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Sidelines Kalani Simpson |
Things look different
after 2 lossesWELL, here we go. You have one slotback suspended (and that's quite a story), the other injured, out for the season. You have the head coach calling his team "arrogant" and "selfish," but also adding that this recent debacle of a road trip (one whipping, one tripping) was the crowning moment in the program's history. Specifically, more so than one of the most treasured memories of his loyal fans.
And now there is more controversy from Vegas. Of course there is.
Welcome to Hawaii football.
It is what it is.
Why am I the only one not surprised here?
It seems everyone suddenly sees a lot of stuff they never noticed before.
There are always injuries. There is always excessive bravado, unnecessary penalties. Customized tape markings on the back of the helmets (you mean to tell me I'm the only guy who noticed before Friday?). There are always lots of passes, and you know what Woody Hayes said about lots of passes.
June Jones always says outrageous, outlandish things.
This is UH football, these days.
All of this is nothing new.
The only difference was that this past week (actually the last two weeks), it didn't work. The only difference today is that this team's record is 1-2.
The only difference is that today the radio caller has a comment. Today, the Internet froths.
I have one question:
Now you're shocked?
This is the UH football program. It is what it is. If you're concerned you should have been concerned a while ago. And if you loved Jones' style last week, you're going to freak out because of two losses, bad as they were?
And now my e-mail inbox is hopping because I didn't jump on Jones for saying that getting invited to run out of the USC tunnel was the greatest thing UH had ever done (putting Hawaii right up there with LaTech and San Jose State).
Of course that's ridiculous, no matter how you frame it. But Jones is always saying outrageous, outlandish things. It's what he does. Who's thunderstruck here?
The only difference is nobody was offended by it until he lost to UNLV.
(Yes, UH had walked out of the Coliseum tunnel before, and gotten national publicity for it -- the good kind. Oh, and let's not forget the win at Nebraska. At Washington. Over Iowa. Over BYU's Heisman winner. In a mainland bowl for a national ranking and an 11th win. Of course it's ridiculous. Do we really have to say so?)
No, Jones is the same coach he's always been. This is the same program, same attitude, same team. UH hasn't changed.
After these last two weeks, have you?
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Kalani Simpson can be reached at ksimpson@starbulletin.com
