Cox, Rings, AD, Dodgeball, Etc

Sorry so late today, celestial billy goats spirited me away. They wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day. Anyway...

Dave Reardon writes that Mario Cox is back on the team.

Running back Mario Cox told me yesterday he’s been reinstated to the team, and coach Greg McMackin confirmed it today.

“Yes, he’s going to come out for spring ball,” McMackin said. “He’ll be competing with everybody else at running back. He’s competing for a position (on the team).”

Cox was suspended for the 2006 season for not meeting team academic expectations, and then was dismissed from the team last season by former head coach June Jones.

He shall break out in '08, I know it!

From the UH website, here's an up-close photo of the WAC Champ rings the players got.



Shhhhhhhweeeeet.

The Advertiser has video taken by "Countess" Christina Failma from the the ring ceremony. That's not her real nickname or anything. At least not yet!

Here's an Advertiser article about the rings.

McMackin designed the rings, which has "Hawai'i," palm trees, Diamond Head, the sun, the beach and "12-0" on one side. On the other is the wearer's name, a helmet with an "H" on it, "Warrior 'Ohana," and the owner's jersey number. On the face, "WAC Championship" is on the top and "Sugar Bowl" is on the bottom.

"And," McMackin said of the middle, "a little bling for the fellas."

Dave Reardon writes that Rick Blangiardi will not apply for the UH AD position, while a couple other notables do plan to apply.

Keith Amemiya, head of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, said he intended to hand in an application today.

Bob Wagner, a former UH football coach and now the athletic director at Kamehameha-Hawaii, said yesterday he also would try for the job.

"I plan to apply," Wagner said.

Speaking of which, UH has released the names of the people on the AD selection committee.

University of Hawai'i-Manoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw will chair a nine-member search committee to recommend a new athletic director, the school announced today.

The previous AD, Herman Frazier, was dismissed last month.

In addition to Hinshaw, the other members are: Debra Ishii, assistant to the chancellor; Mitchell Kaaialii, assistant vice president, First Hawaiian Bank; Dee Jay Mailer, CEO Kamehameha Schools; Don Murphy, owner Murphy's Bar & Grill; Peter Nicholson, English professor and UH faculty representative; Dave Shoji, women's volleyball coach; Christina Stidman, president, Associated Students of UH-Manoa; and John Tsui, chair of Towne Realty Development.

Reardon also has coverage from yesterday's dodgeball segment of the Super Games.

In the championship game, the Hammers took the early lead, but the Section 8 players were especially adept at bailing their fallen teammates out of "jail" and came from behind to win.

"It's teamwork," Leonard gloated afterward. "Just communicate, and be athletic. We've got an athletic team, they can do different facets of just being an athlete. That's what it takes, and that's what I wanted when I picked my team.

"You have to have coordination. There's chaos and you have to be able to focus. Kind of like a football game."

If you haven't already, check out Chawan's compilation of last night's news. Adam Leonard is my hero.

And finally, in some interesting news, Laurie Miller of Warriorshaka.com writes that current SMU head coach June Jones will be signing copies of J. David Miller's "Hawaii Warrior Football: A Story of Faith, Hope and Redemption" at the SMU Barnes & Noble on March 1st.

Newly appointed SMU head coach June Jones will be signing copies of Hawaii Warrior Football: A Story of Faith, Hope and Redemption on March 1, from noon to one p.m., in the midst of “Grad Day” at the university.

It will be Jones’ first public book signing in Dallas, after resigning as head coach at the University of Hawaii several weeks ago.

Laurie goes on to explain:

The book has been mentioned frequently in the Dallas media. Fans of the 1-11 Mustangs are enthralled with Jones’ formula for taking teams from “worst-to-first,” the details of which are outlined in the book.

I'll definitely be following their progress this season. Hope UH can schedule them sometime in the near future.

AND DESTROY THEM!!!! AHAHAHAHAHA!!!!