Busy off-season for Hawai'i football coach

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

To be sure, this has been one of the busiest off-seasons for the University of Hawai'i football program.

Hugh Yoshida's announced retirement as UH athletic director led to last month's hiring of his successor, Herman Frazier.

UH coach June Jones broke off negotiations on an extension of a five-year contract that expires in December 2003. Jones' close friend and agent, Leigh Steinberg, received a one-year extension to serve as marketing manager. Steinberg, who was first contracted by UH in 2000, sought a long-term deal.

In addition, Jones staged a public battle to convert Aloha Stadium's playing surface from AstroTurf to FieldTurf, a grass-like synthetic field favored by the National Football League. Installation of FieldTurf will begin Dec. 26 and should be completed for the NFL's Pro Bowl in February.

Also, K5, which retained the local television rights to UH sports for three more years, will show seven Warrior home football games live on a pay-per-view basis. Replays will air, for free, later that night.

Jones, who will speak tomorrow at the Western Athletic Conference Football Media Preview, addressed some of the off-season issues in a telephone interview yesterday.

On his future at UH:

I'm coaching this year, and I have two years left on my contract. (Breaking off negotiations) wasn't a big deal. Whether I signed an extension or not, it wouldn't have affected the next 24 months. ... I believe (an extension) probably will happen. But I'm not going to deal with it until next year. I'm going to talk about it after the season, just like I did after last season, and hopefully we can get something done.

On the new television deal:

There are so many unknowns. The only thing I will say is if somebody doesn't like it, they can wait until 10 o'clock the night of the game and watch (the replay) for free. I voiced my opinion (on live and same-night telecasts), and the agreement we have, that's the one we're living with, so it doesn't really matter what I think at this point. Let's say, I coach football. I don't really work on TV contracts. I know it's important to KFVE to have same-day coverage, so, for whatever reason, that's it. ... The unknown is how it will affect attendance. The comment last year was that (UH's home games against) Fresno State and BYU were on ESPN, and we weren't hurt at the gate. But maybe if Fresno State wasn't on live, we would have sold out. I have no way of knowing.

On Steinberg's one-year extension:

There are so many things involved because of all of the changes at our school. I think Evan (Dobelle, UH's president) was trying to allow Herman (Frazier) to make those decisions. We were down to D-Day on (the Steinberg contract) and with (the recent implementation of) ticket-scaling, we just had to move on. I think Evan wanted to get it to the situation of where we were, to not lose any ground, and then let Herman analyze it and make his own decision once he gets settled. ... I'll say this, Leigh has taken us to a level this school has never been at. Herman will realize that very quickly. Had the Steinberg group not come in (two years ago), we wouldn't be at the level we're at right now.

On the battle and subsequent delay in installing new turf at Aloha Stadium:

I was kind of in shock that it's not already down because it was brought up almost two years ago. It's two years later, and we're still where we are. It sounds like it'll be down after our season is over. It's too bad the high school kids and our players won't be able to play on it this year.

On accusations he is financially motivated to change the turf:

(Jones is tied to the Quarterback Club, a group of former NFL players who have a minority interest in FieldTurf.)

That's so ridiculous I won't even comment on that. ... I voiced what I thought would be best for the state and the university, what I thought would be the safest conditions. But obviously other people have other ideas. That's kind of the way it is right now. You have to roll with it and do the best you can.

On whether UH can reach the so-called "next level" as members of the WAC:

I think so. I think Fresno State has proven that you can get to the next level, and they're in the WAC. Hopefully, we'll play consistently during the season to have a shot at going to a bowl. That's what you shoot for.

On scheduling:

We have five road games this year and six next year. You have to win on the road to be a good team. Hopefully, we'll be able to do that.