The attorney for punter Alex Dunnachie said the University of Hawaii wants his client to sit out this season and he is contesting the school’s authority to suspend him.

Paul Cunney:
"I would hope that the coach
could come up with creative
ways (other than a suspension)
to discipline him."

Dunnachie has not been suspended for his July 7 arrest on a DUI allegation, but attorney Paul Cunney said in a letter to UH interim athletic director Rockne Freitas, "I am requesting a meeting with you as soon as possible to prevent Coach (Norm) Chow from suspending Alex Dunnachie after he appears in Honolulu District Court on Friday Aug. 3, which would violate the code of conduct of the student athlete."

Training camp is scheduled to open Wednesday.

Cunney cited a section of the code that says "… if you are to be suspended, written notification of the suspension will be provided by the athletics director within 72 hours after he or she has been notified of the offense." Cunney said, "They missed the deadline."

Dunnachie, a second-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection last season as a junior, has pro aspirations and Cunney said, "In Alex’s case there is some prejudice here because if he knew back on July 7th, 8th or 9th that he was going to get suspended then he could have just left the university and gone to Division II. He could have an opportunity to kick all fall. But to deny him an opportunity to play this fall, whether one game, four games or a whole season, I don’t think that is correct."

Transfers to Division II schools from Division I members can compete immediately.

Chow has said he would wait for Dunnachie, the third of three players to face DUI charges this offseason, to enter a plea to the charge before imposing punishment. Chow declined immediate comment Wednesday, as did a spokeswoman for the athletic department.

Cunney said, "Two years ago I represented a baseball player. He got arrested on a Saturday. On Sunday, the next day, (UH) sent a letter out suspending him pursuant to the code of conduct of the student athletes. The way I read the rule, it is mandatory that if you are going to suspend someone you’ve got to do it within 72 hours, no ifs, ands or buts."

Cunney said his client would contest the DUI charge. He said, "I would hope that the coach could come up with creative ways (other than a suspension) to discipline him."

Dunnachie is the only punter on UH’s roster, although Chow has said the Warriors are looking for another.