Jim Donovan(update! video)/ Graunke

Update:
Jim Donovan AD news from last night (sorry so slow again)


Ferd Lewis has details of Jim Donovan's recommendation for AD to the UH board of regents, along with some quotes.

Donovan was a two-year starter on the offensive line under coach Dick Tomey in the 1981 and '82 seasons.

"I'm thrilled to death for him," Tomey said. "He is well connected in the business community, he and (wife) Tracy are well loved at UH by everybody I've ever run into and he's well respected by the coaches."

Kent Untermann, a teammate of Donovan's and a prominent businessman and booster, said, "Jim is an incredibly passionate, hard-working, driven individual and will do a wonderful job for the university."

Dave Reardon profiles Donovan, and has a great quote from Riley Wallace, along with the back-story.

The feisty former University of Hawaii basketball coach had an infamous run-in with Donovan when football coach Bob Wagner was fired in 1996, with Wallace backing Wagner, and Donovan, then associate athletic director, threatening to make it a 2-for-1 deal.

But now, Wallace is a Donovan fan. He said UH-Manoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw made the right choice when she forwarded Donovan's name to the Board of Regents yesterday as her choice to become the next athletic director.

"He's everything they need," Wallace said last night in a phone interview. "He's an ex-player, a UH graduate, got a master's in business. He has experience as an associate AD there and started a very good marketing program there. I think the coaches will like him, and he's got good connections with coaches around the country and with ESPN through the Hawaii Bowl."

Brian McInnis gets some quotes from Coach Rolo and some fans.

Stephen Tsai has a lot of great things to say about Jim Donovan, and has a list of those who will benefit if/when Donovan becomes official.

Ferd Lewis writes a column about Donovan's ties to Hawaii.

======

And finally, Dave Reardon writes that perhaps Tyler Graunke will be around for spring practice.

Six quarterbacks are on the spring roster for Hawaii.

Tyler Graunke is among them.

But the list is extremely subject to change before the Warriors open camp March 30.

Graunke, a fifth-year senior, was expected to replace Heisman finalist Colt Brennan as the UH starter this fall. But the three-year No. 2 QB was suspended last month for breaking unspecified team rules.

First-year head coach Greg McMackin has not reinstated Graunke to team activities yet, but his name on the roster indicates he's expected back for spring practice.

"Tyler's doing what he's supposed to do and his progress will be evaluated," McMackin said last night.

I have no doubt that the Graunke shall rise. Like a Phoenix. Out of Arizona!