Lau has Honoka‘a football on right track
November 23rd, 2009 by WesAs I mentioned in the previous post, I was impressed with Honoka‘a quarterback Sage Johnson and receiver/defensive back Eddie Morales.
But I should also mention another thing that impressed me about the Dragons is head coach Fred Lau.
It started when I read Stacy Kaneshiro's article on Honoka‘a two weeks ago in The Advertiser. Lau mentioned how the first objective in turning the program around was to instill discipline.
That is an excellent starting point, in any sport but especially football and especially at Honoka‘a, where Lau said "they really play with a lot of emotion."
It's one thing to have talented and passionate athletes, which Honoka‘a has had over the years, but another to harness that talent and passion and channel it productively.
The second thing I liked when reading about Lau is how he put trust in the position coaches, allowing them to determine the depth chart. It makes sense, since those are the coaches who watch and interact with their respective unit every minute of practice.
Lau said he only steps in when there is an issue with academics, missing practice or discipline.
I liked the Dragons' spirit throughout the game vs. Farrington, especially when they fell behind 21-0 midway through the second quarter. It would have been easy to fold the tent at that point, but instead they cut the lead to 21-9 and then 28-16 after falling behind 28-9.
And like I mentioned in the previous post, they played hard until the final whistle.
After the game, Lau said his team "lost their composure" in the fourth quarter after a fumble near midfield led to a Governors touchdown that made it 36-16, then Farrington recovered the ensuing onside kick and converted it into another score to push the lead to 42-16. And then finally, an interception led to another TD that made it 48-16.
But Lau said he and his coaches should take responsibility for that lost composure, since it was some assistant coaches that got excited after an inadvertent whistle on a punt return potentially cost a chance to pin the Govs deep.
"(Composure) is something we worked on and strived for all year, but we lost it in the fourth quarter," Lau said. "But that's something we need to fix as coaches, because when the coaches got upset, the kids followed. It's something I need to address."
I like the fact that he took responsibility, instead of blaming the officials or just waving it off as "kids will be kids ..."
It also shows that instead of simply being satisfied with this very successful season — which included Honoka‘a's first BIIF title since 1974 — Lau knows there's still a lot of work to do to get the program up to speed to compete with the OIA powers.
No question, there's much room for improvement.
But I like what I see so far.
November 25th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Howz it Wes,
How was the breakfast, not too far I hope. If it was, then I hope it was worth the drive, because you and I know, getting around on the, Big Island is like driving for days. Anyways, I love the article, and respect the positive comments you made about coach, Lau and the, Honoka'a posse, but I must say and I hate to burst your bubble Wes.
Its a good thing that coach, Lau and his staff learned a valuable lesson from all of this, and I hope that some of his players will do the same as well. (#11) especially! He should have been ejected from the game earlier, due to the fact that he was cheap shotting players more than once, well after the whistle was blown. He even punched one of our lineman in the ba?!s. I know that MMA is huge on the island with BJ Penn, but not with football!
I didn't quite know what kind of coach Mr. Lau was until I arrived the day of the game, bought a Big Island Paper,(West Hawaii Today) and read the comments he laid out in the sports section by saying, "Lau doesn't view Tuimaseve as an unstoppable big-play threat, saying Kealakehi running back Justin DeSilva, who scored five touchdowns on plays of 20 yards or more this season, was more explosive as a running back". I bet you, he and his posse are eating there words for breakfast the day after the final results. Tuimaseve racked up his career high in a single game this season, of 239 yards on 27 carries. Now how can he compare the two running backs? when one competes with a lot of teams that are stacked with talent, and the other doesn't? No comparison, period! Look at what happened to Kealakehi last year. No comparison, period! Baldwin the last two years against Leilehua, no comparison, period! Lahainaluna, Kauai, or Kalaupapa? Maybe in the near future? But when was the last time a neighbor island team took the states? Never! If you placed a Kahuku, Farrington, Leilehua, Waianae etc. in the BIIF, MIL, or Kauai, what do you think the o. 0utcome of the season would be for those teams? I think we all know the answer to that. Maybe, but as for right now! Oahu teams are at it's highest level of competition. Unless the outer-island coaches can bring there level of teaching and coaching to higher standards to someday have a shot at the state title. Then I think we will see a higher level of competition play from the outer-islands in the future.
