Games will measure local talent
By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser columnist
For the local high school leagues, the first reaction to Keith Amemiya's proposal to match two O'ahu football teams against two from California in a 2002 doubleheader at Aloha Stadium ought to be ...
Where do we sign?
For as opportunities go, this has the potential of being 24-karat golden. If it isn't heaven-sent, it is the next closest thing. And, not a moment too soon, either.
At a time when interest in high school football here is on the wane and gaps in parity are growing wider, what Amemiya, executive secretary of the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association, is proposing is the kind of scenario leagues should be pinching themselves over.
The plan is for the top two O'ahu teams, one each from the public school O'ahu Interscholastic Association and private school Interscholastic League of Honolulu as determined by finish in the 2001 Chevron HHSAA Football Championships, to be matched against perennial powerhouses De La Salle of Concord, Calif., and Mater Dei of Santa Ana, Calif., in a Saturday night, Sept. 21, 2002, doubleheader at Aloha Stadium.
In short, it is the kind of stage high school football here both needs and has longed for. Not only would it sweeten the pot and heighten the interest in this year's HHSAA playoffs, it would also focus more of the spotlight on the high schools in 2002 during a September period traditionally dominated by UH.
Nationally, it would not only provide heretofore unimagined exposure and validation of the quality of Hawai'i football, but showcase players looking for college scholarships.
Consider, for example, if De La Salle, winner of a record 113 consecutive games, comes here to play Kahuku or St. Louis with its streak in tact. Think that wouldn't stir some widespread interest and fill a few seats?
Even without the streak, there's a good chance the doubleheader would match at least two nationally ranked teams, affording the long-speculated upon opportunity to see how Hawai'i's best teams stack up.
The belief, built upon the wave of college talent the state annually produces, is that Hawai'i's top teams can compete with most anybody. This would finally be the proving ground. One that would likely lure double the 10,000-12,000 turnout organizers figure they would need to break even on the venture.
That's money that would come in handy for the O'ahu leagues and HHSAA state tournaments that would share in the proceeds.
While there are bound to be some obstacles in the way, this is the kind of opportunity you make exceptions for and move mountains to accommodate.
