Independence day

FROM THE LAST POST

I wonder why the WAC is always the Charlie Brown in the NCAA.

No respect, always a bridesmaid, just a stepping stone for bigger and better conferances.

Every time the WAC tries to kick a football, Lucy pulls it away at the last second and we fall

flat on our back and wonder what happened.

Without a strong WAC,I see UH as a traveling team.

Maybe 4 home games and invited to 9 away games all during Home Coming week.

You know, the home teams best chance to win.

Chee, I hope the game on 9/17/11 goes on.

with the MWC expanding, will there be room for UH ?

well, let’s see what good news the morning will bring.

Still up. I’ll drag this over from the last blog entry too (in response to Rasu’s post #2 above:

Rasu Begasu — that’s the worst case scenario as an Independent. I see 5 home games (2 against D-1AA) and 8 away games….unless the NCAA will give a Hawaii exemption to start the season in mid-August and end mid-December. Then we might get 7 home games.

I hope going-Independent scenarios play out even better than this.

But a serious question: How many games does UH have to play against D-1A teams in order to have the same status/classification?

I believe this will determine who, where and when we play as an independent if we want to stay D-1A (or whatever it’s called now–BCS?). Also, no automatic Hawaii Bowl for UH if not a D-1A team?

bah humbug.

i was really looking forward to the season opener. now look.

a repost taking advantage of this top 10 post area cause it’s time sensitive…

CATTLE CALL TODAY – Camellia (McCully) at 12:00 noon

We have an opportunity to meet G (China) for the first time. He has been a blogger here since our first Cattle Call in March 2007. He is departing Friday.

Please RSVP here if you can… or just come down if after 1000.

the wac is paying the price for not being pro-active these past years, months, days, and even hours before all this came tumbling down. sitting on their butts with their hands underneath is partly to blame.

they should have kept adding members to give itself a bufer knowing that the vulture that is the mwc would come poaching once again. they proved it once and had no love lost for destroying a conferfence.

give the mwc for taking the aggresinve role otherwise they could have easily been in the wac’s shoes.

not one to point fingers, but, this time i will. the wac leadership (benson) is also guilty for not leading. if it were up to me, i would have made a mandatory exit fee of no less than 10 million if not more. that would have been more like it, putting your money where your mouth is.

…nuff said.

independence seems to be the way to go. we’ll have to roll up our sleeves and dig in.

this year’s team has a huge responsibility to win and win often. anything short of an 8-5 regular season coupled with a convincing win in the hawaii bowl must be considered a failure.

beating at least two of the three defectors is also imperative.

whether we go indendent or hope and cling on a prayer to get an invite will all be predicated by winning.

winning brings better opponents. beating them will soothe the souls, pocketbook, and the recruit process.

Sad state of affairs to finally bring Al, Rasu Begasu, and I back together for a late show. 😐

Only one missing now is LTUHF (sniffle) and maybe WarriorMojo.

WassupDoc— glad you might be able to attend.

I’m just plain irritated right now. Let me get my cup of coffee, read up a bit, and see if there are any more breaking news…

I hope this just fuels the fire under McMackins @$$, as well as the ENTIRE FOOTBALL TEAM!!! With all the talent & experience we have this year, there’s no reason why we should “settle” for finishing 8-5 or 9-4… The ONLY “acceptable” losses would be USC & MAYBE Boise. But like I said, FUEL & FAN that fire!!! Just like in 92′, when all the “experts” predicted UH to finish 8th… and we went on to beat Illinois in the Holiday Bowl! How the hell do we drop from finishing in the Top 25 3 years ago, overnight celebrity status to being the nerdy kid that doesn’t get invited to the party? Ridiculous… If Hawai’i had any dire need to win, it’s THIS SEASON. Make it count guys… This could be your final audition to remain a D1 program.

Actually??….independence seems like a positive project, just maybe?

on a positive note, I think Hawaii got a commitment from Darielle Dixon. Best friend is Rahmel Dockery so I hope we can land both if thats the case. Dockery is explosive like Sampson. Stephen, can you confirm this? He was here with Rahmel over the weekend

I would add the MWC to the list of winners yesterday. The WAC tried to take BYU’s non-football teams and get SDSU and UNLV to join the WAC as full members, with BSU looking at possibly coming back to the WAC…and a few hours later the MWC had Fresno State and Nevada, preventing SDSU/UNLV/BSU from leaving.

Yesterday, there was talk that BSU might end up returning to the WAC before ever leaving. If they have that clause in their contract, it would stand to reason that FSU and Nevada would have similar wording. All is not totally lost yet, if those in our ivory tower can convince FSU and Nevada to reconsider and remain with the WAC, thus allowing BYU to go through with their plan, thereby pulling BSU back, which may lead to SDSU and UNLV actually jumping ship… which may ultimately kill the MWC.

Just not sure if Benson is the right person to try to convince anyone of anything, at this juncture.

Actually, if C-USA could be convinced, I’d like to see Garret’s realignment happen. Time to give up being the grandfather of the WAC and let the conference fade away. If C-USA could be recongifured to include three divisions, we may still be in a weaker subdivision, but at least we’d still be alive. We’d play everyone in our group, plus a couple of crossover games with the other two, still have the Hawaii exemption in place, plus bringing at least one more bowl to C-USA.

Michigan Warrior,

It wouldn’t be like UH was joining the C-USA, it would be like the WAC and C-USA merged with the WAC being the Western Division. C-USA has 3x the TV money and far more NCAA basketball money (thanks to schools like Memphis). Trouble is, the leftovers of the WAC don’t bring enough value now.

C-USA already had 3x the TV money than the WAC with BSU, Fresno, and Nevada…take BSU, Fresno, and Nevada out of the WAC and it would be like C-USA was donating millions to save WAC schools without getting any value in return.

Also, I am confused. In Ferd’s article it says:

two below the minimum to qualify for NCAA Division I automatic playoff berths in all sports except football

And in the ESPN article, it says:

Under NCAA rules, the WAC still maintains its men’s basketball tournament automatic bid with six schools.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5474774

Isn’t these two contradicting each other? The ESPN article says the WAC can still qualify for men’s basketball, but Ferd says everybody but football can qualify with 6 schools. Should Ferd’s article say two below the minimum for football, but fine for the other sports?

Don’t we know somebody at Portland State.

Ding, dong the WAC is dead:http://roughingthepasser.wordpress.com/2010/08/19/ding-dong-the-wac-is-dead-nevada-and-fresno-state-join-the-mwc/

Get over the woe is me and be proactive UH. The fans are tired of being left behind. Make something happen..thats why you get the big bucks!

You’re right, Garret… not much to offer anymore. Sure wish we could keep FSU and Nevada from leaving, and try to make a deal with C-USA. Most scenarios I can think of involve a weakened or dissolved WAC, unless someone drops a huge one, somewhere. Just unfortunate that football and basketball had to suck at the wrong time. Hurts even more since other sports were really stepping it up too! Just makes me sick to the core.

From today’s SFGate: “(Tom) Cable did say that running back Darren McFadden (hamstring) is definitely out for Saturday’s game at Chicago, and that backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski (groin) will probably sit, too. Charlie Frye had wrist surgery so No. 5 QB Colt Brennan will probably play, Cable said.”

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/08/18/SPSJ1EVMVK.DTL

…how do people feel about the WAC going after SDS and UNLV for football?…there is talk that they were interested before the s!!t hit the fan yesterday.

granted, they aren’t powerhouses, but it keeps the conference minimum for football…and it helps our other sports programs…

Long term, TCU is dying to leave the Mountain West, and BYU seems intent on going independent in football from what i’m reading (they don’t want to share tv revenues since they have their own network). Utah is leaving for the Pac 10…so the Mountain West ain’t going to be a BCS conference in the near future by a long shot.

and heck, why not let BYU join in other sports if this can happen…football’s their Bread and Butter, and won’t leave unless a BCS conference picks them up (doubtful i think).

Finally, we need to get a commissioner who can instill some confidence in its members….and produce results.

Sorry for being so longwinded…mahalo, :>

I vote for Independent.. We can do it. How soon can we sign up for the The Hawaii Warrior Network??

(Not so much today, but still) Great Morning All!

