Associated Press
Olin Kreutz, at the airport with
cousin, Douglas Paahao.
Huskies’ Kreutz Star-Bulletin
to make hike to NFL
The ex-Crusader will bid
By Paul Arnett
farewell to college ball afte
the Aloha Bowl
You get the feeling the 16th annual Jeep Aloha Bowl won't be the last time Olin Kreutz plays at Aloha Stadium. The All-America center for the University of Washington declared Wednesday that he will forgo his senior season and make himself eligible for the National Football League draft.
If he enjoys the same amount of success in the NFL that he had at Washington and St. Louis School, it's not hard to imagine him making a return engagement for the Pro Bowl in the next millennium.
"He has the chance to be a dominating center at the next level," said Washington head coach Jim Lambright, who is in town preparing the No. 21-ranked Huskies for the Christmas Day bowl game with No. 25 Michigan State.
"Olin has accomplished everything he can at this level," Lambright said. "We're going to miss his leadership and his play on the field, but this is something he wants to do, so we wish him the best."
Kreutz has given his best since his playing days at St. Louis. The last time he stepped on the Aloha Stadium turf, the 6-foot-4, 290-pounder helped the Crusaders hold off Kahuku, 26-20, in the 1994 Prep Bowl.
St. Louis head coach Cal Lee remembers Kreutz as the most dominating lineman on the local scene. Even as a 17-year-old senior, Kreutz was bench-pressing nearly 400 pounds.
"We knew he was special and could develop into an outstanding player," Lee said. "And sure enough, he did. He worked hard and developed his potential.
"There's no doubt he can play at the next level. He's got the whole package. He's got size, strength, speed and quick feet. He had weights for breakfast. That was the way of his family. They believed in that, so he started lifting at an early age."
And it has paid off for the 20-year-old, who can bench press 500-plus pounds. He recently was selected first-team All-Pac-10 for the second consecutive season.
Kreutz also was awarded the Morris Trophy, given to the Pac-10's best offensive lineman, and was named first-team All-America by the Associated Press.
That's a pretty impressive showing for the third-year star, who was the only freshman to play for Washington in the 1995 season.
"I felt like I'd done all I could at the college level," Kreutz said yesterday, minutes after the Huskies touched down at Honolulu International Airport. "There was nothing more I could prove.
"So in the interest of my family, I decided to go out early. I don't care what round I go or how much money I make. My goal is to make an NFL team and play as long as I can. If I do that, then the money will come and I'll be able to help my family. They've stood beside me and let me live my dream."
By most accounts, the Waimanalo resident could be making big bucks by the summer. Lambright predicted Kreutz will be the first center selected in the draft.
That doesn't necessarily mean Kreutz will go in the first round, as fellow local lineman Chris Naeole did this past April. But he shouldn't go later than the second round.
"I'm not going to worry about that," Kreutz said. "Right now, all I'm thinking about is helping my team beat Michigan State on Christmas Day.
"Some injuries have hurt us the past few games, but we should be pretty healthy by then. It will be a lot of fun to play in front of everybody who supported me through my years at Washington.
"My mom came to every game, so it's great she can come out and see me play my last college game and not have to pay so much money."
Don't expect Kreutz to pocket some cash as a tour guide for the Washington players. He said they're on their own.
"I plan to spend as much time with my family as I can," Kreutz said. "I was excited when I heard we were coming to the Aloha Bowl. It's something you hear about as a kid. Now, getting a chance to play in it is a great way for me to end my college career."
Huskies, Spartans
By Paul Arnett
had hopes for Roses
Star-BulletinHad the University of Washington and Michigan State not fallen on hard times during the regular season, they could have met in the Rose Bowl. The Huskies were ranked No. 2 before losing to Nebraska at home on Sept. 20. The Spartans climbed as high as No. 11 in early October before consecutive losses to Northwestern, Michigan, Ohio State and Purdue sent them tumbling out of the top 25.
Michigan State closed with impressive wins over Illinois and then No. 4-ranked Penn State to finish the season with a 7-4 mark and a No. 25 ranking.
Washington wasn't quite as fortunate. Injuries to top running back Rashaan Shehee and quarterback Brock Huard hurt the Huskies down the stretch.
They lost their last three games to Oregon, UCLA and rival Washington State to drop to 7-4. But with Shehee and Huard back at full speed, Spartans head coach Nick Saban predicts the No. 21-rated Huskies will be a dangerous team to contend with in the upcoming 16th annual Aloha Bowl.
"Usually when a team as talented as Washington loses three games in a row, it's because of key injuries," Saban said. "We know this is a talented ballclub.
"As for ourselves, I think we started playing better again at the end of the season. We put it all together in the win over Penn State and that helped get us into this game.
"We're excited about being here, but we know the challenge will be balancing all the fun Hawaii has to offer and the work necessary to beat a team like the Huskies."
This will be their third appearance in the Aloha Bowl. Washington edged Maryland, 21-20, in the inaugural game in 1982 and lost to Penn State, 13-10, in 1983.
It's the second time Michigan State has played in the Christmas Day game. The Spartans knocked off Hawaii, 33-13, in 1989.
"We know Michigan State has a good team," Washington head coach Jim Lambright said. "You don't beat Penn State (49-14) like they did and not have some good players on the field.
"We didn't end the season as strong as we would have liked, but this game gives us a chance to close out with a win and build toward next year.
"We believe Brock and Rashaan will be close to full speed by the day of the game. You don't want to make excuses, but losing those two players changed our team drastically on offense."
LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE: Football fans attending Thursday's Aloha Bowl will get to hear ring announcer Michael Buffer say his famous phrase.
Buffer will be in town on Monday. He began his career as a ring announcer in the late 1980s. His trademark phrase is now used in commercials and many sporting events worldwide.
Many NFL, NBA, NHL and major-league games begin with Buffer saying, "Let's get ready to rumble." Aloha Bowl chief executive officer Lenny Klompus not only will have Buffer say his phrase minutes before kickoff, but during television and radio commercials as well.
"We feel like he can get any crowd excited and into the game," Klompus said.
TICKETS GOING FAST: Klompus is not only counting on a major national television audience on ABC-TV to tune in on Christmas Day, but he's expecting a large crowd as well.
Ticket sales are expected to surpass the 40,000 mark as early as this weekend. Klompus said football fans could buy their tickets at Aloha Stadium or order by phone.
"There's already a lot of interest in this game," Klompus said. "We feel very fortunate to have two top teams like Washington and Michigan State.
For ticket information, call 947-4141.
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