THERE are those who are well-traveled and those who travel well. DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Darrick Branch’s next stop
could someday be as a coachBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comDarrick Branch of the Hawaiian Islanders is both.
Since 1993, the former University of Hawaii standout wide receiver and kick returner has played professional football in five leagues in three countries, a member of nine teams. He's roamed the wide fields in Canada and banged the boards of the arena leagues. He's eaten hot dogs in Frankfurt, Germany, and omelets in Denver. Along the way he's added defensive back to his resumé and earned a reputation as dependable and smart.
"He's a fun guy to be around and brings so many positives to a team. He's very likable," Hawaiian Islanders coach Cal Lee said. "He comes out here with all the energy of a youngster."
Branch, a holdover from the Islanders' debut 5-11 season of a year ago, is a key to the team's success this year -- and not just because of his playing skill. The coaches will look to the 31-year-old Branch for leadership on offense and defense.
"Darrick has a lot of experience in different situations and he's mature," defensive backs coach Doug Semones said. "He's mature. Guys listen to him because they know he's been there."
Although "there" is just about everywhere for him, Branch doesn't plan to leave in the near future.
"Right now Hawaii is my home. I'm at the second phase of my maturity," said Branch, who is originally from Dallas. "My first phase was here in college, when I felt like I grew up a lot because of the people I was exposed to, like the UH coaches. Bob Wagner, Paul Johnson, all those guys were like father figures who cared about us and helped us grow up. You need that for a good team."
The 1992 Rainbows were indeed that. They won the Western Athletic Conference championship and beat Illinois 27-17 in the Holiday Bowl -- the same Illinois team with which Branch originally signed a letter of intent, but left for Hawaii when the Illini were hit with NCAA sanctions and recruits were given the option of transferring without penalty.
"Beating Illinois was definitely something," Branch said. "They were a great defensive team, with Simeon Rice and Kevin Hardy. But we were pretty good, too. Ma'a Tanuvasa, Michael Carter, Travis Sims. And if we didn't get a touchdown, we could always give Jason (Elam) a try from around the 40."
Branch came tantalizingly close to being teammates with Tanuvasa and Elam when they won back-to-back Super Bowls as members of the Denver Broncos in 1998 and 1999. If not for injuries and the numbers game, there might have been three former Rainbows with Super Bowl rings. At various times, Branch was on the Broncos practice squad and injured reserve from 1996 to 1998, and the team sent him to play in NFL Europe in '98.
STAR-BULLETIN FILE
Above, former Hawaii receiver Darrick Branch broke a run in 1992.
But he never got over the hump.
If Branch holds any bitterness about what might have been for him as a player at the highest level, he never shows it. He's too busy being excited about what is to come -- the Islanders' upcoming season, and his own potential as a coach in the future.
"A lot of times I take myself out of a drill and just look around me in wonder at all the talent," Branch said. "The guys are working so hard, and we've got a lot of skill on this team, a lot more than a typical af2 team. I truly believe this team could compete well at af1. Right now, we're getting the best of everything. Players from UH and guys back from mainland colleges and other guys who were great at local high schools but got overlooked."
Branch said he wasn't planning on playing this season, but when Lee was named the Islanders' new head coach he changed his mind.
"I don't understand why he hasn't been at UH all these years with the amount of success he's had. But this is even better for him in a lot of ways, this is pro football," Branch said. "UH is always going to be the biggest sports program in Hawaii, but right now I think Coach Lee is happy to have a new challenge."
STAR-BULLETIN FILE
Jeff Sydner, Branch and Garrett Gabriel walked off the field after a 1990 game.
Semones and Lee both say Branch will be an outstanding coach.
"He communicates well and he's always thinking about the next play or the next scheme," Semones said. "He's not just out there playing."
Said Lee: "He realizes he's coming to the end of one career, but to the start of another one. It goes both ways. He has the experience to help the coaches, and we can help him in learning how to be a coach."
Branch has spent his entire career picking the brains of his coaches; he said the biggest influences have been Marv Levy and Bill Walsh. He also calls on his many contacts in his day job as an event producer for the Hawaii Sports Network. Branch helps put on events like clinics for coaches and young athletes. One pet project is developing the state's young receivers and backs so they are recruited like the lineman prospects are now.
"The stereotype is there's no speed in Hawaii, no skill players," Branch said. "But I don't think that's true."
He also disagrees with the consensus that pro football cannot thrive in Hawaii. It would take a 16,000-seat arena, but Branch said Hawaii could be home to an af1 team in the near future.
STAR-BULLETIN FILE
Branch tried to spin in a 1991 game.
"It's all about the following and the support. If people get behind the Islanders -- and I know there are lots of true football fans in Hawaii who will watch it year-round -- yeah, it can happen," Branch said. "Basketball's cool, but when you've got football in your blood, that's what you want to see."
The one thing that's certain is Darrick Branch has a long road of football left in front of him even though his playing days are winding down.
"He's done things the right way, and in such a professional way. It seems like he always knows what he wants to do tomorrow, the next day and next year," Islanders director of communications Thomas Yoshida said. "He's not only talked to pro coaches, but college, high school. He's developing a system of his own and knows what to expect of himself when he heads a team. Experience is the No. 1 thing and he's doing the right things now."
Islanders schedule
Home games at Blaisdell Arena
Date Team Time (HST) March 30 GREEN BAY 6 p.m. April 4 at Quad City 3:30 p.m. April 19 at Bakersfield 4 p.m. April 26 SAN DIEGO 7:30 p.m. May 3 at Wichita 2:30 p.m. May 10 BAKERSFIELD 7:30 p.m. May 16 WICHITA 7:30 p.m. May 24 at Cincinnati 8 a.m. May 31 LOUISVILLE 7:30 p.m. June 7 at Arkansas 2 p.m. June 14 PEORIA 7:30 p.m. June 21 at San Diego 4 p.m. June 28 QUAD CITY 7:30 p.m. July 12 at Tulsa 2:30 p.m. July 18 at San Diego 4:30 p.m. July 27 BAKERSFIELD 6 p.m.
Hawaiian Islanders
