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If the University of Hawaii’s attorneys have any spare time these days, the athletic department could soon be asking for it.
Beyond dealing with NCAA allegations and looking for loopholes in Gib Arnold’s contract, there is the potential matter of the University of Kansas.
The Jayhawks, it seems, have suddenly lost interest in bringing the Rainbow Warrior football team to Lawrence, Kan., in 2016 or in coming to Aloha Stadium themselves in 2017.
The series the Jayhawks happily heralded less than two years ago — then-head coach Charlie Weis using "excited" three times in the same sentence — is now something they’d just as soon toss out like an unwanted Christmas tie.
Which is all well and good except that it leaves UH with a couple of difficult-to-fill pukas in its upcoming schedules and Kansas signed a contract for the games.
Under the agreement, "if either party fails to comply with the terms and conditions of this agreement or, unilaterally cancels the agreement for any reason, the canceling party agrees it shall forfeit to the other the sum of $500,000 as liquidated damages and not a penalty. If cancellation is by mutual consent, this contract shall be null and void."
A Jayhawks spokesman declined to say why the school wants out. But the presumption is that when Weis, who thought the series was good for recruiting, got fired, his replacement, David Beaty, with no plans to recruit here, was less enamored with inheriting it.
For the moment, UH is apparently willing to let the Jayhawks out provided KU helps line up suitable replacements. In addition, ESPN is assisting in the search.
Frankly, UH probably isn’t too broken up about giving up the 2016 game at Kansas since it is also booked to play at Michigan and doesn’t need the travel. Especially since the $250,000 KU guarantee won’t add much to the piggy bank after expenses.
But the 2017 game at Aloha Stadium stands as the season opener, and a game against any Power Five opponent, even one in KU’s presently reduced circumstances, is much preferable to another Central Arkansas. Finding any FBS opponent at this date, however, isn’t easy, especially for what UH can pay.
In the past, UH has sometimes held opponents’ feet to the fire in such circumstances, requiring Michigan State to reach for its checkbook ($250,000) for the cancellation of a 2007 game and Washington State to cough up $300,000 to exit a 2011 game.
But is has also allowed some schools to switch around games and even prevailed upon Washington itself to let it out of a 2015 game in order to secure the more lucrative $1.2 million payday at Ohio State this September.
Booking Power Five conference teams has gotten considerably tougher for UH. Most have championship games, are seeking to upgrade their nonconference competition and are disdaining 13th games. So, it also behooves UH to show some flexibility in scheduling matters lest it scare away potential future foes.
Meanwhile, UH attorneys shouldn’t be surprised in the event the athletic department drops another case file at the door.
Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.
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