Warriors may have Hawaii may have used academically ineligible players in last week's ConAgra Foods Hawaii Bowl after not complying with a Western Athletic Conference rule, UH athletic director Herman Frazier said.
broken rule
Frazier says Hawaii could have used
ineligible players in the Hawaii BowlBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com"We still don't know," Frazier said last night. "You run that risk any time you don't have official grades."
Hawaii did not follow a WAC rule stating that student-athletes must be certified to have passed at least six units in the previous semester. UH did not comply because of the short time frame between the end of final exams on Dec. 20 and the Hawaii Bowl on Dec. 25, Frazier said.
"We didn't have any of the grades," UH compliance coordinator Daniel Arakaki said. "It was a timing issue, basically. If the game had been today or later the grades would be available and we could certify."
The same rule cost seven Fresno State football players their eligibility in today's Silicon Valley Football Classic.
UH coach June Jones could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Two reserves, who were not expected to play anyway, were thought to be in academic jeopardy. They were re-instated to the roster before the game, but neither played. Jones said three weeks ago that "only two down-the-line guys" might be ineligible.
"(Hawaii) informed the WAC several weeks ago that they anticipated they would have trouble based on when their finals were completed and when the game would be conducted," WAC commissioner Karl Benson said. "I was informed on Monday the 23rd that they would be unable to attain the necessary academic information to comply with the Western Athletic Conference rule. They were unable to certify their student-athletes."
Benson said the Hawaii situation has no bearing on Fresno State and Boise State.
"The three institutions are not linked to each other," he said.
Benson did add that "all member institutions are obligated to comply with WAC rules."
He was asked if UH would face repercussions if any ineligible players participated in the Hawaii Bowl.
"I can't speculate on that," Benson said. "I'm sure that will be considered when this is reviewed."
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