23rd IN A SERIES
Next: St. Francis Saints
ROOSEVELT ROUGH RIDERS
>> 2015 record and finish: 3-6 (2-6 OIA D-II); did not qualify for OIA D-II playoffs
>> Number of returning starters: 11
>> Number of returning seniors: 14
>> Number of starters lost to graduation: 8
>> Number of seniors lost to graduation: 8
>> Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State selections lost to graduation: None
>> Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State selections returning: None
>> OIA D-II All-Stars lost to graduation: None
>> OIA D-II All-Stars returning: Ben Likio (second-team OL)
>> Among 2016 key offensive returnees: Shastyn Kekahuna (QB, Jr.), Kekoa Lima (RB, Sr.), Isaiah Rosa (RB, Jr.), Chris Kalamau-Molina (WR, Jr.), Ben Likio (OL, Sr.)
>> Among 2016 key defensive returnees: Randy Eusebio (SS, Sr.), Jared Elwin (CB, Jr.), Ashton Lafaele (LB, Sr.), Tasi Sofa-Kini (LB, Jr.), Kahiau Kahooilihala (DL, Jr.)
>> Rough Riders with Division I FBS college offers: None
>> All-time state championships: None
>> All-time Prep Bowl (1973-1998) championships: None
>> All-time OIA championships: None
>> All-time ILH championships: 4 (all D-I — 1943, 1955, 1956, 1957)
>> 2016 conference: OIA D-II
Head coach KUI KAHOOILIHALA on the Rough Riders’ outlook for 2016
“Things are awesome so far. The kids are putting in the work, even the JV kids. They’re excited about the season. This year, we’re going to try to run the ball a little more. We will still throw the ball, but Matt Terukina, the offensive coordinator who is taking over the whole offense, he’s putting in a little bit more running stuff.
“We’ve got new schemes on the defensive side and we’re real excited to get going. We’ll go with the 3-4 as our base defense, but we’re going to flip it and implement the 4-3 with some disguises. Those will be our two basic defenses, and we’ll be changing up the coverage.
“Everybody has been asking me the same thing, what do I plan to do as a first-year head coach? We are here to change the culture and to get the kids on same page, but at same time getting them to believe in themselves. We’ve seen it where kids would give up too early. The other team scores a touchdown and everybody hangs their heads, thinking, ‘We’re going to lose.’ That’s my pet peeve, giving up too quickly. The game is not over. It’s four quarters and we gotta finish. It’s not how we start, it’s how we finish.
“That right there is something very important. Just believe and you can do anything, as long as you come and put the work in.
“We are out to teach the kids about being better teammates, playing with each other, playing for each other. When they leave our program, it’s about being responsible young men, being better people in life and putting yourself out there. Yes, we are going to try to get them out there with football, but after football when they’re out there in the real world, it’s all about how they put themselves out there. For me, life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. That’s what I want these kids to know.
“This season is going to be tough, and OIA D-II is going to be competitive. Every school returns a whole bunch of young guys and they all have the feeling they can do something. You’ve got Pearl City, Waialua, Kaimuki, even us. We’ve all got a bunch of young guys trying to make a name for themselves, too. And Waipahu always has big, big boys.”
2016 Roosevelt football schedule
Check here for the latest schedule updates: http://bit.ly/2958rWe
>> Aug. 5: at Kaiser (nonleague)
>> Aug. 12: McKinley
>> Aug. 19: Pearl City
>> Aug. 27: vs. Kaimuki, at Kaiser Stadium
>> Sept. 3: vs. Waipahu, at Aloha Stadium
>> Sept. 10: vs. Kalani, at Kaiser Stadium
>> Sept. 16: Waialua
>> Sept. 23: Kalaheo
>> Sept. 30/Oct. 1: Bye
>> Oct. 7/8: Bye
2016 Roosevelt varsity football staff
>> Head coach: Kui Kahooilihala (first season)
>> Co-defensive coordinator and defensive line: Jon Kahooilihala
>> Co-defensive coordinator and linebackers: Ricky Eusebio
>> Defensive backs: Blake Harano
>> Offensive coordinator and running backs: Matt Terukina
>> Wide receivers: Kai Adana
>> Offensive line: Jimmy Kalilimoku
>> Quarterbacks: Lowen Kahooilihala
When is the last time Roosevelt had a Div 1 football player? I suspect their roster is getting picked clean by the ILH. Look at all the ILH championships they had before 1960.