When Life Champion Bowl executive director Keala Pule put together the Senior Bowl, his most significant addition was Doris Sullivan because it was like getting Tom Brady or Peyton Manning.
When Life Champion Bowl executive director Keala Pule put together the Senior Bowl, his most significant addition was Doris Sullivan because it was like getting Tom Brady or Peyton Manning.
She’s the director and founder of Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance (piaahawaii.com), the state’s best veteran in the business for island athlete recruiting and NCAA rules and regulations.
One of the biggest drawbacks for Big Island Interscholastic Federation football players or those from other islands is a lack of exposure. It’s just not convenient for mainland college coaches to scout the 50th state in person, and a lot of Hawaii players don’t have the resources to travel to summer camps to get seen.
That won’t be the case with the inaugural Life Champion Senior Bowl, which will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 at Kamehameha’s Paiea Stadium.
The Hawaii Football Club’s Senior Bowl is the first to include players from all the islands, and the first locally owned game that can be viewed in real time by colleges, family, friends and U.S. military around the nation and world.
The BIIF and state Department of Education are playing no part in the Senior Bowl. Kamehameha, which is a private school, did Pule and his organization a huge solid with the rental use of Paiea Stadium.
Because of Sullivan’s vast network of contacts, the Senior Bowl has the opportunity to be the most significant football recruiting tool in the Big Island’s history. Almost every year, at most the Big Isle might send one, two or maybe even three players on full-ride scholarships to college, either Division I, I-AA, II, III, NAIA or a junior college.
College coaches from the NAIA and junior college will be coaching at the game. The game will be broadcast live on www.scoringlive.com. Through Sullivan’s contacts, over 1,200 college coaches have been invited to watch the broadcast.
Due to NCAA rules, Division I and I-AA coaches are not permitted to attend the Senior Bowl. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t scout the game on scoringlive.com.
“Over 200 colleges have responded and said that they’ll watch the game and asked that we send a roster,” Sullivan said. “We’re trying to get kids exposure and this game is huge and will help a lot of kids. If a coach says, ‘I like this kid from Hilo, Ka’u or Kauai and we’re interested in him.’ We can get the video out immediately to the college coach. That’s unheard of.
“Some colleges are coming with offers in hand and are prepared to give three to five scholarships. The Senior Bowl is unfolding into a nice event and I think we’ll have a good audience.”
Most of the Division I school have locked up or targeted their top recruits. But in so many cases, there are borderline players — even five-star prospects — who may not qualify through the NCAA Clearinghouse after they sign a national letter of intent on Feb. 4, 2015.
“The truth of the matter is most of the Division I schools won’t change their minds, whether I like this Oahu kid better than a California kid,” Sullivan said. “But coaches will still be watching the game, like those from UCLA, Weber State, Utah State, Hawaii, even Vanderbilt. They all have holes to fill.
“But for the Division II and NAIA school, this is the time that they offer and scoop everyone else up. A lot of Division I-AA schools will be watching the game and waiting as we all as some Pac-12 and Mountain West schools. The end of November is when the schools start pushing to fill holes or recruit kids. It’s perfect timing.”
Help wanted
Western New Mexico assistant Anthony Arceneaux, along with his brother Occidental College assistant Darnell Arceneaux, will making the trip over to scout the game.
The Division II Mustangs finished with a 5-6 record in Arceneaux’s first year as the wide receivers coach. The Saint Louis graduate played at Utah from 1999 to 2002. WNMU is in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
Kohala graduate Chyler Imai, a junior defender/setter, Hawaii Preparatory Academy grad Leeta Grap, a junior outside hitter, and HPA graduate Carina Verhulsdonk, a freshman defender, are on the Mustangs volleyball team, which finished with a 10-15 record.
Arceneaux isn’t flying over to go snorkeling at all the lovely beaches at Four Miles. He’s looking for future Mustangs who have good grades, character and talent.
“I’m totally interested. I want to get to know the kids,” he said. “I haven’t been to Hawaii in a while. I want to check out their character, grades and where their head is at. For me, it’s getting a feel if they handle being away from home.
“I really try to pick the kid’s brain. I want to know if they can persevere. Their talent may not be the greatest, but I know if they can stick it out, then I know we can coach them and they’ll improve.”
