Friday, September 11, 1998

By Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin
Anything can happen when Iolani running back
Joe Igber gets his hands on the ball.

---

Igber chases
history

The Iolani running back is
closing in on the state
career rushing record

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

Mark McGwire has passed Roger Maris.

Joe Igber will attempt to do the same to Mark Atuaia on the Hawaii prep gridiron.

There will never be mention of it in Sports Illustrated or on ESPN. But the distinction Igber is closing in on is one of the most revered in local sports lore.

The shifty 5-foot-7, 190-pound Iolani running back is 949 yards shy of becoming the all-time state career rushing leader.

Atuaia, a former Kahuku and Brigham Young star, accumulated 3,404 yards by the end of the 1990 season to topple the previous record held by one of Hawaii's most respected sports heroes -- Mosi Tatupu.

Tatupu's record of 3,367 yards held up for 17 years. Many thought his accomplishments would endure into the next century.

But last year, Igber smashed Tatupu's 24-year-old Interscholastic League of Honolulu single-season rushing mark (1,483) with 1,567 yards.

He clinched it on the final day of the ILH regular season with 240 yards against Damien. The Aloha Stadium Jumbotron scoreboard flashed congratulations when he went over the mark minutes into the third quarter.

The state career rushing record doesn't often change hands. And the last two men to own it were bigger, more punishing backs.

So the small but tightly wound Nigerian-born Igber is almost embarrassed at the idea of becoming Hawaii's all-time anything.

"All I do is run away from people," Igber said with the same self-deprecating smile he always offers when the subject comes up.

But Atuaia, now living with wife Elizabeth Wolgramm (former lead singer of The Jets) and their child in Utah, called Igber at his home last night to encourage him.

"He seems like a really nice guy," Igber said. "He said, 'Go for it.' "

Joseph Igber Sr., who teaches at West Oahu College, appreciates his son's accomplishments. But the emphasis is on education in the Igber household.

Football is a good thing, and it might even get Igber a scholarship. But the family philosophy is that the brain will carry you a lot further than you can carry the football.

In fact, Joe Jr. was told that if his grade-point average ever fell below 3.0, he couldn't play.

Because his desire to become an architect is even more intense than his drive for a football career, Igber has had all the motivation he has needed to stay focused in the classroom. He's been an honor student.

There are indications from recent athletic performances that he's just as focused on the field.

He ran the 100-meter dash in 10.8 seconds for Iolani last spring. That speed seems to have carried over to the football field.

In the preseason, he outran defenses for touchdowns of 60 (run) and 76 (reception) yards against Waiakea and 85 yards (run) against Baldwin.

"We had a sprint coach who taught some things I could apply to football," Igber said.

Iolani head coach Wendell Look said he thinks Igber, who spent time in the weight room over the summer, also looks stronger.

But how tough will opposing defenses make it for him, and how much help will he get from his offensive line?

"Our offense is based on what the defense gives us," Look said. "Obviously, he has a big bull's-eye on his back right now."

Look said he expects to see six or seven defenders up front to meet Igber.

And three members of this year's Iolani offensive line are under 6-feet tall, two are under 200 pounds, and one is an untested sophomore.

"What matters is they give all they've got," Igber said. "And I give all I've got for them."

Igber won't kid you about his prospects of getting a scholarship at one of the most competitive skill positions. Despite his production, he hasn't received an offer.

"There has been interest from the West Coast schools, but mostly just talking," he said.

He said the University of Hawaii would certainly get his interest if it made an offer.

Atuaia, who said he will chart Igber's progress toward the record via the Star-Bulletin's website, expressed pride that someone is chasing his record.

"To own a record that young men in Hawaii can shoot for is an honor," said Atuaia, who also holds the state single-season rushing record of 2,025 yards.

"I remember Mosi said records are made to be broken. That's always stuck in my mind."

Also within reach for Igber is the ILH single-season touchdown record of 21 set by Tatupu and Ed Kini (St. Louis) in 1973. Igber had 20 last year.