After the Oahu Interscholastic Association announced it would not enter any of its teams into the Open Division of the state football tournament this year, a counterproposal for an alternate three-division field has been proposed, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser learned Saturday.
Right now, the format passed by the Hawaii High School Athletic Association includes an Open Division of four OIA teams and two Interscholastic League of Honolulu teams, a Division I tournament of three OIA teams and one team each from the ILH, Big Island Interscholastic Federation and Maui Interscholastic League, and a D-II tournament of two OIA teams and one team each from the ILH, BIIF, MIL and Kauai Interscholastic Federation.
The latest counterproposal has an unnamed top tier with three OIA teams and one ILH team, a middle tier of two BIIF teams and one team each from the ILH and MIL, and a lower tier of two OIA teams along with one team from the ILH, MIL and KIF.
In all, there would be four less teams competing in the state championship tournament (two less from the OIA and one less each from the ILH and BIIF).
It is unclear where the counterproposal originated. According to one high-ranking OIA official, it began with HHSAA executive director Chris Chun, who presented it to the OIA at that league’s meeting of principals and athletic directors on Friday. But that source’s information conflicts with an email forwarded to the Star-Advertiser that was originally sent by ILH assistant exeuctive director Georges Gilbert to ILH ADs and executives. In that email, Gilbert wrote that the counterproposal was an idea sent to the ILH from the OIA (with no mention that it first came from the HHSAA) for perusal before it moves on to the HHSAA football committee for discussion and possible passage.
Calls to Gilbert, Chun, OIA executive director Ray Fujino and OIA football coordinator Harold Tanaka for clarification were unsuccessful.
Nick Abramo has the full story you can read in Sunday’s newspaper.
Comments are welcome below.
Another factor that hasn’t been discussed is athletic budgets and programs. Why is it that certain schools, especially OIA (public) struggle to complete, much less win games? How much money does each school use for their programs – everything from equipment to coaches salaries? How do these smaller, weaker schools attract qualified, competent coaches that lay and are the foundation for successful programs? And if they don’t have the great staff, its the student athletes that suffer. Kahuku is an exception since they have the beef. Like the recent article about the St. Louis commits, sounds like they should have gone to Kalani. If Coach Lee was there, maybe they go Kalani?
Like I said last year when Chun & ILH pulled their fast one…OIA would flex their will this year.
At least it’s making the summer interesting…watching Chun flounder in flummoxed state of stupor.
That’s good. 3 OIA ,1 ILH. if the outer island no go Open, no need extra slot. All looks good. Let’s go with this plan.
ILH 1, OIA 1 (byes); then ILH 2, BIIF Champ, MIL Champ, OIA 2 (first round).
Who cares how many teams a league has if they stink. The ILH has 3 legit teams. The OIA has about 3-4 legit teams. That’s about it.
Rewarding berths solely on the number of teams is ridiculous. State championships should involve the best teams regardless of money, resources, recruiting, etc.
How about this to make the oia guys happy ILH #2 plays oia #3 for the 4th spot into the states.
Watcher and Hyn, maybe to make the ILH happy they can make their own state tournament? Maybe they can be locked in an endless battle of “greats”; 1 vs 3, 2 vs 3 and 1 vs 2… over and over again. Then when they have an ILH #1 instead of calling them the champ, just play a few more games until ILH#2 is better… Stop asking for more entries into states. He’ll take some away from the OIA and give them to the outer island #1s? But this isn’t a pal league where everyone makes it. There are winners and losers. Winners move on and losers prepare and try harder next time. Your ILH#2 is a loser tell them to try to do better next year. That’s why OIA fans are fine with telling OIA #2, 3 to hit the road. We believe that #1’s move on. The fact that the watcher is talking 3 legit teams… seriously now your saying Kam should have a shot? Wow 3 teams? Why bother playing a season? OIA like the all competitive leagues play an entire season for a shot at a title. ILH would like a free ride on the road to he championship, sorry no free ride.
Whhy…. I personally like both the oia and ILH . But there are so many haters on the ILH it’s ridiculous. Oia and ILH need each other because without both there is no real state champ so I don’t know what you guys are talking about. I totally agree with bringing the prep bowl back but it makes it more interesting as a fan to have the top 4 teams regardless of what conference they come from. Why does the oia get 3 entries? That’s why I’m saying let the ilh#2 play oia #3 to see who deserves the spot. People should stop bashing the oia or ILH the only ones you hurting are the kids.
You only hurting da kids. The Stl. Dynasty devastated the Waianaes and OIA. ILH only wanted dominance. Recruit train then kill. 8 coaches vs. 3 in those days. $$$$$vs. €. Advantage big time. Let’s not go back to those medieval times. END OF SEASON, OIA 1 vs.ILH 1. Everybody else, turn in equipment ,clean locker room.
