Isle players adjust to new head coach
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Jeff Bechthold • University of Washington
For University of Washington linebacker Joseph Lobendahn, Ohio Stadium will be a proving ground.
Washington Huskies who played high school football in Hawai'i are, from left, Wilson Afoa (Saint Louis), Donny Mateaki (Iolani), Joseph Lobendahn (Saint Louis), Francisco Tipoti (McKinley) and Brandon Ala (Kamehameha).
The 101,568-seat facility is where the Huskies will kick-off their season against defending the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday.
"This is a statement game for me to show my abilities," said Lobendahn, who was an all-state linebacker when he played at Saint Louis School. "For the team, this is to show who we are."
The Huskies are coming off a summer of turmoil that saw head coach Rick Neuheisel fired for betting in informal NCAA basketball tournament pools. He has since filed lawsuits against UW and the NCAA, citing wrongful dismissal. Keith Gilbertson has since been promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach.
Lobendahn (Saint Louis '01), a redshirt sophomore, is one of five Huskies from Hawai'i. The others are redshirt defensive end Donny Mateaki (Iolani '02), redshirt freshman defensive end Brandon Ala (Kamehameha '02), offensive lineman Francisco Tipoti (McKinley '00) and freshman defensive end Wilson Afoa (Saint Louis '03).
Although disappointed at Neuheisel's firing, Lobendahn said he is pleased with Gilbertson, who played for the University of Hawai'i in 1970.
"He tries to talk to us in pidgin," joked Lobendahn, who is projected to start this week's game.
Gilbertson's good-natured demeanor doesn't mean the players take advantage of him the way school children would treat a substitute teacher, though.
"Our team is really disciplined," Mateaki said. "Coach Gilby (Gilbertson) is old school."
Gilbertson
"It's no different," added Ala. "Everybody's staying focused. It doesn't matter if we have a different coach. We'll be ready to play by Aug. 30."
Ala's brother, Houston, plays defensive end for the Warriors; another brother, Tui, a running back, played for UH in 2000. Their father, Tui Ala, played for UH during the 1973-1974 seasons. Brandon compares notes with Houston.
"We talk every week, so I can see how Houston's doing," Brandon said.
Brandon said he has no regrets about blazing his own trail from the rest of his football-playing family.
"My brothers and Dad chose that path, but they support me 100 percent," Brandon said. "I like it up here."
Lobendahn said the Ohio State game is the kind of tune-up the Huskies need before starting Pac-10 play.
"Our conference might be the best in the nation," he said. "Every game is going to be tough."
Some of the Buckeyes' luster has been tarnished of late because of the controversy surrounding Heisman Trophy candidate Maurice Clarett, who is suspended for "multiple games" by Ohio State for violating NCAA rules for borrowing a car from a local dealership, as well as for academic reasons. The Buckeyes' running back rushed for a freshman school record of 1,237 yards and scored the winning touchdown in Ohio State's 31-24 double-overtime win against Miami in the Jan. 3 Fiesta Bowl to clinch the national title.
"I don't want them to have any excuses," Lobendahn said. "We want to face their best players."
Unfortunately for Lobendahn, it appears Clarett won't play.
