We posted a story on the Star-Advertiser web site about June Jones late yesterday afternoon, confirming he’d apply for the job of University of Hawaii football coach again.

Within an hour it had generated 60 comments. That rapid pace kept going, like Jones’ run-and-shoot offense at its peak a decade ago blowing up the scoreboard.

Many pro-Jones. Many anti-Jones. The first call athletic director David Matlin got on a radio show was a guy promising to buy season tickets if he hired Jones.

Some want to get the old band together. Some say no way, bring in new blood.

Here’s one thing perhaps all of us can agree on: UH football is broken. Five losing seasons in a row. All-time Aloha Stadium attendance lows.

Those who are good at fixing things fascinate me. Computer techs, mechanics, medics, copy editors. My favorite movie character is Winston Wolf in “Pulp Fiction.”

Jones is an expert at fixing football programs. He did it here and he did it at SMU. But, at both places, he didn’t leave in a great way. A lot of people hold that against him here. But a lot of other people see him as a source of hope for a flat-lining football program.

That includes many former UH players. Before Jones returned my call yesterday, I’d informally surveyed 25 Rainbow Warrior alumni, asking who they’d like as coach. Some recent, some who played in the ’70s and ’60s. Most said Jones would be their choice, with Rich Miano and Nick Rolovich getting the most nods after him.

“The mark of a great coach is being able to get the most out of your players, and Jones was a master at that,” said Jason Rivers, the most productive wide receiver in the history of bowl games. “The recruiting classes for UH haven’t been the worst, but they haven’t been the greatest either. But you’d never know that with Coach Jones. Another reason is for the morale of the players and fans alike. As a player it’s hard to be motivated walking into an empty stadium.”

Maybe Jones, 62, isn’t a long-term answer. But Jesse Sapolu said he thinks he could go “six to seven years.”

“He has a special bond with the islands as evident with the charity work he continued to do while he was at SMU,” said Sapolu, the offensive lineman who went on to win four Super Bowls with the 49ers. “We need to stop the bleeding right away so recruits can believe in the program again. … He has an approach that’s attractive to local kids, so it will change recruiting right away. The offense will score points, so the fans will get excited again as we rebuild the program. But the bleeding has to stop and I don’t know of anyone that can do it quickly like June.”

The biggest star of Jones’ nine-year coaching tenure mentioned younger options. “Miano or Nick Rolovich,” said Colt Brennan, who was third in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2007. “Either one I think would be an amazing fit and be great for Hawaii. If I had my way, both.”

One of UH’s most famous defensive players likes an offensive guy. “Rolo would be affordable because he’s young and new, and he’s good recruiting local kids. Let’s get some young energy and ideas,” David Maeva said. “He fits that best type of coach for Hawaii, who has always been the one that motivates the players to play better than they are. June proved it too when he succeeded with Fred’s (vonAppen’s) former players.”

And, here’s an offensive great who likes a defensive coach. “In my opinion it needs to be somebody that can embrace the local culture, keep as many local kids as possible and have an open relationship with the media,” said Travis Sims, the running back who helped lead UH to its 1992 Holiday Bowl win. “I know Rich (Miano) and I think he fits all three above. We need the fans to love the program like they used to. We need more local kids and Rich may bring that.”

A kicker from Maui stumps for a defensive back from Radford. “I would like Brian Norwood. Brian has proven he’s a quality coach with teams like Penn State and Baylor,” Howard Yoshino said. “This is a great opportunity for a young former Rainbow’s introduction into the head-coaching ranks. Look how well Dino Babers is doing (at Bowling Green). I see Brian doing the same at the helm.”

Bob Lundy was teammates with Larry Price in the 1960s. “I like Ivin Jasper,” he said. “He has years of triple-option experience under (Paul) Johnson and (Ken) Niumatalolo at Navy.”

“I’m good with Buzz (Preston) or Brian (Norwood) as my first choice,” said Kyle Mosley, a receiver from the 1980s. “I just want someone who cares about UH, Hawaii and local kids, and has the ability to recruit on the mainland. Someone who cares about bringing pride back to being a Rainbow Warrior.”

Levi Stanley, the legendary defensive tackle, thinks Jones can bring back the glory days. “I played ball with June and I trust him,” he said. “We should give him a second chance because he did well for University of Hawaii.”

The one thing every player surveyed agreed upon? The next coach should be someone from among their brotherhood, someone who knows what it is to run onto that field in full gear, representing Hawaii.

It’s hard to debate against that.

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at Hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads.