It’s time to stop the madness
Ben Jay can be nice. He can be well-meaning. He can have good intentions.
But he can’t be the UH AD.
Not today. Not for the next six months. Not ever again.
When he opened his feelings about the UH athletic department that he oversees, he opened the door to his exit.
His comments in today’s Star-Advertiser were not about honesty or honor. They did not read like explanations on his inability to get the job done; they read like excuses. After receiving an under-par evaluation, he was allowed the dignity of what amounted to an honorable discharge, effective at the end of the fiscal year. It allowed him to seek other employment — it’s easier to find a job when you have a job — and save face.
But as the face of the athletic department, which relies largely on donations to fuel its program, Jay’s uncertainty whether he would have taken the job had he known the full conditions, sabotages fund-raising efforts. This is America, land of the brave and free speech. A person is free to say he does not like Diet Coke, he just can’t be the CEO of Coca-Cola.
And, yes, he didn’t know then what he knows now. But now that he knows, why does he want to stay around for six more months?
He didn’t raise substantial money before, he won’t raise it now. If he felt he didn’t have a bond with the chancellor before, I’m sure they’re not Facebook friends now.
It’s time to say goodbye. This time, for real.
* * * * *
For the second time this recruiting period, the Warriors have secured a commitment from a player coming off a church mission.
Sione Kauhi, a tight end/defensive end, completed his mission in November. He signed a scholarship agreement this week. He will join the Warriors in January, participate in the offseason conditioning program and spring training, and have five years to play four seasons.
Kauhi is 6-5 and 260 pounds.
His father is from Hawaii, and the family moved back here following his graduation from Wilsonville High in 2012.
Here’s the highlight video: Kauhi video
Dylan Collie, a receiver, returns from his mission next week and also will join the Warriors in January.
Great Morning All!
Welcome Mr. Kauhi!
Yesterday’s ST’s posts #30 & #37:
Chow was called by OSU not the other way around.
Got um? Guud 🙂
Welcome Mr. Sione Kauhi!
Welcome Mr. Dylan Collie!
as an example of a coach who ran an anemic offense and then experienced wild success after he hired new offensive coordinators, I direct your attention to Gary Patterson of TCU. Known as a defense first coach with a ball control offense, TCU struggled to score in their first year in the Big 12 and finished near the bottom of the standings.
In the offseason, he hired an entire staff of air raid guys who installed the air raid in TCU, and now they rank second in the country in scoring and just barely missed out on the college football playoffs.
Hi ST!
Hi d1shima!
😀
Since cry baby Ben Jay could not fix the athletic woes despite a hefty $400K yearly salary, I propose the following solution, for free.
1. Overhaul Organization Model
While I question whether academic types are fit to run anything, it is very apparent that running an athletics program is something they rather avoid and are unfit to do.
My solution is that they out source the management and administration of the athletic program.
While paying for everything related to the The Bus, the City out sources the running of bus transportation system to a private entity, MTL. Why can’t a similar model, with adjustments, be applied at UH in regards to the athletics program?
I propose that a non-profit corporation be established, called “Rainbow Athletics”.
Class “A” (Voting) and Class “B” (Non-Voting) shares in “Rainbow Athletics” will be issued to supporters based on established criteria like number of season tickets purchased, money donations, etc.
At the organizational meeting of the shareholders, 7 to 9 board members will be nominated and elected. Why not have a Tomey, a Freitas, a Amemiya, for instance, elected to be initial board members? Pay them a small stipend for meetings. With this kind of brain trust working for the program, how can we fail? Tomey for Chairman of the Board?
The board will be responsible for hiring the AD and the AD will answer to the board, and only the board.
Only thing, the AD will hence forth be called the Athletics “CEO”.
The CEO will then hire and appoint, free from State hiring rules, the management team. Instead of Associate ADs, there will be a VP of Marketing, VP of Student Development and Academics, etc. All of the management team will not be in the HGEA union and will serve At Will to the CEO.
Hiring of the football coach and other coaches will be done by the AD and the Board. No more committees.
Once a year, say in June, an annual shareholders meeting will be held where the Directors will either be retained or fired via vote. Also at the annual meeting, the shareholders will have a chance to interact with the board and be informed about the state of the athletics program.
Also once a year, the board will send to all shareholders, an annual report, with financial statements. Besides a financial statement, there will be an annual economic impact statement that will show the true economic impact to the State of the athletic program. For instance, since the Hawaii Bowl exists only because UH has a football team, the economic benefit of the bowl game will be measured and accounted for. Likewise for the Stadium rental. It is shown as an expense in the normal financial reports for the athletic program, but it really is an economic benefit to the State.
II. Institutional Control
Institutional control will be exercised by the hiring of a Compliance Czar (with broad access and authority) who will report to the Chancellor and will dog the athletic program, to make sure all UH policies and procedures and NCAA rules and regs are followed (no more basketball violations).
This will be the only control exercised by the Chancellor over the program, namely to make sure institutional rules are followed.
III. Why Rainbow Athletics?
To get rid of that sissy title in the football name. We kill two birds with one stone. The old timers will be happy. How can they not be happy, with their stock certificate showing the Rainbow name with the Rainbow logo emblazoned upon it.
