Wanted:
Hula Bowl
sponsorThe owner is looking for
long-term viability for a game
that is healthy thanks to scouts
The Hula Bowl Maui will likely be played in mid-January again next year, to the liking of Dick Schaller, owner of the college football all-star game. He was told of that probability by ESPN officials after Saturday's event. It's important for the Hula Bowl's attendance and viewership that the game not butt heads with the Pro Bowl, as it did in 2003.
Now Schaller hopes he's forced to change the name of the game. Although the Hula Bowl's TV and radio contracts run through 2007, a title sponsor is key to the game's long-term viability.
"Having Hawaiian Airlines as a presenting sponsor was key for us this year," Schaller said. "But we really do need to get a title sponsor. Until that changes (breaking even financially) will be close every year."
The crowd was announced at 9,128. As usual, though, that number includes everyone who passed through the War Memorial Stadium gates that day, whether they paid for a ticket or not.
But Schaller remains optimistic.
"It's better than last year. Having tailgating for the first time sparked it. People had a great time on a beautiful day," he said.
ESPN blacked out the game on Maui, which perhaps helped attendance a little bit, too.
Even if they played the Hula Bowl in an empty stadium, there are still people who would find value in the event -- and the practices leading up to the game.
One reason the game survives is it gives scouts from the 32 NFL teams a chance to look at potential pros, especially borderline players or guys who haven't had much exposure.
A player like wide receiver Blake Elliott of Division III Saint John's (Minn.) would probably have to beg for a training camp invitation if not for the Hula Bowl.
"It helps a lot of them," Saint John's coach John Gagliardi said. "Like everything in life, you've got to get that lucky break to get the job done. The guys who get the shot have to take advantage of the break."
Larry Lacewell is the Dallas Cowboys director of player personnel. He said there are not too many college football all-star games.
"I think overall, if you ask the scouting departments, there's not enough, and we have guys at every game," Lacewell said. "We need to see them in the flesh, see them move around. This is a great way to confirm what some of the other scouts said about them who saw them at the school.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for youngsters to move themselves up (in the draft). Most organizations don't move players down based on all-star games, but they will move them up."
Lacewell said seeing as many players as possible as often as possible makes economic sense.
"This day and age, particularly with the salary cap, you can get good sixth- and seventh-rounders who not only help you ability-wise, but they also help you financially because they're not the highest-paid guys, they're minimum-salary guys."
Green Bay Packers director of player personnel John Dorsey said it doesn't matter if some of the big-name college players forego the Hula Bowl for the Senior Bowl or the East-West Shrine Game.
"The interesting guys are guys like (North Carolina A&T cornerback) Curtis DeLoach and Elliott. They've shown they belong out here. It's an exciting week for these guys to compete with the guys they see on TV," Dorsey said. "When you build a team, you build depth and depth comes in the second day. That's why these games are very important."
Walter Abercrombie was the MVP of the 1982 Hula Bowl and is now the American Football Coaches Association liaison to the game. He doesn't see the game dying, and the scouts' presence is a big reason.
"These guys are always going to want to come to see if they can spot that talent. NFL rosters are not necessarily filled with All-Americans. The scouts live to evaluate and find the diamond in the rough," he said. "I was looking at (an NFL) roster, and I didn't recognize a single name as a player that I remember being dominant in college. The scouts come here and find the fit for their team.
"As long as we can get the talent to come out here, the scouts will be here."