Need to stay strong in the face of adversity. Case in point:

In perhaps the most telling comments of the evening, Thompson said that while other conferences have made “concessions” to keep schools from bolting, “that’s not what the Mountain West Conference does.” He alluded to the way the conference said goodbye to Utah two months ago when the Utes announced they were joining the Pac-10 without pleading for the Utes to stay.

So the “company line” is that Benson was being proactive by approaching BY-Who, getting positive feedback from them, THEN getting the $5M solidarity assurance pledge from the existing WAC members?

And when the Pac-10 took BYU’s rival, Utah, instead of the Cougars and the Big 12 passed as well, Benson reportedly took an “action plan” to the WAC Board of Directors built around BYU and discussions with ESPN.

Utah State President Stan Albrecht is said to have been the go-between. When BYU came back to the WAC and asked for guarantees in terms of a minimum number of games for its football team and other considerations, the WAC readily agreed.

BYU is said to have sought annual games with UH and Utah State to help fill out its football schedule.

Based upon BYU’s interest, Benson went back to the WAC Board of Directors this month and sought a “solidarity pact” with members pledging to remain in the conference despite expected MWC overtures. A $5 million per school price was established as a “penalty” and at least six of the eight schools (Boise State was not included) signed on per WAC policy.

Thompson said the MWC will “support” Fresno State and Nevada’s financial situation saying, “We’re not gonna bankrupt” the incoming teams.

Looks like Craig Thompson upped the ante (possibly with an “all in” move) and Benson and the WAC are gonna have to “fold”.

Now comes the part where the money gets sliced up by the attorneys…

Nevada will have to pay an unspecified exit fee. Neither UNR president Milton Glick nor Wolf Pack athletic director Cary Groth would confirm the amount, saying that the previously reported $5 million would be the upper level of the fee. While Nevada did not sign an agreement for an exit fee, it did apparently agree to one (on the behest of BYU). The MWC will help pay that exit fee and an unspecified entrance fee into the MWC. “We’re not going to bankrupt them to come into the Mountain West Conference,” commissioner Craig Thompson said. Nevada officials said they will have five years to pay the exit fee and should recoup that money by playing in the more lucrative MWC.

The Sunbelt conference has been even more of a revolving door than the WAC — and they are still around. After the recent announced departures 2/3 of the current WAC played in the Sunbelt — only SJSU and Hawaii were never in the Sunbelt. NMSU, Utah State, and Idaho were also all in the Big West before joining the Sunbelt.

Unfortunately the sunbelt conference has been moving east — but there are some relationships there between current WAC schools and the others.

Doing something with the Big West would make a bunch of sense. SJSU is also being left out in the cold here and they were a founding member of the Big West. NMSU, Utah State, LaTech, and Idaho all once competed in the Big West (as did Boise State, Nevada, and Fresno State). So all current and recently departed WAC members were once in the Big West (well, the Women’s sports were for UH).

Maybe the existing WAC merges with the Big West, helps LaTech relocate to a more sensible geographic conference, and the football teams form a mini-conference or go semi-independant. Davis and Cal Poly SLO compete in football in the Great West conference which doesn’t make sense for them. If they jumped up along with Portland State (the largest public university in Oregon) there could eventually be a sensible football division within the larger conference.

The Big West would be a pretty good place for UH with the other sports. Until and if Davis et al became FBS teams the Big West football teams could all be “independent” but play in a conference style.

In terms of affiliations and geography it makes perfect sense at least for UH and SJSU to partner up with the Big West in some way.

Interesting times.

HiHo….

re: Recruits

As Stretch & Garret mentioned yesterday, JD needs to take a proactive

approach and not wait until the dust settles. He needs to have a meeting

with his HC today to inform them of the direction UH is headed, so they

can inform the recruits to minimize desertion.

Shoji has completed his recruiting Class of 2011 last year with a probable

TOP 3 recruit in Jane Croson. Class of 2012 is almost complete and is

working on Class of 2013. What will happen to his recruits if he can not

respond to the recruit’s questions because he does not know the direction

UH is taking?

This also applies to the present athletes.

808ike,

What you just mentioned is something I was concerned with back when BSU left the WAC.

ALL incoming freshman or returning sophomore student athletes at UH and even possibly juniors should be concerned.

I can live with UH football as an independent and the rest of UH in the Big West.

#11 al:

bah humbug.

i was really looking forward to the season opener. now look.

al,

There are times when you just have to roll up your sleeves, wipe the sweat from your brow, clench your fists and FIGHT! UH athletics needs the people to get up and support them! Fill the stadium with excitement and unwavering loyalty no matter what the future may be.

If we go, we don’t go without a fight!

And if we fight, we fight like, well, there is no tomorrow!

But we fight!

Go Warriors!

Go Wahine!

No Sked Em!

Fight! Fight! Fight!

Karl Benson Teleconference 08/19/2010

-Benson confirms that both schools did not meet the deadline to leave the WAC in 2011 and would be gone in 2012.

Karl Benson Teleconference 08/19/2010

-says that some WAC presidents reached out to FSU and Nevada, Benson said was constantly talking to BYU and all of this was happening up until FSU and Nevada’s official decision to leave yesterday.

What Benson forgot to say is that the WAC will start legal proceedings against the MWC, Fresno, and Nevada. He also forgot to say the most important thing, I AM STUPID!!!!!

Benson says there was a recording error and Nevada did NOT sign the binding agreement. However, Nevada president verbally agreed to the agreement on Saturday. Benson says that Nevada is subject to some sort of monetary penalty.

Thank you Kazz for the summary. This part really interests me…it appears that someone in the WAC office made a mistake that resulted in Nevada not signing the agreement. And I noticed that Benson didn’t say that they had to pay $5 million…Benson just said they have to pay something. So the WAC’s mistake could save Nevada millions, and since the MWC is covering the buyout, it saves the MWC millions.

Karl Benson Teleconference 08/19/2010

-says Sac State, Cal Poly, UC Davis have components to be a viable WAC member and says those schools expressed interest in the past to invest in a move to the WAC.

Karl Benson Teleconference 08/19/2010

-***BENSON SHOOTS DOWN RUMORS OF INVITES TO SDSU AND UNLV***

If I understand the reason that BYwhoo is leaving the MWC it is so that they don’t have to share their TV money? So what if the WAC offered them to join in all sports and they could keep the TV money? I know some don’t like the idea of having BYwhoo in the conference but hey sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

says Sac State, Cal Poly, UC Davis have components to be a viable WAC member and says those schools expressed interest in the past to invest in a move to the WAC.

Those would be good additions geographically for UH, but the California State and UC systems are *really* getting squeezed on their budgets so I don’t think any of them have the money to move up to D-IA. And those schools expressed interest in joining a conference with BSU, Fresno, and Nevada–are they interested now?

Karl Benson Teleconference 08/19/2010

-***Dave Reardon asks*** how much of a factor was travel to UH and to Ruston a consideration for FSU and Nevada? Benson says that it was part of the reason. Reardon poses another question to Benson on how he will “sell” travel to Hawaii to retain or gain new members. Benson pretty much says that schools will continue to do what they feel is in their best interest now and for the future.

All WAC schools that remain in the conference need to beat the poop out of both fresno and nevada for the next two seasons, give the mwc two losers.

again that the only way FSU and Nevada could leave for 2011 is if there was a vote amongst the WAC presidents acting on the “best interest” of the conference.

Assuming that BSU doesn’t get to vote, there are 8 presidents that can vote. Obviously, Fresno and Nevada would vote for 2011. What if La Tech wanted to go to C-USA and UH wanted to go independent? That would result in 4 votes. La Tech has no invitation and UH probably wants to delay things, so I can’t see Fresno/Nevada winning the vote.

But if the WAC can make some mistake and end up having Nevada not sign the loyalty agreement, who knows what loopholes are in the exit agreement.

and how does this help the MWC with any of their BCS dreams? so far only undefeated non-BCS schools have been given a shot to party with the big boys. they’ve decreased their chances that much more.

i don’t recall what that almost impossible rule to get a conference BCS qualified, but what’s to say the BCS won’t change their own rules to nix that quick.

but we’re still screwed in either case. so much for TEAM unity. its all about ME, MYSELF and I.

how much do we stick to the WAC and how much do we look out for ourselves?

there’s a lot of callers calling in to this news conference. even bloggers. i wonder how we get that dial in #?

