Quotes from the local papers

Supporting GM for the head coaching job, Rich Miano said:
"In '99, (McMackin) was on June's staff and it was one of the greatest turnarounds in NCAA history. He came back this year and we had the greatest season in UH history. He's worked with the Lee brothers (assistants Cal and Ron), he understands Hawai'i, he's great with kids, he does a great job with the assistant coaches. I think he'd be a great candidate from within. I think it should come from within. In my opinion, and I think from some other people on the staff, he's our leader." (HA)

About how they do not want a coach from the outside come and change things all around, Miano said:
"We went 12-1 this past season and I know that June has left, but we have good systems on offense and defense and special teams. We have good coaches, we have good players. To start again at ground zero is something you do when you're 1-12, not when you're 12-1." (HA)

Supporting GM for the job, Jeff Reinbold said:
"I just feel like that's the best thing for everyone concerned. We don't need any kind of divisiveness. ... This is time to heal and a time for kokua. Greg would be the best choice and I think it's important that we all get behind him." (HSB)

About how the assistants now have no job security, Reinbold said:
"It's a pretty unsettling time." (HSB)

About deciding to go to the NFL, RGM said:
"It was the hardest decision to make in my life." (HA)

HA Note: "Grice-Mullins said a high grade from a draft-assessment committee, his productive UH career and relative good health factored greatly in his decision."

About his decision, RGM said:
"As much as I've grown as a person and a man in Hawai'i, and all of the relationships I've had there, it came down to making the best deal for me and my family. This is the decision I made." (HA)

HA Note: "Grice-Mullins said he retained Mike Abadir of SAPROS Sports Management as his agent. Abadir said he filed Grice-Mullins' draft-application letter yesterday with the NFL."

About how he's just 16 credits short of his communications degree, RGM said:
"Getting a degree is a major priority for me. I'm very close. (Applying for the draft) is one of those things I couldn't pass up." (HA)

Not wanting to reveal his NFL draft evaluation result, RGM said:
"It was a high enough rating for me to want to leave." (HA)

About how RGM will improve his draft stock with his workouts, his agent Abadir said:
"He's training at one of the best facilities. His stock is only going to get better." (HA)

HA Note: "Grice-Mullins is in Scottsdale, Ariz., working out at the Triple Threat Performance center. Dan O'Brien, a former world champion decathlete, is the center's head trainer. O'Brien won a gold medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and placed first in three World Championships."

About Dan O'Brien being their trainer, Abadir said:
"(O'Brien) is our secret weapon. He's unbelievable. Not only does he know how to win competitions and gold medals, he knows how to teach it." (HA)

Expecting RGM to get an invitation to the NFL combine, Abadir said:
"He's going to do well there. The combine is a pressure situation. He's shown time and time again, he can handle those situations." (HA)

About how UH spelling his name wrong on his jersey, RGM said:
"My last name ends 'i-n-s.' " (HA)

About slotback Mitch Farney dying at the age of 20, Bess said:
"This is a real tragedy." (HA)

HA Note: "Bess and Farney were neighbors in Hawai'i. Bess said he often gave Farney a ride to school. Farney, also a slotback, served on the scout-team offense the past two seasons. The scouts practiced against the Warriors' first-team defense."

About Farney's work on their scout team, Jeff Reinbold said:
"After being a star in high school, it can be frustrating to be on the scout team. But he never showed he was frustrated, never at all. He always had a smile on his face. He always worked hard and had a great attitude. He was a great kid." (HA)

Thomas Farney said his son was:
"a great friend, a loving person. He would go out of the way to help his friends with anything. He was the best son we could ever have." (HA)

About Thomas Farney, WR coach Ron Lee said:
"He's understandably devastated ... he couldn't stop crying. What a week it's been. I feel terrible." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Farney was on the verge of transferring out of UH to Weber State in Utah, an opponent on the Warriors' 2008 football schedule, citing homesickness and a desire to get on the field."

About Farney, Ron Lee said:
"I know Mitch as a great kid. His parents did a great job raising him, and he was an excellent student. He was happy and looking forward to the challenge (of playing us)." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Farney redshirted in 2006 and had played on the scout team for UH since lettering four years in track and three in football at Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix. He was also a producer in the classroom as a member of the National Honor Society, and in society as part of the March of Dimes."