Now about the Farrington/Honoka'a game. It was a very insteresting game. Wes, you've seen and witnessed the line ref on the Farrington side line with the long pony-tail threw flags the first two quarters of the game, and well into the second half until the forth quarter, he finally threw three flags against, Honoka'a. I think it was 6 or 7 thrown against Farrington in the first half that halted drives to score, and assisted Honoka'a with yardage to score. After that I lost track. It seemed like every time, Harry or Siosi ran for long yardage, the pony-tail dude would throw a holding call or some kind of personal foul. On top of that he was the only ref throwing penalties against Farrington at the time, and none of the other refs where throwing flags on neither team oin the first half, hmmm wondering. Kinda reminded me of the Farrington/Baldwin game two years ago at, War Memorial Stadium when they had all MIL officials. This time we had four Oahu refs there. I wonder why? Change I guess? Anyways this ref of course is from the Big Island and I can't really say that the pony-tail ref was favoring one side, but it sure looked like it from the beginning of the game. What is a ref doing reffing a game with a pony-tail? Interesting. I know that Farrington gets penalized a lot for what ever the case may be, and some is very obvious, but this guy never threw one flag against Honoka'a until the forth quarter when the game was long gone with.
You now as well as I, that Farrington pretty much man handled, Honoka'a and the only reason why they scored was on Farringtons mistakes with personal foul, 15 yard penalties and turn overs in there red zone. They also got denied 4 times in the red zone.
I didn't like the way the coaches and players handled them selves on the, Honoka'a side line. My son and some of his team mates said that, some of the players and coaches from the, Honoka'a side where calling out names towards our players, especially on Defense. That's why the line ref on the other side who is also from the Big Island threw a flag for unsportsmen like conduct and a personal foul on Honoka'a. Whow Wes! It sure was a wild experience of a life time.
I give props to the QB, the two wide receivers from Honoka'a because they played hard and showed good sportsmenship! But #11 should have been brought to the sideline an discipline by his coach's. When he was shaking hands at the end of the game, he was going down the line saying, "You suck! You suck! You Sh#$?!". Man this kid needs a huge or something!
But overall I hope that Honoka'a can put there program together in a positive way and some day make it to the big dance. As for Farrington, its been a bumpy road, and I hope that the boys can minimize there mistakes and cut down the penalties. Friday Night Lights! take it easy Wes! See you there, and thanks for reading my intake on the events that took place with my perspective. Mahalo.
November 27th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Farrington, no state titles, PERIOD!
November 27th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Why are you even comparing neighbor islands with oahu schools? You really think it is only the coaching? Didn't the Kealakehe coach have college coaching experience? And didn't the former Baldwin or Lahainluna head coach leave to coach college ball?
It isn't always the coaching. Oahu has FAR more people, resources, schools, clinics, etc. Of course they are not going to be as good.
If you put Farrington's coaching staff at Ka'u or some other rural area, they will not makes states either.
So what is really your point?
November 27th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
football fan,
yah, maybe no state titles, but for some reason Farrington always seems to intimidate teams such as Honoka'a and many other teams, but remember, it was coach Lau who had put his team on a pedistal by making rude comments about some of the boys on Farrington's team and had to recant what he had said after the game. And yah, we may not have won a state title yet, but we sure know how to continue bringing it on 3 years in a roll. Don't use the lack of facilities and people for your excuse in that those kids at Farrington work with what they have which is not much and continue to push forward. Remember, it is the people in general who gives Farrington football all the hype, not themselves. Remember, it was also coach Lau who compared Farrington with Kealakehe and not vice versa. Read the article again to get your facts straight!
November 29th, 2009 at 7:47 am
To Laids:
Thanks for letting everyone know just how ignorant you are. First of all you lack any type of structure in your writing. Maybe if you guys focused more on academics than football, then maybe your school would meet AYP.
Secondly I am commenting on the original comparison that was made between Farrington and the neighbor island teams. I never said Coach Lau didn't make any type of comments.