Karl Benson Teleconference 08/19/2010

-says the timeframe to consider new members is now. Says as of today, they are receiving calls from interested schools.

Jeez, Benson is contradicting himself with the exit fee.

chawan_cut,

The BCS contract specifies the 3 criteria for a conference to automatically qualify for AQ status if they are in the top 6 for each criteria. They evaluate things over 4-year periods, with the 2008/2009/2010/2011 evaluation period possibly giving them AQ status in 2012. The AQ criteria is actually easy to understand.

1. Highest ranked team in the conference. BSU by itself passes this criteria. TCU by itself passes this criteria.

2. Number of teams ranked in the top 25 at the end of each season. With BSU (and without Utah), the MWC is actually #1 for all conference in this criteria! That is because they get a 25% bonus due to having just 9 teams. If you take BYU away, the MWC is still around #3 so they pass this criteria.

3. Average computer ranking for the teams in the conference. The MWC was close to being #6 (the Big 10 was barely ahead of them), but the Big 10 adding Nebraska put some distance between the conferences. They will be #7 in this criteria, which gives them the right to go through the appeals process. Several other current AQ conferences also have to go through the appeals process because they aren’t in the top 6 in the first 2 criteria (since the MWC has one of the spots).

If the MWC adds Fresno and Nevada and loses BYU, they will still pass the first 2 and be #7 in the 3rd. My guess is that the MWC would get AQ status through the appeals process because if the MWC was denied then several other AQ conferences would also have to be dropped.

Karl Benson Teleconference 08/19/2010

-Bobby Curran Show resumes…

Pomai has it right…

Beat the cow poop out fresno and nevada!

Hmmm…could that be a new cheer?

Stephen Tsai:

August 19th, 2010 at 7:56 am

I sort of feel for Benson. He’s like the guard of a bank that was just robbed. Everybody is like: How? How did this happen?

It doesn’t matter how the robbery happened.

It’s more important to get the money back.

YES SIR!

chawan_cut,

I never posted this here because I didn’t want to cause a fuss, but you wouldn’t believe how close the *WAC* was to becoming an AQ conference. BSU by itself passed 2 of the 3 criteria for the BCS. The only thing the WAC needed was to have their teams have a higher computer ranking than the MWC.

During 2006 and 2007, the WAC’s top teams were as high or higher ranked than the MWC’s top teams. The bottom of the WAC though was worse and kept the WAC at #8 in the average rating. If they had taken less body-bag games, or won 5 or so key nonconference games against the MWC, the WAC could have jumped over the MWC and gotten close to AQ status.

A WAC with AQ status and an ESPN contract would probably have enticed a school like BYU to join…that would have pushed the WAC over the bar and gotten AQ status. But the bottom of the WAC in 2004/2005/2006/2007 killed that.

How many people here realized just how close the WAC was to going through the AQ appeals process? The WAC dropped significantly in 2008 and 2009, with the distance between the conferences giving the MWC a stronger AQ case. By taking BSU, Fresno, and Nevada, the MWC created a huge gap with the other non-AQs that will make their AQ appeal stronger.

chawan_cut,

UT-San Antonio is just starting their football program. They will start in D-IAA but they will try to get to D-IA as soon as possible.

Texas State is in D-IAA and wants to get to D-IAA.

Good Morning Gangeez! 🙂

72.whitey:

August 19th, 2010 at 7:23 am

What Benson forgot to say is that the WAC will start legal proceedings against the MWC, Fresno, and Nevada. He also forgot to say the most important thing, I AM STUPID!!!!!

_____________________________________________________________

While we’re at it, let’s sue the BCS too!

“Amatuer athletics” in NCAA football?! Pfft…

Before I prepare to head to the office. I’ll just say that everything I personally feel about all of this was expressed in Ferd Lewis’ story today.

Ask yourselves, “what was the FIRST UH sports figure mentioned in Ferd’s article today”?

DAVE SHOJI.

This is a clear representation that I have repeated for months now. This is about ALL of UH athletics.

Without getting too much into it, I for one am taking this on a personal level. UH athletics has encompassed my life on several levels for a multitude of reasons. From UH football all the way to UH softball and everything in between…

I don’t care what anyone says, I am taking this personally.

ST,

The dangerous part about other WAC schools hearing about UH’s interest in the Big West is that NMSU, SJSU, Utah State, and Idaho could all try to get into the Big West and they have lower travel costs and in some cases a better basketball record. If the Big West wants those schools and not UH, then UH ends up without an option to go independent.

Would we be better off in a weakened WAC that takes on a couple of FCS caliber schools, or by taking the plunge into independence?

My gut reaction is that the (albeit limited) security afforded even by a weaker conference is still the preferable choice. I always intended that when I moved back home, I’d be able to get season tickets and attend every game instead of having to listen to it on streaming radio. I hope I will still able to do that.

ST- This statement sums it up for Hawaii Athletics “Same problems: Are those schools wiling to travel to Hawaii?”

That’s to cold hard truth. We are the black sheep in college athletics because no one really gives a darn about a little school in the Middle of the pacific. Everyone from the NCAA to the individual colleges always have some excuse about not wanting to play here. Its too expensive, its too much travel time.

Probably if we folded up our athletic program no one would blink and eye and probably would be happy if Hawaii went away. They won’t have to deal with the hard journey to travel out to the middle of the pacific.

THe only loss would be no one gets a free trip in paradise.

What is the future of the WAC and can Benson calm the existing loyal WAC members? What can a new person do that Benson hasn’t done? If the other teams are using the excuse, “Airfare is too expensive!”, can UH arrange a charter via Hawaiian Airlines? Soooo many questions and too many what if(s). In short, can’t wait for Warrior Football!!!!!!!! Wheeeeeeee!!!!

Good morning!

I’ve been called to practice by Kekoa & BG….

Hoping JD pulls a rabbit out of the hat…

Esme & out…

Out here supporting the Warriors at practice with BG and slugger. Life goes on in the trenches. The guys are working hard!

stevem ~ We’ll see you at Camellia’s!

The remaining WAC schools should cancel/drop a scheduled football game with Boise,Fresno and Nevada this season. Just say they are no longer viable members of the WAC. This would put a whole lot of problems on rescheduling their games and if they decide to sue- go ahead the season would be over and the damage done.

#116 – Kazz I understand your frustration, but the problem is that we the fans have no control over what is happening with all this conference realignment, so with that said I have decided to concentrate on the things that I can control and that is my support of the Na Wahine Softball Team and other student athletes. So with saying that I invite all of you sport minded people to join the Na Wahine Softball Booster Club and support some of the BEST student athletes in the nation. Join us at nawhaine.com and for sure join us at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium to see some of the best softball played in the nation. This is going to be a season to remember.

I’m so far back in reading WB that I posted my comment on yesterdays page. I’m reposting my comment to stir the pot and draw out more comments.

Boise, Fresno, and Nevada are gone. There isn’t much we can do about that. We have to look to the future to see what is best for the Hawaii sports program, not what is best for the WAC.

It seems that money is the driving force against Hawaii joining another conference. No one wants to consistantly travel to play Hawaii. Hawaii’s market doesn’t bring in the bucks for the sports networks.

How can we get the funds? Will a NFL team or the NFL itself “sponsor” Hawaii? Should Hawaii offer the PAC 10, 12, whatever that the member teams travel to Hawaii only once every three years instead of every other year to play us? In other words, Hawaii will become real road warriors.

Anyone else have other out of the box suggestions?

Why does it feel like once again UH is left holding its jockstrap while its supposed “friends” take the ball and run away from them?

Please tell me UH’s contingency plan, its plan B, its plan C was not to solely depend on Karl Benson? Please somebody please tell me that.

Derek was right. Three kinds of people. Watch what happens, make things happen, wonder what happened.

Mack said he thought all the changes were pau. JD said UH been through tough times before and we’ll survive. Sorry boys, but sounds like wonder what happened and watching what happens to me.

We need to be proactive. Wonder if God will let us bring back Stan Sheriff?

JD needs to marshal the forces and lead UH out of the darkness. I believe he can do it.

But I’ll tell you, I ain’t paying premium dollar for seats, parking. PPV to watch UH play North Texas, Texas State, Idaho and the rest of the bananas.

