As they settle into campus life, college freshmen who play sports meet a slew of new people who will impact their lives the next few years, and likely beyond: Classmates, teachers, coaches, teammates, trainers, academic advisers, resident assistants … the list goes on and on.

The University of Hawaii should now add one more to the orientation introductions for their scholarship athletes, especially the younger ones. Now that they’re getting stipends, it makes even more sense for them to have access to a financial adviser.

We’re not talking Warren Buffett … just someone willing to share some expertise who can tell them why it’s wise not to spend everything on tattoos and 12-packs.

Not all 18-year-olds blow through all their money as soon as they get it. Some have already learned how to be thrifty from their parents, already know how to stretch a thin budget.

And some will be broke all the time, regardless how much guidance is provided.

But a little friendly counseling certainly can’t hurt.

In the first year of its Cost of Attendance allocation, UH will provide the scholarship athletes with an average of $1,000 each (above tuition and room and board, which they already receive).

Now, considering that the actual cost of attendance for Manoa (without travel) has been calculated at $3,925, there’s still quite a bit of a gap.

Presumably, parents and other relatives, loans and savings from offseason jobs have made up the difference in the past, and will continue to do so. The point is that the stipend — for most, anyway — isn’t just “extra money” (what a concept that is, yeah?). It’s a windfall, for sure. But it’s partially filling a need that’s existed for a long time.

Other, non-sports-playing college students have those same needs, you say? Yes, they do; I agree with that very much. But most have the time (and are not prohibited by the NCAA) to work at a job … and probably make more per hour than what the athletes will if you consider their stipend as compensation for games, practices and other obligations related to their sport. Way more.

Some fans will look at the amount of UH’s stipend and compare it with those of other schools. And they will be right when they say it puts Hawaii at a recruiting disadvantage against those providing higher amounts.

The big million-dollar donation from the Alec Waterhouse trust also announced Tuesday might make it seem like UH can afford more than this initial $256,100 allocation. But, as we all know, many other financial needs exist on lower campus.

“It’s a measured response,” athletic director David Matlin said. “We’re starting in a modest manner. The thing is it’s hard to compare apples to apples with different institutions. We have to learn from this first year.”

While $1,000 is lower than the stipends of some rivals, for the current UH athletes and their families it is $1,000 more than they had last year.

And, in effect, the performers — the people fans pay money to see, the athletes — are getting a little bit bigger piece of the pie.

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