If you are too ignorant to identify variables such as a larger students body, more exposure to football, and other resources which may contribute to Farrington having an advantage over other neighbor island teams, then you are really a fool.
So before you accuse me of reading the article and and getting my FACTS STRAIGHT, try understanding what I even wrote. Can you?
I CHALLENGE YOU TO READ MY PREVIOUS POSTS AND LISTS ALL THE FACTS THAT I HAVE INCORRECT!
Can you?
November 30th, 2009 at 12:00 am
football fan, first of all I am not a Farrington alumni. Secondly, I am a college graduate who decided to write as I did so you could understand me better. Besides, this is not a writing competition,I have no time checking my imperfections, I did all that back in college. Just getting to the point is all that matters. Remember, we are talking about high school kids. Who gives you the right to put them down by making your rude comment about state titles, "now that was ignorant". Do you know how difficult it is for any team to make it into the state tournament. We all know that the coaching staff is not the only responsible party, but they do make the first and last call on and off the field. For your information some of Farrington's coaches have college coaching experience and who knows what the outcome would be if they were to coach at a place such as Ka'u. By the way, this all began with the comment that whostolemyslippahz wrote. Why? because of the comment that was made in the Kona paper by coach Lau. He as an adult such as yourself, I am assuming should not be critizing any kid. Further more, I did not use any vulger language towards you such as "ignorant", I just said to get your "facts straight". You make yourself look foolish. As I had stated earlier, this is not a writing competiton, but an opinion made that could at times lead to a debate. And yes, with an enrollment of over 2700 students it could be alot more difficult to make AYP. Those kids at Farrington are bright kids, don't knock them because they did not make AYP. Do you know how many schools did not make AYP this year and in the past years? Did you ever think that it could be because of the shortage of faculty/staff. Remember, all teachers are responsible for getting all kids on track. Therefore, does it make you feel better to be correct about Farrington not making AYP?
December 1st, 2009 at 6:07 am
Laids, your attempt to write a lot to deflect and hide the real point. I am still waiting for you to LIST all the facts I have incorrect?
Tick, tick, tick....the clock is running. What are the facts that I have incorrect? Or do you just make up stuff for everyone's amusement?
You said "Get your facts straight." Well, tell me what facts I have incorrect? I am still waiting.......
December 1st, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Mute Point...Go Big Red!!!!
December 2nd, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Mute point!?! or Moot point (up for debate; not resolved). Go Red Big!
December 7th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Yeah I played dirty yeah I cheap shotted players and yes I punched 72 in the ba?ls. If u watch the tape I got cheapshotted juss like I cheapshotted them. I play too the whistle blows dirty or clean I play too win at any costs. Nd if u watch the play where I punched 72 in the ba?ls, I tried to cut him and getting up he started jumping on my head. So I dont wanna hear all this stuff about me when they play as dirty as me also. Hey I can admit I played dirty that game. I did what I had to, to tryand get our team pumped because they felt that Oahu teams are soo much better. But can u admit your team played dirty or are you juss gonna defend them because they are sooo "innocent". Your team is the most flagged team in the OIA if not the state. Soo dont be singling me out when ur player play juss as dirty.
December 7th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
And I never did swear or use profanity at players shaking their hands after the game so get ur facts straight
December 8th, 2009 at 12:12 am
Rules are there for a reason. Football is not MMA (which has rules, also), and there's something to be said for playing the game the right way, the way it was meant to be played.
You shouldn't have to play dirty to get the team pumped up — they should be pumped up already just playing in a state tournament game. And if the opponent is playing dirty, that's what officials are for. The player should tell the coach, the coach should tell the official.
In the meantime, how much value is there in a "win at all costs?" If you cannot beat your opponent fair and square, what does that say?
BTW, these are general thoughts, not directed at any one player but rather the concepts that one player deems acceptable. I've heard it before.
It really goes back to the parents and the coaches to instill a culture of sportsmanship, fair play and class.
