In some ways, not having their national championship banner literally hanging over their heads has been a blessing to the Hawaii men's volleyball team. It fits right in with this year's philosophy that what's past is past, and the thought that this team has to win one of its own. UH still waiting
for banner night
By Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.comBut still ... Hawaii is already 2-0, after last night's 37-35, 30-22, 25-30, 30-24 victory over Lewis (0-2) at the Stan Sheriff Center.
That's one more win than titles won. Two more than title banners hung.
"It would have been nice to be able to hang it on opening night," said associate coach Tino Reyes, who opened his 11th season with the Warriors on Wednesday.
"We got our rings, that's what we wanted," said UH senior hitter Tony Ching, after putting down 18 kills and hitting .533. "We're know we're the champs. That's all that matters."
It's been more than nine months since that May 4 NCAA victory over Pepperdine in Happy Valley, Pa. Long enough to finish a school year. Enough time to have a baby. More than enough time to create a banner and get it out of committee.
Committee talks are still ongoing. The size has been determined: 6 feet by 9 feet, up from the minuscule 4-by-6 of the four Wahine volleyball banners that once hung in Klum Gym and now swing from the Sheriff Center rafters.
"I think we ordered the men's banner today," associate athletic director Marilyn Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano said last night. "There are still some issues we're dealing with. We're talking probably 30 banners for the two sports and four teams (men's and women's volleyball and basketball). We're talking about NCAA, conference and tournament championships"
"It's a crime, it should have been up by now," said Basil Sparlin, in his second term as president of the men's volleyball booster club. "It's absolutely ridiculous to have something this simple take this long to resolve. In committee? Give me a break. It should have been resolved long ago."
Late last May, three weeks after the Warriors won UH's first men's national team title in any sport, the discussions were on. At that point, new banners weren't in the athletic department's budget.
"That's because no one has asked for it to be put in (the budget)," said then-associate athletic director Jim Donovan last May. "I agree with (Wahine volleyball coach) Dave Shoji. His banners were sized for Klum and need to be re-sized for the arena. Certainly when you bring in a recruit, it means a lot if there's an easy way to see all the successes we've had."
The Wahine won four national titles, one at the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women's level in 1979, three others at the NCAA level: 1982, '83 and '87.
All four hung in Klum Gym until the Stan Sheriff Center opened Oct. 21, 1994.
"Personally, I'd like the four arena teams to display all of their championships, conference and national," said arena manager Rich Sheriff. "My only concern is that it's done in a classy manner. It's impressive when you walk into other arenas and see what they have up."
Sparlin said he'd like to see All-Americans also honored in some way.
"The booster clubs have not been approached, and I've been involved since I moved to Hawaii in 1976," said Sparlin. "The banners should mark something special. National championships, conference championships, maybe national runners-up.
"What we have are too small for this arena. They were made for Klum. It should be something that catches your eye when you come in."
UH Athletics