Aloha Sione!
Mahalo for being a Warrior!
Happy Aloha Friday!
Seems like there a lot of Mormons on the team.
Hope that leads to strong moral character for the athletes.
I must admit we are signing some outstanding players , I hope this trend continues, I really like the class that cosch Chow is putting together – not big numbers but certainly some real talent. I just read an article that Chip Kelly was going to offer Sione out of high school
Interesting column by Ferd Lewis regarding Ben Jay’s comments about spending more time with his children.
I can relate to that.
#6. First off BJ makes under 300K so get your facts straight. Secondly there are many NCAA rules not to mention state laws that restrict the type of private ran business that you suggest. We all love UH athletics and want the program to succeed. I agree with you the it would be hard for one person no matter if they are Superman to fix all the woes that UH has and there must be a circle of support to make it happen. UH needs to find a AD that can influence change in model, sell a vision then recruit the funds needed to meet the vision. Plaster that vision in conceptual facilities all over the walls of UH and have those come and see your vision and raise the funds to get there. If you have that I think you can hire the kind of coaches and staff that share the vision. Even if UH does not currently have the facilities they can see where you want to go and I believe you can use that to recruit and ask those athletes to help you get there.
Good Morning Hawaii and Hawaii At Heart! Have a Great Aloha Friday!
Eh Akamai, you pretty Akamai eh, das wht dey call you dat? (…interesting concept, treat it like the business it is).
If we didn’t have chow, we probably wouldn’t be getting a lot of these recruits coming off of church missions.
#8 … because non-Mormons don’t have strong character?
I’m more excited about picking up a commitment AFTER their church mission than signing one before they go on one. Good deal(s).
#13:
if your premise is correct – should they not sign with BYU?
Chow is only a person who may decide to cash in at any time while BYU will be there forever!
morality and character – why would one care about this fs he/she has none?
Hawaii is not the only Division I school with an “academic type” running the campus so why assume that an “academic type” can’t manage a school with an athletic department? If you say that this particular chancellor is not up for the responsibility that’s fine but a blanket assumption is a poor assumption.
GOOD MORNING, HAWAII!
Welcome aboard Mr. Kauhi
8… LOL. Talk about discrimination. So if you’re not mormon, then….
#13 begreen: would rather get guys straight out of high school who have actually been training and playing the past few years
Next time I have to hire someone new, I’ll remember to ask what their religious back ground is.. I want moral character.
Wow blog getting a little dicey this morning, perhaps someone substituted regular for decaf. As far as UH athletics there are a lot of interesting possibilities. What is not very interesting is just picking a new AD with the assumption that will fix everything. Vision and creativity are needed. Just changing the carburetor on an engine that is failing will not work. What the creative solution is I don’t know but it is an opportunity for vision. There was a time Apple computer was going down the drain. With vision they morphed into one of the most successful businesses ever. I am not suggesting we can emulate that sort of stunning turn around but only mention is as an example of possbility. if we cannot imagine success it will not happen. So from the legislature down if there was a will and visions for success I think it can happen. But maybe too much caffeine for me this morning.
15. Agree… But also taking a big risk not knowing whether that player stayed in shape or got slower. I think in the past, majority of the mission players at Hawaii didn’t live up to expectations after returning.
22 I tink u gotta have some character before u can ask fo sum
Stephen,
Russell Williams is from Laguna Creek.
Sione Kauhi is from Wilsonville High in Oregon.
Small kine Typo but you had it correct in your SA. Feature Story.
21. Guys coming off of mission have their advantages too. They typically are more mature physically and mentally. When they are seniors, they are 24-25 year old men, which is an advantage over younger players, even if the younger guys are more talented.
Of course the big disadvantage to mission guys are they are 1-2 years removed from competitive athletics, so there’s definitely going to be a transition period. The length of transition is different for every player.
I wouldn’t specifically recruit missionaries because it is a bit of a gamble if they stay committed after mission. You just go get the best guys you can.
The vast majority of players UH gets have not been offered scholarships by any of the other 128 DIV 1 teams. So important to get the sleepers others believe have no potential. This is the challenge UH football coaches face.
Good to see Sione is signed and will be in the S&C program. Being able to participate in this offseason’s S&C program gives UH the best chance of success with this recruit. Beeman is going to have to work some magic.
To be totally honest, his highlight video is underwhelming.
Chip Kelly liked him out of High School and he probably would have been a Duck if he didn’t go on his mission.
At 6-5, Sione was also an all star Power Forward in Northwest Oregon.
We hire a firm to find an AD. The AD says he didn’t know the job. I hope we continue using this same process to insure the same quality results.
Think before you post. 😆
TGIF! Aloha Friday!
Hawaii’s statute on hiring was to “protect” locals from mainland types which is rooted in our past history when the Big 5 ruled Hawaii with an iron fist.
My brother-in-law wanted to return to Hawaii and work, but the Department of Health gave him such a run around he said forget it.
Nearly 3/4 of a century has passed and the Legislature should review the statute and make any necessary changes or exceptions deemed necessary to expedite hiring of certain “classes” such as giving UH the authority to go out and seek whomever they wanted and by-pass the 10-day waiting period.
