Facilities Tour, McMackin, Pros, Etc.

Craig Gima writes about the state senators touring the facilities.

After seeing a sample of needed repairs and maintenance at the flagship University of Hawaii-Manoa campus -- work estimated at between $200 million and $400 million -- key state senators suggested yesterday that classrooms would likely take priority over athletics in this year's budget.

But of course.

Gov. Linda Lingle's budget provides for only $48.5 million for repair and maintenance, to be split among the 10 UH campuses, not just UH-Manoa.

It is an amount Baker called "inadequate."

Lingle also suggested private donors need to step up.

She noted that the Honolulu Symphony has raised $450,000 through a grass-roots effort.

"There's a lot more grass-roots support for the Warrior football team right now than there is the symphony, so I believe they could raise millions of dollars just from people who want to support the program coming forward," she said.

Okay then. Here's a link to Koa Anuenue and a link to Na Koa (though Na Koa's membership pages appear to be currently "under construction"). Just hope the new athletic director will be able to get the big money folks interested in donating. Of course, would've been nice if the previous athletic director was making the rounds when Warrior Fever was in full gear.

Dan Nakaso covers the tour of the facilities as well.

Some of the senators were frustrated by what they did not see, specifically a list of projects from former football coach June Jones, who cited the conditions of UH's athletic fields and training facilities as one reason for his leaving to take the head coaching job at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

"This is very frustrating," Sen. Donna Mercado Kim, D-14th (Halawa, Moanalua, Kamehameha Heights), said at the end of the athletic department tour and before heading off to see academic buildings. "We want to see what was promised to him (Jones) and agreed to. ... You would think they would be ready to give us the information. It's a disgrace that the leadership of the university isn't saying, 'The coach wants this and it's a priority.' "

Kim repeatedly asked UH officials for budgetary and other athletic department information and was told it needed to come from either the president's office, the chancellor's office or may lie in the office of fired Athletics Director Herman Frazier.

I'm sure we'll all laugh about this one day.

In Michael Tsai's article about the '06-'07 fiscal budget report, UH president David McClain talks about the search for a new head coach.

McClain said he hopes to have a replacement for football head coach June Jones by next week, which would allow the program to host recruits as early as next weekend. Jones resigned Monday to become Southern Methodist head coach.

To expedite the process, McClain said UH will scrap the rigid formula of funding the new coach's salary with a 50-50 split of public and private monies in favor of "an indeterminate mix of university general funds, athletic department revolving funds, and private donations."

Jason Kaneshiro writes about McClain being involved in the search.

"I'll certainly be involved," McClain said after yesterday's UH Board of Regents meeting on the Manoa campus. "But we have a very experienced academic leader in Virginia Hinshaw and she's on the case totally and I have a lot of confidence in her.

"But it's fair to say I'll be paying close attention. It's important to the state and certainly important to the university."

Greg McMackin confirms he has applied for the job.

Hawai'i defensive coordinator Greg McMackin confirmed yesterday he has applied for the Warriors' head coaching job left vacated by the departure of June Jones to Southern Methodist.

Hawai'i will begin interviewing for the job Tuesday, the first day after the state-mandated five-day period from the posting of the opening. There are some 30 applicants for the position.

McMackin declined further comment on his interest, but did add that Jones needs to know soon if he will be joining him at SMU. Jones offered his entire UH staff positions at SMU.

Frank DeLima has recorded a new song.

With his recording of "What, June Jones, You Going Leave Us Now?" — sung to the familiar "Lucille" hit — comedian Frank DeLima now boasts a trilogy of rah-rah parodies on the saga of the University of Hawai'i Warriors' near-perfect football season and the resulting exodus of Jones as head coach.

"What, June Jones, you going leave us now?

"The season stay finished

"But 'ohana not pau.

"I know you stay disgusted

"'Cause da locker room stay busted

"But wow, lau lau"

Takes me back. In some bad Warriors in the Pros news, Chad Owens was waived by the Jags and Tala Esera was not re-signed by the Dolphins.

And finally, Lanaly Cabalo of The Garden Island has a great article talking to fans and players about the unreal start of this new year.

Rayno, who made the trip to the Sugar Bowl, said he was unsure if he will remain a season-ticket holder for the next season.

“If they get McMackin is the new head coach, then I will probably buy season tickets again,” he said.

For Warrior wide out Jett Jasper, of Lihu‘e, the announcement of coach Jones’ leaving was almost heart breaking.

“When I saw coach Jones put on that SMU hat and hold up that jersey I felt like I was about to cry,” he said.

“(Out of everything) the biggest thing was that I lost my good friend Mitch Farney,” Jasper said. “When you play the same position, you become close friends with them. We were really close. I talked to all my teammates and what we’re going to do is call his parents when the grieving period is over and tell them what a great guy he was.”