READERS WEIGH IN ON JUNE JONES, HERMAN FRAZIER AND UH ATHLETICS

COACH'S DEPARTURE

FOOTBALL REPRESENTS UH FOR MOST OF HAWAI'I

Shame on the University of Hawai'i for losing the best thing that's ever happened to the Athletics Department, maybe the state.

Don't you get it? For the 95 percent of us who have no contact with the UH system, the football team is the University of Hawai'i.

We could care less about the rest of the university, and if you don't adequately satisfy the football team, then we'll start to push the Legislature to unfund the rest (starting with the Athletics Department, heh heh).

UH JUST DOESN'T GET IT, HAS NO BUSINESS SENSE

They don't know how lucky Hawai'i was to have had a coach willing to forgo millions of dollars in the NFL to coach based entirely on his love for the state and the University of Hawai'i.

They have no business sense and don't understand that making an investment in your state's college athletic department can actually generate large amounts of revenue as proven by the success of this year's football team.

They underestimated the pride of Hawai'i fans by giving back nearly a third of their allotted tickets to the Sugar Bowl even though nearly 20,000 Hawai'i fans, many traveling more than 15 hours and hundreds of miles, showed up to support the team who represented the state they love dearly.

They are the former athletic director, Herman Frazier; the University of Hawai'i Board of Regents; and Hawai'i's politicians.

NEGLECT IS THE RULE AT UH SYSTEM CAMPUSES

As an English professor at Honolulu Community College, it's depressing to witness that it takes the departure of a successful football coach to get the Legislature and executive branch of Hawai'i's government to care about the University of Hawai'i.

Yes, it's an outrage that the football team doesn't have soap in the showers, that football coaches are underpaid and that the carpet in June Jones' office needs replacing.

However, for students and faculty alike, such neglect is the rule, not the exception, in the University of Hawai'i system.

There are millions of dollars in basic repairs that will never take place as long as the Legislature continues its contempt for the state's public school system. If anyone doubts this, come to my campus — Honolulu Community College — and use the restroom.

Simply put, if Hawai'i's legislators, executives, senators and congressional representatives were forced to send their children to public schools and the University of Hawai'i, I'm confident they'd find the money to repair leaking plumbing and put soap in the showers.

However, they send their children to private schools and Mainland universities and then underfund Hawai'i's public schools.

Apparently, though, they do watch UH football.

BIGGER CONCERNS IN ISLES THAN LOSS OF JONES

With more than 80 percent of the local television news programs focused solely on June Jones as of late, common sense tells you that Hawai'i is in big trouble socially, politically and economically.

With the closure of many landmark establishments, a big hint has already arrived that 2008 will be a record year for bankruptcies in so-called paradise.

Voter turnout in Hawai'i is the lowest in the nation.

There are more pressing concerns in Hawai'i, such as its economy. But in an election year, it is hardly being addressed. Enough said!

DEPARTURE OF JONES IS A MIND-BOGGLING LOSS

To have a historic season at the University of Hawai'i end with the loss of its leader and architect boggles my mind.

To lose a head coach who genuinely wants to be here is something that simply cannot be allowed.

I guess this past season's BCS appearance may really have been a "once in a lifetime" occurrence. With the loss of June Jones, the university administration will not only be losing a great coach, but Hawai'i's and maybe a nation's respect.

What football coach would want to come to a university program that won't lift a finger to support a BCS-caliber coach like June Jones?

IT IS TIME TO GET BACK TO THE THINGS THAT MATTER

Athletics are an important part of a well-rounded education.

But our news media, politicians and booster clubs seem to believe football is the be-all and end-all of the University of Hawai'i's existence.

Wake up, people: There is some really serious stuff going on out there in the world. How about paying attention to that?

If the university is important to you, how about raising some money to address the overall deteriorating state of its facilities — not just the athletic ones?

Or how about raising some money to fund a faculty position? Is our entire identity and self-esteem as a state wrapped up in the status of our football team and coach?

