Incoming Hawaii athletics director Herman Frazier doesn't officially start work at UH for another three weeks, but he will be in town Monday through Wednesday for "a whirlwind of meetings," he said. Frazier finalizing plans
for move to HawaiiBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comFrazier is still tying up loose ends at Alabama at Birmingham, where he has been AD for less than two years after 23 years in the Arizona State athletic department.
"I bought a brand new house here a year-and-a-half ago, so one of the main things is trying to sell that, and getting all the packing done," he said. "I've also been on the telephone a lot to Hawaii with (football coach) June (Jones), (current AD) Hugh (Yoshida), and my administrative assistant Margie (Okimoto), and some UH attorneys. I don't start until August first, but I feel like I've been there all this time."
Frazier said he was excited about the naming of ConAgra as a title sponsor for the Hawaii Bowl.
"I've worked with Pete Derzis and G.W. Mix (who will run the game for ESPN) and consider them two good friends. I look forward to continuing the working relationship with them."
Football News stars: UH offensive lineman Vince Manuwai, defensive end Travis Laboy and linebackers Pisa Tinoisamoa and Chris Brown were named to the Football News' All-Western Athletic Conference preseason first team.
Nevada running back Chance Kretschmer was named to the All-American third team -- the only WAC player to receive national recognition from the publication.
Search narrowed: UH is down to finalists to replace water polo coach Shari Smart.
Assistant athletics director Marilyn Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano has interviewed the finalists and is expected to name the new coach by Aug. 1.
Smart, the program's only coach since its inception in 1997, resigned in May to spend more time with her family.
No mo' mopeds: UH football coach June Jones has banned his players from riding mopeds because of a rash of injuries caused by accidents.
The latest is junior wide receiver Mark Tate, who suffered ligament damage to one of his knees because of a moped spill earlier this summer. The injury required surgery and Tate could miss the beginning of the season.
Jones laughed when asked if he will stay off his motorcycle to set an example for his players.
"Nah, I'm just the coach," he said. "It doesn't matter if I get hurt, as long as I can make it to the practices and games."
In case there was any doubt: An intriguing possibility remained after UH men's volleyball coach Mike Wilton pulled himself out of the running for the Brigham Young men's job after interviewing for it in May -- that being he might fill the Cougars' women's post vacated by Elaine Michaelis.
But now it's moot, as BYU replaced Michaelis with Karen Curtis Lamb this week.