[HULA BOWL]

Schaller takes over
as Hula Bowl head

Marshall's Leftwich also commits
to play in the Feb. 1 game

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By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com

Marshall quarterback Byron Leftwich has agreed to play in the Feb. 1 Hula Bowl, and the college all-star football game made a big front-office move yesterday, too.

Dick Schaller will serve as managing partner overseeing day-to-day operations of the 56-year-old all-star game, Executive Director Marcia Klompus said yesterday.

Schaller's Hula Bowl recollections go all the way back to 1969 and O.J. Simpson's run through the mud of Honolulu Stadium.

Now the retired TV executive hopes to create new memories for football fans.

"I want to continue helping to perpetuate and improving the game," Schaller said. "It's a great showcase for Maui and Hawaii."

Klompus' husband Lenny is Hula Bowl president, but he went on leave March 30 and moved to Honolulu to work as gubernatorial candidate Linda Lingle's communications director. Marcia Klompus is also a volunteer on the campaign.

"I'm back-and-forth between the islands, and we need a leader seated in the chair," Marcia Klompus said. "We're thrilled that Dick agreed to do this. He's a good friend and a business associate we've worked with for many years and we have great respect for him. To know his finger will be on the day-to-day operations is very comforting."

Schaller said he plans no major changes in the Hula Bowl, and the Klompuses said they will remain somewhat involved. For example, Lenny Klompus will continue to help with player selection.

"But it's Dick's game to run," he said.

Schaller, 70, was general manager of KITV from 1984 to 1995 and KHON-TV from 1970 to '81. From 1997 to 2000 he worked for a station in Washington state, and is now a consultant for TV and Internet projects in Honolulu and Seattle. He is a long-time board member of the Hula Bowl.

Leftwich, a Heisman Trophy candidate, will be joined by his coach, Bob Pruett. Also, Oregon's Mike Bellotti and Minnesota's Glen Mason have agreed to join Miami's Larry Coker and Texas' Mack Brown on the coaching staffs.

"We're hoping Mack Brown will bring Chris Simms, and as usual it could be a great quarterbacks show," Marcia Klompus said.