By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

University of Hawai'i sports teams achieved two victories over San Jose State Saturday.

One of them, in men's basketball, was expected and lopsided, 71-45. The other, an attempted but unsuccessful raid on the services of offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh by the Spartans, was jolting and should be food for thought.

In the case of Cavanaugh, it would be a mistake for UH, its athletic administration in particular, to heave a ho-hum sigh of relief and go back to business as usual.

San Jose State's pursuit of Cavanaugh should be a wake-up call because it is one thing if Southern California, Texas or somebody of that level comes calling, lucrative offer in hand. It is quite another, however, if it is San Jose State, a conference opponent. A near-the-bottom one, that can get Cavanaugh to visit and take the offer back to his family.

New San Jose State coach Dick Tomey could be the magician capable of turning around the Spartans, but what does it say right now when a program that doesn't even average 7,000 fans a game can make what we're told is a better offer — in terms of title, money and length of contract — for Cavanaugh than the one he already has here?

UH has been fortunate its football coaching staff is, for the most part, composed of people from Hawai'i or who have chosen to put down roots. The continuity of coaches — just four departures in six seasons — is part of what has allowed UH to have five winning seasons and four bowl appearances in six years.

You suspect that the lack of turnover has also made UH a little complacent. Just because more coaches haven't left doesn't mean UH can take them for granted, which is sometimes the perception.

When bowl bonuses aren't paid, as they have yet to be on the 2003 Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl, much less the 2004 game, or salaries lag, even the most entrenched are apt to take a look at the landscape.

The 2004 season was one of Cavanaugh's best with the Warriors remarkably allowing just one sack, on average, every 59 pass attempts in quarterback Tim Chang's NCAA career passing record season.

There are reasons UH has been in the top four nationally in passing offense the past six seasons and not all of them are the quarterback and receivers. There are reasons the NFL has drafted five of Cavanaugh's players in as many years and taken 10 of his products to camp.

UH will lose Cavanaugh one day. But probably for an NFL job like the one he nearly landed at Atlanta a year ago, not college. He came to UH from the San Diego Chargers and his oft-stated goal has been to return to the pros one day.

When that time comes his tenure and body of work at UH will be such that nobody can begrudge Cavanaugh for following his dreams. But until then, it would be an error to take Cavanaugh, or the other assistant coaches, for granted.

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