Warriors' success stirring up interest
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
University of Hawai'i defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville might very well be a candidate to fill the head football coaching job at North Texas.
He just doesn't know it.
"I have not talked to anybody about it, nobody's talked to me about it, and I guess that means there's nothing going on," Glanville said. "That's Internet speculation. I'm not going to talk about it. There's nothing going on."
A stir was created — on the Internet, naturally — when Tim Dienhart of The Sporting News reported Glanville might be a candidate.
"I had a source tell me today," Dienhart wrote in his college football roundup, "that Hawaii defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville could be a factor in the North Texas job after Darrell Dickey was let go a few weeks ago. It's a position Glanville is interested in, I'm told. It seems like a perfect match for each party."
Told about Dienhart's story, Glanville said: "I have no idea who he is. I have not spoken a word to him. I have not talked to one team this entire season. I'm working. I've got my plates full. All I'm worried about is San Jose State."
With the Warriors' success this season, head coach June Jones said, he expects his coaches to be mentioned for coaching jobs across the country.
"That's what happens when you're winning," Jones said.
Glanville mused: "I may move, but I won't move past Diamond Head. That's the end of that tune. You know what my favorite song is, don't you? It's: 'If the Phone's Not Ringing, It's Probably For Me.' I love that song."
Glanville, like all UH assistant coaches, has a one-year contract. He was head coach for two National Football League teams before working for 12 years as a television commentator and race-car driver/owner. He was hired as UH's defensive coordinator in April 2005.
GRADE CHECK POSITIVE
In an academic crackdown in April, Jones benched about a dozen players from participating in spring practice. He extended the benchings for three of the players through this semester.
The actions, Jones and the players report, appears to be successful.
"I'm doing good," said outside linebacker John Fonoti, who is enrolled in school but not playing football this season.
Fonoti was projected to start at right outside linebacker. Instead, Jones decided to ground Fonoti, running back Mario Cox and strong safety B.J. Fruean for the season. All three will rejoin the team in January, and compete in spring practice in April.
Thirteen true freshmen were part of the 60-player travel squad last year. That time away, plus the usual adjustment to college life, might have factored in several players incurring academic difficulties.
"I struggled last year with attendance," Fruean admitted. "I had to adjust more to college."
Cox said his first year at UH "was pretty tough. A lot of stuff snuck up on me because I was traveling regularly. When the second semester came around, it was overload. I had to catch up."
Fonoti, Fruean and Cox participate in weight training and conditioning drills each morning. After eating breakfast at the team training table, they head off to classes. Each has a B average, and after this year, each will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.
"I don't let football bother me right now," Fruean said. "I only focus on academics. I'm doing good."
So, too, is Cox.
"Now that I don't have to practice or go to meetings, I have more time for schoolwork and homework. I basically have all day to do my homework. I study in the evening in study hall. I get a lot of work done."
Cox said he misses playing, but realizes, "We're still young. The best is yet to come. Right now we're shooting for the WAC (title). In a couple of years, we'd like to shoot for bigger things."
The stricter study rules do not apply only to those three. All first-year Warriors and older players who are struggling academically are required to attend nightly study halls. Jones also refuses to award a scholarship to a walk-on whose cumulative grade-point average is below 2.5.
One prominent offensive player recently did not receive a scholarship because his GPA was 2.4.
Defensive back Keao Monteilh, who is redshirting this season, said the new policy "makes you concentrate more on school. It's good for all us."
NOTES AND UPDATES
Defensive line coach Jeff Reinebold said: "He took some reps during team (drills). He looked like he can run. He planted (his right leg). I was encouraged. I would think he could play."
"This is great publicity for our program," Jones said.