When I get depressed I eat and right now I’m out of control.

I am doomed. I love strawberries.

Mufi says he can save us.

What the plan Mufi? What is the plan?

Mufi’s plan is to extend rail to downtown-

Downtown San Jose.

RedZone his plan – extend the rail to LA

Love thy enemies…God is watching you…

Pomai—

great idea…have the ferry go all the way to L.A.

Got car?

In 1999 we were here before when the eight teams split off to create the MWC and at that time everyone was moaning about the fact that we had to add teams like Nevada-Reno and Boise State. Here we are now in 2010 moaning about losing Nevada-Reno and Boise State. The WAC has two years to find new member schools to complete and stabilize the conference which shouldn’t be too hard and in the end I think we’ll be O.K.

Ipu Man,

The type of thyroid cancer Majam has is often found in young women. So in that sense not exactly something “rare”.

#139

whew, i hear you brother…what a turn of events……talked with ‘the beast’ this morning…. he amuses me…..’…don’t matter, gotta focus on my classes this fall, train my arse off, and see what’s out there….no worries Pops, God’s in control, he ain’t gonna let me down…’

now that made me smile……’For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ Jeremiah 29:11

Forgive my youthful ignorance, but how did Governor Burns get us into the WAC? I know it’s cliche to say we need leadership like that, but I’m curious as to what steps were actually taken to get UH football to the next level. Any lessons we can learn from the past?

Tho Saint Stephen Tsai himself called yesterday, “Ash Wednesday”…

Good morning Tsaikos.

What a turn of events in the last couple of days.

The thing that worries me about going independent is the effect on the athletes as students. If they have to spend several weeks in the middle of the season on the road, it will affect their classroom time and in turn, their grades, and in turn, the APR. I’m sure it will also affect their competitiveness towards the end. The softball team, in Coolen’s words, ran out of gas, after spending 5 weeks on the road.

BTW, it sounds like NaMaSU and LaTech should be offering the travel subsidies, not UH.

Garret,

Isn’t the logical solution to the 13th game situation is to petition the NCAA to increase the football season by one week citing increased player health and safety and UH’s financial situation? Of course, our rail system will be running all the way to Manoa by the time the NCAA acts on the request.

Not an Expert,

I’m sure that the WAC must have know all about the BCS formula for years. I’ve actually been talking about things related to that for the entire time that this blog has existed. We have discussed over and over through the years how the bottom of the WAC needed to improve…that failure prevented the WAC from having any chance to pass the MWC.

There was no move that the WAC could have done until the WAC passed the MWC…and that sadly never happened. The WAC just needed to win more nonconference games, which I’ve said throughout the years on this blog and I focused on that several times. I even posted the nonconference numbers to this blog periodically, especially when I was upset at how the other WAC teams were letting the WAC down in nonconference play in past year. I didn’t do that much last season because UH was also guilty of that (especially the UNLV game, which helped the MWC and hurt the WAC).

All of the WAC knew that they needed to do better in nonconference games. However, in the past decade (not counting BSU), only UH went undefeated in nonconference play (2007 of course). The results on the field mattered, and the bottom of the WAC (plus schools like Fresno and Nevada) did not deliver.

I tried to gently mention how we should cheer for WAC teams in nonconference play. However, I understood how people can dislike rivals and wish for them to lose, so I didn’t press that.

iwonderwhytheyhateme,

Reduction in travel time too.

Sadly in the grand scheme of things athletics are just not that important to many people in Hawaii. You don’t see Lingle or Abercrombie, or even Hannemann (someone who loves to grandstand in front of the TV cameras) out there saying anything.

Donanvan said something last night that he was looking foward to finally balancing the budget next year, now with these moves it brings a whole new challenge. I’m afraid UH athletics as a whole may die as a result. John Burns would be rolling over in his grave today if he saw what was happening

Kazz is correct, one worry for schools (that is actually legitimate to me) is that the travel time to/from Hawaii costs their players an extra day of missed class time. Plus, the travel and jet lag hurts them in the classroom.

This is probably a bigger burden for sports like basketball when schools need to play 2 games during a weekend. But missing an extra day in classes is something that some people worry about. The travel hurts UH’s players also, something that has concerned UH’s coaches and players.

I think the best option for UH is to go independent since I don’t see how the WAC will survive with so little schools and so many of their schools facing financial problems. Given that, the suggestions for what to do have been posted by many people already.

1. Offer a travel subsidy to get the Big West to take all of the non-football teams. Without a travel subsidy it does not make sense for the Big West because UH doesn’t have a proven men’s basketball record of success and the travel will kill their tight budgets.

2. Offer the late-night time slot to all networks. Everybody seems focused on ESPN, but ESPN didn’t care about showing UH for basically free with the WAC deal (they could have picked any UH game they wanted). UH might get more money from Fox or VS or CBS CS or some other channel that wants football in that time slot. National distribution is critical or teams will not travel to UH.

3. Pay teams to play in Hawaii. UH doesn’t have to pay conference members to come to Aloha Stadium, but it will have to pay for nonconference opponents. The going rate is $1 million, but apparently the Big 10 is starting to offer up to $2 million. I’d prefer home-and-homes, but there may not be enough home-and-home deals to fill an independent schedule.

4. Take several body-bag games per year, getting $1-2 million per game. Win some of those and you earn respect. Lose and at least you can pay for your Athletic Department.

Am stuck in meetings and cannot get to the Cattle Call.

I still like your C-USA three-division option.

Am I the only one that noticed the giddiness in the Fresno and Nevada Presidents/ADs during their interviews that were aired on KITV sports last night. Now that sucked.

Garret,

Independency for football and moving the other 18 sports elsewhere is indeed the most viable option at this time.

I looked it up and both the WCC and the BWC all field every single men’s and women’s sports UH competes in with the exception of football, men’s soccer, and men’s track and field. BTW, almost forgot the PCC no longer exists.

For football just concerned with filling the schedule for the later months as most teams are deep into conference play. UH fans will have to consider shelling out some money to see less favorable teams if they want this train to continue in the future.

The current and previous landscape of the WAC wasn’t glitz and glamour to begin with anyway. Sure FSU was ok in football, but everyone was looking forward to UH taking on BSU in football, but then when we get to the other spectator sports, the WAC in general didn’t present UH with marquee challenges with the exception of FSU in baseball and Nevada in basketball and of course the other money-maker for UH is Wahine Volleyball and they just put ALL WAC teams to shame.

So on the football side, the loss of obviously BSU and then FSU and UNR would be obvious, but independently looks like the chance of teams like a NMSU might be a dime a dozen.

BB,

It’s all geography. Simple as that. USU, Idaho, and even NMSU are more attractive to conferences than UH. 2,500 miles of ocean stands in the way.

USU has what? Men’s basketball…. and that’s about it.

If athletic competitive diversity were the MAJOR consideration in conference shifts we would be in a far better situation than we are as of today.

The sooner people realize it, the better off they may be for the sake of peace of mind.

So Utah State received an invitation to the MWC also?

Old Diver,

Here is article about Utah State offer.

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/Utah_State_turned_down_Mountain_West_invitation_sources_say.html

As I read from a Rainbow fan some time ago; this thing should have been apparent. It was only a matter of time that this was going to happen.

It’s NOW time for Hawaii’s movers and shakers to get off their okoles and finally save UH football by getting serious.

1. Seriously commit to recruiting the best players NATIONWIDE. There will be some who complain that UH football should be reserved for local players. This is bunk. Go after the best local players and assist the local schools in improving their programs. If need be, recruit a Big Time Coach – and not one who ‘s over the hill – to take ove the UH program, bring with him the Bigtime organization that UH so badly needs. This will mean paying a lot more in coaches’ salary and upgrading UH’s fledgling athletic program and facilities. But the problem has always been Hawaii desire to be Big while spending least. The Big-Time ain’t never cheap – but it pays off in the expansion of all the other sports, the University’s publicity and alumni’s involvement and additional funds for academic programs.