I like the attitude of UNLV chancellor as written in the sports page. Do your due diligence and go for it!!!!!
Okay, now I’m ticked-off.
Ben Jay crying like he did in today’s news paper with Ferd Lewis, and I mean crying, publicly, after that non-sense joke of a news conference the other day.
This is comical. He is a joke. He’s making UH look like a joke, therefore, all of us supporters look like jokes.
Forget 6 months. Fire him immediately!
“Had I known”, then do your damn homework. Your fault. You did it all wrong buddy, said all the wrong things, went about it all wrong, had wrong ideas, wrong solutions, wrong friends, wrong alliances, and it’s wrong for Ben Jay to cry to his former boss at Ohio State who has a bottom-less check-book so he too can go public and fight his poor baby boy’s battles.
What the hell does he know about UH and / or Hawaii?
Are you kidding me?
I felt a little sorry for Ben Jay along the way, for a about a minute, no more, now I feel stupid for feeling sorry. He took my kindness for weakness. Never again.
Beat it!
UH Manoa Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman, you’re on the clock my friend, show us what you’r’e made of. Honestly, if you had any stones, any self-respect, any dignity, in my opinion, you’d fired Ben’s butt effective immediately!
http://www.oregonlive.com/wilsonville/index.ssf/2011/09/sports_spotlight_sione_kauhi_w.html Here’s a picture of Sione. Hope he has a great career at UH.
A-House, what statute of hiring are you citing?
33. His interview shows a lack of competence in the University and Ben Jay. The University because they hired a man that hasn’t built anything from the ground up and was working under a budget that had millions at Ohio St. and we expected him to have any experience working with minimal amount of money? I mean there is a reason cops work with former drug dealers to catch drug dealers. Experience and knowledge. Then, Ben Jay just proves he had no idea what he was getting himself into and his inability to connect with the local crowd. Incompetent seems to be the number 1 adjective when describing most people involved with the University of Hawaii.
Hawaii’s statute says any non-Hawaii resident applying for a position must wait 1 year before their application will be reviewed/accepted.
Hawaii residents do not have to wait.
If you have a chance read The Disenchanted Isles by some local haole guy who was in the publishing business – forgot his name!
Welcome to the new Warriors!
Hit the books, hit the weights and training, then hit the guys on the other team harder than they hit you!
GO WARRIORS!!!
One thing I do like about Sione is that he seems to be a high character person which should translate well into conditioning program and hopefully onto the field
A-House, that residency requirement ended several years ago when the ACLU filed a lawsuit against the City and County of Honolulu and the State Attorney General. The Federal Court ruled, probably Judge Ezra, it unconstitutional.
For those watermen out there, the Pipeline Masters is on!
Met and spoke with Ben Jay a couple of times. Smart good intentions but street smarts? No. Have to be a driving force but have a drivers license first! Really? Pity for poor Ben. Hope your new destination has a nice little Airport!!! Sorry but I want to get this done and he could not do it. Nice guy good guy does not show up on a resume……results do!!! Go WArriors. Just got accepted to Warrior Nation Facebook group…..Warriors Forever!!!!
#18: People make these really bizarre assumptions about “academia” and people in academia not knowing how to run schools and athletic departments because they have no idea what theyʻre talking about and kind of have no idea what academia really is.
AKAMAI…#6 seems to me like n excellent plan…
A few suggestions to change or alter a little…Tomey is to old…for day 2 day stuff…but no doubt he should be on as an adviser or in sumthing like that……he has a wealth of skills n experience to not listen to…
Another is imperative that they also take control of the stadium…n stadium authority answer to them n they have the hire n fire for that body…now you talking….
Hire BJ to do a study on the feasibility on a proposed 30k seat stadium on campus…oops 4-got he did that one already…wonder how much time n money he spent on that…oh well…would be his legacy……
Is enough… but makes pretty good business sense to me…to do that one as you say…be nice to get more on here to give their ideas on it…
IMUA new incoming warriors….
#40;
DANG, I MUST HAVE BEEN OUT OF COUNTRY WHEN THAT HAPPENED!!!
thanks for the update
now, must get rid of the 10-day waiting period – be like the mainland schools – complete due diligence and CHARGE!!! 2 or 3 days and done!!!
Kauhi’s highlights looks pretty good. He catches with his hands. Migtht turn out to be one of those hard to find TE’s that the big schools have no problem recruiting. Hope the two-inch rule doesn’t apply as he will be a nightmare to cover in a mismatch.
New UNLV head coach, Tony Sanchez, getting a four-year $500, 000 contract. That’s more than what Hauck and Polian was initially hired for and almost as much as what Chow gets. I think I know where some of that Fertittas money might be going towards.
http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/unlv-rebels/football/sanchez-get-four-year-500000-annual-salary-unlv
Agree with #33, the onus is on UH Manoa Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman to find a replacement AD ASAP, whether it is on an interim basis or not. Leaving Ben Jay in a “lame duck” position doesn’t do anyone any good. Free BJ and let him delude himself further…
Really bothers me that UH Manoa Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman did not have any “action plan” in place before making the decision to move BJ out…
#37 A House for your memory bank Theon Wright wrote the Disenchanted Isles.
