Todd Brown may be new to the varsity coaching ranks in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, but Konawaena's football coach is hardly a stranger to his players. Kona coach no stranger
to playersBy Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comBrown, who took over the Konawaena program when Roy Aukai stepped down, coached most of the current Wildcats last year on the junior varsity level and some even as far back as Pop Warner.
"I've known them and they've known me since they were 9 and 10 years old, so there's a pretty solid relationship already established," Brown said. "So it's been a smooth transition so far."
Brown leads Konawaena into a wide-open BIIF race this fall. The Wildcats shared the league title with Waiakea last year, but it was the Warriors who represented the Big Island in the state tournament.
The BIIF season begins Friday with Keaau playing Hilo and Honokaa traveling to Kohala. Saturday features two big early season games as Kealakehe hosts Waiakea and Konawaena travels to Hawaii Prep.
"There's so much turnover with the senior classes that there are a lot of question marks," Brown said.
Brown takes over a Konawaena team with just one returning offensive starter in running back Nano Padillo, who ran for 212 yards and two touchdowns in a 32-0 win against Cascade (Ore.) last Friday. But the Wildcats have six starters back on defense, led by third-year linebacker Keola Wills.
Waiakea is also in rebuilding mode with just five returnees on the entire roster. But the Warriors did get a boost when fullback/linebacker Don Okami (6-foot-1, 215 pounds) transferred from Kapaa.
If Konawaena and Waiakea stumble, Kealakehe could be the team to claim the title. Hilo struggled in preseason, but the Vikings are always dangerous in the BIIF race as is Hawaii Prep.
But regardless of how the regular season shakes, all eight teams will have a shot at the championship in November.
The BIIF altered its playoff format to include the entire league in its postseason tournament. The regular season will be used to seed the teams, but all will be just three wins away from the title when the playoffs start.
"The plan is to have your team peaking at the right time, then the championship is going to be up for grabs," Waiakea coach Ed Rocha said.
Prep radio show: Former St. Louis football coach Cal Lee and KITV sports anchor Kanoa Leahey will host a weekly radio call-in show focusing on prep football starting Monday on KKEA (1420 AM).
The Hawaii Prep Football Profile will be broadcast from the Crusader Lounge at the St. Louis Alumni Clubhouse on Coolidge Street and will follow the live broadcast of Monday Night Football at about 6:30 p.m.
The hour-long program will include a wrap-up of the previous week's high school games, a look ahead at the coming weekend's action, guest coaches and players and calls from listeners.
The program is presented by the St. Louis Alumni Association and is scheduled to run through Dec. 2.
No TV for ILH: The Interscholastic League of Honolulu's principals rejected a proposal to televise the league's football games this season at their monthly meeting last week.
The proposed package would have televised ILH games at Aloha Stadium on a pay-per-view basis.
"Although the money part was attractive, the integrity of the league is to focus on the academic side and not put too much emphasis on athletics through television," Kamehameha athletic director Blane Gaison said.
Hawaii School Web Sites