Thursday, October 15, 1998
Iolani's Joe Igber is
By Pat Bigold
rewriting state high school
football records and is a
prime-time performer in
the classroom, too
Star-BulletinTom Holmoe called Joe Igber last weekend to congratulate him on his six-touchdown, 251-yard performance against Damien at Aloha Stadium.
So far, the University of California head coach is the only one to have offered the 5-foot-7, 190-pound Iolani School running back a scholarship to play football.
That puzzles the likes of Rob Stephens, an Arizona Interscholastic Association referee who worked the Damien-Iolani game as part of an annual exchange program.
"Watching him from behind, he reminded me of Barry Sanders," said Stephens, shaking his head. "I haven't seen anybody like him in Arizona. It was fun to watch him because he was avoiding tackles left and right, and guys were swiping at air."
According to Star-Bulletin statistics, Igber set the state career rushing record in the game. He is bound to add to his 3,466 yards in the second half of the season (the previous record was 3,404 by former Kahuku High and Brigham Young star Mark Atuaia in 1988-90).
Igber also owns the ILH single-season rushing mark (1,567 yards), the ILH single-game rushing record (312 yards), and is one touchdown shy of tying the state career TD record (45) held by St. Louis' George Ornellas. Igber and the Raiders meet the Crusaders tomorrow at Aloha Stadium.
Igber, whose economic background is humble, said he needs a scholarship to go to college. The aspiring architect hopes to attract more scholarship opportunities, but not necessarily via his play on the field.
"I want to make the headmasters list, and you need a 3.6 grade point average to do that," Igber said.
He said it was "a heartbreaker" when he pulled a 3.2 GPA last semester.
"You get a handshake for 3.2, but to get any kind of respect, you have to get a 3.6," Igber said.
Up until last year, he didn't think he was good enough to earn a football scholarship.
"I'm still not sure I am good enough to play there," he said of California. "It just seems like everybody at that level is so much bigger and faster."
He is the youngest of four children raised by Nigerian immigrants Joseph and Theresa Igber in a two-story Palolo Housing dwelling. His father teaches sociology at West Oahu Community College and his mother works at a preschool.
His bedroom consists of a bed, a desk, a chair and one drawer for his clothes.
"I don't have that many clothes," he said with a laugh.
He does his own laundry and hangs it on a line in his tiny room to dry -- the family doesn't own a dryer.
A plaque in his room has the following inscription: "There are many things in life that will catch your eye. But only a few will catch your heart . . . pursue those."
So what are those things for Igber?
"God, family. . ." he begins, and pauses.
Where's football on that list?
"Right now it's something to relieve the stress of studying," he said. "I enjoy it, but my main focus is to go off to college."
Until last year, football didn't interest him as much as his dad's native sport, soccer.
He is considering the California offer, and also would consider the University of Hawaii, if the program makes him a solid offer.
"Sure, I would," he said. "I like the weather here. I'll consider any offer to pay for my college education, and UH has a good architectural school."
Igber knows he can't compete with faster, bigger and better-known mainland backs for Division I offers. But some will likely become academic nonqualifiers, which could open some doors for Igber.
Opposing coaches have commented on Igber's elusiveness, field vision and acceleration.
Line judge Dave Martin, another Arizona official in the Damien-Iolani game, said he had heard about Igber's great balance.
"They told me that when it looks like he's ready to fall down, he'll balance himself with his hand and still keep moving," Martin said. "They were right. He's an incredible ball carrier and reminds me of Barry Sanders."
Most everyone who talks about Igber seems to bring up Sanders' name.
But for a young man who isn't convinced he's good enough to play college ball, being mentioned in the same breath with the Detroit Lions' superstar is downright embarrassing.
"He's on a totally different level, and I would never compare myself to Sanders -- he's super-human," Igber said.
"In fact," he said with a laugh, "Coach (Wendell Look) has always told me I'm running my steps all wrong."
