Apple fallout

Hawaii News Now’s Keoki Kerr reported that Tom Apple will be removed as UH-Manoa chancellor, an action that will impact the athletic department.

Apple has been a supporter financially (absorbing the department’s eight-figure accumulated debt a year ago) and emotionally (he’s the first to greet the Warriors at Aloha Stadium). He’s backed projects, OK’d contracts, and didn’t send in the collectors when the budget was stained with red ink.

In these difficult financial times, it’s always good to have friends.


Apple was a friend to the athletic department.

COMMENTS

  1. mo808 July 27, 2014 7:39 am

    Morning folks!


  2. mo808 July 27, 2014 7:40 am

    Mahalo, Mr. Apple! Aiyah, UH!


  3. 3-Prong July 27, 2014 7:42 am

    So how come the apple falling from the tree?


  4. Luki July 27, 2014 7:47 am

    Top 5!


  5. Stephen Tsai July 27, 2014 7:53 am

    It appears that while he was a friend to the athletic department, he might not have been as beloved elsewhere on campus.


  6. WarriorNY July 27, 2014 7:54 am

    Yikes… This sounds like an obituary…

    Have a great day and week everyone! super busy!


  7. mo808 July 27, 2014 8:03 am

    Lol, WNY! šŸ˜€


  8. Stephen Tsai July 27, 2014 8:11 am

    I just think: Here we go again.
    UH just can’t change chancellors. There’s $1.4 million owed on his remaining contract. That means negotiations. That means a lengthy exit.
    Then there’s another search committee. Good luck on that. Maybe another several months?
    Meanwhile, the main UH campus still has to be administered.
    Apple, like other chancellors/presidents, sits on decision-making boards with MWC and Big West. As a one-sport MWC member, UH already has a difficult time getting its interests represented.
    Not sure if Apple is good or bad (note, I avoided the rotten pun), but I always think it’s better to change a person’s ways than change a position. Because UH isn’t recouping that $1.4 million.


  9. Inyoface July 27, 2014 8:12 am

    The one thing that can cheer everybody up is a win on Aug. 30th.


  10. whitey July 27, 2014 8:14 am

    3 prong, mostly silvers, kings, and halibut. no ling cod and 1 or 2 sockeyes. a few rock bass, but no bulging eyeballs rockfish.


  11. Stephen Tsai July 27, 2014 8:15 am

    Whitey:
    We’re talking fish?


  12. hatakeman July 27, 2014 8:25 am

    I didn’t know this about Tom Apple. Thanks for the insight. But this raises the question – “Why?”


  13. Shoko July 27, 2014 8:40 am

    Wouldn’t be surprised that Rockne Freitas is a candidate to replace Apple.


  14. al July 27, 2014 8:43 am

    swinging doors of the chancellor’s office is a blackeye for the university.

    – who would want this position now?
    – the egg on the face belongs to the selection committee.
    – money issues, nah get plenty.
    – there’s more, but, it all falls on deaf ears.

    as charlie brown would say, “good grief.”


  15. al July 27, 2014 8:45 am

    whitey…misoyaki halibut!
    king salmon kama!


  16. al July 27, 2014 8:47 am

    an employee screws up…management counsels them to correct the issues.
    not send them away with a million in his pocket.

    (disclaimer: not unless its an unethical violation)


  17. blaxican3120 July 27, 2014 8:52 am

    This is a great decision! Apple was a moron. He helped pick chow and then backed him for a 3rd season.


  18. forsurftoo July 27, 2014 8:55 am

    When “bobbing for apples”, you usually have to get your face under water….


  19. get toe July 27, 2014 9:04 am

    17. blaxican3120:
    July 27th, 2014 at 8:52 am

    This is a great decision! Apple was a moron. He helped pick chow and then backed him for a 3rd season.

    hey blax – apple wasn’t hired until june, 2012. just what are you talking about


  20. Boolakanaka July 27, 2014 9:10 am

    UH, like many institutions, the Chancellor is in charge of entire strategic planning and implementation of the whole system. As such, fiscal oversight, combined with overviews that include both physical plant and academic planning to student services, are typical of their duties.

