[ ARENA FOOTBALL ]
Islanders open at
Fresno today
When the Hawaiian Islanders arrived yesterday in Fresno, Calif., they did so without Nian Taylor, Randyn Akiona, Gabe Amey, Brian Ah Yat and Eddie Klaneski.
So second-year Islanders coach Cal Lee goes into tonight's arenafootball2 season-opening game against Central Valley (formerly Bakersfield) at Selland Arena without five of his most able and experienced indoor players, all dinged with minor injuries. Toss in the fact that two other stalwarts from the 2003 West Division championship team, Isaac White and Josh White, have been picked up by higher leagues, and it might seem like reason for panic.
But Lee doesn't seem too worried.
"When it's all said and done, there's a lot of talent on this team," said Lee, who led the Islanders to an 11-7 record last year. "(Injuries) happen in the game of football. I like our enthusiasm and the excitement that all the guys bring to this team. They're excited."
Plus, a player Lee wasn't counting on a month ago did make the trip. Darnell Arceneaux, the starting quarterback for the Islanders' first two seasons, un-retired and re-earned the No. 1 spot.
Arceneaux, now the head varsity football coach at Saint Louis School (where he previously starred with Lee as his coach), had toyed with ending his playing days. But he said he was inspired to return by his Crusaders players.
"It had a lot to do with my seniors at Saint Louis, working with them," Arceneaux said. "I still have some fuel left in my tank and I love to compete. People told me to make sure I'm ready when I walk away. I can do this, and I feel like a million bucks."
It hasn't always been that way. Arceneaux is only 26, but his body took enormous amounts of punishment during his college days at Utah and some more during his two years of arena ball.
Arceneaux passed for 83 touchdowns and rushed for 32 in two seasons, despite missing five games last year with a hand injury.
"He's probably in the best shape I've ever seen him in. His body is like that of a young person again," Lee said. "When he came back he didn't rely on last year's performance. He worked at it."
The rest of the team isn't quite as healthy.
Taylor and Klaneski are the most glaring losses. Taylor is dealing with a groin pull and Klaneski with a hamstring.
"Both might have been able to play if we really wanted to push it," Lee said of his leading receiver and tackler of last year. "But it's a long season, and we definitely want them ready down the stretch."
Darnell's brother, Anthony Arceneaux, Robert Kemfort and newcomer Mike Miller will start and hope they can make up for Taylor's absence.
Miller is obscure even by the standards of a league full of unknown players. The last time he played organized football was in 2000 at Glendale (Ariz.) Community College.
Miller, who is from New Jersey, cold-called the Islanders' office in the offseason and sent some old tapes.
"Then he paid his own way over here, came to the open tryout and kind of stood out," Lee said. "Mike's a rookie, but he's excited about this game. He's learning this game like he never played before. He's got fresh legs, a good mind and body. I'm sure he will make some mistakes, but the kind that will make him better down the road."
Inside stuff: The Islanders had their first indoor practice yesterday -- the first time many of the newcomers ever played football inside a building. "The team worked a lot on plays off the nets," information director Tom Yoshida said. ... Central Valley used to be the Bakersfield Blitz, but the franchise was sold in the offseason and moved to Fresno. ... The Coyote roster received an extreme makeover with 16 rookies, but Arceneaux said lineman Ricky Leung-Wai returns from the Bakersfield team that beat the Islanders 75-61 last year at the Blaisdell Arena. "A team with Ricky is always going to be good up front," Arceneaux said of the Waipahu High School alumnus. Leung-Wai was credited with 9.5 sacks last season. ... Tonight's game will be broadcast in Hawaii on KUMU 1500-AM.
