Television, Jim Beavers says, hasn't done much good.

In 36 years of wearing the stripes, the Oahu Interscholastic Association's chief of football officials has seen everything.

“;Kids do some things today only because of what they see. The antics, the in-your-face kind of thing, no question,”; he said.

The antics have come with more regularity in recent years. The national federation made a point of emphasis in recent years to curtail extracurricular action on the field. Still, incidents are seemingly on the rise.

  LAST YEAR, the frustration of one Aiea running back in a game-ending play led to a near-riot and the OIA's decision to hand both teams forfeit losses. A few weeks ago, at the end of a game at Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium, a frustrated Kaimuki lineman took off his helmet and struck a Kahuku player from behind on the head. Two weeks ago, a fracas in Honokaa with 2 minutes left led officials to end the game. Several Hilo and Honokaa players were suspended.

“;I've worked games of Aiea and Campbell this year, and it's a wonderful transformation in both of them,”; Beavers said.

Kaimuki meted out discipline accordingly. Since the incident with Kahuku, the title-contending Bulldogs have been free from similar acts.

It's been a learning experience for the state's unofficial dean of coaches, Ron Marciel. The former Saint Louis coach, in his fourth season at Honokaa, is on a mission.

“;In public schools, there's so many diverse family situations that present a bigger challenge. Kids from very difficult home situations, fighting a battle at school. We try to bring them back to a more controlled environment in football,”; he said.

Marciel has lost some to drug or alcohol violations. He has been more lenient with kids who simply need discipline.

“;We try to give them chances, more than I'm used to giving, but where are they going to go if we don't give them football? You win small battles, real good battles, and a lot of kids have turned into fine citizens,”; Marciel said.

“;There are a lot more important things in these kids' lives than winning and losing.”;

  AN ACT OF KINDNESS can go a long way. OIA executive director Dwight Toyama, who coached at Kaimuki, thought back more than two decades and remembered. It was the end of halftime of a game between the Bulldogs and Castle, coached by Nelson Maeda.

“;There were some kind of festivities on the field which resulted in the game being delayed,”; he said. “;(Officials) threw the flag against us as the home team for unsportsmanlike conduct. Nelson declined the penalty. I'll never forget that. I thought that was great.”;

Sometimes players go beyond expectations. With seconds left in the 2003 state final, C.J. Santiago missed a long field-goal try that would've given Saint Louis a win over Kahuku. As Santiago suffered, Kahuku's Afa Garrigan and Mauhe Moala consoled him, a memory burned into the minds of fans and neutral watchers to this day.

This fall, Beavers has high praise for one team's sportsmanship.

“;The one school I'm impressed most with is Nanakuli. My officials told me they do a great job out there.”;

  PROACTIVE MEASURES set the tone for some programs. At Moanalua, players invite their counterparts to a pregame prayer. Na Menehune shake hands with their foes and hug them. The teams mix together and kneel for a short prayer as coaches remain near the sidelines. Lineman Jovenn Pacheco is one of the prayer warriors.

“;A lot of the guys were kind of shy, but as the season progressed, they asked during the week, 'Are we going to pray with them?' Even though we're two opposite teams, we hope we play as a brotherhood and honor the game of football,”; Pacheco said.

Moanalua teammate Anthony Garingan saw a change when his team started the ritual this season.

“;Last year, there would be a hatred going on and a lot of smack talking. Now everyone's more chill and happy that they're playing,”; he said.

Another proactive step: in August, Moanalua hosted a bowl-style pregame dinner with Word of Life, featuring motivational speaker Nick Vujicic. Players from Waipahu and Leilehua also joined in.

At Maui High School, where cafeteria cooks produce outstanding shoyu chicken, kalua pig and chow fun, cutting in line had been a chronic problem.

“;Little things like that can turn into a fight quickly,”; quarterback Jordan Inamasu said.

Last year, the football squad began an anti-bullying program.

“;We're just trying to make sure they know we're all a team,”; wide receiver Lyman Franco said.

Vice principal David Tanuvasa, who coordinates the program, sees good sportsmanship as part of everyday life. “;The football kids in the program don't eat until everyone else gets to eat, five days a week. It's tough, but they get to be a servant leader, and they sacrifice,”; said Tanuvasa, a former McKinley coach.

  THE STATE'S MOST widely-recruited player, Manti Te'o, understands the extremes of a football player's behavior. He's often a model athlete, helping opposing players up after delivering a big hit.

“;I wasn't always like that. Last year, I would taunt and do things,”; the 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker said. “;My dad pulled me on the side. He said, 'Son, imagine if you were the one hit and lying on your back, and the guy was taunting you. How would you feel if they picked you up? Who would you respect and who would you hate?'

“;He made me see the difference between being feared and being respected. Fear will disappear over time. Respect will never disappear.”;