December 8th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Whostolemyslippahz:
November 25th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Howz it Wes,
How was the breakfast, not too far I hope. If it was, then I hope it was worth the drive, because you and I know, getting around on the, Big Island is like driving for days. Anyways, I love the article, and respect the positive comments you made about coach, Lau and the, Honoka'a posse, but I must say and I hate to burst your bubble Wes.
Its a good thing that coach, Lau and his staff learned a valuable lesson from all of this, and I hope that some of his players will do the same as well. (#11) especially! He should have been ejected from the game earlier, due to the fact that he was cheap shotting players more than once, well after the whistle was blown. He even punched one of our lineman in the ba?!s. I know that MMA is huge on the island with BJ Penn, but not with football!
I didn't quite know what kind of coach Mr. Lau was until I arrived the day of the game, bought a Big Island Paper,(West Hawaii Today) and read the comments he laid out in the sports section by saying, "Lau doesn't view Tuimaseve as an unstoppable big-play threat, saying Kealakehi running back Justin DeSilva, who scored five touchdowns on plays of 20 yards or more this season, was more explosive as a running back". I bet you, he and his posse are eating there words for breakfast the day after the final results. Tuimaseve racked up his career high in a single game this season, of 239 yards on 27 carries. Now how can he compare the two running backs? when one competes with a lot of teams that are stacked with talent, and the other doesn't? No comparison, period! Look at what happened to Kealakehi last year. No comparison, period! Baldwin the last two years against Leilehua, no comparison, period! Lahainaluna, Kauai, or Kalaupapa? Maybe in the near future? But when was the last time a neighbor island team took the states? Never! If you placed a Kahuku, Farrington, Leilehua, Waianae etc. in the BIIF, MIL, or Kauai, what do you think the o. 0utcome of the season would be for those teams? I think we all know the answer to that. Maybe, but as for right now! Oahu teams are at it's highest level of competition. Unless the outer-island coaches can bring there level of teaching and coaching to higher standards to someday have a shot at the state title. Then I think we will see a higher level of competition play from the outer-islands in the future.
Now about the Farrington/Honoka'a game. It was a very insteresting game. Wes, you've seen and witnessed the line ref on the Farrington side line with the long pony-tail threw flags the first two quarters of the game, and well into the second half until the forth quarter, he finally threw three flags against, Honoka'a. I think it was 6 or 7 thrown against Farrington in the first half that halted drives to score, and assisted Honoka'a with yardage to score. After that I lost track. It seemed like every time, Harry or Siosi ran for long yardage, the pony-tail dude would throw a holding call or some kind of personal foul. On top of that he was the only ref throwing penalties against Farrington at the time, and none of the other refs where throwing flags on neither team oin the first half, hmmm wondering. Kinda reminded me of the Farrington/Baldwin game two years ago at, War Memorial Stadium when they had all MIL officials. This time we had four Oahu refs there. I wonder why? Change I guess? Anyways this ref of course is from the Big Island and I can't really say that the pony-tail ref was favoring one side, but it sure looked like it from the beginning of the game. What is a ref doing reffing a game with a pony-tail? Interesting. I know that Farrington gets penalized a lot for what ever the case may be, and some is very obvious, but this guy never threw one flag against Honoka'a until the forth quarter when the game was long gone with.
You now as well as I, that Farrington pretty much man handled, Honoka'a and the only reason why they scored was on Farringtons mistakes with personal foul, 15 yard penalties and turn overs in there red zone. They also got denied 4 times in the red zone.
I didn't like the way the coaches and players handled them selves on the, Honoka'a side line. My son and some of his team mates said that, some of the players and coaches from the, Honoka'a side where calling out names towards our players, especially on Defense. That's why the line ref on the other side who is also from the Big Island threw a flag for unsportsmen like conduct and a personal foul on Honoka'a. Whow Wes! It sure was a wild experience of a life time.
I give props to the QB, the two wide receivers from Honoka'a because they played hard and showed good sportsmenship! But #11 should have been brought to the sideline an discipline by his coach's. When he was shaking hands at the end of the game, he was going down the line saying, "You suck! You suck! You Sh#$?!". Man this kid needs a huge or something!