    My point being is that there are many factions and quarters to satisfy, and potential institutional assassins are in almost every corner of the university. No doubt, enemies were made, but moreover expectations and deliverables not met. I have heard the Freitas name bring mentioned–stay tuned…….


  21. Shoko July 27, 2014 9:12 am

    There’s also no indication that Apple would agree to step down. For all we know, he might say no and decide to take the legal route which could be where the real drama starts.


  22. Rodney July 27, 2014 9:14 am

    Hope the next Apple is a Coconut!


  23. bowwar July 27, 2014 9:16 am

    If so, another black eye for the UH. When will this circus ever end…


  24. bowwar July 27, 2014 9:17 am

    I guess BJ will likely be gone too…


  25. 3-Prong July 27, 2014 9:20 am

    10 & 11 :whitey: sounds like you have some good eating to come, congrats. Silvers especially, my personal favorite.

    ST: in “bulging eyeball rockfish”, I think whotey was referring to upper campus folks. hehe


  26. Old School Dave July 27, 2014 9:20 am

    I am betting that Rockne Freitas will be making the move from West Oahu to Manoa as the new UH Chancellor. No proof, just a gut feeling.

    Tom Apple was good enough to forgive the Athletic Dept’s paper debt and was a friend to the Athletic Dept. He obviously ran afoul of the people in high places.


  27. 3-Prong July 27, 2014 9:21 am

    …..whotey = whitey


  28. Old School Dave July 27, 2014 9:21 am

    UH seems to love buyouts. The circus continues.


  29. innocent observer July 27, 2014 9:27 am

    yep, with apple gone, BJ will shortly follow. then chow, gib and trapasso? this might be a blessing in disguise. football will be cut or downgraded to DII or III.


  30. Hank July 27, 2014 9:36 am

    I wonder who he pissed off?


  31. d1shima July 27, 2014 9:39 am

    Great Morning All!

    Empty hands abound.
    With just an empty wallet
    Beware the backhand.


  32. BigFan July 27, 2014 9:42 am

    Ferias is not the answer.


  33. BigFan July 27, 2014 9:43 am

    Oops, Freitas.


  34. Not an Expert July 27, 2014 9:43 am

    Appears to be a power struggle that continues and continues with new faces every few years. Hey you smarties watch the Koran olden days drama and learn a few things.


  35. Old School Dave July 27, 2014 9:44 am

    Apple’s removal is probably payback for his attempts to remove the head of the UH Med School Carbone (in response to numerous grievances about that guy). Wasn’t the new UH President in charge of IT when they had that huge security breach a few years ago?


  36. Old School Dave July 27, 2014 9:52 am

    Sorry, that’s the head of the UH Cancer Center, Carbone.


  37. Haleakala July 27, 2014 9:53 am

    Is the report really true? What are his sources? I question initial media reports. I would like to see other confirmations.


  38. Old School Dave July 27, 2014 9:57 am

    Agree. There’s nothing in the SA about this story. Keoki Kerr is pretty reliable, though.


  39. Wes'side Warrior July 27, 2014 10:03 am

    Morning, Gang!

    Have to be a doozy of a reason to kick that Apple… and they had to have considered the $1M+ payoff check in the process… or at least you’d think they considered it. We bleed more money from self-inflicted wounds than anything else.

    Oh well… gotta stay tuned to hear what’s up.

    Have a great day, everyone!


  40. NorthShoreFan July 27, 2014 10:17 am

    Guud Morning Tsaikos…bootiful day.

    inre..Tom Apple….we won’t know the reason why so it’ll be nice if the powers that be are held accountable for the decision. As stated there will be financial impact on the move. IMHO, anytime you spend millions someone needs to be held accountable for expenditure. Let’s see the JPR and pray it’s not because of some “hurt feelings”. Maybe the person or person’s making the decision needs to be let go as there seems to be no consistency in their selection of UH leaders.
    We start the merry go round yet again. Throwing names out there as if they are the solution. It may or it may not be. We can only decide if we know all the facts and reasons why the decision was made. Don’t hold your breath that this will be shared. O&O..


