Saturday, January 23, 1999
Hula Bowl stars:
Time to shine
The college all-star game
By Paul Arnett
is the start of a new career for
many of the players
Star-BulletinKAHULUI -- South head coach Mike Price didn't let a driving rain storm keep him from putting the finishing touches on the last major practice of the week.
After concluding the kicking drill, he clapped his hands as the players gathered round, puddles of water collecting at their feet. Price waited a moment, making sure he had his team's attention before launching into a brief speech.
The Washington State head coach talked about winning and losing, and performing at a high level for tomorrow's 53rd annual Hooters Hula Bowl at Maui's War Memorial Stadium. He reminded these talented players that this was a game for individual performance, but not to forget the concept of team.
''The better we do as a unit, the better we will be able to allow these guys to shine individually,'' Price said. ''This is supposed to be fun. But it's also the start of a new career for many of these players.''
Unlike in past years, 100-odd scouts from every team in the National Football League stuck around for the entire week of practice. At least half of those will stay around to watch the game, something many don't normally do.
''I'm going to stay for at least a half and last year I left in the middle of the week,'' New York Jets scout Jim Cochran said. ''This is a game mostly for guys picked in the later rounds. You have two or three guys who will go in the first, but most of these other guys need a few years to develop. It's not an exact science.''
Price has all three of the can't-miss players. He will start Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams at running back and will rotate Heisman Trophy runner-up Michael Bishop and Rose Bowl winner Mike Samuel of Wisconsin at quarterback.
And he has the best defensive player in the game -- Arizona cornerback Chris McAlister.
''We definitely have some star power out there,'' Price said. ''But it's going to take more than those three guys to come away with a win.''
North head coach Lloyd Carr doesn't have that trio to put on the field, but he does have a collection of Big Ten talent that could offset the South's top guns.
They are Michigan linebacker Sam Sword, Michigan State free safety Sorie Kanu, Penn State defensive end Brad Scioli and Northwestern linebacker Barry Gardner. They managed 1,364 career tackles.
''We're going to be strong defensively and I think we'll surprise some guys with our offense,'' Carr said. ''These games are fun, but it's also a business. You have to remember all of these guys are very competitive, or they wouldn't be here right now.''
The North squad boasts six All-Americans. They are Sword, Gardner, Oregon State defensive lineman Inoke Breckterfield, Air Force cornerback Tim Curry, Missouri quarterback Corby Jones and Nebraska offensive lineman Josh Heskew.
The South counters with eight All-Americans, including Williams, Bishop and McAlister. The other five are Texas offensive lineman Ben Adams, North Texas offensive lineman Phillip Armour, New Mexico State running back Denvis Manns, Virginia Tech defensive back Pierson Prioleau and Nevada-Las Vegas defensive end Talance Sawyer.
''We not only have a good group of athletes, but a better bunch of men,'' said American Football Coaches Association executive director Grant Teaff.
''They're on time and never in trouble. Who do you think was the first guy on the bus Thursday morning? It was Ricky Williams. That's the quality of athlete we want in this game.''
Last year, the South beat the North, 21-20, in a thriller. Price is looking for the same kind of all-star affair tomorrow.
''I don't see one team running away with it because there's too much talent on defense and not enough time to get an offense up and running in only one week,'' he said. ''Offenses need time together in order to play with any consistency, but we'll do our best to give the fans a show.''
Price said he will rotate Williams throughout the game. Unlike past Heisman Trophy winners, the Texas standout plans to play all four quarters.
''One of the reasons I came back for my senior year was to play in a game like this,'' Williams said. ''I was kind of upset last year when I found out juniors couldn't play, so that's one of the reasons I came back because I really wanted to be a part of something like this my whole career.''
Kickoff is scheduled for tomorrow at 11 a.m. Bowl Games of Hawaii announced yesterday that it was a sellout. Following the game, there will be a 90-minute concert with Kealii Reichel and Grammy Award winner LeAnn Rimes.
Hula Bowl
What: College football all-star game
