Hawaii can't catch a break -- player dies

[Pony^]

HONOLULU -- After so much good news for the University of Hawaii football team last year, the news so far in 2008 has been unrelentingly bad, including the death of a player.

After going undefeated in 2007, the Warriors were crushed by Georgia on New Year's Day in the Sugar Bowl.

On Monday, head coach June Jones left for Southern Methodist University, and UH athletics director Herman Frazier was fired Tuesday.

Wednesday brought word of the death of UH slotback Mitch Farney on the mainland. Hawaii receivers coach Ron Lee said Farney died in Arizona after collapsing while playing basketball.

Lee spoke with Farney's father, who said his son was pronounced dead Tuesday after being taken to a hospital.

Farney, who was home in Phoenix on winter break, redshirted in 2006, his first season with the Warriors. He was used mostly on the scout team this past season, and was in the process of transferring to Weber State.

Lee called Farney "a wonderful young man," who was looking forward to playing against Hawaii next season.

Also on Wednesday, the Warriors lost the services of a star performer when junior slot receiver Ryan Grice-Mullen announced he will skip his senior season and declare for the National Football League draft. Teammate and fellow receiver Davone Bess made the same announcement less than a week before.

This past season, Grice-Mullen led the Warriors in receiving yards with 1,372. He ranked second behind Bess with 106 receptions.

"This was one of the hardest decisions I've had to make in my life for the simple fact that I have so much love for this university and the islands," the California native said. "Because of what they did for me, I truly believe I grew as a man here. But in the end, I felt I had to leave and it's a decision I made with my parents. It's the right time."

Meanwhile, Jones' decision to leave for SMU is going to cost him exactly $400,008.

Under his contract, Jones is obligated to pay the money because he is leaving before the contract expires June 30, UH spokeswoman Carolyn Tanaka said.

Leigh Steinberg, Jones' agent, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The $400,008 represents the university's share of Jones' annual salary under the five-year. He actually earned $800,016 a year, with the difference paid by donations.

Jones resigned when he accepted a five-year deal from SMU worth about $2 million per year.

The $400,008 would be more than enough to cover the $312,510 the university must pay Frazier for his ouster.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3189458

[Junior]

That's horrible news, regardless of what else has happened to UH.

God bless his family.

[StallionsModelT]

Prayers to his family and friends. Tragic.

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

very sad



# 83 - Mitch Farney


2006:
Redshirted

Prep:
A 2006 graduate of Shadow Mountain High School in
Phoenix, Ariz...lettered four years in track and three
in football...an all-state and 5A pick...state player of
the week after performance against Desert Mountain...
was the region champion in the 100 and 200 sprints,
making the state track finals...also ran on the region
champion 4x100 relay as a junior...a member of the
honor roll...belonged to the National Honor Society
and March of Dimes.


Personal:
Born Oct. 15, 1987, in Phoenix, Ariz...has one younger
brother...parents are Linda and Thomas Farney of Phoenix, Ariz.

http://www.hawaiiathletics.com/Player/player.html?pid=3&aid=13515

[Hoop Fan]

why does this happen so often? really scary how athletes can collapse and die.

[CalallenStang]

Prayers and thoughts are with his family and the Hawaii "ohana" through this extremely tragic and difficult time.

[Big Hoss]

Too young to be gone, that's for sure. What a terrible loss.