My father was once a math professor at the University of Colorado. He was constantly being pressured by coaches and university administration to pass failing football players.

That says a lot about what athletics has become at large universities. By contrast, the athletes I knew in the little liberal arts college I attended were among the very best scholars. They went on to make a real difference in the world around them.

We can be proud of what our football team and coach June Jones have accomplished. But let's keep things in perspective. It is time to get back to things that really matter.

UH WILL HAVE TO FIND A NEW HEAD COACH FAST

With the departure of June Jones, the University of Hawai'i is going to have to embark on a real fast search for a new head coach, who is going to have to address a number of different constituencies while continuing the entertaining type of offense that June Jones' teams have become famous for.

I can't think of any other way to maintain fan interest and support. In addition, the new head coach is going to have to continue the tradition begun by Jones of maintaining the UH Warriors as "Polynesia's Team."

I still remember the "rap" on Cal Lee back then in terms of becoming a head coach, and that was that he lacked collegiate coaching experience. While I am not suggesting that Cal be selected automatically as the next head coach, I would suggest he should at least be made offensive coordinator since he is familiar with most of the Jones/Davis run-and-shoot offense.

I hope that the university doesn't prolong the search process beyond a week or two, since there is an entire recruiting season at risk.

KA'ENA POINT

FENCE WILL BE HELP IN CONSERVATION EFFFORTS

I am very happy to see a fence constructed at Ka'ena Point.

It will help conservation efforts there and still allow people access to the point to enjoy seeing the endangered plants, albatross, shearwaters and monk seals that come to this special place.

In addition to keeping predators out, it will also instill in visitors the sense of the special place that Ka'ena Point is.

I regularly take Boy Scouts, university students and other visitors to this location, and each time they come away with a special appreciation for this site.

Ensuring that the plants and birds are protected will only solidify in visitors how special this place really is.

Since access through the fence is still possible, I do not see that either proposed route makes a difference.

INTERISLAND TRAVEL

A LOT OF COSTLY ADD-ONS WITH SUPERFERRY FARES

Since the price to take the Superferry was advertised at $39, I thought I might enjoy a boat ride to Maui, visit some friends and fly back. So I went online to book a ticket. My cost would be $39, true, but taxes and fees added another $8.53 and the fuel surcharge added $15.21. The total cost came to $62.74.

And then I discovered that I was unable, online at least, to take a one-way trip.

Airline prices are straightforward, and it's easy to book online and to book one-way.

I'm flying next week, and I'll return when I please. I love boats, but the Superferry is not for me.

INSURANCE PROFITS

HMSA CAN HELP SOLVE PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE

Mike Newton's letter (Dec. 8) about the difficulty of finding a physician who accepts his employer's HMSA health plan in Kona raised valid points about why doctors leave Hawai'i.

Unfortunately, a follow-up letter (Dec. 13) by HMSA Senior Vice President Cliff Cisco disavowed any responsibility for the physician shortage and exclusively blamed government-subsidized health insurance.

Mr. Newton was complaining about HMSA's private line of insurance, not QUEST, the state's Medicaid program for needy children and adults that Mr. Cisco attacked.

Are some insurance companies more interested in profits than in paying doctors a reasonable fee? Well, HMSA declared more than $41 million in total profits from 1995 through 2007 on revenue it received from the state's Medicaid QUEST program.

Also, according to a new University of Hawai'i study, there is a serious shortage of psychiatrists on the Big Island. Meanwhile, during the first five months of 2007, HMSA retained nearly $936,000 in unused QUEST funds earmarked for outpatient psychiatric services. HMSA could have used that money to hire psychiatrists, instead of pumping up its bottom line.

Independent studies show Hawai'i's private insurers have the nation's second-lowest payment rates to physicians. As the dominant private insurer in Hawai'i, HMSA is in the best position to remedy this situation.

There are many reasons why doctors have financial difficulties in Hawai'i, including the high cost of living and exorbitant premiums for malpractice insurance. Another factor is quite simple: HMSA makes a great deal of money while doctors struggle to maintain their practices.