Lee will miss early part of camp
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
The success of the Hawaiian Islanders of arenafootball2 will leave the University of Hawai'i football team understaffed for the early portion of training camp, which opens Tuesday.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
Cal Lee, who joined the UH coaching staff as a defensive assistant in June, is also head coach of the Islanders. The Islanders will play in Tulsa Saturday in a playoff game.
Cal Lee coaches the Hawaiian Islanders, who play at Tulsa Saturday.
"We kind of anticipated it," said UH coach June Jones, noting Lee has participated in every coaches' meeting this summer.
The Warriors also were short-handed during spring practice in April after Kevin Lempa resigned as defensive coordinator in February to coach Boston College's defensive backs.
Lee agreed to fill the vacant position with the understanding that he remain as the Islanders' head coach, a duality allowed under NCAA rules. Prior to joining UH, Lee was the athletic director and head football coach at Saint Louis School, winning 15 O'ahu Prep Bowl titles or state football championships.
Lee will coach UH's strong-side linebackers this season. In his absence, associate head coach and defensive coordinator George Lumpkin, who coaches the other two linebacker positions, will handle Lee's duties.
Jones said Lee will have no problem "getting indoctrinated" to UH's defensive system.
"He's a great coach," Jones said. "I'm glad he's with us. He's our kind of guy. He's a winner, and he's the right kind of person."
The long-term plan is for Lee to coach all of the linebackers. The timetable, Jones said, "will be up to him. I'll have him go at the pace he's comfortable with."
• On hold: UH is awaiting notification from the NCAA Clearinghouse on the status of several recruits, including linebacker Chris Cole of Mission Viejo (Calif.) High, and Kahuku High's Quin Ah You, Viliami Nauahi and George Perry.
The Clearinghouse certifies the eligibility of every incoming NCAA freshman student-athlete. Without the Clearinghouse's blessing, a student-athlete may not practice with his NCAA team nor play in a game.
Citing federal privacy laws and NCAA rules, UH coaches and officials say they are not allowed to comment on student-athletes who have not received NCAA clearance.
Lumpkin did confirm that linebacker Isaiah Alameda, a 2000 graduate of Kamehameha Schools who practiced with UH in the spring, is no longer with the program.
• Buckeyes not bull's-eyes: Jones reconfirmed his belief that he would rather play defending national champion Ohio State than a road game against Western Athletic Conference champion Boise State. Jones made similar comments at the WAC Media Preview and on ESPN Radio.
"Boise does more things offensively," Jones said. "They have a lot of formations and their quarterback (Ryan Dinwiddie) is one of the best in the country. And the same is true of (the WAC's) Fresno State. Both teams are very good."