Good morning everyone!
Welcome to the Warriors, Sione Kauhi and Dylan Collie!
Seems to me…from what me read on here.. (not read FL)…that
BJ ….JUST CAN’T STOP PUTTING HIS FOOT IN HIS MOUTH…
bowwar — if one believes BJ in Ferd’s article– that he had a poor eval on Friday and decided to resign the next Monday, then Bley-Vroman might have been surprised. If one believes that the resignation was purely for public consumption… then, you can bet a plate lunch there’s a plan underway.
OK, Ben Jay lost his sympathy card again. Put a note in his final paycheck advising him that giving press conferences and interviews is not his forte… he has gone from “lame duck” to “cooked goose”.
Hey my dad is Mormon most of my family is Mormon, but if we are so lucky to be getting all these Mormons how come we 5-29 over the past three years against FBS teams under Chow?
And Bad Job Ben Jay just needs to shut it already. His crybaby poor me we going quit football nobody gives me money I don’t know what to do BS is playing out again on the national stage. Ben; get the heck out of town and shut it. You quit. Be gone.
If it helps improve the team I don’t mind turning into BYUH. BTW I’d trade some high characrer for football talent.
#52: Steve M, you got it right on one account, you don’t know who to believe with the ongoing UH Manoa circus…If I was giving BJ a bad review, you can be assured there would be a contingency in place “in case” he quit. I’d say goodluck and best wishes to BJ and appoint either Clapp or McNamara as “interim” AD and start the search for a replacement…
Ben just needs to keep his mouth shut and move on…It make him and UH look bad. Nobody wins in this mess…
off-topic, but good news … Our “Rookie” Senator gets KEY assignment …
Schatz named to key Senate appropriations committee
By Star-Advertiser staff
POSTED: 10:37 a.m. HST, Dec 12, 2014
LAST UPDATED: 11:20 a.m. HST, Dec 12, 2014
Hawaii’s U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz will hold a seat on the key Senate appropriations committee.
The senator said today his appointment was announced by Senate Democratic leadership.
“This is an important job because the committee makes appropriations that support our national priorities, and because I will be in a position to ensure that the needs of Hawai’i are strongly represented at a critical juncture,” Schatz said. “It is an honor and I look forward to working with all Committee members as we move forward.”
Also, Schatz retains seats on the Commerce, Science and Transportation and the Committee on Indian Affairs. He will also served on the Senate Select Committee on Ethics.
The appointments are subject to full vote by the Senate in January.
Family is a great reason to throttle-back on a career. I can’t think of any $293K class job that wouldn’t take a toll on family life. Hopefully he actually knows, instead of just thinking that he knows, what the salary impact should be. I can accept the assertion that there were challenges that even a very competent person coming in from the outside couldn’t anticipate. But for cripes sake, the trail of needless entropy that his pronouncements and efforts resulted in leaves me little sympathy for his lack of understanding.
53. Thank u for making sense.. good to know we have some fans who have common sense in the way their mind functions..
Well, one thing that Jay’s latest revelation does is it opened up UH’s skeleton closet for any new UH AD candidate to see.
The inadequate due diligence he did is probably also mirrored by UH’s lack of full disclosure of its broken model. Why would that not be surprising. It is now all out there.
It’s been that way since the Stadium was built. Upper Campus uses autonomy as a convenient sword and a shield to stave off any quick fixes.
Now the clock his ticking on the Chancellor. Where does he have to run? I am curious to know what basic “minimal” things UH does not have in place that Jay alluded to. If correct, the Chancellor (and Jay’s successor ) also does not have these at his disposal too.
Hush u people picking on poor BJ…
Why don’t you look at all the good he did while here..
Let me list them…so you can recollect all his ‘positive’ works…
1. He made the light bulbs a priority as one of his first moves.
2. He was instrumental in our name change…then name change again…
3. He was instrumental in….. oops me better go take my memory pills..
me temporarily have a lapse in memory…promise tomorrow me will list
the other one hundred n one ways he put ‘positive’ spins on all that was
said…n will continue to say…(his podogee mouth is worser then mine)..
he is a lark really…get him on that cement boat n headed north east…pronto..
Big Wave:
Thanks for the correction.
Hmmmm ‘minimal things’…..would include…
Wonder blunder was on ur watch Mr. BJ….YOU FORGOT…
When you are on ‘vacation’…don’t you have control over ur personnel ?
Maybe u were out of the “loop” on that one….so was Donovan…the man you replaced…u not know that…??
Me guess he thought he was just relocating to ‘Ohio State Pacific Campus’….
Again…half the truth is a whole lie…
Mr. BJ….if you not been up to the Pali lookout yet….me suggest you visit the Honolulu Zoo there…and get sum elephant dung… n go up there n throw it as far as you can…cuz what will return is exactly what in reality you are doing now…to the fans n people of Hawaii… shame on you…
Too bad the elections are pau. It would have been wonderful if we could have asked all who were running if they could furiously support UH athletics. Now most ares silent, looking sideways and avoiding STANDING UP and supporting the UH athletics. Also, there are 60,000 current UH students and 200,000 UH alumni (regent Jeff Portnoy’s numbers). If they would start the war chant to support our Warriors then the politicians would see the(their) benefit of funding a decent Athletic program. Stand Up Hawaii. Be Strong. Be noisy. Demand the best for our athletes. Ben Jay is not the problem. Norm Chow is not the problem. Our athletes are brave and courageous and represent Hawaii. It is time for the timid Politicians and the faceless, feckless alums to be BOLD
ST, you wen snap, yesterday? How come?
