GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Former UH receiver Britton Komine practiced alongside Aiea coach Wendell Say, left, and Castle coach Nelson Maeda.

Back in business

Local football players return to the
field to prepare for Team Japan

IT has been a few years since Fred Salanoa trotted onto a football field with a helmet on his head instead of a whistle around his neck.

A standout prep quarterback at Radford High School in the 1990s, Salanoa's playing days seemed over when he tossed his final pass for Eastern Washington University in 2001.

Since then, he's taken to calling plays from the sideline rather than running them on the field as the head coach at his alma mater. But he's putting the pads on one more time for a team of local players heading to Tokyo next week to play in the Japan-USA Bowl.

"It's an opportunity for us to go out there to Japan and showcase our abilities and share our knowledge with them and spread our Aloha," Salanoa said before a practice this week at Castle High School.

Team Hawaii USA departs for Japan on Monday and will face an all-star team from Japan's X-League on Thursday at the Tokyo Dome.

Japan has won both American Football World Cup titles since the tournament was introduced in 1999 and is looking forward to its first test against a team from the United States.

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Radford football coach Fred Salanoa, who played at Eastern Washington University through 2001, is back in action for Team Hawaii USA.

While the Hawaii team features a collection of local players covering a wide age range on its 45-man roster, the Japan team has been training since February and will be a heavy favorite entering Thursday's game, which is expected to draw between 20,000-25,000 fans.

"They'll be in shape because they're just coming out of their spring ball," Team Hawaii USA coach Ronald Oyama said. "They're going to be good technicians and just coming every play, because the way they train and their work ethic are just unreal."

Team Hawaii USA has five current high school head coaches on its staff -- Wendell Look (Iolani), Nelson Maeda (Castle), Wendell Say (Aiea), Darren Hernandez (Kapolei) and Kale Ane (Punahou) -- and a sixth on the field in Salanoa.

Although Salanoa hasn't played in a game since college, working with Radford's quarterbacks the last two seasons has kept his arm in shape, although he'll probably be less inclined to test his legs by leaving the pocket.

"My arm's in shape, it's probably my lower half that's not in shape," he said.

"The feel is always still there, the knowledge is still there, it's just the body," he added. "Sometimes you have to listen to the body a little bit more as you age to gauge what you can and cannot do. But the feel and the love and the knowledge are still there."

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Britton Komine, a receiver for Team Hawaii USA, completed his eligibility for UH last season.

Salanoa last played in 2001 when he helped Eastern Washington roll up 41.9 points and 514 yards per game as a senior. He completed 228 of 379 passes for 3,057 yards and 25 touchdowns that season and still ranks among the school's leaders in career passing yards (4,973) and touchdowns (36).

He was hired as Radford's head coach two years later and jumped at the chance to put on the pads again when the tryouts for Team Hawaii USA were announced.

"I read about it in the newspaper, and I shouted over to my wife and she started laughing," he said.

Nonetheless, he went out for the team and earned a spot at quarterback along with Mike Tillis and Chad Kapanui.

"He's still got it," Look said. "I can see why he broke all those records at Eastern Washington. He can play, he still throws a great ball. What I like about him is he plays the game like a coach."

Look installed the quick passing game he teaches at Iolani and Salanoa's perspective as a coach has helped him pick up the offense.

"According to Coach Look he has a great touch and his decision-making is probably the best of what we have," Oyama said. "Coach Look's philosophy is to get the ball out quick, so the reads have to be sharp."

Look isn't concerned yet about teaching Salanoa too much this summer although Radford and Iolani will meet in a scrimmage next month. He might be a little more worried if the Rams and Raiders qualify for the Division II state tournament.

"Then we'll be in big trouble," Look said.

Salanoa is part of an interesting mix of players making up the Team Hawaii USA roster.

Several players -- including Kapanui, receiver Britton Komine, linebacker Paul Lutu-Carroll and defensive linemen Darrell Tautofi and Matt Faga -- completed their eligibility at the University of Hawaii last season. Kapanui, Tautofi, and John West are already in Japan to play in another all-star game.

A few others -- like former Rainbows Frank-Sean Abreu (1988-90), Kenneth Harper (90-91), Mika Liilii (91-93) and Taase Faumui (91-93) -- are farther removed from their college days.

Faumui played two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers after college. Isaac White (Oregon State) had a tryout with the Kansas City Chiefs last year.

"We have a lot of guys who I heard about who I never really played with, but now I get the opportunity to see their skills," Komine said.

"It's a new experience for all of us, I can't wait. I'm excited for the competition and the sightseeing, but the bottom line is we still want to win."

Also making the trip are nine former members of the Hawaiian Islanders, who were left without a team when the franchise folded last year, and former Hawaii Pacific University basketball player Kawika Smith.

"It's amazing how they've mixed well," Oyama said. "They're going to make Hawaii proud, we just hope we can last four quarters. But with the depth we have we'll be able to roll in guys."

Japan-USA bowl Semipro football Who: Team Hawaii USA (made up of former college and pro players) vs. Team Japan (an all-star team from Japan's X-League) When: Thursday, midnight (Hawaii time) Where: Tokyo Dome Bowl facts: Team Hawaii USA is the first American team to play a Japanese squad in professional competition. ... David Stant, a former UH lineman (1988-89), has coached in Japan for the last 15 years and helped arrange the game. ... The game is scheduled to be televised in Japan on a delayed basis.