(Update 8 p.m. — Adds comments by Cal Lee.)
Response to the news that the change to the state football tournament format — to take effect immediately — was slow this afternoon.
A Star-Advertiser breaking news story shared the announcement by the Hawaii High School Athletic Association that the state tournament format would be altered as soon as this season. Open Division would be comprised of four OIA teams and two ILH squads. There would still be Division I and II tourneys with eight teams in each.
One coach who was available for comment on a busy Monday afternoon was Kapolei’s Darren Hernandez, whose team didn’t start practice until late afternoon. He has been a head coach or assistant coach for more than two decades, and was both perplexed and enthused by the news.
“This is crazy, but crazy good. I support this all the way and you can quote me on that,” he said. “My biggest concern is how short the seasons are. They’re ridiculously short. When I started coaching, the championship game was in the first week of December. I’m hoping the HHSAA will take this into account and make the season longer.”
“I love basketball and other sports, but football is king. Football is the cash cow. You’d think the leagues would want more games. How many basketball players (from Hawaii) made it to the NBA? How many sports can draw 30,000 fans to one game,” Hernandez added.
Saint Louis coach Cal Lee was intrigued by the news.
“I’m surprised and happy that we have a state tournament where we have the top teams playing for the state championship. Four OIA, two ILH, every game is going to be a sellout. The state tournament will have a great game in every game,” said Lee, whose Crusaders are among the title contenders again this season. “Well, we been trying to get two ILH teams in for a long time. Finally. It’s only fair for the kids. The top teams, don’t you want your best teams to be in there? This way, it’s fair.”
“It helps everybody. I don’t care about all the other stuff. I think about the kids,” he said. “That’s why we’re here to coach and I think this is great we can help them play at this level. And I believe the OIA coaches feel the same way, too.”
A multitude of blowout games is a key factor why the ILH went to exclusive league schedules in recent years. In the OIA, however, many Division I games in the first two weeks have been runaways.
“The OIA, as a coach, I don’t know who they are, but they’ve got to understand, football you’ve got to have a vision,” Lee said. “Can’t have it the same way. Football is going down, down, down. Have you seen some of the scores? Why would you have a kid getting beat up, mercy rule, no competition?”
The state tourneys for smaller programs are ideal, Lee said.
“I think if the kids win any division,” he said, “don’t they feel good about themselves, that they won something?”
Oh boy, this is what I was trynna explain to Jeezy. @got17… yes, we Samoans are bilingual and are proud that we still speak our language same goes for the tongans, fijian’s, tahitian and every other poly. The locals look down on us because of that? Being bilingual is a joke? The real Hawaiians still live off the land and not the homestead, they refuse to accept America’s consolation. And they too still speak their language. But what do I know, I’m just a sole from the mainland. Remember this, bilinguals have a reason for broken english…. what in the private school hell is some of your excuses for the broke ass english? In hawaii it’s ok I guess but if you take a vacay to mainland you are also labeled as Fresh Off the Boat.
@Alpha
Bilingual is irrelevant to this whole thread.
Good night @Tanoai we’ll be looking forward to the Rock’s motivational message video post soon. Until then, keep the iron pumping & the illegal substance going strong. Chee Huu!
Yeah because you got guys over here speaking languages that is irrelevant to this thread. And it ain’t me. We speak English & use English for a reason. If you speak another language of your culture. More power to you. I really don’t lose sleep over broken language & English mixed in a sentence. I think its silly.
Goodnight pumpkin
Hahaha! The “Stuntman” debate was a complete shutdown. From fake names to 2 rings around the eye, admiring the instagram, even to as far as the baby oil. This is fricken hilarious.
Fake name??
You’re the “Fake Dwayne Johnson”
Admiring Instagram??
Isn’t that why people take selfies & report everything what’s going on in there life on social media. Because they feel like people should admire them or admire what they have. I really don’t get why the face of anyone’s Instagram are shirtless pics or selfies. I really would like to know what goes through a person’s mind before they take these selfies.
@Got17…. well half starters on the high school football team you represent speaks that broken language and English mix… and a few members of the coaching staff….
Quick, turn on OC16. You can watch your alma mater get slayed by Kahuku before you go nainai.
Live through those kids @Tanoai repeat that cycle of “has beens” that cannot let go. LOL! Watch that video on repeat with that strong vocabulary.
“WE” owned them that night
“WE” fired on all cylinders
“OUR” defense was lights out all season
Nobody can score on “US”
LOL! Typical “has been” lingo like you actually on the team!
Is this thee Rock Stuntman?
Nahhhhh cannot be. Somebody is catfishing this for him. I don’t believe this is him
@Tanoai
Is that the 1993 version? Because I can still see the prep bowl pancake marks on your back in those selfies.LOL! And don’t be giving no lame excuse of the guy slaying you all game was 19yrs old. LOL! C’mon play that 1993 House Of Pain highlight tape. Glory only in the OIA, stage got too big & the lights got to bright when it came to winning the big one.
G
@givemeurbbds
LMAO! The RR4L Awareness has made these “has beens” go M.I.A. The Instagram selfie epidemic has gone missing, no weight training, dancing or motivation videos. Funny how these guys actually think that nothing is strange about their actions until its brought to their attention. Hahahaha! Its Aloha Friday guys!
@Givemeurbbds
@Got17
They practicing their Alma Mater on the 30 yard line right now.
Good morning my bradas! Another beautiful day in Hawaii nei! Play nice today it’s Aloha Friday everybody be bless! Aloha!
@IDK
Rajah dat! TGIF!
I just Pau sing my Alma mater on the 30yd line, now going line the field, then have a kava ceremony in the end zone to bless the field! So all will be safe tonight, but before I leave the field, I gotta do the Haka to summon the Mana from our ancestors! Das how we roll! All welcome to join. Aloha ke akua! Go Big Red!
Thanks for the entertainment! Too funny!
I guess the bottom line is September 17 vs haole team from Nevada…. put up or shut up!
@IDK
“Haka for ancestors”? I have yet to see one Maori family out there. Just another silly act where people trying to be something that they are not. So do it for the Maori Ancestors that don’t exist here.
@got 17 Yes! We are one!! Something I would like to teach you about. That’s y we get the Mana , from all the Polynesian ancestors! Bless you my boy and so hatred in your heart goes away! GO BIG RED!
@j bless you too my boy, such hatred in your heart, go my son, go and climb a ladder and maybe you find it in your heart to strive to be a better person. Aloha ke akua!
@IDK
We call that “Plastic”.. Make pretend, so much for being “proud” of your culture. Maori doesn’t live here.
@got 17 that’s where you wrong Polynesian are one people and there’s Maori people all over Kahuku! But my boy you have so much hatred in you, that’s ok, bum bye you learn boy! All we do is Win ! Ok have a good day boy and bang with u later! But you should to kahuku tonight and FEEL THE MANA!!!
@IDK
Chant/pray hard when battling the haoles from Nevada…. go smash them! We’ll see how well it works out for you. I bet you would hate to lose a fight to a haole. So Sept 17, fight hard to prove your superiority! Good luck my friend!
@IDK
All “WE” Do Is Win, Das how “WE” roll. This guy & the rest of the RR4L “has beens & never was” think they actually playing in the games. They speak like they on the team “WE”, “US”. You guys is pau already. LMAO! You guys sound silly!
@ruggedslopes that’s the difference, something losers don’t understand, that’s y you going be one scrub all your life! Best community, best support! We are ONE TEAM! lmao because you ALL J!!