2. With local high school and junior high programs, pressure -really pressure- the coaches to institute “speed” programs for their players. The speed of high school players from Florida is NOT from their being naturally faster; instead it’s from the concept of speed being emphasized from the start of their “Litlle League” programs. Local players (especailly Linemen) are slower because they’re been ALLOWED to play slower from the time theystarted football. Import the experts if you have to, but teach the locals how to run and play faster. (Look at the contrast in speed for mainland Samoan players and local Samoan players. It has nothing to do with natural ethnic speed – it DOES have to do with the speed emphasis put on the programs in which they are raised in. I noticed this first when watching the little league – high school football games while stationed in Florida. Speed is the norm. Black, white , Hispanic; all the ethnic groups are schooled in a faster type of game. You can also see this in the Southern schools. Fast, fast, fast.

3. STOP relying on playing your games at home. Build your program so that you play half your games on the road and still be allowed the extra game. Hawaii should be made into an independent in the likes of Notre Dame and BYU and play (and beat) the Big Boys on the road. And share in the bigger payoffs from the t.v. coverage.

4. Get serious about media exposure of the UH games. Have the Hawaii tourist industry sponsor a weekly re-cast of Rainbow football games to ESPN or any other outlet. In that way, the UH can be

viewed nationwide each week. Maybe the first two years can be at a loss – but the fruits will be apparent after people start noticing UH and the Islands. Don’t just hire the ‘local boys’ to film and design this media package; hire the BEST to do it. Hey, if you’re in Alabama or Iowa at 11 pm and you see that the previous week’s UH footaball game is available to watch on cable, you’ll watch it. And think of the advantages provided by this increased exposure in the terms of recruiting and tourism! EVERY UH GAME SHOULD BE AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE! You’ll probably have to pressure your local politicians to back you in this, but if the heads of the Hawaii Tourist Industry, media and fans demand this, it’ll get done fast.

5. CHANGE THE GAME TIMES of UH home games so that At Least the results appear late Saturday ESPN and in the Sunday mainland papers. Night ESPN mainland broadcast couldn’t hurt.

6. Drop the creampuff opponents and schedule the best football competition, both for home and away games. Become used to taking on Ohio State at Ohio State; Georgia at Georgia, Florida at Florida. Do that and you’ll get the recruits who Enjoy going into the Arenas and kill the Lions!

7. And if you seriously want a good conference to be in, call in all your favors and re-work your financial packages to make it REALLY attractive for UH to be in one. Think the Pac 10 wouldn’t reconsider if Hawaii’s governor, politicians, media concerns and tourist big boys all called upon them with a major commitment to: Quickly upgranding the UH program and offering major financial incentives for teams traveling to Hawaii; playing half of UH games on the road, etc.? The only thing that UH should ask for are the relayed broadcast rights to all conference UH games. Think for a moment that with better players and coaches, UH couldn’t hold it’s own in the Pac 10 (or Pac 14?).

I know this has been rather long, but I’m hoping that someone with the moxie to move with it happens to read this and starts to think….

Right now Hawai`i fans need a calming voice a voice who has a REAL plan and vision.Hawai`i sports needs a REAL leader.

I think moving the game times up and scheduling more high profile games on the road would really help in making the program more visible and more watched. Our underdog status and the “David and Goliath” feel of those games, even if we get beaten, might inspire a cult following among those who wouldn’t otherwise watch UH play. Everyone loves rooting for an underdog: during the 2007 Washington game, I was the only Hawaii fan in a crowded sports bar in LA (I could barely get the bartender to put the game on even one TV)–but by the end of the night, the game was on every TV in the bar and everyone there was hi-fiving each other when Hawaii pulled off the comeback.

Surely not a silver bullet, but I think we need to think about doing everything we can to make a bad situation better.

G(China),

Sorry about not being able to make the Cattle Call today. Got busy at work.

Hope you had a great time in Hawaii. Hopefully, it won’t be too long before another opportunity to get together arises.

Safe travels…

madder –

]

Great points, well stated.

I personally feel we need to see more leardership from Hawai’i’s politicians on this matter.

Great college football programs are an economic boon to many mainland states, our local leadership needs to see and act upon that.

First, the WAC including Benson, the school’s Admin, and ADs all got caught with their pants off – not the first time either and this is where I need to be opposite of ST( #99 ) cause history did repeat itself and same ones got burned, AGAIN. If we don’t look at what happened and learn from it then we are for the worse. This consumed me most while in the military as every mistake I made cost us lives and material – especially lives! How does a leader write to parent(s) that your son died because I’m a lousy leader who failed to be the best in leadership, managerial skills, and tactical knowledge! I felt I could not do that and hold my Hawaiian head high!

Second, is it best, at this time, to be a lower tiered conference (accept lower ranked schools and allow them time to grow) or be gone? Entry fee, if one exists, can be scheduled to be paid off in 5 years. Exit fees, within 30-days. All President’s must sign a pledge and legally binding upon his/her successors.

Third, recruiting will take a beating for all sports.

Fourth, if and only if, UH cannot find a conference affliliation, why not change the focus to summer and winter “olympic” sports – and, no, HF will NOT return or be welcomed back as AD!!!

I’m so glad I spent the money to enjoy New Orleans and the Sugar Bowl.

Sadly, more and more it is looking like a once in a lifetime thing.

Change that, its looking like a once in a forever thing.

For those of you that bought season tickets, SMILE, cause these are the last 2 years you will need to dish out that kind of money for it. Cannot see you paying that amount to see teams like Cal-Poly, or Cal-Irvine. Use that money instead for Wahine Volleyball, or Basketball, you will still get some money back in change.

Warrior Expat,

Coach Mack essentially said the same basic comments Jim Donovan said yesterday about Hawaii being in tough times before and we can get through it and how he has this season to focus on and that is what he is doing along with the team and his staff.

Regarding the article that said that Utah State turned down an invitation from the WAC…didn’t the media report yesterday that Fresno State and Nevada turned down the MWC, and then a few hours later the MWC made their offer official and the 2 schools immediately accepted? So, I don’t know how much I can buy the “rejection” of the MWC by Utah State.

Frankly, I think that Houston is a much better choice than Utah State because they have a good computer ranking for football and a big market. But if the MWC wants another WAC school and they want to have a team in the state of Utah, Utah State is their option. Utah State has a good basketball team and a higher computer ranking for football than UH.

howzit tsaiko’s and tsaikette’s

after what has transpired that all I need is a SMU video with JJ in it 👿

with the defection, if any of the tourny’s championships is held at freznose or una crap change it so the other schools can make monies.

If Utah State honestly thought that the WAC was keeping all of their members and getting BYU’s non-football teams, and Utah State was central to all the talks with BYU, then I could understand their turning down the MWC. If that is the case and they were shocked to see Fresno State and Nevada leave, I wonder if they would call the MWC and try to accept the invitation then…

Thanks, Kazz. Agree that making this season a good one is going to be key to controlling our destiny. Looking forward to flying back to scream my lungs out on September 2!

Utah State made it official that that turned down the MWC and they explained their reasons for it. This is straight from their AD on their website:

When the possibility of BYU leaving became known, MWC leadership contacted three WAC members inquiring about their interest in joining the MWC. Utah State was the first of these three contacts.

At the point in time when Utah State was contacted by the MWC we had a binding agreement with the WAC and were well positioned with nine members, which included BYU. We were simply committed to uphold our agreement with fellow WAC members. We respectfully declined MWC interest and believed all WAC members would remain committed to our agreement.

So, Utah State was invited first and turned the offer down. If they had been called *after* Fresno State and Nevada had accepted, they kind of imply they would take the offer. This open letter from their AD could be interpreted as a way to ask the MWC to please offer them again.

If Utah State leaves also, there is no way the WAC can survive. If Utah State can be picked before UH, UH has no appeal to any other D-IA conference.

Easily USU turned down the MWC offer off the rest of the news we were getting here in Hawaii yesterday morning that BYU’s non-football programs were being added to the old 8 team WAC make-up.

I bet they’d kill for a time machine.

Basically, this is Utah State’s signal that they will accept once the MWC offers them officially. They also get to avoid the backlash of being the school that broke up the WAC.

Warrior Expat,

Remember, Fresno State and Nevada turned down their first “offers” from the MWC. Once the offers were made official, they accepted. So, Utah State can end up in the MWC and be the good guys at the same time.

Yup end of UH athletics as we know it.

