COURTESY HAWAIIAN ISLANDERS
Isaac White, a 6-foot-2, 235-pound linebacker and receiver for the Hawaiian Islanders, is third on the team in receiving.
White likes to stay
out of the spotlight
As helmets clash and the music blares in the high-decibel world of arena football, Isaac White finds a way to quietly do his job for the Hawaiian Islanders.
White isn't the Islanders' most recognizable player, but his efforts have been instrumental in the team's ascent in the arenafootball2 standings.
"I like being one of those guys who's out of the spotlight, and just comes out and plays ball," White said. "I don't have to be the guy who's always on top. Just a guy who comes out here and produces whenever he's got a chance."
At 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds, White has the size, strength and speed to produce at both receiver and as the "jack" linebacker for the Islanders.
The Campbell High School graduate enters tomorrow night's game with the Quad City Steamwheelers third on the team in receiving with 18 catches for 251 yards and three touchdowns. He also ranks second in tackles with 35.5.
He also has a sack to his credit and returned an interception for a touchdown against San Diego on April 26.
But recognition remains low on his motivation scale.
"He's just a consistent guy and gets the job done," Islanders coach Cal Lee said. "He's not a flashy type of guy, although last week he caught a pass the NFL scouts would have been in awe of. Other than that, he's a blue-collar kind of guy who comes in and does his work."
White was an all-state tailback during his high school career at Campbell. He attended the University of Hawaii as a freshman before transferring to Oregon State. He returned to the islands with the Beavers to play against Hawaii in the 1999 Jeep Oahu Bowl.
When he arrived in Corvallis, Ore., White moved from running back to linebacker. Now he prefers playing defense.
"It's fun and I get to go over there and hit," White said. "At tailback, I used to deliver the hits. Now I just get to go full blast."
He admits his skills as a receiver are still in development, but enjoys the dual duties of playing offense and defense.
"You get the best of both worlds," White said. "You get to catch the ball and make a big hit."
Since returning from Oregon State, White has dedicated his time away from football to working at his alma mater.
White draws on his psychology studies at Oregon State in working with autistic students at Campbell and helps coach the school's track and field teams in his after-school hours.
"I always enjoyed working with kids and I felt I could go back and help out in the community," White said.
"It's a very good feeling when (the students) improve and progress in their life," White said of working with autistic teens. "You can have a big impact in their being independent. We have to believe they're going to be independent.
"It's definitely an awesome feeling. It's kind of like football; you can't get that feeling out of anything else."
The Islanders are also feeling good about their position in the af2 playoff race. Hawaii enters tomorrow's game at 9-3 and in first place in the National Conference West Division.
The Islanders pulled out one-point comeback wins the last two weeks to put them on the verge of the playoff berth just a year after going 5-11.
"One good thing about us is, nobody gets down on each other when something big happens, something that hurts our team," White said. "Nobody overreacts and gets down on them. That's one of the biggest things that's been helping us this season; when somebody goes down, the team brings them up."
arenafootball2
Who: Quad City Steamwheelers vs. Hawaiian IslandersWhen: Tomorrow, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Neal Blaisdell Arena
TV: None
Radio: KUMU2 1500-AM
Tickets: Lower Level and loge sold out. Upper level adult $5, children (ages 4-17) $3.50.
Promotion: Fan Appreciation Night. All general admission tickets are half price (if purchased at the Blaisdell ticket office). The first 1,000 fans receive a free hot dog and soda.
Parking: $3
