Posted on: Wednesday, January 26, 2005

Recruiters starting Island invasion

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writer

When Mike Fanoga was hired as the defensive line coach for the New Mexico State football team last month, "the first thing (new head coach Hal Mumme) told me was, 'I'm going to send you out to the Islands to get (us) some Polynesian kids.' "

The sudden appearance of the Aggies, who had not done any recruiting of note here before, underlines how popular — and crowded — the market for Hawai'i high school players has become.

At least 26 local prospects have been offered scholarships by one or more Division I-A schools. If those numbers hold up a week from today, the first day of the national letter of intent signing period, it would be a record, officials say.

"That would clearly be the highest," said Keith Amemiya, executive director of the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association. "That's very impressive for a state of our size."

Last year, Hawai'i ranked fourth per capita among states producing NFL players, according to a Rivals.com study.

In addition to the perennial recruiters — Hawai'i, Brigham Young, Colorado, Oregon, Oregon State, Utah, Washington, etc. — Arizona State, NMSU, San Jose State and San Diego State are among the fresher faces joining the competition this year.

UH assistant coach Dan Morrison said, "the big name schools and some of the smaller ones are always here. What has changed is that more and more of the middling schools are finding their way here now, too."

"We've quit being a novelty; now we've become another option for recruiters," said Ulima Afoa, head coach at Kamehameha Schools- Hawai'i and a former college assistant.

When Afoa came out of Saint Louis School in 1970, there were limited options available for local players. "There used to be only a few schools that recruited here," Afoa said. "But the ones that did had good experiences and others started coming out and checking things out."

Robert Anae, BYU's offensive coordinator, said: "A lot of places you look at on TV — even Tennessee and Wisconsin — have players from Hawai'i now."

Indeed, four of the 57 players on the watch list for the Outland Trophy (outstanding interior lineman), one of college football's most prestigious awards, this past season were graduates of Hawai'i schools. Saint Louis and Kahuku have shown well in national polls and in games with national powers De La Salle and Long Beach Poly of California.

And, the word has gotten out: USA Today did a front-page spread on Hawai'i high school football in November and ESPN featured local football during the halftime of its UH-Fresno State and UH-Michigan State games.

"It (the growing interest in local players) doesn't surprise me," Morrison said. "With the number of games we've had on ESPN and the local players we have playing for us, people are seeing how good they can be.

"It is kind of funny, we've had more southern kids calling us about wanting to come (to UH) because of the name recognition."

As the word on Hawai'i players has gotten out so, too, have the numbers of college coaches from Hawai'i or with in-state ties. Fanoga, who was born in American Samoa and has recruited here for other schools, credits a long association with former Kailua High coach Darren Johnson for helping him get some quick insight.

Schools are using all ties to get their feet in the door here. New Mexico State, which joins the Western Athletic Conference on July 1, is selling recruits on the opportunity to play in Aloha Stadium every other year. San Diego State, which is on UH non-conferences schedules is selling that and the closeness as a Mainland choice. San Jose State has a place on the WAC schedule plus former UH coaches Dick Tomey and Joe Seumalo.

San Diego State, whose recruiting efforts here have been few and far between, made a major commitment this year, sending two assistants and head coach, Tom Craft, here. So far, it has paid off in four verbal commitments, according to the players.

"We're not just taking kids out of Hawai'i to take them," Andy Buh said. "These kids have been well-evaluated and are quality kids."

What this influx of schools means for UH remains to be seen. But some initial fears are that players like Chad Owens, who have walked on to UH in the past, will now, scholarships in hand, will now find their way to other schools.

Said Fanoga: "We'd like to build our own Polynesian dynasty."

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.