About learning about Farney's death, Jason Rivers said:
"It's so unfortunate -- last night I almost cried." (HSB)

River called Farney a:
"hard worker [and a] great person." (HSB)

"I said my prayers last night for him and his family." (HSB)

About hearing about Farney's death, Patek said:
"It's almost unbelievable. I was kind of speechless. It goes to show you're not promised tomorrow." (HSB)

Appreciating the fan support, Jason Rivers said:
"These past few days, we've been doing autograph sessions and the Hawai'i fans still turn out no matter what. We really appreciate it." (HA)

About their events with the fans since the Sugar Bowl, Patek said:
"It was a great experience being with friends, my teammates, my coaches. Just making UH history and history in Hawai'i. It was a lot of fun." (HA)

Looking forward to the Hula Bowl, Lafaele said:
"I'm just going to go out there and have fun. I want to end the year with a bang and look forward to a new beginning for me." (HA)

About how they have received at least 30 applications for the head coaching job, acting AD Carl Clapp said:
"There has been significant interest. We're just getting started and we'll work in as efficient a manner as possible time-wise." (HA)

Asked when would be the best-case timetable for getting a coach, Clapp said:
"an hour ago. The highest priority that I'm working on now is to hire a head football coach." (HA)

About how they cannot rush their coaching search, Clapp said:
"the most important thing is to get the right person, however long that may take." (HSB)

The earliest UH can host recruits on campus is the Jan. 18 to 20 weekend, Clapp said.
About how the earliest UH can host recruits on campus is the Jan. 18-20 weekend, Clapp said:
"We're on it. We're going for it." (HA)

Note: This is NOT true! UH can have recruits visit this weekend! I can't believe that the people in charge do not understand the rules!

HA Note: "Clapp said he will work with selection committee members to determine the set of criteria that would be applied to the applicants. He said those criteria could be determined "in three or four days. Clapp did discuss qualifications that he felt would be important for the new coach to possess, including successful coaching experience at the NCAA Division I level, the ability to "fit" in Hawai'i, and the "ability to ensure a smooth transition for our current team members." "

Clapp said that he has not decided if he'll try for the AD position, saying that he hopes:
"to be employed by the University of Hawai'i." (HA)

About Coach Cav, who is coaching the Hula Bowl players, Larry Sauafea said:
"Same old Cav from 5 years ago. Just his raspy old voice. And his jokes, he's fun to be around." (HSB)

About how Coach Cav recruited him for UH when he was a junior, Brandon Rodd said:
"I would have came here for him. Good thing I didn't because he left. But he takes care of us ... he takes me out to dinner when he's in town (playing at ASU in Tempe)." (HSB)

During practice, Coach Cav said to Sauafea:
"Come on, Larry, show me the old stuff. Bring me back to the old days." (HSB)

About coming to Hawaii to coach the Hula Bowl, Coach Cav said:
"It's kind of neat to come back and coach 'em. It's fun to come back to Hawaii. This is my second home." (HSB)

About how the Warriors will transition well from JJ to his replacement, Coach Cav said:
"Kids are kids, and kids are resilient. Obviously they'll miss June. Whoever the next coach is, they'll believe in him and play for him." (HSB)

About being acting AD, Clapp said:
"You just manage change. When you're in intercollegiate athletics in this type of career, you get challenges all the time in different things that come up." (HSB)

Clapp said that the Athletic Department will continue to compile a:
"comprehensive list of what the facility needs are." (HSB)

About their next coach, Clapp said:
"We would like to get an individual who has got the ability to assure a smooth transition to our current team members. They need to fit in Hawaii. This is a very special place. I think that will be something a committee will hold to." (HSB)

About Hinshaw will be involved with the coaching search, Clapp said:
"I see myself as steward and a facilitator in a lot of ways here and I do want to gather the input and contributions of others. I'm going to welcome a lot of involvement. Believe me, by the number of e-mails coming in, there's people that do wish to at least have their voice heard." (HSB)

About HF balancing the athletic department's budget, Na Koa VP Ben Yee said:
"To get out of the red is good. That's interesting ... but nothing has been done to improve the facilities." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Herman Frazier, ousted Tuesday as University of Hawaii athletic director, apparently earned a $15,000 bonus for keeping sports finances in the black for two straight years and paying back a $1 million loan to the school.

The athletic department made $68,325 in the 2006-07 fiscal year, according to a draft audit being presented today to the UH Board of Regents. In 2005-06 the department made a $7,483 profit, reversing years of red ink. In Frazier's first full fiscal year as athletic director in 2002-03, the department lost $2.4 million.

The 50-page audit by Accuity LLP praises UH's athletic department for post-season tournaments, coaches and player awards, increased ticket sales, TV royalties and private gifts last year.

It shows the football program's revenue at a little more than $400,000 after expenses.

Total sports revenue for fiscal year 2006-07 was $26,787,959, with $26,719,634 in expenses.

But the report, which the Star-Bulletin obtained through a public-records request, warns that the department's "financial condition is still very fragile."

It found problems with the department's monitoring of some donations from booster clubs, potential for unrecorded ticket office revenue, and discovered a "human error" that caused former star football coach June Jones to be underpaid by $10,000 in the 2006 fiscal year. Jones has since been compensated for that amount, according to the audit."

Not wanting to comment on the audit now, Clapp said:
"We want to build on our positives, and we are looking forward to meeting with the Board of Regents about it." (HSB)

About how UH wants JJ to pay them $400,008 for leaving early, UH spokewoman Carolyn Tanaka said:
"We are sure that June will owe up to his contractual obligations." (HSB)