UH may play road game against Alabama in 2006
By Stephen Tsai and Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writers
The University of Hawai'i football team is "very close" to completing a deal to play a road game against Alabama in 2006, Warrior head coach June Jones told The Advertiser yesterday.
For now, talks center on the single game in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Jones said the schools are exploring the possibility of extending the arrangement into a three-game series, with two games scheduled for Aloha Stadium.
Jones said the Warriors are expected to receive an appearance fee of "close to a million dollars" for the 2006 game.
"It's going to be the biggest pay day this school has ever seen, I'll tell you that," Jones said.
Alabama, one of the most successful programs in NCAA football history, played UH in Hawai'i in 2002 and 2003. In those years, Alabama was serving an NCAA probation and was not eligible for a postseason bowl.
Jones, UH athletic director Herman Frazier and Crimson Tide athletic director Mal Moore have had several discussions since the Warriors' 37-29 victory last November.
Jones described the proposed game in Alabama as a "huge opportunity" for "our kids."
Jones also said the Warriors have discussed playing a road game in Florida and a home-and-home series with Kansas. Those negotiations are in the preliminary stages.
Jones said adding Alabama is part of his plan of playing high-profile road games at the start of the season. "If you're ever lucky enough to beat those kinds of teams on the road early, then you've got a chance" to receive a national ranking, Jones said.
Jones, who was named UH's head coach in December 1998, said he did not want to play tough nonconference road games in 1999 and 2000.
Back then, he said, "we didn't have enough players (on the defensive and offensive lines). But we've got guys at big positions (now) that if we lose a guy now, we can finish the year. ... In 1999, if we scheduled Florida or somebody on the road, and go up and lose two or three linemen, we're done for the year. We had five (offensive linemen) who can play. Now we've got 12 guys who can play."
The Warriors have three openings on their 12-game schedule for the 2006 season. In addition to eight Western Athletic Conference games, the Warriors will play Purdue of the Big Ten Conference.
UH also is close to finalizing a deal to play Nevada-Las Vegas in 2006.
Jones said he would prefer not to fill a vacancy with a Division I-AA team, but there are few alternatives.
"It's hard to get (Division I-A) teams," he said. "We would rather play Alabama, Oklahoma, USC — all of those teams. It's tough to get the games."
Jones said he has not ruled out the possibility of the Warriors playing a game in Japan.
In other UH news, Jones said wide receiver Sean Stennis has decided to transfer. During spring practice in April, Stennis challenged for the starting job at right wideout. Ross Dickerson emerged as the starter.
"The bottom line, if he stuck it out, is he might have had a shot to play," Jones said of Stennis.
Stennis' uncle, Mike Stennis, was a UH quarterback in the late 1970s. Mike Stennis died of cancer last year.
After violating a team rule in the spring of 2003, Sean Stennis was suspended and forced to relinquish his football scholarship. He rejoined the team for the 2003 season, although his scholarship was not reinstated.
Jones said quarterback Ryan Stickler is deciding whether to move to linebacker. In spring practice, Stickler, a third-year sophomore, competed for the job as top backup to quarterback Tim Chang.
Kainoa Akina, a fourth-year junior, exited spring practice as the No. 2 quarterback. Jack Rolovich, a second-year freshman, is listed at No. 3.
With three freshman quarterbacks added to the roster, Stickler was not invited to the three-week training camp, which begins Aug. 9. He will join the team Aug. 30, the first day of UH's fall semester, when the roster may expand.
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051 and Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.
