Apisa played a role
in MSU lore

The Farrington grad took part
in the Spartans’ landmark tie
with Notre Dame

Bob Apisa has been a bit player on the big and small screens for more than 30 years.

But before that, he was a bona fide star in a landmark TV hit that made history nationally and in Hawaii: the 1966 football game between Michigan State and Notre Dame.

Michigan State at Hawaii When: Saturday, 6:35 p.m. Where: Aloha Stadium Tickets: $35 sideline, $30 south end zone, $22 north end zone (adult), $18 north end zone (senior citizens), $17 north end zone (students 4-18), $3 UH students. Available at Aloha Stadium, Stan Sheriff Center, UH Campus Center, RainBowtique at Ward Centre, and Windward Community College's OCET Office. Or call (808) 944-2697 or go to hawaiiathletics.com on the Internet. TV: Live, ESPN2. Radio: Live, KKEA, 1420-AM. Parking: Gates open at 3 p.m. Parking is $5. Alternate parking at Leeward Community College, Kam Drive-In and Radford High School. Traffic advisory: 1420-AM is the official traffic advisory station and provides updates before each home game. Bus: Roberts Hawaii School Bus will run shuttles to and from the stadium with pick-ups at several locations. Call 832-4886 for information and reservations.

The Farrington High School graduate was a two-time All-America choice (Football News) at fullback, and one of 11 players from Hawaii to letter for Michigan State from 1955 to 1984. He lives in Los Angeles, but is here to see the Spartans (5-6) play Hawaii (6-5) at Aloha Stadium tomorrow.

"We came from a small state, but we made an impact," said Apisa, who was joined on the 1966 team by Dick Kenney, a barefoot kicker from Iolani. "To put it in perspective, we were loaded with guys like Bubba Smith, Gene Washington, George Webster and Clinton Jones. Duffy (coach Daugherty) sought out talent wherever he could find it."

Like several others before and since, the '66 MSU-Notre Dame tussle was billed "The Game of The Century." And the 10-10 final outcome would probably leave many of today's fans bored by the dominance of defense and no-decision outcome.

But at the time, it was huge. Going into the Nov. 19 game, the Spartans and Irish were both unbeaten and both considered No. 1 in various polls. When it was over nothing had been settled, but Notre Dame went on to pound USC 51-0 and Michigan State's season was over. In most polls and minds, the Irish were No. 1 and the Spartans No. 2

"We weren't allowed in the Rose Bowl, because the Big Ten had a rule that you couldn't go two years in a row," Apisa said. "And in those days it was either the Rose Bowl or the toilet bowl."

The 1966 Michigan State-Notre Dame game made local history because it was the first live football telecast in Hawaii.

Apisa was drafted by the Green Bay Packers, but knee problems halted his pro career.

"I was just honored that Vince Lombardi thought enough to draft me," he said.

He returned to Hawaii and worked in the governor's office and landed some roles on "Hawaii Five-0." His athleticism eventually got him work doing stunts in movies and on TV.

He earned many small, unnamed acting roles along the way, like "Iraqi Tank Commander" in "Courage Under Fire," and "Cop #1" in "Three O'Clock High."

Now in his late 50s, Apisa said his stuntman days are over. He still takes acting roles, but is devoting most of his energy to movie producing, and a budding sports agency specializing in representing Polynesian football players.

Apisa and a partner are also working on a movie about legendary Honolulu policeman Chang Apana, who was the prototype for Charlie Chan.

Punahou football coach and co-athletic director Kale Ane is another former Michigan State player with Hawaii roots. He said Daugherty's charisma created a pipeline from the Interscholastic League of Honolulu to East Lansing, Mich.

"I think Duffy made a point to commit to us personally. The success of guys who were there before us helped, too," Ane said.

Ane said "graduating, to be politically correct," was his biggest thrill at MSU. But there's a close second, involving his co-athletic director.

"Tom Holden went to Ohio State and our biggest win was over them when they had Archie Griffin, and Tom happened to be at the game," Ane said.

Carter Kamana, a cornerback from Kamehameha, said having Ty Willingham and Nick Saban as position coaches was a highlight of his experience at Michigan State.

"It was all positive," he said. "Playing against guys like (Michigan receiver) Anthony Carter every week was something else, the talent pool you went against week in and week out."

Kamana's last game was 20 years ago, and no one from Hawaii has lettered for the Spartans since. Current Michigan State coach John L. Smith said he hopes to get the pipeline going again.

"We're hoping to re-establish that," he said. "There are a bundle of outstanding players here and in Samoa."

Isle Spartans

A total of 11 players from Hawaii high schools lettered at Michigan State from the years 1955 to 1984.

Player	High school	MSU years	Pos.
Kale Ane	Punahou	1972-74	C
Bob Apisa	Farrington	1965-67	FB
Larry Cundiff	Iolani	1957-59	T/C
William Kaae	Farrington	1955	HB
Carter Kamana	Kamehameha	1981-84	CB
Dick Kenney	Iolani	1964-66	C/K
Roger Lopes	Iolani	1961-63	FB
Arnold Morgado	Punahou	1972	FB
Jim Nicholson	Saint Louis	1970-72	OT
Charlie Wedemeyer	Punahou	1966-68	QB/FL
Douglas Won	Saint Louis	1972	S

Source: Michigan State football media guide