By Dave Reardon

Solomon Elimimian and Adam Leonard are great choices to represent UH at the WAC Media Preview in Salt Lake City next month. They are the most productive returning linebacker duo in the nation. And both are intelligent, articulate and interesting people. The conference’s assembled reporters will enjoy talking with them.

Elimimian said he talked Leonard into signing up for the golf outing that is part of the event — even though, according to Elimimian, neither of them has played a round.

“I’ve been out on the range a few times with (teammate) Spencer (Smith), but I’m not sure Adam’s even touched a golf club,” Elimimian said. “I told them to put our handicaps way up.”

Leonard said he has played the game — if mini-golf counts.

“Have to start some time,” he said. “I wasn’t planning on playing. It’s by Solomon’s request.

“I’m just honored to be selected by Coach to represent us there.”

By Cindy Luis

Sorry readers, I am on the mainland with very sporadic. thanks to our Dave Reardon for updating.Amber Kaufman was fifth and her Hawaii teammate Emily Sheppard sixth in the women’s high jump at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field national championships today in Des Moines, Iowa.http://www.flashresults.com/2008_Meets/outdoor/DivisionI/080611F033.htmKaufman jumped 6 feet and Sheppard cleared 5-10 3/4. Both competitors earned All-American status, and scored seven team points for UH.It marked the first time UH scored in the NCAA outdoor championships since 1984, when Gwen Loud won the long jump. got an email from Amber’s mom who said something akin to chee=hoo. Congrats to both.  

By Dave Reardon

I guess I’m an old-timer, since I remember all that noise Gwen Loud made in 1984, winning the NCAA long jump outdoor championship.

Today, two young ladies who weren’t even born then ended a long drought.

Amber Kaufman and Emily Sheppard were fifth and sixth in the high jump at NCAAs, good for seven points and the end of a 24-year-old scoring goose egg (it should be noted that there was no track and field team at UH for many of those years before it was revived back in 2001).

And Kaufman’s just a sophomore and Sheppard a junior, so it’s quite possible there won’t be another long wait for points at nationals.

By Dave Reardon

Tough break for Ryan Grice-Mullins who never got to show his stuff in OTAs due to injury.

***

Leo Goeas is proving there’s life after playing in at UH and in the NFL — as a player agent.

Goeas completed what amounts to a benchmark deal for his five-year-old business when he secured a five-year, $30.3 million ($8.5 million guaranteed) contract extension for Bengals defensive tackle Domata Peko (you remember him as a guy UH recruited, but lost out to Michigan State).

What makes this a key deal for Goeas is that it is his first veteran signing.

Goeas also represents several former UH players, including Dolphins starting center Samson Satele.

By Dave Reardon

Some of you are tired of this topic, but with the mediation that started Monday regarding the disputed $400,008 that Jones either owes or doesn’t owe UH, it is worth discussing.

Even if the letter of the contract indicates Jones owes the money, should he be given a pass considering what he did for UH football (even that is debatable, as there are those who don’t like the way he did it, changing the nickname, etc.)?

And if UH gets its way and Jones has to pay the money, will this affect future donations to the program from some of Jones’ well-heeled friends (and what would become of the June Jones Foundation, that benefits Hawaii charities)?

You can question Jones’ loyalty to Hawaii. But remember, he did show up at the booster function with Greg McMackin a couple of months ago, after Jones had taken the SMU job.

By Dave Reardon

Representatives for June Jones and the University of Hawaii began mediation proceedings today.

At issue is $400,008 UH claims Jones owes the school for leaving as head football coach before his contract ended. Jones claims he had a verbal agreement (and an email) from then-athletic director Herman Frazier saying Jones wouldn’t have to pay the money if he left early.

The mediation proceedings are private, but we’re promised a report when they’re done.

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Reply to Zolte: No, I haven’t seen Mana Rosa play. But just by the name, he sounds like a stud.

***

Answer to Mokie the Warrior: No, June Jones was not paid anything for the time after he resigned from UH in January. The $400,008 in question is a penalty, per the contract, that happens to be half-a-year’s salary. That’s why some people were confused, thinking the money was his salary and he was being asked to give it back (he was not paid ahead of time).

By Dave Reardon

Just got off the phone with UH infielder Jon Hee and scratched this out for our breaking news:

Hawaii infielder Jon Hee has been assigned to the Lowell (Mass.) Spinners, the Boston Red Sox’ single-A baseball team in the New York-Penn League.

“Obviously it feels good. I’m very proud to be part of such a great organization,” said Hee, who was drafted in the 21st round by the Red Sox last Saturday.

Hee leaves Wednesday night for Lowell, where he will sign his contract. He said the closest he’s been to the east coast is road trips to Louisiana Tech.

By Dave Reardon

We’re getting some reports that speedy and tall Kaiser wideout Kalua Noa may be accepting a grayshirt scholarship offer to UH to start school in Jan. 2009. We’ll try to confirm this with Noa, who also has an offer from Portland State, in the morning.

Noa’s father, Henry, and brothers, Kilinahe and Waikaloa, all played at UH.

UPDATE: I spoke with Kalua Noa and other sources this afternoon, and he is indeed accepting a grayshirt scholarship offer from UH to start in Jan. 2009. He said he is fully qualified academically for UH.

By Dave Reardon

Four UH track and field and cross country athletes received academic All-District honors from ESPN The Magazine.

Annett Wichmann, Patricia Gauthier, and Mallory Gilbert made the first team and Emily Sheppard is a second team honoree.

Wichmann was a first team all-district selection last year while also earning third team Academic All-America honors. Gauthier previously was selected to the all-district team in 2006. Gilbert and Sheppard are first time recipients.

The three first team honorees will now be eligible for Academic All-America consideration.

Wichmann and Sheppard, along with Amber Kaufman, will represent UH at next week’s NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.

By Dave Reardon

Regarding today’s story about the state ethics commission and UH’s Sugar Bowl travel: I called Carl Clapp yesterday to see if he could recall if travel for children was discussed at the meeting in Dec. before the trip with the commission. Understandably, Clapp wanted to check his notes before responding (he had left the office for the day and that’s where they were). After looking at the notes this morning, Clapp said he did not have record of a policy being set for children on the trip regarding if UH would pay for them or not.
Dan Mollway, head of the ethics commission said he left the meeting with the understanding that only a few children would make the trip, and that UH was not paying for their travel.
Mollway told me yesterday that while young children should be with their parents during the holidays, the ethics commission would not condone or endorse the state paying for them to travel to an event at which they served no state function.