Jones ponders full-time Mainland recruiting
 |
UH football practice gallery |
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
| |||
 |
|
||
University of Hawai'i football coach June Jones said he is looking into the possibility of having two full-time coaches live year-round on the Mainland, where they will serve as recruiters.
Jones said the Warriors' recruiting budget — $65,000 annually — is a disadvantage in scouting and wooing top Mainland prospects.
"What we're handicapped with is, every school in America sends eight coaches out every Thursday and Friday all over the country," Jones said. "We can't do that. We can't afford to do that. The time, the travel, you can't do it."
Jones said there is insufficient money to pay for his staff to attend all of the popular Mainland football combines during the spring.
He said his staff also has difficulty scouting prospects during regular-season road trips.
"Maybe once or twice we do that, but even then, it's too hard, with the way we fly in late," Jones said.
In recent months, the Warriors have tried to use Internet scouting services.
But Jones said: "You're not going to get a guy who's a blue-chip athlete if you've never visited him at his school or in his home."
The plan — and Jones reaffirmed it was in the "talking stage" — would be for the assistant coaches to live in Texas and California.
He said he wouldn't force any of the coaches to move there. That would eliminate coaches with strong ties to Hawai'i, such as Cal Lee, Ron Lee, Rich Miano and George Lumpkin.
"I don't know who we'd send up there," Jones said.
The proposal, however, would mean the Warriors would be "coaching short here," Jones said.
The NCAA limits Division I-A programs to 10 full-time coaches — the head coach and nine assistants.
Each program may use up to two graduate assistant coaches. Dennis McKnight, a former NFL and college coach who rejoined UH as a graduate assistant, is coaching the Warrior offensive linemen this year.
Because a GA must attend classes, it is unlikely McKnight, whose family and car-cleaning business are in San Diego, would be able to serve as a Mainland recruiter while in his current position.
The plan, Jones said, "would leave us with eight coaches (living in Hawai'i), including me. If you can't coach with eight, then you're probably screwed up, anyway."
NOTES AND UPDATES
It is the latest injury for Satele, who also has suffered a shoulder stinger and bruised quadriceps.
Last week, Satele started at right outside linebacker. Satele suffered the pulled hamstring during Tuesday's practice.
"It probably takes two to three weeks to recover," Jones said.
Allen-Jones is suffering from recurring stingers in his right shoulder. But he said twice-daily medical treatments have been helpful in enabling him to practice.
Keomaka is a second-string cornerback. On kickoff coverage, he plays the "hawk," a sprinter who covers the lane near the left sideline.
He is suffering from sprains to the acromioclavicular (AC) joints in both shoulders. For the first three games, he took painkilling shots.
He said his shoulders ached the most when he lifted his arms while blocking.
"I knew it was going to be the same if he continued to shoot it at game time," Jones said. "It would be sore the whole year. The only chance we had to get well was (to rest him) last week. He'll play the rest of the year."
"He's back at No. 2," Jones said. "He practiced there all week."
Jones also expressed disappointment in the circumstances that led to the benching.
"He didn't take care of business," Jones said. "He has to take care of business."
|
UH FOOTBALL
WHAT: University of Hawai'i (2-2, 0-1 Western Athletic Conference) vs. Nevada (3-2, 0-1 WAC) WHEN: 6:05 p.m. Saturday WHERE: Aloha Stadium TV: Live on Oceanic cable pay-per-view digital. Call 625-8100 on O'ahu or (808) 643-2337 statewide. Delayed on KFVE Sunday 10 a.m. AUDIO WEBCAST: espn1420am.com VIDEO WEBCAST: Available through Hawaiian Telecom and KFVE. Tickets available for single game at $9.95, a full season for $39.95. Go to www.hawaiiantelmedia.com RADIO: Live on ESPN 1420, with warmup show at 4 p.m. Neighbor Island simulcasts on KAOI on Maui/Kona, KPUA in Hilo and KQNG on Kaua'i TICKET PRICES: $38 sideline, $32 South end zone, $27 North end zone (adult), $22 North end zone senior citizen, $22 North end zone students 4-18, $5 UH students. TICKET SALES: Available online at www.hawaiiathletics.com, by calling 944-2697 (BOWS) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or at Stan Sheriff Center, Aloha Stadium, UH Campus Center, RainBowtique at Ward Centre and Windward Community College's OCET Office during business hours. Convenience fees may apply. UH STUDENTS: Chancellor's Office is providing free bus transportation for UH students. Buses will pick up students on Dole Street in front of the Gateway House two hours before game time. The buses will leave the stadium 30 minutes after the game and return to the Gateway House. Signup sheets are at the front desks at each UH residence hall. PROMOTION: "Military Night," with members of each branch of the Armed Services being honored at halftime. Also, each member of the Armed Services, both active and reservists, will receive two tickets for the price of one (no limit). Valid military identification card is required when purchasing tickets. Offer available at the Aloha Stadium in advance and on game day. It is only available at the Stan Sheriff Box Office in advance (Monday- Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Tickets are in special sections. Other restrictions may apply. GATES OPEN: Parking lot 2:30 p.m.; Stadium gates 3 p.m. PARKING: $5 ALTERNATIVE PARKING (no tailgating): • Leeward Community College (free with $2 charge for shuttle service); • Kamehameha Drive-In ($5 with free shuttle service); • Radford High School ($3 with no shuttle service). All shuttle service runs from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and approximately one hour after the game ends. SECURITY: Only fanny packs, purses, backpacks and handbags will be allowed into stadium (subject to check). TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Sports Radio 1420 will provide traffic advisories and updates before each UH football home game. BUS SHUTTLES: Roberts Hawaii is offering round trip "air conditioned" shuttle bus services to Aloha Stadium for $6 from three O'ahu areas. Bus No. 3 will pick up at the Hawai'i Kai Park n' Ride at 4 p.m., at Bank of Hawai'i at Kahala Mall at 4:15 and proceed to the stadium. Bus No. 2 will pick up at the Kailua District Park, Kainalu Avenue at 4:15 p.m., at Windward Mall Shopping Center on Alaloa Street facing Sears at 4:30 and proceed to the stadium. Bus No. 1 will pick up at the Mililani Mauka Park n' Ride at 4:30 p.m. and go directly to the stadium. Reservations are required and service is first come, first serve. Call Roberts School Bus at 832-4886 for reservations and additional information. CITY BUS SERVICE The FootballExpress offers 17 pickup locations throughout O'ahu. The first trip from each location leaves approximately three hours before kickoff and the last trip leaves approximately 90 minutes before the game. Return trips leave as soon as the bus is full, with the final trip leaving 30 minutes after the game ends. Honolulu pickup locations are at Ala Moana, downtown, Hawai'i Kai, Kahala Mall, Kaimuki, Palolo, Waikiki and the University of Hawai'i. Leeward pickups are at 'Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Mililani Mauka and Village Park. Windward pickups are at Kalaniana'ole Highway and Kailua Road, Kailua Road at Keolu Drive and Hele Street, Kailua Road at Hahani Street, Kane'ohe Bay drive at Mokapu Boulevard and Kane'ohe Bay Drive at Makalani Street. Rates are $3 one way and $6 roundtrip. Passes and transfers are not accepted. For information, go to: http://www.thebus.org
|
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.