Besides the Arceneaux brothers, Pima (Ariz.) College, Briar (Iowa) Cliff, Dickerson (N.D.) University, Redlands (Calif.) College, Chaffey (Calif.) College, and Menlo (Calif.) College will attend and coach the Senior Bowl.
“This is a big opportunity for the Hawaii kids. One of the big things is that Hawaii kids get a lack of exposure,” Arceneaux said. “A lot of mainland kids get that edge solely because of their exposure. Talent-wise we’re comparable per capita to the mainland.
“But the best thing is the kids have one more game. You always take it for granted and for some it might be their last game.
“The most important thing to get recruited is definitely the transcript. Every highlight we look at needs to match the transcript before we make any news. For a lot of kids in Hawaii, they just need somebody to see them. This game is a really big opportunity.”
Youth combine
Gridiron Performance Academy, operated by Rich Miano and Chad Ikei, will hold an underclassmen combine for grades 9 to 11 at 9 a.m. Dec. 6 at Paiea Stadium. Check-in is at 8 a.m.
The first 100 registered will receive an Under Armour combine T-shirt and results will be sent to college coaches nationwide by Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance.
Cost is $25. For more information, visit piaahawaii.com.
Recruiting class
PIAA president Doris Sullivan will hold a free session on recruiting for athletes and parents and all sports from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 4 at Good Tidings Church at 113 Kauwa St. in Hilo. No registration is required.
LIFE CHAMPION SENIOR BOWL ROSTER
DECEMBER 6
7 p.m. KAMEHAMEHA, PAIEA STADIUM
NAME POSITION HGT WGT SCHOOL
Afalava, Soli WR/DB/RB 6’2” 201 Kahuku High School
Agasiva, Jordan OL 6’3” 290 Mililani High School
AhLoo, Alfred “Maka” OL/Guard 6’2” 305 Kapaa High School
Amby, Ryan WR 5’11” 175 Lanai High School
Baptiste, Caleb DB 5’11” 170 Kamehameha-Hawaii
Bethel, Brooks LB 6’0” 180 Kapaa High School
Brennan, Tsubasa WR 6’0” 175 University Laboratory School
Brittain, Cade RB 5’10” 185 Punahou
Cabanas, Colton DB 5’11” 175 Kamehameha-Maui
Callahan, Daevin DT 5’11” 205 Waimea High School
Caoagdan, Jordan WR 5’9” 165 Hilo High School
Carvalho-Toloai, Austyne LB 5’9” 190 Kapaa High School
Choi, Zeno DE 6’3” 260 Kaiser High School
Claybaugh, Dutch S/CB 5’7” 175 Damien High School
Davis, Kullen “Pono” DL 6’2” 275 Kamehameha-Hawaii
Davis, Shain RB 5’6” 165 Kapaa High School
DelRosario, Tavian DB 5’9” 180 Lanai High School
Dudoit, Preston Safety/CB 5’7” 170 Kalani High School
Fahuia, Ofa LB 5’11” 200 Hilo High School
Fetui-Suapaia, Derrick OL 6’3” 260 Mililani High School
Filikitonga-Lukela, Makoa QB 5’11” 175 Lahainaluna High School
Fitisemanu, Reupena RB/FB 6’0” 220 Kahuku High School
Gaughen-Haili, Makoa OL 5’11” 220 Kamehameha-Kapalama
Garcia, Ian DL 6’1” 230 Waiamea High School
Gilman, Alohi WR 6’0” 180 Kahuku High School
Hall, Kacey OL 6’0” 205 Hilo High School
Harris, Lewis DB 6’0” 185 Guam High School
