Amid the Hula hoopla, fun the name of the game There's more to the game than winning and impressing scouts
By Paul Arnett
Star-BulletinWAILEA, Maui - Michigan State's Ike Reese dropped back in the flat to secure the underneath zone in the basic 4-3 defensive package. It was only practice, but with 60 NFL scouts lining the Maui High School field, it might as well have been a crucial Big Ten game for the talented outside linebacker.
He backpedaled about 5 yards, then turned and watched Michigan quarterback Brian Griese survey the field. The Wolverines' quarterback looked left, then turned quickly to throw to Utah tailback Juan Johnson, who was sneaking into the flat.
Had Griese waited a split-second longer, he would have seen Reese moving up to cover Johnson. But instead, he fired the ball just as Johnson turned into his curl route.
Johnson never touched the ball. Reese stepped in to pick off the pass, then turned up field to score a touchdown. It won't be recorded in Sports Illustrated or replayed on ESPN. But for Reese, it was one of the biggest plays of his career.
''I wish it would have come a couple of months earlier in October when we played them (the Wolverines) for real,'' Reese said after yesterday's practice for Sunday's Hooters Hula Bowl. ''That was a personal victory out there for me.
''I didn't really notice it was Griese until I came to the sidelines. I just made a good play on it, getting back into the zone. Actually, our cornerback told me to drop back a little deeper and fool them into thinking I was dropping off in coverage. But it's great to get a pick off Brian out here. I won't forget it. And I won't let him forget it.''
If the truth be known, that's what games like the Hula Bowl are supposed to be about - players having fun playing the game they have loved since their Pop Warner days.
Sure, they want to impress the scouts. And yes, they want to win this 52nd annual college all-star game. But the bottom line is having fun and enjoying what Hawaii has to offer.
''To me, it's a fun week hanging out with a great group of guys,'' University of Hawaii defensive back Eddie Klaneski said. ''Nobody out here thinks he's better than the other guy. It's equal.
"Yeah, we all have the same goal to play in the National Football League, but the competition is fun. Everybody tries to help out everybody else. I'm having a great time. We're being treated so well. It's a lot different than what it's like at UH. It's first-class treatment all the way.''
Hula bowl head coaches John Cooper of Ohio State and Bruce Snyder of Arizona State are doing everything they can to help the players look good for the scouts and have a good time doing it.
''This is the most talented group of players I've been around in an all-star game,'' said Cooper, who coaches the North team. ''And I've coached in all of them - the East-West Classic, the Japan Bowl and even the Hula Bowl a few years ago.
''And what I've noticed is how well the players have bonded together off the field, but how hard they hit on it. To me, the first thing you do here is try to have fun and to give the players a chance to showcase their talents to all the pro scouts.
''Then, when the game starts, you try to win it. You first come over and it really doesn't matter that much. But then the intensity level changes. We're going against each other a lot. We call it 'thud.' Heck, if that's thud, then I hate to see what full contact is going to be come Sunday.''
''They told me if the game lasted longer than three hours, they had to keep running the clock,'' said Snyder, who coaches the South. ''I told them, if it lasts longer than three hours, then the North will be ready to quit because our guys are going to get after them.''
The last major practice is today. The players will have a walk-through at War Memorial Stadium before strapping on their pads for real.
''I can't wait to finally play the game,'' Nebraska quarterback Scott Frost said. ''This has been a lot of fun. The practices are competitive because nobody wants to look bad in front of the scouts.
''At the same time, you can tell everybody is enjoying themselves. In most practices, you don't see guys trying to make plays like they do in a real game, but it's different out here. You want to show everybody what makes you special.''
Hula Bowl live on TV
The Hooters Hula Bowl all-star football game Sunday on Maui will be televised live to Oahu viewers on ESPN at 11 a.m., it was announced yesterday by Oceanic Cablevision. The game will be blacked out on Maui.
