Cornerback leaves UH football team | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper
Posted at 12:39 p.m., Thursday, August 10, 2006
Cornerback leaves UH football team
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Game's over for cornerback Chris "Pac-Man" Camacho, who has quit the University of Hawai'i football team.
Camacho is the second 2006 Warrior recruit to quit since training camp opened last week Thursdsay. Geoff Hayth, a safety, left after one day.
"It had nothing to do with homesickness," said Camacho, who played at Citrus College last season. "It has to be something to make me leave. I was working hard. The dedication wasn't returned to me. It's as simple as that. I don't want to say anything more. UH has something good right now. I think they'll do well without me. I wish them the best — coach (June) Jones and all of them."
Camacho's decision was surprising because he had worked out all summer in Hawai'i. He also had been looking forward to competing against his brother, who signed with Purdue. UH and Purdue meet Nov. 25 at Aloha Stadium.
Jones said he met with Camacho several times over the past few days, asking him to reconsider. Jones said the Warriors did not have any meetings to rank the players, and that Camacho still was in the running for a starting job at cornerback.
Camacho said he has "a couple of things lined up. I will be playing Division I ball again."
Because Camacho is leaving before the Aug. 21 start of the fall semester, UH can give his scholarship to another player, Jones said.
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.