[ HULA BOWL ]
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kai coach Ralph Friedgen talked with Michigan QB Jeff Smoker during practice. This is not Friedgen's first all-star game.
Friedgen trying to
‘keep it simple’The Kai head coach has an
advantage over his experienced
Hula Bowl counterpart
WAILUKU >> Ohio State's Jim Tressel has coached five national championship college football teams. That's five more than Maryland's Ralph Friedgen.
And Tressel has John Gagliardi of Division III Saint John's (Minn.) on his Aina staff for today's Hula Bowl Maui. All Gagliardi has done is win a record 414 games in 56 seasons, including four national championships.
But Friedgen, the Kai head coach, is the one with the experience in how to put together a team in one week. Could that be the difference when the college all-stars kick off today at 3:05 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium?
Hula Bowl Maui
When: Today, 3 p.m.Where: War Memorial Stadium, Maui
Tickets and information: (808) 874-9500 or www.hulabowlmaui.com
TV: ESPN2, live
"Coaching an all-star team is an interesting task," said Friedgen, a career assistant who turned around his alma mater's fortunes when the Terps finally called upon him to run the show three years ago.
"I did it last year at the Gridiron Classic, but I wasn't as involved in the game planning. NFL Europe coaches ran it and you're sort of like a guest coach," Friedgen said. "I didn't have to do as much work as I did this week.
"There are a lot of things to cover in three days, and you never know what's going to come up in a football game," Friedgen added. "Plus you're dealing with players from different systems and familiarity with what you're doing, so you keep it pretty simple."
Tressel also toiled in relative anonymity for decades before hitting the big time three years ago. Prior to the former Buckeyes assistant's return to Columbus, he was a highly successful Division I-AA coach at Youngstown State.
But this week everything is new for him.
"Never," Tressel said, when asked if he'd ever had to assemble a team this quickly. "My first one. First all-star game, first time in Hawaii. It's fun for me. I'm a rookie."
Tressel seems to have adopted the laid-back island style in coaching this team. Sure, there's work to do, but having a good time and putting on a good show are also priorities, he said.
"No. 1, our guys have earned this opportunity to come here and show their talents to the NFL people, and we also want them to understand it's an important thing for the folks on the island," Tressel said. "It's kind of a gathering point and a party for the people here to enjoy football, so (the players) need to represent themselves well from that standpoint, plus show people in the NFL what they can do, and maybe most importantly, have some fun."
Tressel said his team has come together well enough in three practices and yesterday's walk-through to play a cohesive game today.
"You throw together a team in four or five days and you hope for the best. They seem like they know what they're doing, so I'm pretty impressed in general," Tressel said.
Purdue wide receiver John Standeford of the Aina team has the balancing act perfected -- even on a surfboard. The 6-foot-4, 206-pounder who holds the Big Ten receptions and receiving-yardage marks didn't have to come here after playing well in the East-West Shrine Game last week.
But why turn down a trip to Hawaii?
"I'd never been to Hawaii and I heard this was a paradise place to come, so I had to come and experience it. It's great out here. I've enjoyed myself and wouldn't trade it for anything," he said.
Standeford's agent probably freaked when his client went surfing for the first time on Thursday. But Standeford was just following his coach's orders.
"I'm just going to go out there and have fun. You always like to win, so try to win. Give the fans a good show they can enjoy," said Standeford, who -- in an act that would have been sacrilegious two months ago -- asked for and received an Ohio State cap from a box that Tressel brought with him. "It's cool. It's nice to meet some guys you compete against and meet some of the coaches and go to battle again."
Louisiana State safety Jack Hunt agreed all-star games are a different animal than other contests. A much tamer one. Even when four players from USC, the team LSU shares the national championship with, are on the opposing squad.
"That might spice it up a little. But I think everyone wants to win the game anyway," Hunt said. "It's a little different. But all these guys have played a lot of football and deserve to be here. We all respect each other and expect each other to play well."
Unlike many of the other players here, Hawaii safety Hyrum Peters of the Aina hasn't had to deal with scouts and agents this week. But the 5-foot-9, 190-pound Kahuku High School graduate is used to being an underdog.
His expectations of himself are the same as usual: play like it's his last game.
And this very well could be it. Peters said he would probably continue his education rather than pursue a pro career in Canada if the NFL doesn't call.
"We'll see how it goes. I didn't really talk to anybody, just doing my own thing. I'm not big-time like these other guys who got agents, and the scouts are already looking at them, but it's all good," the two-time All-WAC performer said. "I just want to come out and play hard, fast, without thinking. Whatever I'm doing, special teams, defense, try to make some plays."
Tressel and Friedgen want to facilitate the opportunity to do exactly that for all 90 of their players.
"They want to be put in the best light. That's our job as coaches," Friedgen said. "Put them in position to expose their talents and hopefully they'll shine."
