Posted on: Sunday, March 27, 2005
Jones speaks on steroids, budgets
| • | Warriors must go to great depths in '05 |
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
The recent time off has not mellowed University of Hawai'i football coach June Jones.
During a two-hour lunch with newspaper and television reporters, Jones discussed his experiment with anabolic steroids in the 1970s, the Warrior football program's budget problems, pay raises for his assistant coaches and why silver is the new black.
On using steroids as a National Football League rookie in 1977:
"Everybody had. I kind of laughed listening to (New Orleans Saints coach) Jim Haslett taking a bunch of grief for his comments (on using steroids). I mean, if you played in the National Football League (in the 1970s and early 1980s), you did (use steroids) at one time. It was not illegal when I experimented with steroids. ... I got a doctor's prescription, and used them according to the way the doctor told me to use them. It was pills. It was a tremendous difference. I went from 178 pounds to 215. I got stronger. I threw better.
"Why did I stop? To be quite honest, I was a quarterback. I didn't need to be any bigger than I was at that point. In those days, the doctor prescribed that you (take) 'em for 30 days, and then you didn't use them for the rest of the year. The next year came around and I didn't even do it."
On the number of steroid users back in the NFL back then:
"I would say a significant amount. I don't know how many. I would say (at) the big positions, a percentage were. But back then it was legal."
On steroid use at UH:
"We test (the players) for steroids. We do all that. Nobody's tested positive. So, does it happen? Who knows? ... (Testing is) NCAA mandated. We test them one time when they come in (at the start of training camp), and then you random test during the year. Nobody's ever tested (positive)."
On the impact the athletic department's three-year deficit has on the football program's budget:
"We make do, like the way we have for the last six years. ... We're so far behind (other schools) it's not even funny. ... It's $168,000 to change out all of our video stuff to bring it up to San Jose State's quality. ... We've got no money (but) we have found a way to overcome it."
On helping his assistant coaches, who have not received an across-the-board raise during his UH tenure:
"Herman (Frazier, the athletic director) and I have talked about it for three years. But, I mean, the athletic department is losing money. How can you give people raises when there's no money to give 'em. You give 'em raises, and then we have to cut something from the kids? That doesn't make sense. Until we get the management of the whole thing done — which we finally are getting with the ticketing and stadium (premium-seat fees), all of these things are starting to take place — then we've got a shot to give people raises."
On the school's delay in fulfilling an oral promise to pay bonuses to the assistant coaches for the Warriors' participation in the 2004 Hawai'i Bowl:
"I told them they will get their bonuses and, guess what, they'll get their bonuses. First of all, it's not in their contracts that they get bonuses. So, the fact that they're getting bonuses, that Herman has been able to find a way to get that done, is pretty positive to me. ... The bottom line is: Herman said they would get 'em. When we have the money to give it to them, they will get 'em. I've been told they will get 'em for the next paycheck (on April 5)."
On finding a successor to offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh, who accepted a similar job at Oregon State:
"We'll replace him. We had the No. 1 offense in the National Football League, and I didn't know Cav (at the time). He can be replaced and, one day, I'll be replaced. That's how life is."
On when Cavanaugh's replacement will be hired:
"I would say in the next 2 1/2 to three weeks. I've identified three people. ... They've all coached the (offensive) line at one time. I've been with them one time or another in the National Football League." On his coaching future:
"I would say that I will be here until I accomplish what I set out to accomplish. I would think I will fulfill my contract, which has three more years on it. .... I could (walk away now), but I don't want to. I have a lot at stake here. I have a lot of good kids on the team I'm looking forward to coaching. I promised (them) I would be here. My No. 1 quality as a person is I'm very loyal. It would be very hard for me to recruit a kid and then walk away."
On whether he had been asked to tone down his opinions:
"Do you want me to lie? You ask me questions, I'll tell you the truth. You can't get in trouble for telling the truth."
On adding silver helmets and silver jerseys to the football team's wardrobe:
"That's what you do. That's marketing. ... Silver and black sell."
On the possibility of a turn-back-the-clock night in which the Warriors would wear their old rainbow uniforms:
"Hell no."
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.
