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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, August 29, 2001

Jones wants to play yearly on Neighbor Isles

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By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

University of Hawai'i football coach June Jones said he would like the Warriors to play at least one game a year on the Neighbor Islands.

While UH's Sept. 8 season opener against Montana at Wailuku's War Memorial Stadium is not a sellout — the seating capacity is listed as 20,000, although it is believed to be smaller — Jones said a Neighbor Island game can be financially feasible.

"Our attendance has always been down for a (Division) I-AA opponent," said Jones, noting UH drew fewer than 30,000 against Arkansas State in 1998 and Eastern Illinois in 1999. "My thought process has been to go to Maui and double the price of tickets."

The average football ticket is priced at $17. By charging close to $30 apiece, the Warriors would not have to sell out War Memorial Stadium to make what they would earn for a game against a Division I-AA team, Jones said.

"If we can make as much money for a I-AA (game on a Neighbor Island) as we do here, then I'd rather play it over there," Jones said.

Jones also said the Warriors eventually will have to play more non-conference road games. "Things are changing," Jones said, noting Texas, Iowa State, Virginia, Notre Dame and Purdue have backed out of signed agreements to play here.

• Then there was one: With Kelvin Millhouse winning the job at field cornerback, the only open starting job remaining is at running back. Freshman Mike Bass and third-year walk-on Thero Mitchell are the top candidates for the lone running back position.

Even before cornerback Gary Wright suffered a sprained right knee yesterday morning — the injury is not considered to be serious — Millhouse was "head and shoulders above everybody else," said Rich Miano, who coaches the defensive backs. "We're looking for consistency, and so far he's the most consistent. I expect big things from him."

The 6-foot-1 Millhouse, a redshirt sophomore from California, is one of the tallest UH cornerbacks in recent years. "He has long arms and he can run," Miano said. "He's the whole package."

Millhouse said his height enables him to "match up with the taller receivers. People can't really jump over me."

• Injury update: Freshman defensive back Lamar Broadway suffered a possible partial dislocation of his left patella, said Dr. Darryl Kan, the team's physician.

Kan said Broadway will be examined in four days, when the swelling in his left knee is expected to subside. If there is no tear, Broadway might be able to return to practice next week.

• Dan's the man: Dan Robinson, who guided the Warriors to a league co-championship and O'ahu Bowl victory in 1999, has been named a UH graduate assistant.

Robinson, whose pro career in Europe was short-circuited by a shoulder injury, has applied to dental school.

• Waiting game: Freshman quarterback Jeff Rhode said he will redshirt this season.

The 6-foot-6, 235-pounder from Oregon passed all of his conditioning drills, but he acknowledged, "I don't have college strength. That will come over time."

He will spend the season learning the offense, lifting weights and directing the scout team.

"I have to learn from Timmy (Chang, UH's starting quarterback)," Rhode said. "Timmy's the man right now. There's no signs of him slowing down. He's just getting better. I have to learn from him, Rolo (Nick Rolovich), Jared (Flint) and Shawn (Withy-Allen). Now that Dan (Robinson) is around, I can learn from him, too."

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