Whhy-
But the OIA is already in that endless battle. The only difference is that they get to beat up on the weaker teams during their season.
That winners an losers rant is rubbish. Apples and oranges. Lets get real.
Better games, better football, better competition.
We should do this, let the ILH have the 2nd team in and add another OIA. Will that work? Or add 2 more, 3, or 4.
I feel like its more about you (OIA) dont want to lose as opposed to most ILH people want to see better football games.
I know that there are some Al Bundys out there, especially one area in particular, but lets focus on what will be better for the whole and not just a small pocket of crybabies.
Whhy your name should be whiner cause that’s all you do you think the OIA is better than everyone and don’t need anyone but the fact of the matter is only kahuku is the top dog but is scared to play more than one ILH cause they might lose and if their not than ask for a inter league season cause if you all stick together it can happen the fans would like to see more competitive games
Phil… no OIA isn’t in an endless battle we play RED or BLUE then winners move on the OIA playoffs and the overall top two teams play in the finals. The top 3 (not my choice) moves on to states. I am fine for dropping OIA #2 and #3. When was the last time you can remember OIA #2 or #3 made it to the finals? It’s always ILH #1 versus OIA #1. So you prep bowl haters havent been paying attention. It’s been the prep bowl the last 16 years!
Finley Monkey, I’ve never said the OIA is “better than everyone”. I have said that they are the big dog… they are 14 and ILH is 3. The OIA can be okay without the ILH. The ILH looks pretty dumb by themselves. Unless they join in a mainland league that would be cool.
Anyway why is it that the ILH fan boys think oh we need ILH 2 cause we want all the best to play. Sorry it’s been decided ILH 1 is absolutely the best team in the ILH they beat the ILH 2 at least 2 times. They make it sound like they play in an expensive pal league. Not everyone goes to playoffs. Sorry, when they miss the college bowl playoff they can’t ask for another shot at it cause they are also a good team. They just miss the big dance. Someone else will represent their conference even though they had a good season. Try harder next season boys.
ilh is like nba try make super team n kill everone, let um go but only ilh#1 go tourney #2 go clean locker an alawai canal
@ Whyy, Maybe the OIA should have their own tourney. Then put odds on it. There will be no drama so I choose Kahuku. Then Kahuku can smash all the OIA teams 2-3 times since you guys love the OIA so much and think that a league should have more berths just because they have more teams, regardless if they are good or bad.
BTW, BG Grad is Education First masquerading as a Bishop Gorman grad. Same MO, choose a screen name that makes you seem somehow superior to hide real life self esteem issues. LOL!
Star Advertiser says ILH has StL, Pun, Kam in open, stF and Damien in D1, P5 and Iolani in D2. Is this some kind of JOKE??!! Iolani slotting themselves BELOW stf and Damien so they can steamroll smaller programs and claim yet another empty State title? Feel sorry for the players having to play “low” so head coach and school can feel good about themselves. Punahou not much better. Bringing in boatloads of “student athletes” under the guise of “Diversity scholarships” to bolster their roster. Direction of school’s admissions is troubling, getting essentially mercenaries to come in to win titles in name of school.
phony phILHarmonic guy is backkkk.
Whhy-
I love the Prep Bowl, I grew up watching the Prep Bowl. #1 and #2 of the OIA vs. #! and #2 of the ILH. But, if we go that format the OIA loses berths. I no understand you guys.
More competitive games, good football and added exposure for our kids, out the window because some Al Bundy’s like make sure the OIA has the most chance to win.
You know, back in the days we really didnt care who lined up across from us, if you were on a team that was favored, we welcomed the challenge. It really seems like this is about adults insecurity and ego, which has always been there but now its percolated down to the players where they are starting to believe too that its unfair. That is probably the worst part, I think.
phILHarrnonic — Are you sure you grew up here in Oahu? Prepbowl was ALWAYS… ILH #1 versus OIA #1. There was no semi-finals!!! Really!!! It’s interesting how some people get on here and talk about things that they “know” and have NO IDEA. You’re talking about remembering watching these imaginary games and making opinions on others that YOU “no understand”. Lol
Whhy= BINGO. The guy is a fraud. Notice he uses 2 r’s (rr) instead of an “m” in his name. Suspect this wack job is BG grad aka Education First. Message board lurker with an identity crisis. LOL!!!
So many people on here bring nothing to the table other than slinging insults and innuendo.
I wouldn’t mind seeing a single 16 team tournament. 8 OIA, 3 ILH, 1 KIF, 2 MIL, 2 BIIF. Make it a pay per event . Games would be “called” early if a team takes a lead by 60 or more points to prevent injuries.