Garret – Very good point I had not thought about. My thinking is that if I’m USU and looking out purely for self-interest, I’d scoop up that invitation immediately (who knows if it would still be good in 24 hours), particularly since among the WAC programs, USU isn’t Fresno/Nevada quality. The backlash apparently didn’t bother Fresno and Nevada, and I doubt it would have stung USU that much.

I think you’re probably right, but I still find it interesting that USU turned the offer down. Of course, as you point out, if the offer is still good, they may well take it now.

I really don’t see the USU AD’s letter as a veiled request to the MWC for another offer. It looks like a CYA thing – an effort to explain why USU is still in the WAC to USU boosters and supporters. It was going to get out that USU was offered by MWC at some point in time, so telling everyone that USU stuck to its principles and honored its agreement and commitment to the rest of the WAC puts the appropriate spin on things. The USU president and AD have jobs they want to keep, right?

USU is probably more open to bolting from the WAC to make MWC a 12 member conference, but my recollection is that Benson secured some type of commitment from the WAC-6 to hang in this together. I wonder how strong those principles and commitment will be now.

Steve,

The decision for FSU to host the WAC softball tourney was done months ago.

I believe LaTech was in the running too before Fresno State was given the tournament.

Stephen, that idea makes sense, any idea whether JD and the rest of the UH Admin would consider a course of action like that?

Kazz, #242, it is not to late to take it away from them, and give it to a WAC member, which I do not consider Fresno to be. If a MWC conference championship was scheduled to be held at Utah, do you think the MWC would still allow Utah to host, I do not think so.

Been reading all the posts since last night. When you get down to the real substance, you realize that JJ had it right when he stated as a goal, that Hawaii Football had to be rated in the Top 25 each year … to survive. That was five years ago! He was right!! I hope everyone understands that all the other sports, in order to exist, must take a back seat to football. You don’t have to look very far to see examples – Boise, Fresno, Utah, Colordo and even Nevada. So lets stop all the grandstanding and emotions. Whether we grow the WAC or go independent, the FOOTBALL program, no matter what it takes, has to be very successful. What will it take and what can we do? Donations to NaKoa, sold out stadiums for every game, complete support of Coach Mac and a commitment from local and mainland recruits to support the team that plays for Hawaii. Stay home and help us win!!

UH should offer to pay the departure fees for Nevada and Fresno if they (UH) are invited to the MWC. No travel subsidies, but $10 million up front. Money now is better than money later. Plus, that would guarantee two votes in UH’s favor.

I think no one here has a problem acknowledging that sports other than football are and will take a backseat to football.

That’s fine.

What people like myself have a hard time accepting is that these non-football playing student athletes that have also represented UH and Hawaii in general and have gone on to do amazing things on a national stage are in danger of being left out in the dark over time.

It’s not right when you look at a program like Wahine volleyball, Warrior volleyball, water polo or softball and think that all they’ve done in their respective sports doesn’t account for anything when conference re-alignment is looking to swallow everything in it’s path unless it’s based on ONE sport.

I only hold season tickets in football, but I probably spend more on all the other sports as I buy individual tickets. Each of them make me proud to sit there wearing a green shirt. Just ask anyone that sits near me during these games. From football to softball and basketball, volleyball, and baseball in between, it’s all the same to me.

For the purpose of greed and closet discrimination it’s obviously not the same.

I can’t do anything for public perception, but I ain’t going to be quiet about it either.

But yes, this is root of my concerns.

Any word of the meeting today between the WAC presidents?

I’d like to have been a fly on the wall at their meeting…

at Camelias

Garret,

You got the X. So are you running Android 2.2 yet?

So much rumors and hearsay at this point. I’m getting mine next week. I think at this rate by then the X should be running the Froyo update.

At a presentation at BY-Who today, AD Tom Holmoe did a 50-minute presentation highlighting Cougar athletics this past year then before taking questions said that he wouldn’t divulge anything about strategies or on-going talks but did say:

“We have some incredible options available to us because of BYU broadcasting and the friends that we have across the country. We’re going to look to make sure that we build on those things and take advantage of those things. We’re trying to put ourselves in position to be the best we can, which is exposure across the country, letting our kids shine in the bright lights.”

What time is JD’s conference and will it be available via web?

anyone notice that 1420 this morning started at 5:45 AM? then they did about an hour of the presser?

they gotta be doing JD’s announcement that we are going indy

#250

I agree JJ had the right idea. Problem is he didn’t leave us with top 25 recruits. JJ was a visionary in some things, but not all things. My feeling though is if JJ was head coach of UH today his attitude would be to wave his middle finger at the MWC and then go undefeated again.

Kazz…

maybe its all a “work”

Its all an elaborate work…

Maybe the WAC becomes a non-football conference and the remaining schools along with BYU sign a deal to play each other as independents for football.

Why would we even get a “sniff” from the MWC? We have a sub-par football program that’s not worth the time and money for other teams to want to face. Let’s be honest with ourselves. Get rid of Mack and build a real program. That’s when we’ll get the respect we deserve.

ST, why the update if nothing has changed since yesterday? Were they all not there for the news conference, yesterday?

I just hope that JD will hang on and see us thru all of this mess. Man i would hate to see him come out and say that he quits. Got to show him our support. too many thinkers not enough supporters.

What’s the difference between going independent or staying in a six football league WAC? At least we have five teams to play which means we need to look for 7 to 8 more schools to play us. Finding 11 or 12 teams to play seems impossible. Just asking.

sports animals now commenting

about all this but hope “tomorrow”

will clarify more…

Did that joke come across?

OldDiver,

Perfectly. I wish I said it.

UH and WAC…

Romeo and Juliet?

Hey folks,

It is nice and simple, Wahine Volleyball makes money, start charging a small fee to see Wahine Softball, the other sports Men’s Volleyball and Basketball, and even Wahine Basketball, with the coaches they have in place will start to make money, this will make the Athletic Department financially sound. Have those sports in the Big West. Notice I did not mention anything about football, a money loser. Can those 4 or 5 sports carry the rest, excluding football, I believe they can.

The WAC should shun BSU FSU and Nevada until they leave . I would remove all signs of them on the web site.,no awards like player of the week or named to All Wac Teams.Let them rot .

Just emailed Bill Gates in hopes of convincing him to donate to UH sports and become a lifelong benefactor.

No word yet. 🙁

Make the WAC attractive to other schools instead of using the WAC as a stepping stone. Let them have their own TV contracts. Maybe nobody (TV) cares, but then maybe teams like BYU and, who knows, maybe even other MWC teams may want to come over to the WAC. PAC 10 teams? Maybe. What about the Big 12 teams that want to have their own TV contracts? If it is feasible like BYU’s then what would keep them from asking the WAC for “ins”. I know there are other ways to make the WAC attractive, in my frustration, I just cannot think of any right now. Maybe, with their own TV contract, BYU will join the WAC in football too. Its like California (the state) being liberal with their laws a few years ago.

You emailed the wrong Microsoft billionaire — Paul Allen is the one who likes sports.

University of Paul Allen at Manoa. Hmmm. Doesn’t quite work.

fresnoe a no-no as their lawyers don’t think

they will hafta to pay a dime…according to a “guy” on radio…

He also says a lot of people

there feel bad for Hawaii as they long enjoyed the rivalry.

bet jd has good news…

Email was CC to Phil Knight, Pat Kilkenny and Paul Allen as well.

Still, no reply.

Well…we can all just go the beach

and wiggle our toes in the sand

and tsigh…not too bad of a deal…

@Old School Dave

Even if UH had it’s own network, who would watch? It’s difficult for UH to fill the stadium, even with big name teams. And most home games are played 10:30 pm EST. It might be more of a money losing venture than an improvement to the athletic department.

found your site on del.icio.us today and really liked it.. i bookmarked it and will be back to check it out some more later

So, I’m sitting down and just wondering to myself???…..while BSU/NV/FSU, still in the WAC….word on the media street across the nation said, not a chance for BCS inclusion.

Now all three amigos go to the MWC in hopes that the MWC will become BCS eligible, what with two of the cornerstones of the MWC,(Utah & BYU) exiting????…I’m scratching my head trying to fathom this theory??

@Expat

If Benson has a signed contract from 7 of the 8 WAC presidents regarding the departure fee, would that make it easier to prove that Nevada also agreed and just ‘forgot to sign’? Its kind of fishy that they were the only ones w/o a signature.