Intellectually I don’t think I should be optimistic for next season, but I am. I won’t speculate on the W-L record, but it seems we might do all right in the conference (the non-conference games not so much).
No sense speculating on next season. There is no way to know how well or not so well the team will do at this point. Might as well just move on from football season already, accept what has happened and concentrate the support to the Bball teams, mens vball, baseball, and softball and pray that they have successful seasons to salvage what we can for this year.
So BJ (Big Joke) admits he cannot do the job and now will spend 6 months proving it to us. That should increase his marketability. Brilliant!
did I read on this blog that the acting chancellor is refusing to sign the contract extensions for Beemer and Trappaso?
what next? a reason for both to bolt?
wake up acting chancellor – you are killing the athletic program at UH – if this is your “plan”, make it public and see how long you act as acting chancellor!!!
get rid of BJ and what’s his name – acting chancellor – NOW!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t care anymore.
#67. Maybe those are the first two sports to get axed? There is no doubt in my mind that Upper Campus is implementing an exit strategy. That’s why Lassner is so quiet.
st. anthony trojan December 12, 2014 at 1:45 pm
Hmmmm ‘minimal things’…..would include…
Wonder blunder was on ur watch Mr. BJ….
st. anthony trojan – trojan, trojan, trojan – WAKE UP.
Wonder blunder did NOT happen on BJ’s watch.
wassa mala yooo?
ne he he he
DUHHHHHH
ne he he he
67… That’s a HUGE issue. That’s the other big problem I have with UH leadership.
I think you meant Beeman, the women’s BB coach, who by the way is doing a great job. Her efforts at UH are going to be noticed by bigger programs and before you know it, Beeman will be gone with no buyout to UH and the WBB program will fall on it’s face again.
Just a list of items UH leadership has messed up on over the past handful of years:
1. They’ve torpedoed MBB coaching
2. Multiple years of horrendous MBB scheduling leading to lower attendance than it should be (more the AD’s fault)
3. Chow’s hiring is failing.
4. Refuse to sign contract extension for good coaches
5. Refuse to properly fund the Athletics program
6. Dave Shoji is likely to retire now that one of his top assistants left
7, Reluctant to upgrade facilities
8. Two Failed Athletic Directors (Three if you go back to Frazier)
9. UH Presidents force to resign/retire
10. Chancellor Apple forced out at the same time several coaches agreed contracts arrive for his signature
11. Several BOR members quit when required to disclose financials
12. Wonder Blunder
13. Construct grandstands at Ching (Cooke) Field that doesn’t draw anybody to begin with.
I’m sure I’m missing some other things, but this is just off the top of my head.
70… Lassner slithered into his dark cave during the Gib Arnold firing and now this Ben Jay fiasco. He had Ben Jay be the front man for firing Gib and now he’s trotted out Bley-Vroman to be the face of Ben Jay’s resigning. It’s just pathetic.
Leaders are suppose to stand up and give direction during times of crisis, not crawl into shell and get out of the way when the the poo hits the fan.
The problems with UH Athletics are not the losing football team, not the coaches who got fired over minor infractions, and not the deficit. The problem with UH is at the top.
On another note, I did see Lassner show his face at the OHA Investiture the other day…. nobody sat next to him during the ceremony. 100% true.
Regarding BJ… he didn’t quit. He was FORCED to quit. very different, maybe why he did a bitter interview.
RE: #71
Former UH Athlete — I’ll share a few thoughts I had when I read your list…
#6 Dave Shoji. I am more hopeful that he will stay now. I don’t think he’ll abandon his program if it is not in good hands.
#8 Failed Ad’s. Jim Donovan did not necessarily fail, he was ousted by a micro-manager President with her own agenda.
#9 The UH president forced to retire was the same micromanager that tried to throw Sheriff and JD under the bus. Public outcry was her undoing.
#10 Apple removal. It was time for Apple’s evaluation under the new President’s tenure. That it happened in the same month as the contracts is coincidental–more so if new fiscal year based (July).
#12 Wonder blunder. The over-reaction and actions of the president lead to #8 and #9. I believe that if the president did not have a personal agenda, the whole thing would have been a blackeye, not a black page in UHAD history.
Gosh Mr. Tsai. I take back what i said about you yesterday. how about some news people asking some real questions. or, do they forbid you all to ask certain questions?
I’m glad Ben Jay said that. It’s the truth and it hurts. someone needed to say it. at least he had the B. to say it.
What I’m surprised is he got six months. I think his agreement only called for three months if executed before the 15th.
WOW, so what did you all do to help the athletic dept get out of the ditch. BJ just said the Truth.
Is it going to be different even with a local AD?????.