  41. SteveM July 27, 2014 10:18 am

    Good morning everyone!

    Ahhh, the drama continues. I’m staying tuned for more details on the Apple drama. But consider this, can a Chancellor get a $10 million debt forgiven without the support of the President (interim or not). I dunno.

    I admit I knew and support Lassner–after all, you do not get spectacularly nominated by 13 Deans and chancellors because you are a back-stabber. I doubt the firing of Apple is personal on Lassner’s part. But the suddenness indicates to me that things have been festering for a while in the system.

    Besides, the Chancellor makes $50,000 more than the President?

    I wonder if Virginia Hinshaw could be coaxed out of the lab to be Chancellor again?


  42. NorthShoreFan July 27, 2014 10:19 am

    Keoki does great work. He does confirm and reconfirm his story. Had an opportunity to watch him work. Reliable dude.


  43. kev-1 July 27, 2014 10:24 am

    This university is a complete joke. Unless Apple did something illegal, from a purely financial standpoint alone, you suck it up until his contract is up. Let’s just hope people remember this yet another financial blunder by this university’s governing body when people start crying about the UH football financial shortfalls.


  44. RainbowCliff July 27, 2014 10:28 am

    Apple, was just here in Torrance, California yesterday as special guest to the Southern California UH Alumni Engineers San Diego / Los Angeles Chapters. Mr. Apple spoke candidly on the state of UH and the need to step up our recruiting efforts here in Los Angeles. During no time upon his visit at De Portola Park he showed any indication he was being dismissed from his position. Goes to show you can be away from UH representing them on the job and just a matter of moments being fired with NO knowledge until you get back to Hotel or have your legal representative phone or text the bad news. Now buy out time on a 3 year contract over $400,000.00 a year. UH just keeps making a reputation we will pay you to leave as Frazier and Dobelle comes to mind. Wonder who’s next ?


  45. Old Diver July 27, 2014 10:34 am

    The rap on Tom Apple is that he tried to please everyone. A Rockne Freitas appointment to Apple’s position would result in a political firestorm. The West Oahu campus financial problems are as bad as UH Manoa an Freitas has been non responsive to legislative inquires as to how the millions he receives are being spent. Tom Apple was the face of the problem while those who should share much of the responsibility for upper campus mismanagement are still there.


  46. jm2375 July 27, 2014 10:42 am

    Good morning Tsaikos!

    OSD – Carbone is head of the Cancer Center, not the Med School.


  47. Shoko July 27, 2014 10:52 am

    According to Ka Leo, “Elmer KaŹ»ai, director of advancement in the Office of the Chancellor, told Ka Leo that there has been no official confirmation at UH Mānoa regarding this decision.”

    http://www.kaleo.org/news/lassner-asks-apple-to-step-down-as-m-noa-chancellor/article_01f4e43e-1564-11e4-8303-0017a43b2370.html

    Star-Advertiser likely, not certain, holding off until they get official confirmation. Seems other news sources about Apple have only been referencing Keoni Kerr’s report. Would be one hell of a retraction if this bit of information is incorrect.


  48. Shoko July 27, 2014 10:54 am

    “Tom Apple is the chancellor of UH Mānoa, and President Lassner continues to work with him to address the challenges facing UH Mānoa as HawaiŹ»iā€™s research university and the flagship campus of the UH System.”

    http://www.kaleo.org/news/apple-remains-m-noa-chancellor-university-says/article_3d3788a0-15c6-11e4-89f0-001a4bcf6878.html

    Sounds like someone has to retract…lol.


  49. Old School Dave July 27, 2014 10:59 am

    Oopps!! If true and a retraction is forthcoming, it’s going to be a major “NEVER MIND.”


