Paradise lost: Jones' exit devastating for Hawaii

Don Boyer, Waialua, HI — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 17:38:19 GMT

How unsurprising this all is. Hawaii's University sits on it's collective thumbs and petulantly refuses to address the myriad problems surrounding the future of football in Hawaii. They'll be more than happy to rake in the big bucks a BCS slot will pay, more than happy to collect their fat paychecks, but they won't allow anything to interfere with the fantasy that they know what's best for Hawaii athletics. Now we've lost by far the best coach the University has ever had, blown a program that could have grown even better (Hawaii will return to being a perennial loser next season) and continued down the path of blindered money whoreism.

I predict that, like the athletic program, Hawaii will continue to let the Aloha Stadium rot away until it's unusable, spend ten years trying to replace it at enormous expense while facing lawsuits by no status environmental groups whose only agenda is newspaper exposure thinly disguised as concern for "Hawaiian burials" and such.
When it comes to clear thinking, accurate and timely planning, and execution of a program budget, Hawaii is a bigger loser than the team was in the BCS game.

Paradise lost: Jones' exit devastating for Hawaii

keith — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 19:32:03 GMT

I agree I played fullback with david and gary and tom tuinea,blaine gaison. Somebody's head should roll for letting us lose june jones this way. Who ever comes in the image of the programs condition needs to be corrected!

Keith hill

Paradise lost: Jones' exit devastating for Hawaii

James, Kahalu`u, HI — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 07:37:55 GMT

John, your story was right on. Hopefully, JJ has a change in heart and the Aloha sprit can bring our coach back into to the islands.

Coach Jones, PLEASE STAY WITH US.

Paradise lost: Jones' exit devastating for Hawaii

Israel David — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 20:02:34 GMT

Money is what was needed, not for Jones (they offered him just shy of that $2mil a year), but for facilities and a recruiting budget. Money is always hard to come by for the U of Hawaii. It was just not available for these needs, according to Athletic Director Herman Frasier.

A hui hou Coach Jones, until we meet again. Until then, UH now also needs a new AD, and still needs money. If anyone has any help in either area, please send him/it asap.

Paradise lost: Jones' exit devastating for Hawaii

Kris, Waimanalo, Hawaii — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 20:50:39 GMT

Worst fears have come true...from the pinnacle of UH Football history to debacle and Black Monday, all in the span of a week. I am disappointed that June wasn't able to delve into his love for the people and the state to sway his decision to stay. Herman Frazier is, indeed, feeling the lava right now.

Paradise lost: Jones' exit devastating for Hawaii

BUDDY RUTHERFORD - COLORADO SPRNGS, COLORADO — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 21:55:28 GMT

EXCELLENT CHOICE - JUNE JONES WILL BRING A NEW SPIRIT
TO A SCHOOL THAT IS NEEDING A NEW VOICE IN COLLEGE
FOOTBALL. HAWAII LOST A GOOD PERSON AS WELL AS A GOOD
COACH. ROLL ON JUNE JONES TO A NEW CHALLENGE THAT IS
GOING TO BE WHAT YOU WILL DEFINITETY HAVE SUCCESS IN
FOR THE FUTURE OF SMU FOOTBALL. YOU WILL SUCCEED.

Paradise lost: Jones' exit devastating for Hawaii

Joe B. Mililani, HI. — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:33:49 GMT

John,
I enjoyed your article.

The history I witnessed for the last two years on my 2nd tour here allowed me to see a team on the up-swing from what I would see when I was here last time; I still enjoyed the game though, this community has a unique flavor.

I do agree with your comments about the failure on athletics director Herman Frazier and the UH staff, alumni and "boosters"; you dropped the potato here big-time and gave the world sporting community another thing to write bad about the Hawaii program.
They had all year to strike the steel when its hot.

I dont know the specific topics of the 19-items/areas that Coach Jones identified, but to be shot down on all of them shows a complete lack of collaboration, compromise and collective bargaining by this school to keep this team and program going forward. The UH staff showed they did not want to compete, they did not want to reward and that they wanted something on the cheap. Heck, the beer prices alone jumped a buck between the 06 and 07 seasons.It took Colt Brennans savy story of the "no soap in the showers" to the media to get something done. Complete misunderstanding by the Senior UH staff to see the dynamic of the programs future.

John, I dont think they will fire Herm Frazier for not extending a contract for Coach Jones. The UH Senior staffers can't summarize that the ball was dropped, or why you "strike steel when it's hot."
The Staff had plenty of time to start talking to Coach Jones during the season, I would have thought they would have started this during the season, knowing that the contract was due in the following summer. If I were Coach Jones, and felt they did not make a sincere effort to talk to me about a new contract, new concessions to the 19-points or any other hurdle, I would have started thinking about #1 myself. Now that UH has their $4.5 million, they can try and find another staff to come in and start running with this team. I say running because I think Tyler Graunke will be an excellent QB for the 08 season, and it will have to be an excellent Coach to blend it with the teams ability, not the other way around.

Coach Jones, Coach Mac,
Thank you for the experiences and the achievements. Its pretty fair to say, you will always be welcomed here on the islands, for what you've done for this Football program, your foundation and the student athletes you influenced in their careers, you took it as far as you can. Minus all the glamour of a cool office, I believe you honored your contract.

