Posted on: Monday, January 28, 2002
Jones, Trapasso see recruiting potential in Japan
| • | Far East not a far stretch |
By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writer
University of Hawai'i football coach June Jones' recruiting itinerary this season has included Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego ... and Tokyo?
Jones returned Friday from a five-day trip to Japan where, in addition to meetings concerning a proposed future game in Tokyo, he said he also began laying the groundwork for the Warriors to recruit there.
Nor is he the only coach at UH with that intention. Baseball coach Mike Trapasso said he, too, intends to look into the possibilities of recruiting in Japan. "It is a no-brainer," Trapasso said. "I plan to go there myself (this year). We're developing some contacts and going to see what we can do."
Trapasso said he would also like to check out Australia, South Korea and Taiwan.
"I think (recruiting) is a way for us to open up (the Japan) market, not just for football, but for the school and the whole state," said Jones, who would like to play a game there and get some television exposure.
Under NCAA rules, Jones said he wasn't allowed to contact prospective recruits at this time, but he intends to return to recruit there in the future. Jones said he wants to look at incoming freshmen or college transfers, players with some football background or just good athletes who can be taught the sport. "I believe if (a prospect) can run, we can teach him to play football," Jones said.
Football was introduced to Japan in the 1930s by missionaries. Currently, about 60 high schools field teams in the sport along with approximately 50 colleges and 40 companies, according to David Stant, a UH defensive lineman in the late 1980s who has coached football in Japan the past 12 seasons.
Japan, a nation of approximately 126 million, has more than 5 million males between the ages of 17 and 22.
Jones envisions a freshman being redshirted and taught the game so that, "he could play and contribute in the third, fourth and fifth years." A transfer, Jones said, could be redshirted and, "then you'd have two years, just like a junior college transfer."
After talks with promoters, business executives and football officials last week, Jones says he'd like the Warriors to play host to some Japanese teams here and go there for clinics.
Jones, who earlier had discussions with Grambling about playing in Tokyo, said he scouted possible locations and talked to potential promoters and sponsors about a game that could be held as early as 2003.
