Posted on: Friday, August 3, 2001

Editorial
ILH football scheme needs more work

Many players and parents no doubt are pleased and even relieved that Damien Memorial High School no longer intends to forfeit its Oct. 26 football game with powerhouse St. Louis School.

Having driven home his very important point, Damien president Gregory O'Donnell reversed his decision, which had caused a furor, to withdraw his school's football team from what had been increasingly lopsided competition with St. Louis.

Brother O'Donnell makes clear he doesn't think the job for the ILH is done. We strongly agree. Although the schedule has been realigned somewhat, it isn't obvious that playing St. Louis only once instead of twice, and playing seven games instead of 10, will give Damien better results. St. Louis still dresses twice as many football players as Damien does.

The answer to this disparity isn't in some silly display of courage against impossible odds, but in finding good competitive situations for our high school athletes.

The change that occurred in response to Damien's intention of forfeiture will have the small schools — 'Iolani, Damien and Pac-Five — playing the big ones — St. Louis, Kamehameha and Punahou — once instead of twice each season. It's a step in the right direction, but ultimately it falls short.

Six teams are simply not enough to field a workable tiered system. The obvious solution, once unreasonable pride is put aside, is to mix and match private and public schools. Let Damien try its luck with Waialua and Kalani, while St. Louis dukes it out with Kahuku and Wai'anae.

That would be real sport.