But overall I hope that Honoka'a can put there program together in a positive way and some day make it to the big dance. As for Farrington, its been a bumpy road, and I hope that the boys can minimize there mistakes and cut down the penalties. Friday Night Lights! take it easy Wes! See you there, and thanks for reading my intake on the events that took place with my perspective. Mahalo.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And didnt 75 and 28 get ejected. I think 75 threw a punch at a player in the head. It wasn't a "club technique" as Okimoto puts it. And 28 got kicked out for trying to fight with me after I cleaned hit him out fairly "DURING THE PLAY"....
December 9th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Well...this has turned just ugly! Mr. Reed I watched your game against Farrington, and you did get dirty. I was there at the Kealakehe/Honokaa game and you were dirty there too. Then you go online to some of the Waveriders myspace's and you call them out on there. That's so sad! First you need to learn to play the game, then you love the game, the you do EVERYTHING to PROTECT the purity of the game. You lost all of that! ATTITUDE WILL PLAY A BIG PART WHEN IT COMES TO COLLEGES! So shape up!
December 11th, 2009 at 7:30 am
I wish I could see the video of the Honoka'a - Farrington game. It sounds like it was a war on the football field.
December 13th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Football fan,
Its obvious that you have no clue or experience playing and coaching this game of football. I think you better stick to being a spectator in front of your computer, television, or in the stands, and live up to your screen name,"Football FAN!!!" period! When you say Ka'u, your describing a school like Kalani. Of course these schools football programs are not as successful as they would like to be, due to the fact that the kids don't come out and participate for what ever reason. Yes, it is the head coaches responsibility to make sure that his football team can compete to win games. Why would he be hired in the first place. The student body may not be as big with Ka'u or Kalani, but there is still enough kids to field a team at least two deep on the depth chart. Once again the responsibilities fall mainly on the head coach again. If the head coach is serious about building a solid successful program, then they need to recruit from within the school first, and have an experienced staff that is on the same page, and is there for the kids only and not there just to say that I coach hs ball. The head coach is the captain of his ship and needs to direct, coordinate, and steer his ship in the right direction. So the responsiblies falls back on him. If one of his assistant coaches get out of hand or does not have right knowledge acquired to coach and teach. Still it falls on the head coach to make adjustments or changes.
Honoka'a, Kealakehi, Konawaina, Hilo High etc. Have more then enough athletes to field a team, but that does not mean that they don't have enough talent to compete with the teams here on Oahu. You can have Cal Lee, Suaki Levi, Kale Ane, or even Tom Carol from USC coach an outer island team, but still, if he does not have the right assistant coaches, staff, and a solid preparation off-season training system both, academically, physically, and mentally, that school/team would not be able to compete with the big dawgs, regardless of who is the head coach or players on that team. Example, Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez this year by far, probably had the most athletes with talent that could have made it to the big dance. But unfortunately the season came to a halt three years in a row to Farrington in the first round of the OIA playoffs. Now I'm not saying that coach Darren is a bad coach, his selection on his staff could be more evaluated more closely, and sometimes change is good in order to find the missing pieces to the puzzle.
You have your opinions and I have mine, so keep it to yourself and don't stop supporting high school sports here in Hawaii and stay as a spectator in the stands.
CrisReed11,
I think that your pissed off because you and your team mates where getting pancaked all night long. That pony-tail ref uncle of yours was favoring you guys and decided to throw flags against us and instead of warning our player, he decided to eject him from the game. I bet you he no longer an official. On video, it clearly show #72 pushing down on your back while you where on all fours after you lugged forward. Learn how to play the game right. Stay Discipline, and keep your hands in your pocket instead of getting all hyper trying to do the haka by yourself at the end of the game.
December 13th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Whostolemyslippaz...you lost me at "Tom Carol" of USC. And what's with the moniker? Look you definitely made some valid points but your rebuttal is a bit rudimentary and lacks any real substance--you're nit picking.
I got what you said earlier but now it's becoming redundant and you're droning, no offense. I think that you made your point earlier so you should just leave it at that. If you continue to argue with ignorant people they'll just bring you down to their level. Let's enjoy the holidays and get ready for next season.
Happy Holidays to you all!!
a_fan