Haynes, Malik TE 6’3” 220 Kahuku High School
Henry, Camren WR 6’0” 165 Kauai High School
Iaea, Alapaki WR 6’1” 185 Kamehameha-Hawaii
Ierome, Vaa’alotasi DL 6’0” 220 Radford High School
Ikei, Justin WR 5’7” 160 Kaiser High School
Johnson, Spencer TE 6’3” 230 Saint Loius
Judd, Kalawai’a QB 6’3” 190 Kaiser High School
Julius, Alton QB/Utility 6’2” 215 Kapolei High School
Sulunga-Kahaialii, Daniel OL/DL 6’3” 285 Lahainaluna High School
Kahananui, Kealoha DE 5’9” 170 Lanai High School
Kalai, Preston CB/DB/WR 6’0” 180 Kamehameha-Hawaii
Kaluahine-Arroyo, Keenan Safety/DB 6’0” 180 Waimea High School
Kanehailua, Micah QB 5’10” 155 Kamehameha-Hawaii
Kaohelaulii, Drake OL/DL 6’0” 330 Waimea High School
Kapihe, Aaron OL/DL 6’2” 280 Kapolei High School
Kauwenaole, John Gabriel OL/DL 5’11” 260 Damien High School
Ke, Kainalu OL 6’1” 268 Ka’u High School
Keahi, Colton LB/RB 6’2” 222 Baldwin High School
Keama-Jacobe, Stanley “Kawika” QB 5’10” 175 Moanalua High School
Keanini, Keoni WR 6’2” 151 Kamehameha-Maui
Kelekolio, Keola WR 6’2” 170 Hilo High School
Kelley, Donovan DB 5’7” 175 Hilo High School
Keamoai-Strickland, Patrick QB/DB 6’1” 195 Waimea High School
Kokubun, Aaron OL 6’3” 310 Kamehameha-Maui
Kuresa, Nayton LB 6’2” 240 Waianae High School
Labanon, Dallas DB 5’8” 170 Damien High School
Lavatai, Izaiah DB 5’9” 170 Radford High School
Lolohea, Jonathan DL/DE/TE 6’1” 200 Maui High School
Ludiazo, Tristan DE 6’3” 250 Campbell High School
Luis, Keanan RB 5’9” 200 Baldwin High School
Mahoe, Haili Safety 5’8” 175 Hilo High School
Mauga, Kalalena “Losi” OL 6’2” 260 Waianae
Moea’i, Saitui LB 6’1” 205 Punahou
Mortensen, Ku’ilua DB 5’7” 160 Nawahiokalaniopu’u
Mose, Jerrod DE 6’1” 200 Punahou
Moss, Destin WR 5’11” 165 Kaiser High School
Mowat, Connor OL/DL 6’0” 240 Lahainaluna High School
Newton, Chase QB 6’2” 210 Kamehameha-Maui
Nishimoto, Derek OL 6’5” 265 Punahou
Palakiko-Leffew, Kupono DE 5’8” 187 Ka’u High School
Palu, Manase DL 5’10” 330 Kaiser High School
Perifanos-Taamu, Jordan QB 6’2” 195 Pearl Citiy HS
Picanco, Brandon “Kana’i” MLB 6’1” 210 Damien High School
Piltz, Kainoa LB 5’10” 185 Kealakehe High School
Pomroy, Kiliona DE/DL 5’11” 240 Hilo High School
Purdy Jr., Paul DB/WR 5’9” 150 Honokaa High School
Richards, Kamaehu DE/LB/TE 6’3” 240 Honokaa High School
Richards, Levi LB 6’2 240 Kaiser High School
Romero, Zachary “Kamaha’o” P/K 6’1” 162 Kamehameha-Maui
Salanoa, Roman DL/OL 6’1 295 Kahuku High School
Savea, Pesi OL/OT 6’7” 310 Kapolei
Shiroma, Grant WR 5’11” 180 Kamehameha-Hawaii
Spikes, Tristin RB 5’9” 195 Hilo High School
Santiago, Kalalena DB 6’0” 152 Konawaena High School
Stinnet, Ernest DE/DL 6’0” 266 Pahoa High School
Sommerhoff, Hans C/OL 6’2” 255 Honokaa High School
Taylor, Keoni DB 5’9” 160 Kapolei High School
Trifonovich, Alex P/K 6’1” 175 Punahou
Tualau, Victor OL/LG/C 6’2” 340 Kahuku High School
Tuifua, Sonatane LB 5’11” 220 St. Louis High School
Tubon, Kevin WR/DB 5’6” 135 Waimea High School
Wily, Salanoa-Alo RB/DL 6’1” 270 Kahuku High School