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UH FOOTBALL
WHAT: University of Hawai'i (8-2, 6-1 in Western Athletic Conference) vs. San Jose State (6-3, 3-2 in WAC) WHEN: 6:05 p.m. Saturday WHERE: Aloha Stadium TV: Live on Oceanic cable pay-per-view digital; rebroadcast on PPV at 10:30 p.m. Call 625-8100 on O'ahu or (808) 643-2337 statewide. Delayed on KFVE Sunday 10 a.m. AUDIO WEBCAST: www.espn1420am.com VIDEO WEBCAST: Available through Hawaiian Telecom and KFVE. Tickets available for single game at $9.95, a full season for $39.95. Go to www.hawaiiantelmedia.com RADIO: Live on ESPN 1420, with warmup show at 5 p.m. Neighbor Island simulcasts on KAOI on Maui/Kona, KPUA in Hilo and KQNG on Kaua'i GATES OPEN: Parking lot 2:30 p.m.; Stadium gates 3 p.m. TICKET PRICES: $38 sideline, $32 South end zone, $27 North end zone (adult), $22 North end zone senior citizen, $22 North end zone students 4-18, $5 UH students. TICKET SALES: Available online at hawaiiathletics.com, by calling 944-2697 (BOWS) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or at Stan Sheriff Center, Aloha Stadium, UH Campus Center, RainBowtique at Ward Centre and Windward Community College's OCET Office during business hours. Convenience fees may apply. PROMOTIONS: Senior citizens and armed services members will receive two tickets for the price of one. Discount ticket deals for armed services members has been extended to the rest of the regular-season. Members of the Armed Services, active and reserve, will receive two-for-one tickets prices (maximum of 12). A valid military identification card is required when purchasing tickets at the Aloha Stadium in advance or on game day. This discount also is available at the Stan Sheriff Center in advance (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Senior citizens (65 years and older) will receive the discount (maximum of 8). A driver's license or identification card is required when purchasing tickets at the Aloha Stadium Box Office in advance and on game day. It is only available at the Stan Sheriff Center Box Office in advance (Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). Other restrictions may apply. The first 10,000 fans to enter Aloha Stadium will receive "Fanbannas" (retractable banners), compliments of game-sponsor Hawaiian Telcom. The two-sided banners have "Hawai`i" printed on one side and "Go Warriors" on the other. PARKING: $5 ALTERNATIVE PARKING (no tailgating): • Leeward Community College (free with $2 charge for shuttle service); • Kamehameha Drive-In ($5 with free shuttle service); • Radford High School ($3 with no shuttle service). All shuttle service runs from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and approximately one hour after the game ends. SECURITY: Only fanny packs, purses, backpacks and handbags will be allowed into stadium (subject to check). TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Sports Radio 1420 will provide traffic advisories and updates before each UH football home game. BUS SHUTTLES: For UH students: Chancellor office is providing free bus transportation to the home games at Aloha Stadium. Buses will pick up UH students on Dole Street in front of Gateway House two hours before game time.The buses will leave the stadium 30 minutes after the game and return to Gateway. Sign-up sheets are at the front desk at each UH residence hall. Roberts Hawaii is offering round trip "air conditioned" shuttle bus services to Aloha Stadium for $6 from three O'ahu areas. Bus No. 3 will pick up at the Hawai'i Kai Park n' Ride at 4 p.m., at Bank of Hawai'i at Kahala Mall at 4:15 and proceed to the stadium. Bus No. 2 will pick up at the Kailua District Park, Kainalu Avenue at 4:15 p.m., at Windward Mall Shopping Center on Alaloa Street facing Sears at 4:30 and proceed to the stadium. Bus No. 1 will pick up at the Mililani Mauka Park n' Ride at 4:30 p.m. and go directly to the stadium. Reservations are required and service is first come, first serve. Call Roberts School Bus at 832-4886 for reservations and additional information. City bus service The FootballExpress offers 17 pickup locations throughout O'ahu. The first trip from each location leaves approximately three hours before kickoff and the last trip leaves approximately 90 minutes before the game. Return trips leave as soon as the bus is full, with the final trip leaving 30 minutes after the game ends. Honolulu pickup locations are at Ala Moana, downtown, Hawai'i Kai, Kahala Mall, Kaimuki, Palolo, Waikiki and the University of Hawai'i. Leeward pickups are at 'Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Mililani Mauka and Village Park. Windward pickups are at Kalaniana'ole Highway and Kailua Road, Kailua Road at Keolu Drive and Hele Street, Kailua Road at Hahani Street, Kane'ohe Bay drive at Mokapu Boulevard and Kane'ohe Bay Drive at Makalani Street. Rates are $3 one way and $6 roundtrip. Passes and transfers are not accepted. For information, go to: www.thebus.org
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Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.