We are in a hole; so write a check or give cash or offer your services.
SteveM your #9 – den who was da one when screw up???
Who would want to be the UH Athletic Director, there is no job security and not enough funding for the department. Only grumbling fans .
RE: #76
What??? — I do not recall the conclusions of the $65,000 investigation launched by the President except that it cleared Jim Donovan. I believe Donovan would have accepted the blame because it happened on his watch, but had to back off because Greenwood was trying to use the incident to justify removing him…which she did anyway.
Related to why the President came under fire is the letter from JD’s lawyer that really explained a lot, Here is a link to the very revealing letter at the UH Professional Assembly website:
http://www.uhpa.org/legal-judicial/jim-donovan-letter-raises-concerns-about-uh-stevie-wonder-concert-investigation/
Six months….of course BJ going stay. Free money for him.
….all I know is its Aloha Friday Pau Hana Time. Pfsst!
P.S. Hey Upper Campus, get this stuff in order. It’s all happening under your watch!
Ok, now where’s my poke…
Go Cats! Go MM8! …and of course GO BOWS!
Perhaps the AD’s clones could be more circumspect in their statements, but my guess is that the chancellor’s medical research funding in that area will be short lived.
If BJ can’t get another job well before the six-month mark then that’s just sad. That tells me he’s either planning on milking the six months at UH, or his resume doesn’t hold much value in the job market. I think it took JD only a couple months to get the Cal State Fullerton athletic director job.
Howzit Everybody,
Long time no blog
First, with BJ, I felt bad for the brother that he just couldn’t get the job done. Eh fine but what came out today is just sour grapes. Yes there is a great big mountain to climb but you know what grow some and just say you couldn’t quite get up there no just cry about stuff you neva know about. Yes there are all sorts of systematic problems within the UH system but you know what, you just gotta live with it and find a way to navigate through it. These things have never changed and was around from before my time (and I’m 33) but guys like Stan Sherriff did quite well for himself. Can it be done, Yes. Does it take a special person to do it, Definitely.
Second, I will address #80 cause you stay calling out my peeps. First of all the people of this blog have been instrumental in getting a crap load of stuff going at UH over the years. First with the football program and buying exercise bike. Second with the clean up of lower campus. Our own A-house giving of his own time to create a rock garden which got vandalized a while back. And last but not least, a bunch of T-saiko’s starting up the softball booster club. This just some of the stuff these people have done for the school. The list goes on and on but you know what, it’s all from the heart.
missionaries lack the drive and hunger most athletes have. not having a gym is a bs answer.
87
garans he’ll be milking it.
Would not surprise me to hear that due to the onset of winter and family needs in Ohio, Ben Jay must regretfully leave sooner than expected…
53…nice one Stevem.
…and when can we pick up the sushi?
FEI JEI #65
I am still laughing! Out of character yeah?……….Who knew?
Calm down ST have some compassion….. he’s still young and learning.
Considering the circumstances one might conclude the AD …
1) started growing a backbone
2) has a firm job offer
3) won the lottery
4) is dumber than a box of hammers
It seems that no matter who is the chancellor or president, we keep shooting ourselves in the foot (feet) by making these bonehead decisions. If Ben Jay was inept then let him go now.
How else may we correct matters if we drag these things out.
Our cash cow, the football program, has been spiraling for years now. Yet after three years of well below subpar seasons in the win-loss column where attendance, a.k.a. revenues have plummeted to where the athletic department is gasping for air, we keep the coach.
How else may we correct matters if we drag these things out?
I would say this even if Vince Lombardi was our coach. A change is due, not only for the hope of a better win-loss record, but to rekindle the spark for our football program.
…nuff said.
Sources say that Paul Chryst is in at Wisconsin but Alvarez says he can’t offer anyone before Wednesday because of UW’s hiring policies and any offer needs the approval of UW’s Board of Regents.
#65, 93. I quite enjoyed ST getting a little pissed. Can you imagine what it is like having to be up close and personal to all this UH sports stuff. Most would become homicidal. When I get fed up I just go away for awhile. He has to keep showing up day after day. For ST to only have a minor rant once in awhile I think qualifies him for sainthood.
Btw, who said LDS missionaries don’t work out?
Me thinks ST is sensing a major shift in the winds, soon.
Each day and hour, this get more crazy. Just plain and simple no question ask. Fire everyone on upper campus and down to the football coach. If he can’t change the way he call the plays or make it fun to watch. Chow you should have been long gone by now. But we have some people, like you very much. And say we don’t have money to buy you out. And said that you improve the team. I don’t see it that way at all. Look like you $$ or beg UNLV and SJ to loose to you. Because you had more to loose to them. I will always believe in the players. But not you Chow, you just driving this team and UH football to the ground. And taking some sports and other people with you. And if the other (sports) coaches don’t get there contract extended. And they are winning more that you. Then you should take the blame for it.
So this my own opinion, if you agree with it or not. That up to you, to like it or hate it.
97…oops wrong link.
Here it is…
http://www.pamplinmedia.com/wsp/136-sports/230654-94325-sione-kauhis-religious-mission-puts-dream-of-playing-college-football-on-hold-
I don’t like to curse, not for morality or civil reasons, but because I don’t sound very good when I do it.