  50. A-House July 27, 2014 11:00 am

    geeez – I thought only the UH President and BOR were above Apple? are we seeing “lower” peons flexing their combined muscle to oust Apple?


  51. A-House July 27, 2014 11:03 am

    whitey:

    MasaBoy and I hit our limits for black cod and halibut – lots of rock fish, but no “popeyes” – only rock fish (5)in our initial attempt at halibut – good sized ones too – maybe 8-10 #s

    lots of pink with 2 Kings and some silvers – got 2 big chum – maybe 13#s


  52. tommui July 27, 2014 11:05 am

    Wasn’t Rockne Freitas (and Marcie Greenwood) the ones that got us into the MWC and the subsidies that we have to pay to visiting teams?


  53. d1shima July 27, 2014 11:15 am

    tommui,

    …and danged proud of it, too! šŸ˜ˆ


  54. A-House July 27, 2014 11:24 am

    MWC commish says that UH is a valuable member of the conference – wonder what he would say if UH no longer paid the travel subsidies?

    best way to do that is eliminate the UHAD!


  55. d1shima July 27, 2014 11:32 am

    AD=Athletic Department? šŸ˜Æ


  56. AdmrVT July 27, 2014 11:33 am

    A-House, “UHAD” = UH Athletic Department? jk


  57. islandman July 27, 2014 12:08 pm

    S Tsai, thanks for setting people straight about Apple as a supporter of UH athletics. Many keep bashing him.

    If he was or is being let go, Keoki said it was because of conflict with some Deans over spending cuts and over the Cancer Center director.


  58. Z July 27, 2014 12:17 pm

    What the ????


  59. 3-Prong July 27, 2014 12:21 pm

    A-House and whitey: Damn, I’m Rainbow Green with envy over the catch reports.


  60. Boolakanaka July 27, 2014 1:17 pm

    The flagship university of any state, is both a symbolic and literal engine for productivity. With that thought in mind, the current taxi-driver governor would be well advised to consider making significant and prolonged commitments, via the budget surplus to UH-Manoa.

    I’m not necessarily saying athletics should be the top priority, but decisions will soon need to made about the level and future of UH athletics…


  61. Shoko July 27, 2014 1:18 pm

    The issue I see with the report is Apple not seeing this coming and finding out about his possible termination by reading Kerr’s report rather than hearing it from UH. That would be a screwed up way to be fired.

    It’s like going into work one day and have a colleague tell you on the way in that he’s sorry to hear about you leaving the department.

    Whaaaaat?


  62. Da Punchbowl Kid July 27, 2014 1:28 pm

    60 – Exactly. He gave a lot of lips service when he was running, now he has a chance to help and it’s time he stepped up!


  63. Shoko July 27, 2014 1:43 pm

    It’s official. Apple is on his way out. No contract means no buyout. Kerr’s report mentioned “Appleā€™s employment agreement paid him $439,000 dollars a year through 2017.” Guess the difference lies between an employment agreement and a contract.

    http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/20140727_Sources_Tom_Apple_will_no_longer_be_chancellor_at_UHManoa.html?id=268811411


  64. BigWave96744 July 27, 2014 1:48 pm

    With Punters Scott Harding and Reuben Guzman entering their final season, Norm should look at for 3* Punter Sean Covington who is leaving UCLA after 1 season. After sitting out 2014, he would have 3 to play 3.

    According to his UCLA bio: “Hobbies include surfing, longboarding, beach volleyball and soccer.”
    Hmmmmm…

    http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/07/26/ucla-punter-sean-covington-leaves-team-replaced-by-juco-punter/


  65. BigFan July 27, 2014 1:54 pm

    Maybe Blangiardi pushing for news release after his bout with Apple. I don’t know Bert Kobayashi personally but upsetting him may not have been a good idea. I just remember the Freitas/Lokelani Lindsey fiasco and don’t want to see Freitas in that position.


