Manuwai an Internet All-America

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

University of Hawai'i offensive lineman Vince Manuwai has been named to the SportsLine.com All-America football team.

Hawai'i's Vince Manuwai, a 6-foot-2, 292-pound guard, was selected an All-American by Dennis Dodd, in consultation with scouts. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

The 6-foot-2, 292-pound Manuwai is a graduate of Farrington High.

Manuwai will play his final regular-season game of his college career tomorrow against San Diego State at Aloha Stadium.

• Money matters: While refusing to discuss his upcoming contract negotiations publicly, UH football coach June Jones yesterday reiterated his hope that his assistants will receive pay raises.

"Our (assistant) coaches haven't had a raise in four years, you know," Jones said. "I know the work place and what we're doing they love, but at some point, they have to look out for themselves, too."

In four seasons as UH's head coach, Jones has lost only two assistants. Greg McMackin accepted the job as Texas Tech's defensive coordinator in 2000, receiving a higher base salary from the Red Raiders than the $170,000 Jones is guaranteed annually from UH. The following year, Dennis McKnight, resigned to spend more time with his family and car-cleaning business in San Diego.

Jones said the high retention rate is "unusual for Hawai'i, but I think some of it was the people I selected. They had connections with Hawai'i, and they knew what it was about. The guys who will leave are the guys who don't have connections with Hawai'i, and we may lose two or three this year. Who knows?"

• No change in Tide: A coaching switch at Alabama will not impact next year's scheduled football rematch between the Crimson Tide and host Hawai'i, UH athletic director Herman Frazier said yesterday.

"Absolutely not," said Frazier, who was asked if Alabama would try to back out of its commitment after losing head coach Dennis Franchione to Texas A&M yesterday.

There was concern because Virginia and Texas had dropped UH from their schedules soon after making coaching changes.

But Frazier said he and Tide athletic director Mal Moore are close friends, and "our commitment still stands."

What's more, Frazier said, "We are still basking in the sun over the number of people they brought here to the Islands (last week), and we think they will return (next year) even more enthusiastically."

Alabama completed the first of a two-season probation that bars the Tide from postseason competition. Alabama players considered last week's meeting as their "bowl game."

According to the terms of the signed contract between the teams, Alabama would have to pay a penalty "in excess of $300,000" for dropping out of the game, Frazier said.

• La'anui no ka oi: UH's La'anui Correa has been invited to play in the Maui Hula Bowl in February, team officials announced yesterday.

Correa, a senior defensive end from St. Louis School, has started 12 games at left end this season. He attended Nevada-Las Vegas as a freshman in 1998 before transferring to UH.

Earlier, Manuwai, center Lui Fuata, linebacker Chris Brown and safety Sean Butts were invited to play in the all-star game for college seniors.