But after I read this morning’s story, all I could think the rest of the day was: If you don’t like it here, get the f–k outta here.
I spoke with dozens of people today. Nobody disagreed.
I wonder if we can get the Lakers to all wear shirts that read: Get the f–k outta here.
#100
I hate it.
Too easy to criticize. There are a lot of good men there busting their tails to get things on track. We should be rooting them on not demoralizing them constantly.
They have a difficult job with a lot of pressure. Ease up.
.
103.
Is it time yet for the angry mob with pitchforks outside UH?
106
Hold on to your pitchforks. But when the time is right pick up your phones and make that call.
Big Blue actually has a good point.
Was it last week one reader said he was canceling both his season tickets and PPV? That’s fine. But then you lose your right to complain. It’s like a somebody who doesn’t vote complaining about politicians.
MAGNUM XL, PI December 12, 2014 at 3:55 pm
shssssh …we gotta blame him 4 everything…
cuz he no reply on hea…
he no read this one..
actually me feel for donovan… they do end run on him for the concert n conference n leave him out the loop.. n both times we are get ‘burn’…
travel subsidy be with us till we get in the pac 12 conference…..he he he…
TOP STORIES 1 of 1
Could UH football go away?
Chris Tanaka
Dec 3, 2014 11:51 PM
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Professor of Economics and noted sports economics expert Andrew Zimbalist paints a picture of the current financial landscape in collegiate athletics. It’s not rosy.
“It’s perilous for schools that are not in the top 20 or 30 programs. There are maybe 20 programs across the country that run either in surplus or breaking even on an operating basis”.
UH Manoa is not one of them. The program has run a deficit 11 of the past 13 years. Athletics Director Ben Jay raised eyebrows in August by suggesting UH may have to drop the football program to remain viable. He walked the comments back then, but in November said he’s anticipating a budget shortfall of 3.5 million dollars for the fiscal year.
Those figures are similar to the University of Alabama-Birmingham, which announced on Tuesday it is dropping football. The school projected a net deficit of 25 million dollars over the next 5 years with football. Without it, the projection yielded a revenue of 2 million dollars.
Ending the program is enticing for any cash strapped athletic department.
“Everything has got to be on the table, including that. And we’ve got to look at it reasonably, rationally, and economically” said State Senator Sam Slom. Slom says it may be a tough decision – but the model that UAB created may be one UH needs to explore. “It’s more than just the money itself. They were looking at the university going ahead for the next 20, 30, 40 years. I think that’s what we have to do in our community”.
Hawaii News Now reached out to Ben Jay for comment on this story. He did not return the call.
I have no problems with travel subsidies.
Look at the map. There’s the mainland. Those eight dots on the left side are Hawaii. If you want to be in a league in which you’re the same distance to the West Coast as the West Coast is to the East Coast, you’d better give the a reason. If you look at $150,000-to-$175,000 for transportation, it’s high. If you look at it as an appearance fee, it’s reasonable.
The $150,000 sounds a lot better than playing NE Nowhere for $250,000.
I have two concerns about a financial adviser: 1) He has too much money (he’s ripping me off), or 2) He doesn’t have enough money (he’s an idiot).
My concerns about economists is they’re bean-counters. (And didn’t we just sorta-sorta get rid of one?) They look at past trends and try to predict future outcomes. But football isn’t a simple commodity because it also involves so many other factors, like emotions. We have people here who lose their minds when the Warriors run two dive plays in a row. Think they’re going to just let football go away? First, football makes money. More importantly, it’s not an either/or deal. The team is struggling so let’s get rid of the team. People don’t want football to go away, they want it to be more successful. All I know is the players play hard, and that might lead to better results. Maybe. But get rid of football? Nope. That’s not happening.
Wow, that Ben Jay is one smart guy! He “resigns for family reasons” and then promptly dumps on his current employer. That will definitely help his reputation and marketability in the job market. “Hi, I’m Ben Jay. I’m a lifetime assistant type guy who failed miserably at my first chance to be the number one guy. And then I dumped on my employer, the first place to give me a chance to be the number one guy, while I was stil collecting a hefty paycheck from him! Do you want to hire me????”
Boy, he is dumber than dumb. Go tweet that, Mr. Jay.
The true story on Marcus Mariota’s recruitment to Oregon. He wasn’t discovered at Oregon’s summer camp as many believe.
http://www.si.com/college-football/2014/12/11/marcus-mariota-oregon-ducks-hawaii-heisman-trophy
Whooaa! #58 Let me look up the word entrophy or entropy? In any case, how can the State of Hawaii with all the expertise that was available in the islands figure that some brilliant engineer/architect from the mainland discovered steel that ONLY develops patina and wont rust. Cant believe that the State of Hawaii was duped into that. Its unbelievable!!
Mr. Ben Yee n Mr. Kobayashi….must be smiling from ear to ear…knowing that….what we all just learned…that soon… at least one of the problems will vanish 4 good…
I thought at UH they just create a position and reassign personnel?
Not dumb…..just let his self-pride and ego do his talking…..instead of his brains and heart.
