
Boston College coach Tom O'Brien appeared to be the leading candidate for the job. Former coach George O'Leary, who left Georgia Tech for Notre Dame, made $1.2 million per year.
"I think June is very serious about staying," said UH president Evan Dobelle, who met with Jones over breakfast Sunday. "He's a winner and he just wants to make sure the commitment is there in every way for the team to be a winner. I don't think it's about money with June."
Jones led Hawaii to a 9-3 record this season. In 1999 he coached UH to a 9-4 record and Oahu Bowl victory; it was the biggest turnaround in college football history after the Rainbows went 0-12 the previous season. UH is 21-16 in his three years.
Another game?: Jones said the NCAA has cleared the way for Hawaii to play a 13th game on Christmas Day, but the question is if there is a team that is able and willing to play the 9-3 Warriors.
"It sounds like Evan and (athletic director) Hugh (Yoshida) have done everything they could to come through on this. People in the community have stepped up. From what I understand the NCAA says it's OK," Jones said.
Yoshida said there are about 17 teams with bowl-eligible records of 6-5 or better that are not hooked up to a bowl game, "and we'll try them all," he said.
One problem is teams have stopped practicing and players have been released. Some have had dealings with agents, making them ineligible.
Yoshida said if 35,000 to 40,000 people attend Aloha Stadium for such a game (with tickets priced $25-30), expenses could be met. Proceeds would go to a charity fund for victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Yoshida and Dobelle both said such a game remains a long shot at best.
"We hope to learn something by Friday," Dobelle said.
UH Athletics
