Wednesday, June 27, 2001

[ PREP FOOTBALL ]

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ILH tweaking
new schedule

Concerns over the number
of games played have resulted
in proposed changes

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By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com

They'd rather be working on pass patterns and blitz packages. But Interscholastic League of Honolulu football coaches are spending some of their energy these days on other creative endeavors -- like tinkering with the league's one-week-old schedule format.

The league passed a proposal last Wednesday to split into two three-team divisions, in the interest of competitive balance. One aspect of the new format is that only five games for each team count toward the league championship. Also, each team plays only seven games; while teams are free to schedule more games, seven is deemed too few by some coaches.

So several proposals to alter the new format will be discussed this week, ILH executive secretary Clay Benham said.

"We're waiting for recommendations from the coaches," Benham said. "They mostly have to do with attempts to make all the games meaningful, rather than just a single round. Hopefully we'll finalize something within the week."

Iolani head coach Wendell Look, Punahou athletic director and head coach Kale Ane and Pac-Five head coach and Mid-Pacific athletic director Don Botelho all have proposals, Benham said.

"They're all radical. It's hard to classify six teams," Ane said. "We're all trying to be creative to add more games and more meaningful games and keep the basic intent of the new format."

Look's proposal involves a four-team playoff system, giving the top division teams (Kamehameha, Punahou and St. Louis) a better chance to make the playoffs.

"We're trying to look at what's best for the league," he said. "This proposal recognizes that the top-level teams should have the best opportunities for playoffs, but also gives the second-level teams a chance.

"I think we all agree we want to classify. It's staying with the same basic format, just changing how you determine the ILH champion."

Coaches and athletic directors were to discuss the proposals today, but no final decisions are expected as St. Louis coach and athletic director Cal Lee -- who is also in charge of the ILH football schedule -- is off-island.