Jim Donovan: AD, Brian Kajiyama, Mack

Ferd Lewis covers Jim Donovan's first day on the job as UH athletic director.

Pointing to patches of weeds growing through the center of what he terms "the asphalt football field" on the Cooke Field infield, Donovan shook his head and admitted facilities occupy a place near the top of that rapidly lengthening list. He took note of branches on the roof of the athletic department, a missing sheet on the roof of Les Murakami Stadium. He bemoaned how the facilities had gotten that way and pondered potential solutions.

But there would be no doubting whose job it is to find one. "The buck stops here," Donovan said, double-jabbing an index finger into his desk to make the point.

Dave Reardon covers Donovan's first day, and has some quotes about the budget.

"It appears, right now, that on June 30 of '08, the athletic department would be in a budget deficit for this fiscal year that would finish June 30 of '08. It's pretty clear that there would be a budget deficit," Donovan said.

UH is looking at around $2.5 million from the Sugar Bowl after expenses. But chancellor Virginia Hinshaw and university president David McClain haven't decided how much of that will go to athletics.

"If you apply that money to the athletic department, it appears that net money would move us from a deficit to a surplus," Donovan said.

But that would be a surplus for just the year. The department has a cumulative deficit of somewhere between $4.5 million and $4.9 million.

Graduate assistant Brian Kajiyama, winner of a Jefferson Award, is profiled by the Suzanne Roig.

Kajiyama said he is motivated more than ever to volunteer and get out in the community so others can see that they can also achieve their dreams.

"The way I see my part in all this is I'm helping to promote awareness for persons with disabilities and hopefully change the perception of cannot into one of can-do," he said.

"I feel everyone has a responsibility to give back to their community."

KGMB's Steve Uyehara has a video profile of Kajiyama.

Via Tone96795 on Sportshawaii.com, here's a video of an ESPN the Magazine party that has a short interview with Colt Brennan about his cover from last year.

And the Warrior Beat will host a chat with Greg McMackin at 3pm HST today.

UPDATE: Here's a link to the chat.