Hawaii and Todd Graham pt. 3: A conclusion but not the end.
Hawaii football Head Coach Todd Graham has announced his resignation this evening, January 14th, 2022. With it brings the end into the inquiry of whether he verbally abused players and/ or created a toxic work environment. With his resignation, Graham forfeits any claim to the 1.2 million dollar buyout clause in his contract and will no longer be owed any portion of his $800,000 dollar salary. It is unclear whether UH will promote an interim Head Coach for the season or hire a new coach. Graham’s son Bo is still on the staff as UH offensive coordinator.
Here’s my take, I haven’t hidden the fact that I supported Graham nor will I issue a retraction for my words. If Graham did commit verbal abuse, he had to go. Why Graham would resign is a loaded question. Perhaps there was cause for his firing which would have forfeited his buyout clause anyway. Perhaps he didn’t want to deal with the media scrutiny and further inquiry into the program. Perhaps there’s another job available that wouldn’t have such issues as the UH program has. With the XFL set to resume play in 2022 and the consistent college coaching carousel, who knows. I’m banking that there was cause to fire him, it doesn’t make any sense why he wouldn’t continue to coach for $800,000 dollars a year. Maybe money doesn’t matter to him as much after his $13 million dollar buyout from Arizona State University.
Graham had a successful two years in Hawaii. Two bowl births, a bowl win, a top 25 win and the reclamation of the Paniolo trophy marks the highlights of his tenure. His ability to recruit brought some much needed talent to the islands. However a lot of players left under his watch. Whether to pursue bigger opportunities or because of Graham waits to be seen. It doesn’t matter anymore. Though Graham is gone, this issues of the UH program remain.
I truly believe players like Darius Muasau, Jonah Laulu, Nick Mardner, Chevan Corderio and others would’ve left regardless. Do I think Graham had an influence in such a decision? Yes, without a doubt but one can not refuse to recognize that the state of the program is in disrepair. The inability to have a proper stadium, nutrition program or ability to build/ maintain needed facilities like the weight room proves how far behind UH is in comparison with it’s other FBS counterparts. I think Graham did a lot with what he had and it will be hard to find someone to achieve a consistent winning performance with such horrible facilities.
A lesson does need to be learned from the Graham hire. I’m not sure if AD Matlin will be in charge of the new hire but if he is, there doesn’t necessarily need to be a culture fit but definitely not a culture misfit. What I mean by that is Dick Tomey, Bob Wagner, Jeff Monkin, Rich Ellerson, Mouse Davis, Jerry Glanville, Greg McMackin and Paul Johnson came to Hawaii from the mainland and found incredible success. The reason is that they all assimilated into the culture where Graham refused to leave his Texas roots. Here’s some of my top candidates.
June Jones. The former UH coach took Hawaii to new heights with two WAC titles, an undefeated regular season in 2007 and a Sugar Bowl birth. Also rebuilding the SMU mustangs program, Jones took SMU to their first bowl game and first bowl win in the post death penalty era. His run n’ shoot offense would be highly effective with quarterbacks Brayden Schager or new transfer Cammon Cooper.
Rich Miano. The former UH assistant and current commentator is Hawaii through and through. A graduate and player for UH, Miano spent time as a safety in the NFL, most notably with the Philadelphia Eagles. In his return to the islands, Miano was crucial in recruiting some of the top talent to UH in the early 2000s. Coaching high school, he led Kaiser to its first state championship in school history.
Chris Petersen. The former Boise State Bronco and Washington Huskies Head Coach, Petersen has been out of coaching for a couple of years sighting exhaustion. One of the original BCS busters, Petersen has led Boise State to two BCS bowl victories along with multiple NY6 bowl games and a CFB playoff appearance at Washington. Hawaii could offer a low stress way to get back into coaching and Petersen is a phenomenal recruiter who has plucked Polynesian and island talent on a consistent basis. Look at any Washington team post Don James, then look at his 2016 Huskies. There’s a big difference in talent. Vita Vea, John Ross, Greg Gaines, Will Dissly, Myles Gaskin, Kaleb McGary, Dante Pettis, Drew Sample, Taylor Rapp, Levi Onwuzerike, Byron Murphy, Jordan Fuller, Kevin King, Sidney Jones and Budda Baker all outlined the most talented team in the Pac-12 during the 2010s. Yes, even more talented then Mariota’s Oregon. Plus money isn’t an issue with the millions he’s already earned.
I also believe players like Leonard Lee and co, who have been kicked off the team for speaking out in the twitter space should have an opportunity to return to the team. I also hope UH coaches like Craig Stutzmann, Billy Ray Stutzmann and Chris Naeole find their way back to the program in some compacity, dependent on the vaccination requirements for UH.
Graham is gone but as previously mentioned, the big issues within the program still remain. The stadium deal, financial obligations, any buyouts of assistant coaches and the lack of a complete and functioning football facility will continue to hinder the program. The state, more importantly Hawaii State Senator Donna Mercado Kim once said that the state was in a position to pay Graham’s 1.2 million dollar buyout. Where is this money and why can’t the state use it to fix these issues? Was it hot air because players need to workout and eat. How do we expect UH to compete at the highest level with subpar facilities and calling it subpar is a complement considering. How does the state improve the program? Why hasn’t there been a detailed financial plan drawn up? Is there money for the new stadium? Those questions need to be answered.
Todd Graham’s tenure was controversial and tenuous. Hawaii experienced high highs and low lows under his guidance. Unprecedented success and horror stories. Perhaps his time will fade from the memory like Fred Von Appen or it might stick with fans forever. I appreciate his work and I’m sorry it didn’t work out. I also greatly appreciate all the hard work and sacrifice of the players who have donned the green H. I got to see a mainland bowl victory, multiple upsets of top Mountain West programs and the evolution of Calvin Turner Jr. I just hope the good times roll with whoever becomes the head man in Manoa.
