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Islanders’ days
filled with football
The Hawaiian Islanders postseason run is creating some long days for several players and coaches.
As the Islanders prepare for Saturday's arenafootball2 playoff game at Tulsa, Okla., team members are opening fall camp with college and high school teams this week.
Head coach Cal Lee begins fall camp with the University of Hawaii football team this afternoon. The Warriors practice is scheduled to run from 4 to 6 p.m., with the Islanders workout set for 7-9 p.m. at the Saint Louis School field.
"Working with the staff, working with the players, everybody associated with UH has been a real positive feeling for me," Lee said. "They've been very helpful, knowing the situation."
Islanders assistant coach Darren Hernandez is head coach at Kapolei High School and quarterback Darnell Arceneaux is entering his first season as head coach at Saint Louis. Fellow Islanders Anthony Arceneaux and Eddie Klaneski are on his staff as assistants, as is offensive coordinator Vince Passas.
"It's getting kind of hectic, but the kids and the families totally understand and support us," Darnell Arceneaux said. "I think it's a good example that me and my brother and Eddie are setting that once you start something you should finish it. I think the parents and the administration understand where we're coming from."
A group of Saint Louis players has been attending Islanders games and Arceneaux said performing on the field boosts the credibility of the Crusaders' new coaches.
"A lot of things we talk to our kids about, they've seen it in the game, they've seen it up close and how to handle it," he said.
Should the Islanders advance to the ArenaCup finals, it could create some scheduling conflicts for the high school coaches. The af2 championship game is set for the weekend of Aug. 22-23. Non-league high school games also open that weekend.
"I might have to walk away, but maybe there's a scenario where I can still do both," Arceneaux said. "But if it comes down to one or the other, I'm probably going to have to go with Saint Louis. ... Or if we can get a private jet to take me to the game, even better."
Travel plans: The Islanders leave Honolulu tomorrow night on a United flight to San Francisco. The team's 31-member traveling party will then head to Denver where it will split into three groups for the leg to Tulsa. The team is scheduled to reunite in Tulsa at about 6 p.m. Friday.
Scoreboard watching: The Islanders may have another game at Blaisdell Arena if they can win on Saturday and get a lot of help from Arkansas.
Should the Islanders prevail, in order for them to host the National Conference final, fourth-seeded Arkansas (10-7) must upset top-seeded Quad City (14-2). Both games start at 2:30 p.m. Hawaii time.
"We definitely want to come back and play at home," Islanders fullback/linebacker Josh White said. "Hopefully Arkansas can pull of that upset and we can play Arkansas, that would be a perfect scenario."
But at least one Islander wouldn't mind going back on the road.
"I'd rather play Quad City at Quad City," Darnell Arceneaux said. "I want to beat them, they're one of the cockier teams in the league. But I'm not worried about where we play. Either way we just have to take care of Tulsa."
Arkansas' task will be an imposing one. Quad City has won 14 consecutive games and is 35-3 at home all-time. The Steamwheelers are 6-0 in the af2 playoffs, having won the first two ArenaCup titles. They were ineligible for postseason play last year due to league rules violations.
However, Quad City will be without offensive specialist Ira Gooch, who left the team last week when he was invited to training camp with the New Orleans Saints. Two more Quad City players, Tim Dodge and Jeff Hewitt, were offered tryouts by the Carolina Panthers, but the Panthers said they would not sign the players until the Steamwheelers' season was over.