Sincerely,
Joe Bourguignon
U.S. Army, (Retired)
Go Red Sox!
Go Patriots!
Go Bruins!
Go Celtics!

PS. Ive got a dollar bet with a colleague that the Patriots will take Brennan to back up Brady! Why? Cause the kid can play with a program, he showed the ability to learn a system. The Patriots are the leagues envy of such a system of Team. Perhaps the UH staff should go to the next clinic hosted by the administration on just how thats done.

Paradise lost: Jones' exit devastating for Hawaii

Bummed on Kauai, Lihue, HI — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:48:36 GMT

In my whole life (Im 52), Ive never seen excitement the likes of what I saw this past football season in Hawaii.You're right Jon. Coach Jones and team united everyone: dems and republicans, christians and atheists, pro and anti sovereignty, even people who love football and those who couldnt care less about football at least until this year. And it has unnecessarily been ripped away. How could AD Frazier lose a 12-0 coach, who called coaching Hawaii his dream job, who really wasnt concerned about money, who just wanted commitment in the way of facilities and assistant coach pay raises? I never thought I could be so devastated over something so relatively unimportant on the scale of "whats important in life" as a coaching change. But I am.

Paradise lost: Jones' exit devastating for Hawaii

Bobi Olmos Arnold Honolulu, Hawaii — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 03:36:36 GMT

Aloha Mr. Jones
Thanks for the incredible ride
Good luck at your new position
If anyone deserves the best of everything, it is surely yourself
Our love is always with you, our Aloha never ending
Make us proud as you always have
Hawaii No Ka Oi! We are here when you pau, a hui hou, malama pono

The U H Fans

Paradise lost: Jones' exit devastating for Hawaii

CBR, Lahaina — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 08:40:25 GMT

A decsion has to be made. Either Hawaii is going to play Big Time Collage football are they are not. The Administration needs to act accordingly and the AD needs to fund the program if the answer is yes. The weight of public opinion should make it perfectly clear what needs to be done.

First cut the dead weight and hire a an AD that knows how to manage an athletic department. Once the "infastructure" is in place. Hiring a quality coach will be easy. It doesn't suck living and coaching in Hawaii if the commitment to a quality program is in place.

But most importantly time is of the essence and the once in a lifetime opporteunty is right here on the door step to make the changes needed. To let this opportunity slip by will mean the end of what June Jones built and what could be a great football program. Don't let it slip away. Eveyone needs to speak up, Speak loudly!!!, and demand that changes be made and made right now!!!

Paradise lost: Jones' exit devastating for Hawaii

Gomes, Palolo — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 10:20:19 GMT

It's funny to see UH administrators and state legislatures ack dumbfounded to JJ's departure. They knew all along what needed to change. They ALL knew! But they all chose to look the other way. They neva thought JJ would leave. Now look! Look! Look! JJ called their bluff. They all scrambling now fo save face.

Braddah Keith right. Plenny heads definitely gotta and going roll. But, it's the lethargic system these career state workers breed and feed in at Manoa that needs to be flushed out. Too many cronies and red tape holding back progress. It'll take the BOD and legislature to change laws that govern the allocation, distribution, management and usage of public funds.

It'll hurt like a bitch but, our state's back-end system needs a good enema!

Paradise lost: Jones' exit devastating for Hawaii

Dennis, Honolulu, Hawaii — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:18:42 GMT

John, Excellent Summary, Sadly, all too true... Aloha From the 50th State... The Sun will rise once again and the Rainbows will Shine : )

Paradise lost: Jones' exit devastating for Hawaii

Oyau, Kaimuki, HI — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 18:29:59 GMT

As a UH graduate, I believe John that you are singing to the choir. Keep up the good work.

Some HI fans like Lee Cataluna are hopping mad at JJ leaving HI. Ohana means that you stay through thick and thin. Other fans appreciate what JJ did for UH Football and the State of HI. These fans don't blame JJ for leaving where broken promises over 9 years left him in complete frustration.

With JJ and AD Herman Fraizer gone, I think our hearts and souls will heal, only if UH and the Legislature step up and hires good HC and AD. I personally like Greg McMackin, who I think can continue the momentum of the program and allow the Lee brothers (Ron & Cal) to flourish. Watch out WAC, run-n-shoot may still stay in Manoa.

Paradise lost: Jones' exit devastating for Hawaii

your sister-in-law, Waialae-Kahala, Hawaii — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 06:49:42 GMT

Wow - great article, JT...
It took someone with your perspective to really put the UH Warriors' season "fairly-tale" into words.
I'm grateful to Coach Jones for showing our UH Athletics what is possible with great leadership.
Thx for the great read...

Paradise lost: Jones' exit devastating for Hawaii

Billy Corbi Douglas, Georgia — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:01:09 GMT

Hawaii,
I have been a Georgia fan for almost fifty years. In that time, I have never met such nice and wonderful fans, even in a big loss. I have made a friend, and invite the team and fans of Hawaii, to join us at the OSU Message Board. You had a great season, and I hope, that soon you will be a power house. Thanks,

Billy Corbi

Paradise lost: Jones' exit devastating for Hawaii

Billy Corbi Douglas, Georgia — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:01:10 GMT