The believers have been rewarded with a shot at advancing to the state division II tournament, if the Marauders (6-2) beat Kaiser (4-4) in one semifinal of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association White playoffs Saturday at Masa Yonamine Sports Complex.

"They'd hear stuff from their friends, even from family members telling them to quit," Saturnio said. "But they stuck by what we were telling them. Eventually the tables would turn. Fortunately for us, it was this year."

But Saturnio does not talk about wins or championships. He emphasizes character daily. His concern is developing good citizens.

"I won't know if I'm a successful coach until down the line, (when the players become adults when I see), how they treat their kids, how they treat their wives, how they're doing in their jobs," Saturnio said. "I want them to be champions in life. Success on the field is just a byproduct of working as hard as you can."

Benito and running back Krypton Taito are the team's statistical leaders. But they said that their success is tied to what they've learned from football.

"Everybody's more disciplined now," Taito said.

SEAN SATURNIO

"Krypton grew up without a dad," Saturnio said. "You don't know how much the program has helped steer him (straight)."

To keep the lines of communication open between players and Saturnio, the team has a Lokahi Council. Benito, linebackers Joe Batangan and Sonny Fagatiai, linemen Frazier Nu'u, Mason and Matt Namu, and receiver Ricky Noble make up the council, which serves as a liaison to the coaches. Talk about teaching his players life skills — the seven selected had to fill an application and interview for the positions, Saturnio said. All were asked if they could be objective because they would sometimes have to make judgment against teammates who also might be their best friends.

"It's not easy, especially for a young person, to guide and correct your peers," Saturnio said.

The council's first test came before the season even started. During training camp at the school's campus in August, there was turmoil when a fight broke out, causing a rift among the players, Benito said. The council called a players' only meeting, where the players could speak their minds. Tears were shed, as players revealed their feelings about how some players were not living up to their responsibilities.

"Everybody just let their emotions out," Benito said.

Instead of breaking apart, the team bonded from the episode. It also was a sign for Saturnio that maybe his message was getting through to his players, most of whom he had known since they had attended Waipahu Intermediate, where he taught before transferring to the high school.

"That was a defining moment in our program," Saturnio said. "That's when the council stepped up. There was some strife between everybody. It was a real trying time. In the end everybody got back together. That was important to our kids. For a bunch of them this is the closest thing they'll have to a fully functional-type family."

Saturnio has become the father figure of the team. It means teaching values. He explains why the players need to lift weights and condition in the offseason, why they need to study and why they must avoid trouble. Every couple of weeks, the players push the special needs students around campus in their wheelchairs. It is a subtle way of the players learning that hard work — whether it be running sprints or doing homework — is relative because they are blessed with health and ability.

"It's real tough in today's society, where the thinking is of me, instead of we," Saturnio said. "It's a very humbling experience (aiding the wheelchair students). We want them to see these special needs students as regular students. It teaches them humility and about being appreciative of what they have."