Stadium’s carpet Hawaii football coach June Jones blasted the artificial turf at Aloha Stadium again yesterday, blaming the AstroTurf surface for several injuries to his players this season, including staph infections that he said can spread.
still burns Jones
The UH football coach suggests that
Notebook
the surface hurts his team
By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com"After you get these turf burns and you have that many guys in one shower (room), you have a chance for infection," Jones said. "Now that it's within the team, everyone's going to get it."
Jones said this at his weekly news conference. He also blamed the turf for injuries while speaking minutes after Saturday's 59-34 victory over Nevada.
Jones has been a vocal critic of the AstroTurf and has advocated a switch to a softer surface called Fieldturf. After initial resistance, the Aloha Stadium Authority agreed in the summer to install Fieldturf, but it couldn't be done before this season started.
Jones said he isn't convinced that real progress is being made to have the new surface installed.
"There's no guarantee it's being changed," he said. "We're playing good teams, we're playing Alabama. But we have to beat the turf, too. It's not right."
Stadium Authority Chairman Eddie Hamada said the plan is still to install the new surface after the Dec. 25 ConAgra Foods Hawaii Bowl and have the project done in time for the Pro Bowl on Feb. 2.
"As of now, we're still planning on doing it after the Christmas game. That's been the plan for some time. We can't do it during the season, so I don't know what (Jones is) talking about. I'm kind of at a loss," Hamada said. "We all agreed that the new surface will be better for the players, but we have a timetable."
Jones said turf burns to starting quarterback Tim Chang, cornerback Kenny Patton and linebacker Chad Kalilimoku became infected and it limited their ability to perform. He said the injuries are difficult to treat.
"I didn't know if Chang was going to play in the game. He was taking shots two days prior. During the game it swelled up. Same thing with Kenny Patton," Jones said. "He missed (practices) with a staph infection from turf burns. Chad Kalilimoku missed the game, we didn't even put him in."
Jones also said knee injuries to inside receiver Chad Owens and running back Michael Bass were caused by the turf.
"Michael Bass' knee was a direct reflection of being hit on a hard surface. It had nothing to do with the tackle," Jones said. "We've had five or six shoulder injuries from the surface."
Brigham Young coach Gary Crowton complained of injuries his team suffered while playing against UH at Aloha Stadium last December, and said he wouldn't bring his team back until the surface was changed.
Also, Gov. Ben Cayetano urged a switch to Fieldturf. So did the NFL, which has demanded a switch to grass or a softer artificial surface; if the surface isn't changed, the NFL might move the Pro Bowl out of Hawaii.
Hamada said the process to change the turf is ongoing.
"We're supposed to have a meeting with the contractor and Fieldturf," Hamada said. "At this point I've got to wait until the meeting is scheduled, which should be within the week.
"We're trying like the Dickens to do the right thing. I'm disappointed because (Jones) was there when we set the timetable."
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