Posted on: Tuesday, July 23, 2002

Jones' tardiness may cost him

Advertiser Staff

BOISE, Idaho — University of Hawai'i coach June Jones is expected to be fined for missing this morning's meeting of Western Athletic Conference football coaches.

Jones is visiting his son in Oregon and is not scheduled to arrive here until tonight.

WAC commissioner Karl Benson declined to comment on the situation except to note that the other nine league head football coaches were in town for the opening of the WAC Football Media Preview.

Tulsa coach Keith Burns said he was scolded for showing up late to last year's meetings.

The coaches are scheduled to address the media tomorrow. WAC officials said the coaches were expected to attend last night's dinner, sponsored by the Humanitarian Bowl, and this morning's meeting.

In noting Jones' absence last night, a Humanitarian Bowl official announced to the crowd of 100, "I guess June doesn't work in July."

Benson and Jones are expected to meet tomorrow morning to discuss Jones' complaints about WAC officiating last season. That meeting originally was scheduled for today.

Past UH football coaches have reluctantly attended the Media Preview, complaining of the long travel for a 30-minute speech promoting the league.

Jones was excused from attending last year's meeting while recovering from injuries suffered in an automobile accident. Associate head coach George Lumpkin was the replacement speaker.

WAC rules permit the league to issue fines for missed meetings. Several years ago, then-basketball coach Don Haskins of Texas-El Paso was fined for missing a Media Preview. The fine is usually paid by the coach's school, or deducted from the payout each school receives annually from the WAC.