From my understanding, Milton Glick (UNR President) was not able to attend the conference and thus was not able to sign the agreement. However, it was agreed verbally, perhaps via phone conference, that the exit fee was agreed upon. Nevada, at this point, has not challenged their commitment to the 5 millions dollar exit fee. Of course, things could change.

The sad thing is that the BCS boys are sitting back laughing at all this because no matter they will not let the mwc into their circle, they will do everything they can to keep all the marbles. IMHO all of this is for naught.

Pomai, off subject, do you think people would pay a minimum amount to see Wahine Softball? Also, have you seen any of the new recruit, if so, how do they look?

Make the WAC attractive to other schools instead of using the WAC as a stepping stone. Let them have their own TV contracts.

papajoe2,

The WAC *already* lets its schools have their own TV contracts. That is why UH has the deal with K5/Oceanic and with PPV. Even after giving that to teams, nobody wants to stay in the WAC.

IPUMAN: I like your thinking outside the box but West Point and Annapolis goes back too many years – back to the War of Independence. Kinda hard to have them move to non-traditional Presidio/San Diego.

Tom,

My comments of the Gates were made facetiously. However, you make a good point. Establishing a network comprised of people with local ties to the state with big money can only benefit the school, given they have a vested interest in UH sports.

Thanks for the info! I was not aware the the CEO of eBay had ties to Hawaii, or Dr. Larry Tseu. Good to know. 🙂

Oprah has a home in Maui… maybe she needs a stadium?

Same old stuff .We need to do what is best for us like a broken record.

What’s the difference between going independent or staying in a six football league WAC? At least we have five teams to play which means we need to look for 7 to 8 more schools to play us. Finding 11 or 12 teams to play seems impossible. Just asking.

OldDiver,

You need 8 football teams to be a football conference. A 6 football league WAC would *not* be a football league, so there would be no conference games to play. I seriously doubt that schools like NMSU and SJSU could afford to go independent, so they would drop out of D-IA immediately.

Hey Garret,

Hows the new project going with the Men in Black? 🙂

Did anyone notice that Nevada’s President specifically cited travel to Hawaii as one reason why they wanted to get out of the WAC?

“There’s a whole bunch of reasons that this makes more sense for us but the travel is a big one,” she said, pointing to football games on the road this year at both Hawaii and Louisiana Tech.

I don’t think it would be a good move for SMU to change conferences. As it is right now, the WAC is below that of the CSU and they have a much better computer ranking. Man, we’re doomed.

Doh, meant conference C-USA rather than CSU.

Garret,

Weird as in classified? 🙂

Anyway, I’m sorry to hear of all the work you put in to increase UH has been mired with the recent events that have occured in the WAC.

Keep a chin up, my friend, I really enjoy your post. You, like others are a credit to this blog.

Garret,

This morning Benson said the Defectors have 60 days to make payment.

Tickets, tickets, tickets, tickets!

(Would have been more meaningful if they got here before yesterday 🙄 )

Nice touch for UHAD to include a free ticket coupon with the season tix 😉

…this should be interesting.

Also included ( I guess for all season ticket holders) an invitation to attend a pre-game reception on October 16 with a presentation titled, “Outlook of UH Athletics” 😯

File that under: Stuff I wish we could take back.

Too bad, I won’t be able to make that game…

Garret,

I can imagine the starting points of the negotiations:

WAC/Benson- Terms: net 60

Nevada/Fresno- $1 per year for the next 5 million years (or until the WAC folds) “Got a pen?”

Parking Pass!

(they got smart this year and put a barcode on it so it can only be used once per game)

Kazz,

Hope so.

(as opposed to opso)

Steve,

Joining the booster club for Rainbow Wahine softball does not include free parking. I’m not saying it’s “impossible”, but we could look into that for the future.

Coordination with the appropriate personel at UH is obviously key.

I believe the parking office is SEPERATE from UH athletics though.

Hmm.. if the WAC dissolves in 2011… does that mean this may be our last Sheraton Hawaii Bowl?

Steve,

Brynne Buchanan was right behind Majam at the centerfield spot ‘depth chart’ last season and with a few more reps or playing time does look like to be a great defender. She can cover a lot of ground for sure.

At bat, you’d be shocked to see a true lefty slap hitter in the Wahine line-up but that’s what she brought to the table last season. She’s got three more years so plenty more time for her to find her niche on the team.

Not an Expert,

I admire your positive spin, but I have to point out a few things. UH cannot let itself have a false of security that things are okay with the WAC.

1. BYU is *not* going to join the WAC now. With the teams left, they are out. The WCC is a far better basketball conference now.

2. Utah State is trying to get out of the WAC. That indicates the power balance between the MWC and WAC.

3. Fresno State and Nevada are not coming back to the WAC. They have openly wanted to get into the MWC and they finally got their wish when the BYU/WAC agreement came to light.

4. The WAC will go to near zero for TV rights and have no way to generate money. If La Tech leaves also, the WAC will lose its NCAA basketball spot and money even if they add other teams. The rules state that schools must play in the same conference for 5 years, so the WAC cannot just invite replacements and keep their NCAA spot.

Shoko, Garret, –

My 337. I sorta knew there were reasons why it would never happen, that was just desperation talkin’! *tsai* 🙁

The 20-team conference is supposed to include these teams:

BYU

TCU

Air Force

Fresno

Nevada

Houston

SMU

UTEP

Tulsa

Rice

Boise

ECU

USM

UCF

Marshall

Memphis

Tulane

UAB

New Mexico

La Tech

Some other rumored possibilities:

Rather than a 20-team C-USA/MWC, I’m told it may be more likely that C-USA adds two teams to grow to 14. The additions: TCU and Temple.

*tsigh*

Steve,

Iwata has a cannon. She could slide to 3rd or 2nd, with that arm 3rd might be best as opposed to second. Then who plays SS? Gonzalez? Maybe. I think we all haven’t seen enough of Sarah Robinson to really make any assumptions.

I can see Aguirre moving to the right to replace Pu’u-Warren and maybe J-Rod gets another crack at OF on the left side.

Basically, for this team what probably will dictate positions, especially for the incoming freshman looking to start, is who can hit?

d1shima,

So many iterations, some of them supposedly driven by conferences and some of them driven by ESPN. The one constant is that teams at the bottom of the WAC aren’t included.

I’m going to step away from the computer now before I go off on the subject.

I think I just got “mercy-ruled” by Garret!

I want to thank the Tsai-ko’s for a wonderful meal. Since it was a small intimate party, I wanted to pay for everyone, but they already foot the bill. Looking forward to future events. I’ll be traveling starting tomorrow and be back late October.

Look forward to meeting Tom Mui and D1 later.

G(China),

Late October, it is!

🙂

JD really talking up the indy option on the news . One departing school contacted him wants to continue playing UH.

Kass

He didn’t say but yes I agree with you it was probably Fresno State.

The question I have is where is the ncaa in all of this, is it not their resposibility to watch out for the students athlete’s, well the student athlete’s of UH are getting screwed by the likes of ESPN and MWC for $$, they couldn’t give a rip for the kids who they have hurt.

ESPN’s SportNation pole question: What would be the best move for BYU?

Remain in MWC for all sports :46 %

Independent in fb/play other sports in WAC :26 %

Join WAC in all sports including fb :28 %

Total votes :40,195

The kicker is….in the state of Utah the numbers are…

Remain in MWC in all sports :42 %

Independent in fb/play other sports in WAC :54 %

Join WAC in all sports including fb : 4 %

Total votes :3,593

Not alot of votes out of Utah but something is afoot there…

And…good evening to all Warrior, Rainbow Warrior and Wahine fans.

Puuloke,

Answer #2: Hawaiian Airlines (if UH belongs to Big West or WCC)

Answer #3: Sheraton and Outrigger, both UH Sponsors.

If UH decides to go independent in football and go to another conference for all other sports, maybe UH can entice the WCC (or BWC) by reducing travel costs to Hawaii but having teams come over every other year in basketball, volleyball, and any other sport where there are single games. Instead of having home-and-home every year, do like the MPSF does with UH in volleyball – play 2 games at UH, then the next year, 2 games at the other school.

Just a thought.