  66. Shoko July 27, 2014 2:06 pm

    Some are speculating academics or homesick as being reasons for Covington’s departure. If he, indeed, is homesick, it sounds more likely he would be interested traveling eastward being from Florida.

    Definitely could use a good punter, though.


  67. Ipu Man July 27, 2014 2:21 pm

    Maybe Mr. Apple found a job in California while there and UH did not like it…
    So he was letting UH go. Not the other way around.


  68. Pomai July 27, 2014 3:03 pm

    They had a chance to clean house and turn it around but the regents played the old boys network tune once more……………..


  69. Old School Dave July 27, 2014 3:06 pm

    SA online article on Apple’s firing now gone.

    Could Blangiardi and Kobayashi, two local figures whose dislike of Apple was well documented, have had a role indirectly in his ouster?


  70. Hodad July 27, 2014 3:21 pm

    Freitas doesn’t have a doctorate does he? If not, he won’t be hired. He was a shill for Lokilani Lindsay and MRC Greenwood.


  71. tarheelwarrior July 27, 2014 3:32 pm

    On a lighter note, former warrior Kealoha Pilares is showing out on day 2 of Carolina Panthers camp with a scoring catch from Cam Newton. Injuries hobbled him these past two years, but it appears he is back to his old self.


  72. Shoko July 27, 2014 3:37 pm

    I think Freitas has a doctorate degree in education.


  73. boolakanaka July 27, 2014 3:39 pm

    69–BK, On the board of directors at first hawaiian, major Hawai’i contributor to Obama, former BOR member at UH and Georgetown, personal friends of several governors, on the UH Basketball Advisory Committee…Here is a sage guess, I would say, it would be not be out of his orbit and proven power…..


  74. 3-Prong July 27, 2014 3:46 pm

    Watching a replay of Leahey & Leahey segment of “Can or No Can” and they wholeheartedly endorse JJ’s concept of Spring Football for the non-Power 5 conferences. CAN! CAN! Fo real, CAN!


  75. ai-eee-soos July 27, 2014 3:48 pm

    ” … Freitas holds a PhD and MEd in education from UH Manoa and BS in animal science from Oregon State University. His doctoral research focused on developmental systems and guidelines for drug prevention, education, monitoring and counseling for intercollegiate athletics. … ”

    http://www.hawaii.edu/admin/chancellors/westoahu.html


  76. Haleakala July 27, 2014 4:55 pm

    The news reports still don’t tell who their sources are. Who at UH has knowledge about the status of Apple but is either unwilling or is not authorized to go on record?


  77. st. anthony trojan July 27, 2014 5:14 pm

    Let’s see what happens when they appoint a new one.. n if the riff between BK JR. n the offices up there heals…such a shame..when all should be working on putting warm bodies ..in seats..there at aloha stadium for the first game…

    Have a ‘clerk’ friend there in the office… she said it all started when ‘sumone’ asked apple to let the present AD go…n he would not…


  78. st. anthony trojan July 27, 2014 5:28 pm

    Haleakala…don’t think ne more news will be forthcoming tonight… maybe the TV news or morning paper..


  79. BYee July 27, 2014 7:04 pm

    Goodbye Apple. We don’t need another chancellor. Matsuda and Mortimer did fine without one. Too many high paid administrators Forget it!


  80. maddog50 July 28, 2014 2:17 am

    How bout some football!!!! Go Warriors!!!!


  81. Inyoface July 28, 2014 7:46 am

    Hire a guy that was at least born and raised in Hawaii like Stan Sheriff & Hugh Yoshida, no more mainland guys.


  82. A-House July 28, 2014 8:04 am

    whether it’s BJ or future AD, he/she needs to work with the legislature to seek permanent funding for all the “non-revenue” sports and travel expenses as long Uh is in the MWC

    any MWC team would be foolish to let UH NOT pay their travel expenses – some say that this was the cause for the “original” 8 to bolt the WAC.


  83. A-House July 28, 2014 8:05 am

    d1:

    yep, I meant the UH Athletic Department – do away with all sports!!!


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