He believes his Morse High School football teams should learn how to take their gridiron licks in Hawaii before opening play in San Diego's Large School Division I.
"I like the approach to the game here," said Shacklett, who has four veterans of his Hawaii tours now in the National Football League.
"They have pretty good football and it gives my kids the kind of real physical contact that I like. Plus, the teams are well-coached here."
So Shacklett has been bringing Morse to play preseason games here for the last 12 years.
Tomorrow night at Aloha Stadium, the Tigers will take on the most physical team they could find in the state - Farrington - at 5:30. The Governors have a huge offensive line. The biggest blockers are returning starter Presley Fuamatu (6-2, 315 pounds) and Tutaumua Tamaalevea (6-1, 340 pounds).
Shacklett said meeting and mingling with Hawaii's football community is a valuable experience for his kids.
"Football is very important to the people in Hawaii and I want my kids to see that," he said. "It's so very much a part of a young man's upbringing here. It's a very masculine expression. I want my kids to see the intensity of the sport."
Hawaii coaches jockey for the chance to play the Shacklett-coached team because they know he'll provide a tough early test. He has a 196-78-6 career coaching record at Morse and a 7-3-1 record in games played in the islands. Morse's losses were to St. Louis, Punahou and Kahuku.
"We were only able to bring 27 kids this year," said Shacklett. "The numbers have been falling off because our area has been hit pretty hard lately."
But Morse, which now has 25 players in Division I college programs, will be able to field some prime talent. Lonnie Ford, a 6-3, 230-pound outside linebacker/tight end, is projected to be one of California's top college prospects.
There's also 5-10, 190-pound senior tailback Mike Young, who is expected to break the school rushing record of 4,400 yards held by University of Arizona starter Gary Taylor. Young comes into the season with 3,700 yards.
Farrington will go with junior Leagatonu Tuala at quarterback. He succeeds the Red Conference's second-leading passer, graduated Corey Shippy.
Morse will use senior Marcus Brady again. Brady threw four touchdown passes against Kahuku last year.
Farrington returns Oahu's top receiver of 1995 - all-stater Paulson Leong.
"As long as we can get the ball to No. 82 (Leong), he can do anything," said Farrington head coach Skippa Diaz, who will go with an I-slot formation .
David Dunn of the Cincinnati Bengals, Teddy Lawrence of the Baltimore Ravens, Tommy Bennett of the Arizona Cardinals and Lincoln Kennedy of the Oakland Raiders are the Morse alumni who are now in the NFL.
The Governors-Tigers matchup will be the middle part of a stadium tripleheader that has Kalani facing Kohala at 3 p.m. and Kaimuki challenging Leilehua at 8 p.m.
In other preseason games tomorrow, Kalaheo will be at Kailua, Nanakuli will be in Hilo, Damien goes to Pearl City and Punahou meets Waimea at Hanapepe Ball Park on Kauai.