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Sidelines
Kalani Simpson
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Bear tracks found in Hawaii
AND away we go:
» Peter Kim was not the first (or only) guy to play for both the 'Bows and the Bear.
Not at Alabama. But there was the recruitment of local star Henry George to play for Bryant at Kentucky in 1953.
Ahead of his time as usual, Bryant had done a few football clinics on Oahu -- as a public service to the people of Hawaii, of course. But when he liked what he saw he couldn't help but set up recruiting shop.
In the original "Kahuku" press conference, Rainbows coach Hank Vasconcellos faced a barrage of questions at the Honolulu Quarterback Club, all asking how he could let George get away.
"I guess I have to start bringing in mainland players," Vasconcellos said.
There were articles and columns in Kentucky newspapers calling George the real deal. In the Lexington paper there was a picture of Coach Bryant standing with his new prize pupil. The Hawaiian kid looked tiny standing next to the Bear. But he had something. Moves. Something. He would play, the papers agreed.
Of course, after finishing second in the SEC in 1953 (the school's only first-place conference finish was under Bryant, in 1950), Bryant left Kentucky. He was off to Texas A&M, to turn the Junction Boys into legends.
The coach who had recruited Henry George was gone. The great Hawaii-to-Kentucky recruiting pipeline never materialized. (Instead it was to Michigan State -- the Bear later brought Duffy Dougherty, who pounced.)
And Vasconcellos eventually got his man. George came home, enrolled at UH and was part of a three-brother backfield (Henry, Nolan and quarterback Talbot) in the late '50s.
A footnote, on this potentially historic day.
» According to redelephants.com, "1926: Paul Bryant goes out for football and plays in the first game he ever sees. He has cleats screwed into his shoes, the only pair he owns, and he wears them everywhere he goes."
» Bear Bryant got his nickname, of course, not because he was as big as a bear or as tough as a bear or even because he growled like a bear (ask Jerry Glanville about having a conversation with the man). It was because, as a teenager in Arkansas, he once wrestled a bear.
The last time I saw Rainbow Joe he was headed into the valley looking for a wild pig.
» The recent UH reunion at the Falcons-Jaguars exhibition game is the best Hawaii football recruiting tool since the latest Star-Bulletin preseason preview magazine. (Have you seen one of those things these last few years? They're good for the whole state!)
» As a guy who married into a die-hard Husker family, it pleases me to no end that "Larry the Cable Guy" has proclaimed himself the nation's No. 1 Nebraska fan. This is even better than when, during TV games, they show the guy with the "Cornhead" on his head. (It embarrasses my wife every time.)
Actually, Larry has been bringing lots of joy to my life lately. I loved his movie, "Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector." It was great comedy. Not that I watched it, or even wanted to. It was just hilarious to hear about it on the talk-show circuit.
Regis Philbin: "It's a mystery!"
David Spade: "Is he a cable guy or a health inspector?"
Either way, he's the world's biggest Husker. Don't think the in-laws won't hear about that.
» It's been a lot of fun hearing Don Robbs playing guest host on KKEA's morning sports show, talking about great road wins in UH football history and saying the word "Rainbows" as many times as he can.
» Nevada-Fresno State. Both teams look potentially scary. Two running games that can just block you and stay on you. That Nevada could go down two touchdowns on the road -- twice -- and come back swinging tells you all you need to know.
» "Kalani, looking at this picture of Coach Jones, I can't establish what the new 'logo' on his hat is. He usually has some form of endorsement, but not sure in this case. At first blush, almost looks like the logo for the venerable 'Modern Drunkard Magazine' (www.moderndrunkardmagazine.com), albeit, the cocktail glass seems to have been replaced by a television of some sorts. Hard to tell from the photo. One of college football's early mysteries. ..."
And you thought Jim Leahey got all the good e-mail.