When a once finely tuned engine develops crud and grime internally, you gun the engine with carburetor/injector cleaner and blast away the grime and dirty crap. Thats all our beloved UH needs, to clean house of all the crappy deposits that are crippling our engine’s performance and longevity. If the engine still doesn’t run properly, then change the engine till you get it right.
Interesting comment ST..’SABATOGE’ fund-raisers…hope he not that pernicious… against student athletes…
@ stephen re #107…i remember Mr. Yoshida walking into a certain attorney’s downtown office in pauahi tower. I know because i was there that afternoon. The next day, Mr. Yoshida was named UH’s AD.
#112 ST, I understand the reality of travel subsidies. What I don’t understand is why we pay extra to Mountain Time Zone teams.
Yes it’s farther but they already pay their own way to California when they play those schools anyway so Hawaii should only be paying the difference to get them across the Pacific. If you draw a picture, that ends up meaning Hawaii should owe the same to all schools.
Is this one of the things Jim Donovan was negotiating before he was unceremoniously superceded?
#111. Huh? The UAB model? Senator Slom understands that this means the Leg. will subsidize the athletic department after eliminating the 1 sport that generates the bulk of the revenue, right?
Maybe not.
JJ AD?
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/27619567/june-jones-says-hed-consider-uh-ad-job
If Jones can keep his pants on, he’d make a great AD in my opinion. Has trust and respect of the people. I think he can raise money and market the program. Just hard to determine where his mind is at times. Tends to check out and lose focus.
The solution is simple. I am surprised no one thought of it. No one including the governor or legislature can terminate a regent. They must resign by their own accord. Well, Governor, ask for their resignations. Replace them with people who you think can do the most good – People who already have day jobs like Blangiardi, Amemiya, etc. Another day, another minute with incompetence can no longer be condoned. What we need is good leadership.
Man I’ve never seen Mr. Tsai so riled up. And rightfully so. But we all gotta give BJ a break. It ain’t easy being a ho. And it ain’t easy being an Asian AD.
If you think raising money for UH athletics is tough just imagine what its like for the UH Foundation. Ben Jay and UH is yet another example of Christmas Past. Ebeneezer Scrooge has to wake up and make it right. Relying on expensive search committees has so far proven fruitless. One bad pick after another. Maybe this is a good job for the LG to tackle. It would be nice if the executive branch would get involved.
The AD situation is an unhelpful distraction from the very poor football record that is the root cause of the revenue falloff. Winning will increase attendance and enable UH to raise season ticket prices. Winning will bring additional money from bowl games and television contracts. A lot to the $3M+ “deficit” has got to be from the long term structural issues (Aloha Stadium, parking, insufficient funding from UH) that are unrelated to the short term “crisis” that the football losses have caused. Fixing the root cause should be the priority. That is the real “madness” that has to stop.
Given JJ’s connection I would love to have him as AD he could definetly help in the fundraising efforts there are big name supporters who would also love to see JJ…Only thing is I don’t believe he would take the job if he had to be handcuffed to the usual beaucracy that goes on behind the scenes he’s been there once already…ahem soap for the soap dispensers
I ken spel reel gud.
Trojan. Pernicious. What dat? Something precious?
That would be the end of athletics for sure
YEA FJ…. LIKE SO VERY PRECIOUS …we want to keep forever…like BJ…n NC…
he he he he
Me can spell good.. have a 2 trophies from grade skool time…from spelling bee…but went flunk typing…hard type one finger….he he he
Me went win 2 times in 6th n 7th grade…cuz the ada kids was in 1st grade..he he he
LOL. . . there is no way that in this fantasy of JJ becoming the AD he would tolerate Norm Chow’s anemic offense. I’m not sure JJ would make a good overall AD, but I’d love to see it to watch that drama unfold.
POMAI…. in ur position me presume you have ‘worked’ with them at one time or other…..thanks for that evaluation…now me wait your comments on them so called ‘marketing specialists’ dudes up there ?
ST… got a suggestion 4 you…be sure on ur ’rounds’ up there or ‘down’ there u wear your ‘body armor’…getting stabbed in the back twice within 7 days….is not good for old farts blood pressure…he he he
134 Kev-1: you are absolutely right. JJ would insist on a new ccordinator. Maybe a recipe for change. in the immortal words of Arte Johnson….Very Interesting!
Just read the article in today’s SA “Who Pays For Mom and Dad.” Very interesting. Livng in Hawaii, even if it was allowed for the schools to pay to watch their sons play in the playoffs, UH would be at another disadvantage even if we could afford it.
GOOD MORNING, HAWAII!
One thing I learned in life is that in public, you don’t tell someone his wife is absolutely ugly – even though it is true!
Good morning, Tsai-kos!
Very Sad to see a lot going on about Ben Jay not in the good way.
125:
Thanks for the link.
I guess June Jones as AD would make an interesting combination.
Facility improvements, innovative ideas, fundraiser, recruiting, Warrior name return for those who like that part (well I do lol), absolutely no Herman Frasier, public more aware of UH athletics needs, part II book if successful ..and hey, could also give advice for R&S.
Btw, Whoa, ST!
Here’s today’s post: http://hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=26571