Fans want Jones’ demands fulfilled and demand Frazier be next to go

Some fans were surprised. Some were not.

But mostly they agreed that the resignation of University of Hawaii football coach June Jones was a wake-up call for the UH administration to fix shortcomings in the facilities used by its athletes.

"We need a change on a large scale at the university in order to improve the program," said Kelley Oshiro, 47, of Ewa Beach.

Oshiro was one of more than a dozen UH football fans who participated yesterday in a grass-roots rally in front of Bachman Hall, calling for administrators to carry on Jones' request for facility improvements.

"I understand that he may feel that his departure is the only way to send the message that change really, really needs to happen," Oshiro said as she carried a sign that read, "Don't let Jones' dream die, fight for change!"

While some called for facility improvements, others called for athletic director Herman Frazier to be terminated from his position, which he has held for the past 5 1/2 years.

Some blamed Frazier for failing to retain Jones, the winningest coach in UH history and leader of a Warrior team that won UH's first outright Western Athletic Conference championship and went to its first Bowl Championship Series game.

"He's the principal reason that we're in disaster mode right now," said Wayne Coito, 25, of Mililani, who carried a sign that read, "Fire Herman Frazier."

"I hope administration will take some action and remove him. And that's what we need. And that's what needs to happen."

Other fans said the blame for Jones' departure cannot all be targeted at Frazier, saying the administration failed to address the athletic programs' needs in the nine years that Jones served as the Warriors' coach.

"They're the ones that really make the decisions, aren't they?" said Maureen Young, of Waianae. "I don't want to dump it all on Frazier."

Vili Fehoko
University of Hawaii Mascot
"He brought me into the program nine years ago. He's been great. What June Jones brings to this program, he really brings the whole state together.

"He's the first coach that really brings the culture into the program, like the haka and the ha'a."

Aric Larsen
33, of Kaneohe
"It's sad that he's leaving. He did an excellent job. However, I'd like to see a local coach in that position, like Cal Lee."

Kelly Bart
44, of Honolulu
"SMU's gain is UH's loss. It's a shame that it had to come to this."

Jeff Armstrong
28, of Aiea
"It's a tragic loss for the university. You can't deny the fact that he was good at his job. If they had more money for recruiting, June Jones would've stayed."

Comments from the Star-Bulletin blogs:

Comment by harry
June Jones you did a great job in Hawaii but you will never have a family like Hawaii fans at SMU. I think when you lost the Sugar Bowl you thought that Hawaii fans would give up on you but no, Hawaii fans love you more. But Hawaii must move and I wish it's Norm Chow (as) the next coach at Hawaii because he is offense-minded.

Redoriley
Wait a minute!! Do what's right for his family? I thought this was about university resources like the practice field and additional staffing, not about money or family issues. What's up with that?

808
Yeah, too bad he resorted to a coach-speak cliche for that quote. I sure hope he didn't mean it because then it discredits everything else he was saying about it not being about the money.

Shark
Wow I can't believe it actually happened. Good luck to JJ.

I believe he will regret it because he will never be as idolized and loved as he was here. I hope he can turn that program around as quickly as he did at UH or he probably won't see the end of that contract.

Now on with more important matters, who will be the new coach. Any candidates out there?

Steven
June Jones, we all wish you the best of luck brother. You lived up to your end of the deal and UH had nine years to make it happen and didn't. I understand your frustrations. Hope you carry your Warrior attitude to SMU and build them into a powerhouse like your dream here in Hawaii. After all you earned your stripes as a true Warrior here in Hawaii.

Love and Aloha,
Fans of Hawaii

Brett
The loss of JJ will go down as the greatest tragedy in UH athletics. I agree that Herman Frazier should be looking for another job also. He doesn't have the foresight to plan for the inevitable (i.e., 2007 sched, Riley Wallace, Bob Nash, Sugar Bowl tickets, and now JJ). You can not run a business in constant crisis management.

Additionally, others in the UH hierarchy need to be held accountable, like the president and chancellor. They are just as much as fault as Herman for not getting this done. JJ's contract should have been signed right after we won the WAC. We the fans were lulled into complacency with the "there is no problem, we will get this done" statements from both UH and JJ. A fine parlor trick while we were giddy over the WAC championship and BCS berth.

Way to start the new year UH leadership!

Ladeda
Ya right, June. You deserted the very kids that you claimed you loved, you deserted the place and people of Hawaii who you claimed you loved. Instead of staying and fighting UH for what you wanted you ran off to SMU because it was easier.

As far as I'm concerned I couldn't care less if I ever heard of you again and I hope you fail at SMU.

Rich from OC
So he turns down the chance to meet with UCLA officials to take the SMU job? It was denied of course. To go from one mid-major to another and not coaching a BCS conference school? What is going on?

RedZone
Coaching is June Jones' profession. It is his decision where he wants to be for whatever his reasons may be.

Many have left Hawaii seeking better opportunities on the mainland. It does not mean that they have stopped loving Hawaii.

Unless there are changes at UH I can't see them holding a coach of his caliber. And it is not just about firing Herman. The whole school's infrastructure is crumbling.

I for one will do it at the polls. I will accept no excuses.

Tom
I also thought that he would go to a BCS school and not another mid-major. Maybe he really hated the situation here. Hope the program and the state can move on. Nice first step would be to fire Frazier. Then, hire Norm Chow, with Cal and Ron Lee and Rich Miano on staff.

Bowtastic
June Jones is a joke. He really is. So is Herman Frazier. ... 'bout time we get rid of both arrogant and cocky, know-it-all guys.

Jones leaving to another college discredits EVERYTHING he has said in the last 9 years about his love for Hawaii. He's a joke.

Wesley Hau
Shouldn't we be addressing the whole education system here in Hawaii?

Look at the buildings at UH at Manoa and the public schools on all the islands!