Garret & JD,

UH is like the person at a dance that nobody wants to dance with according to the information you have uncovered. Hopefully there is a glimmer of hope somewhere in all of this. JD you need to contact Garret and have him help you & UH devise a plan. JD also needs to get the movers and shakers with deep pocket to back UH. This is dire times and I think Garret knows the writing on the wall and the bumpy road up ahead for UH. However with his insights he can help assist this dilema UH is in to be only a nightmare.

With all the spin about travel to Hawaii, especially $$$, I have yet to see anything in writing about the near or actual cost for a football team to travel to Hawaii from the West Coast. For Nevada, the travel time sucks because flights into/out of Reno have long (3-4 hours) in San Francisco. So, UH is to blame?

Here’s my take: max of 60 football players and 15-17 coaches, trainers, and medical staff.

say $500 round trip per person – that would be $38,500 ( $500 x 77 ). Hotel is $5,850 ( $150 x 40 rooms ) – double occupancy, baby!

Thus, it may cost $44,350 for air and hotel.

If a school does play an extra home game, would they “net” less than $45,000? This is for every year travel to Hawaii. Now, that would be $22,500 every two(2) years. Are the schools telling us that they make or net less than $22,500 for every home game?

For teams traveling from further East, the cost would be a little higher, but not a significant amount of $$$.

If a school charters a plane, they could “add” boosters to the flight to make it full. If Hawaiian Air is the charter, and if Hawaiian is willing to grant a 25% discount on fare as a “donation” to UH, cost would be even less. This can hold true for any major airline flying into Hawaii.

Any one out there go got better figures? Am I so off base?

Interesting stuff from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Late Thursday night, a source close to the situation said that representatives from the Mountain West and another league — believed to be Conference USA — met in Colorado to discuss a plan to match the two conferences’ champions in a title game, with the winner gaining an automatic BCS berth.

“You’re on the right track,” said the source. “The lawyers have told them [the BCS] that it’s time to give someone else a chance.”

Anybody remember that old cartoon

showing an atomic mushroom cloud

off in the distance with a putting green

and several golfers in the foreground…

with the caption:

“go ahead and put out…the shock wave

won’t hit us for another 30 seconds”?…

put=putt

JJ told me he heard about that merger of the MWC and Conference USA to form three divisions. The three winners and a wildcard would then have a four-team playoff.

Sounds intriguing, no?

That is interesting…kind of a mini-playoff for non-AQ teams. That could get a decent TV deal and build interest. It is just too bad that UH and the WAC is being left out.

Kazz,

UH would have taken the offer in less than a second. No loyalty clause or exit fee would have stopped UH.

Old quarterbacks never die. They just pass away…

….call me crazy (or stupid), but i’d much rather go independent or remain with a wac filled with programs like USU than join the mwc…there’s bad karma over there, and after byu utah and tcu leaves…the mwc will be trapped in mediocrity for decades…haunted by the knowledge of others that their relationships were conceived through a history of lies, mistrust, and greed.

…after four years of waiting, it is clear why the BCS never gave these back room slimy perverts acceptance…stephen, in time, i believe that it will be a blessing that we were never invited…

…i’ll say no more…except – Go Warriors!

After so many cruises, you would think I could resist the polynesian paralysis after a Camellia cattle call. Resistance is up to 3.5 hours now, but I still succumbed. 😐

G (China) — for your Tsai-ko card, you met (counterclockwise from your right) Pride., wafan, myself, Kekoa, BG, and Slugger. We’ll see you on your return trip in late October!

A doctor at a crazy hospital decided to take his nutty patients

to a football game.

For weeks in advance, he coached his patients to respond to his commands.

When the day of the game arrived, everything seemed to be going well. As the National Anthem started…….the doctor yelled, “Up Nuts” And the patients complied by standing up.

After the anthem …he yelled, “Down Nuts”. And they all sat back down in their seats.

And when a touchdown was made, the doctor yelled, “Cheer Nuts”. They all broke out into applause and cheered.

When the referee made a particularly bad call against the star of the home team, the Doctor yelled, “Booooo Nuts!!!” and they all started booing and cat calling.

Thinking things were going very well. The doctor decided to go get a beer and a hot dog, leaving his assistant in charge.

When he returned, there was a riot in progress. Finding his assistant, the doctor asked,” What in the world happened? ”

The assistant replied, “Well, everything was going just fine till a vendor passed by and yelled PEANUTS!”

I have a hard time blaming Benson for all of this. I mean what bargaining chip does the guy really have?

As for JD, I hope no one blames him for the position we are in and not being proactive. Again, what bargaining chip does Hawaii have in football realistically?

I am afraid that for the most part these guys can only take a wait and see approach.

No matter who is in charge I can imagine pretty much the same outcome.

You give Tiger Woods a yard stick and tell him to play against Phil with a full set of clubs….I mean being good at what you do can only take you so far, sometimes you gotta have the right tools.

Haha@Chicago Bears.

ST — yeah, I don’t know. I’m still disturbed that I had to pay the bag fee on each flight segment last year. I think in the travel industry, there are still mass discounts around a year out….deals with cruise lines who board and disembark 2,000-5,000 people per week. Major ports have major airports. But I’m not a travel agent.

is the scrimmage still scheduled for Saturday?

ST — with two years to reload the WAC again, can we field a D-1A conference? I agree, we have to do whatever to build and help ourselves first, rather than hope other will try and help us. Basic survival.

When they do that Sheraton Hawaii Bowl I hope the bowl people have some balls and make sure that Fresno, Nevada, or Boise get the trip to Hawaii.

http://tfdssports.com/2010-articles/august/camp-day-19-zach-miller-firewroks-roster-shuffle.html

“After having issues with receiving, defensive end turned fullback Alex Daniels caught a pass in the end zone from Colt Brennan to close practice. Head coach Tom Cable has already said that he expects Daniels to play in Chicago when the Raiders face the Bears.

The tea leaves say that Colt Brennan will likely get some field time on Saturday against da Bears. With Frye on the shelf for the season and Gradkowski getting limited practice reps during the week, Brennan should be the third quarterback again. Colt has now had some time to study the playbook, and it would not make sense to again only use two quarterbacks.”

If the WAC and Big West merges, I’m sure BYU will go independent and join the merger. Then we get to play BYU every year.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, seems like the Warrior WR’s are feeling cheated out of a talent show win. Anyone see this?

My biggest concern is how the players are taking this… grayshirts, redshirts, freshman, and sophmore … are just starting their Warrior journey in the WAC… and now all that uncertainty… recruiting… how will that be affected? Will they be on a winning team in two years? three? Will there even be a team in four?

Obviously, they need reassurances and they will need it soon.

MIH UH has zero announced verbal commits for 2011, now with the fallout will UH be able to secure any commitments, its going to be a tough sell without knowing if the WAC will be around in 2 years or after 2012 when FSU and Nevada leaves for the MWC

On tonight’s news with Kanoa and Kekaula, it sounds like JD hinting that we may go independent. If so, do we still have to pay the $5 million exit fee? What if we only go independent in football but stay in the WAC in all other sports, do we still pay the $5 mil? How are we going to get the money if we leave?

Slugger- sounds like a team talent show. Check out Salas on fb.

Ok time for nigh nigh.

I BELEIVE!

All will be well.

Stephen,

Do you think we have the draw for a national TV contract for football?

Nice comments here. Better than on most fan sites, I think.

I have an idea: When everyone has the time, why not write a note to Larry Price c/o his radio station and ask him to please use his never-to-be-denied appeal to force interviews with our candidates for the Governor, the UH AD Donovan and the UH Chancellor herself to see what (if anything) they’re thinking as far as UH (independent?) Football.

If anyone can get answers or non-answers, he can. I’ve encountered Mr. Price before and to this day, very few people have impressed me (or intimidated me; he was a BIGGGGGG dude at the time)

more with his honesty, wit and vision. And I’m not easily impressed.

In fact, I have a better idea: Write, call or email your friends and ask them to do the same – and encourage them to start a DRAFT of Larry Price and Dick Tomey to step in as special Warrior representatives to oversee a fast-paced committee to see what can be done. Both of these men acting together would be hard to ignore and could easily bring Hawaii’s politicians, tourist industry and media communities together in order find out if it’s possible to get things done.

Because, otherwise, I have a strong feeling that Hawaii and the UH Warriors are going to sit on their hands until it’s too late.