WAC chief sees penalties for both UHs

By Stephen Tsai and Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writers

Western Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson said he expects "some players from both teams (Houston and Hawai'i) to be disciplined" when the WAC and Conference USA complete their review of the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl post-game brawl on Christmas Day.

"There are aggressors on both sides," Benson said. "I think there are players on both teams who actively participated. There was too much of that."

Benson's statement comes on the heels of comments from Houston athletic director Dave Maggard yesterday citing Hawai'i as the instigator of a series of skirmishes that lasted for several minutes after the Warriors' 54-48 triple-overtime in front of a national cable audience.

Maggard said "I think at this point there is still a lot of of speculation (going on), but there is no doubt in my mind, based upon what I viewed on the sideline, how it started."

"Now, the retaliation should not have occurred, but I do know how it started." Maggard added. "I think when you have more than one player rush out on the field, put an obscene gesture in the face of some of our players and, then, another player slap one of our players on the back of the head, that is a very difficult thing to walk away from."

UH coach June Jones, who had insisted the Cougars initiated the fight, declined to comment yesterday, except to say, "It's pretty clear what started (the fight) and what happened."

Maggard said, "I have a difficult time with folks saying that this was something we caused by taunting and so on and so forth. I was down on the field almost the entire game ... I saw a lot. I heard a lot."

Maggard and UH athletic director Herman Frazier said their conferences are readying reports on the brawl. A C-USA spokesman did not return calls seeking comment.

Frazier said, "I won't do tit for tat. We're going to keep our end of the bargain and do what we said (we would do) with the conference office."

Frazier said UH has looked at its own film in addition to tape from ESPN and Aloha Stadium. "I've got six different camera angles of the situation. We basically have more information."

UH President Evan Dobelle said Frazier is scheduled to "make a report on the incident" at the Board of Regents' meeting on Jan. 16.

Maggard said, "I met with our president's cabinet (Wednesday) and reviewed it with them. I also indicated we would have more conversations with the conference office and review more film."

Maggard added: "I understand tough football — but isn't it a bit much for one of the Hawai'i assistant coaches (Vantz Singletary) to come to the sideline with 'war paint?'

"Hawai'i has to lose the image of wanting to engage in a street fight following the game — otherwise it was a wonderful experience for us and we have no regrets."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.