Posted on: Sunday, January 11, 2004
AD Frazier ready to dish out discipline
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
University of Hawai'i athletic director Herman Frazier has concluded his investigation and is prepared to announce next week disciplinary action against the Warrior football players who participated in a fight against Houston players at the conclusion of the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl on Christmas Day.
Frazier told The Advertiser he has reviewed three different videotapes of the fight.
"I have my own personal conclusions as to who was involved," he said.
The commissioners of the Western Athletic Conference, of which Hawai'i is a member, and Conference USA, of which Houston is a member, met yesterday to discuss the fight. They were attending the NCAA Convention in Nashville, Tenn.
But WAC commissioner Karl Benson said league protocol calls for Hawai'i officials to determine if their players violated the WAC's code of sportsmanship and, if so, what punishment they will receive.
Benson said Hawai'i's recommendations will be forwarded to the WAC office. It is up to the WAC to decide whether to accept the recommended sanctions.
According to the code, a player found to have committed physical abuse — defined as "striking or attempting to strike or otherwise physically abusing" a coach, spectator or student-athlete — can receive a public reprimand and a suspension ranging from one game to an entire season.
A player who incites others to commit a violent act faces suspension ranging from two games to an entire season, according to the code.
Making an obscene gesture or using "unduly provocative language" can result in a public reprimand.
Benson said C-USA has a similar code of sportsmanship.
Frazier said he expects players from both teams to receive suspensions.
Benson said he reviewed videotape of the fight taken by ESPN, which produced and televised the game, Aloha Stadium's video crew and a Houston television station.
During the 2002 regular season, players from Cincinnati, also of C-USA, and Hawai'i fought following their game at Aloha Stadium. Cincinnati suspended several players for their part in the fight. UH did not announce publicly if it disciplined any of its players.
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.
