Quotes about the BCS money and how UH will spend it

About the $3 mil or so (after expenses) that UH will get from the Sugar Bowl payout, Christina Stidman, president of the Associated Students at UH-Manoa, said that it should be split between athletic facilities, classroom repairs, and an investment fund for future school improvements:
"There are thousands of places where it could go." (HA)

HA Note: "At Boise State, there was no doubt that the bulk of the Fiesta Bowl payout would go to the athletic department. Boise State received about $4.5 million after its upset over Oklahoma and had less than $3 million left after expenses. Most of Boise State's money went toward a new press box and luxury suite complex at Bronco Stadium."


About how they used about $500k from their BCS money for academic scholarships, Max Corbet, BSU assistant AD for media relations, said:
"We wanted to be able to give back to the university on the academic side." (HA)

About how the money could be used to improve campus facilities and provide scholarships, Ren Hirose, president of the board of directors for the UH Alumni Association, said:
"From talking to alumni, we agree with the chancellor that the physical structure of the university — the buildings itself — is a priority. The other part is to support the people who want to come to the university, and scholarships could be very helpful in having to meet these financial needs." (HA)


About how he thinks that most of the money should go to the athletic department, Ben Yee, VP of the Warriors' booster club Na Koa, said:
"There is so much improvement that needs to be done to the athletic department, not only for football, but for the other sports. The people who worked the hardest for it — the players, the staff — they should benefit, shouldn't they?" (HA)

About how UH athletics should get to keep the money and have their $2 mil in debt forgiven, Rep. Mark Takai said:
"I liken the Sugar Bowl payout to a UH researcher obtaining a $3 million federal grant. The researcher gets full access to the grant monies and a significant portion of the indirect cost charges. And just like the $3 million that the researcher obtains, the $3 million or so from the Sugar Bowl would not have been possible without the success of June Jones and his team. There is so much that needs to be done, from renovations of deplorable Cooke Field to completion of coaches' offices to upgrades of the locker rooms. Aside from renovations and repairs, we need to pay our coaches what they are worth and we need to provide an adequate recruiting budget to ensure success in future years." (HA)

HA Note: "State Rep. K. Mark Takai, D-34th (Newtown, Waiau, Pearl City), a former UH-Manoa swimmer who has taken an active role in monitoring university spending, said the entire Sugar Bowl payout should go to the athletic department. He said the payout, combined with the increased revenue the university is likely receiving from its share of UH apparel such as Brennan replica jerseys and WAC championship T-shirts, should also justify UH forgiving the athletic department's debt. Takai said he believes in giving incentives for success."


About how he thinks it makes sense for a portion of the Sugar Bowl payout to go to athletics, State Sen. Norman Sakamoto (chair of the Senate Education Committee) said:
"But we're not supposed to micromanage. I don't think it's up to me, as a legislator, to say exactly how this money should be spent." (HA)

About how the money could go to enhance the student fitness center in the athletic complex or towards new athletic programs, Travis Fallon, UH-Manoa sophomore studying political science said:
"It's athletics that's getting the money, so if they put it into their own program I understand doing that, but I would like to see it be spent on students." (HA)

About the other benefits of the BCS money, UH-Manoa spokesman Gregg Takayama said:
"We have no shortage of needs. The real payout, the real benefit for UH, will not be the actual proceeds from the Sugar Bowl itself. The real payout will be if we can somehow translate this overwhelming community support to support from our decision-makers and more resources for our campus to provide a better place for our students to live and work and play." (HA)