You are correct about the two scrimmage limit, as ‘Iolani plays Roosevelt (28 July) and Wai’anae (30 July). The other three games are preseason games; Radford (6 Aug), Waimea (20 Aug), and La Jolla Country Day (27 Aug).

I’m with you on an ILH-OIA merge, how much buzz and excitement would that bring to island football! There would be some packed stands for those games. Nick’s idea about the Platinum, Gold, and Silver divisions sounds like such a solid way-ahead, but I know there are many, many underlying issues in regard to the gatekeepers/decision makers who would champion those ideas. That would be a change from the norm and the known, and many people are resistant to change. I absolutely do believe ‘Iolani should play the Big Three each season, even though they have only won three games in ten years, as there is a rivalry there that surpasses just football, but is absorbed by all their athletic teams that goes back decades. I’m sure the upcoming seniors DO want to play the Big Three, for those very same reasons. But, having ‘Iolani play ONLY the Big Three (with the exception of preseason games), twice, just doesn’t seem logical. If ‘Iolani were to make the playoffs in the ILH (D-I) they would have to win four games in one season; ‘Iolani hasn’t won a total of four games vs. the Big Three in over ten years. If they haven’t won a total of four games in over a decade the likelihood of them winning four games (D-I) in one season is perhaps a bridge to far. However, ‘Iolani’s scrimmages and preseason this year does cover both ends of the spectrum and should be very interesting. They scrimmage vs. Wai’anae (D-I) who went 10-4 last year; losing twice to the eventual State Champions (Kahuku), Mililani (who only lost to Liberty, St. Louis, and Kamehameha), and Kamehameha (who beat ‘Iolani by an average of 28 points in their two games). They also scrimmage a D-II team (Roosevelt) who had two wins last year (not counting the ‘Anuenue forfeit). Then ‘Iolani starts their preseason vs. Radford, who went 13-0 last year on their way to winning the D-II State Championship and who will move to D-I this year. Waimea (D-II) is next and I would like to think ‘Iolani would do well (based purely on Waimea’s win/loss record over the past few seasons). They end the preseason in the Father Bray Classic vs. La Jolla Country Day who made it into the second round of their state playoffs before losing to Coronado (who went on to play in the State Championship). Once ‘Iolani rolls into league play, be it D-II or D-I, they will have played (scrimmage/preseason) vs. three very good teams and two that have seemed to struggle. If the upcoming seniors do play an integral part in the final decision, I just hope they focus on how do they want to be remembered; as the team that might win one game in D-I or as the team that could possibly compete for a State Championship in D-II? We, collectively, are on the outside and each of us has our own opinions, but when the whistle blows it’s the coaches on the sidelines, players on the field, and spectators in the stands. It’s ‘Iolani’s team and I’ll be in their corner, wishing them the best on whichever path this season’s journey takes them.

Thanks Mauian5 … will check on Kamehameha vs. Baldwin on Maui.

TO USMC:

I believe ‘Iolani is going back to D-II, but I am not 100 percent sure. Thanks for the idea. I will check on that. They should be Division 1.5 by themselves because as you point out, they fall right in the middle. A superconference (which looks like it’s never going to happen) with about 10 teams in PLATINUM/AAA would fix ‘Iolani’s division problems. Then, the Raiders could play in GOLD/AA with most of the rest of Hawaii’s football teams. A small amount of teams, 6 to 8, could go in a SILVER/A.

Yes, Kamehameha and Farrington rolled over them this past year and even though ‘Iolani made the St. Louis and Punahou games interesting for a while, the end result was the same as it is has been 90% of the games vs. D-I teams over the last decade. I know the kids will play their hearts out in every game, no matter who they were competing against. But, going 0-20 for the past five years and 3-30 over the past decade doesn’t make one think this season will be any different than the last ten seasons vs. D-I teams. The real problem (in my opinion) is ‘Iolani is neither a D-I nor a D-II team, rather a D-I.5. I know the issue of there being three leagues is a “third-rail” subject and there is just as much of a chance as that happening as there is the likelihood of a OIA/ILH combined league. But the question you pose is interesting. Does ‘Iolani return to D-II and make the other D-II teams better or remain in D-I to make ‘Iolani better? I don’t know if ‘Iolani remaining in D-I would necessarily make them better, as getting beat every game doesn’t equate to getting better. I would liken it to mid-major football programs like Tulsa, Cincinnati, and Central Florida, as they can have good records vs. schools that are their approximate size, but their record vs. Oklahoma, Ohio State, and Florida would look very similar to ‘Iolani’s 3-30 record. They might play them close for a while, but the end result is the same. From the OIA standpoint I’m assuming that is why there is realignment every two years, to provide a team who consistently loses a better opportunity. I would propose that ‘Iolani return to D-II, but still be allowed to play the “Big Three” during the season (as they have every season previously). This gives the Big Three an extra game apiece, yet it also allows ‘Iolani the opportunity to compete in a league that fits their size. Again, ‘Iolani isn’t a true D-I team, nor a true D-II team. If given the choice, why would ‘Iolani choose a path that highly favors (historically proven) another winless season against D-I opponents instead of a path that they could be very competitive in? I understand that the rule in place from last year stated that two D-II consecutive league championships or two state championships mandates a move up to D-I for one year. ‘Iolani complied and that experiment resulted in a way that many expected; a couple of close games for a while, then the same result, another loss. If ‘Iolani were to return to D-II and then win two consecutive league championships, then they would once again move to D-I, but in the interim they should return to D-II, as has been proven by their 0-20 and 3-30 records vs. D-I teams over the past five years and decade, respectively.