‘Super conference’ unites football teams in isle public, private schools

Hawaii’s new football superhighway is here.

The Oahu Interscholastic Association and Interscholastic League of Honolulu sent out a joint news release Wednesday, confirming their historic football agreement first reported by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Feb. 13.

With one final step Tuesday, principals of ILH schools voted unanimously to OK the deal that calls for sweeping changes in the prep football landscape that are expected not only to elevate the competition but also level the playing field starting this fall.

Scheduling specifics are still being worked out and are expected to be announced in the near future. Technically, the deal is not a merger, but rather a way for both leagues to benefit from cross-scheduling interleague and regular-season games in Open, Division I and Division II. The leagues remain autonomous in the sense that they will still crown their own champions.

“On behalf of the OIA membership, we’re pleased to have reached an agreement with the ILH … and look forward to exciting competition beginning with the upcoming season,” said OIA Executive Director Raymond Fujino in the release. ILH Executive Director Blane Gaison went on to say, “The ILH is very grateful and looking forward to this partnership with the OIA that will create renewed interest and benefit the athletic programs and student-athletes from both leagues.”

When the Star-Advertiser first learned of the deal, it was understood that neither the ILH nor the OIA would count interleague games toward their own league’s standings. However, according to several sources, the ILH is looking into the idea of counting games against OIA teams in its standings. The OIA, for sure, will not count interleague games toward its standings.

According to OIA football coordinator Harold Tanaka, when the regular season concludes, the OIA’s Open division will have two weeks of playoffs to determine the top three teams (semifinals, final, and third-place game) that it will send on to state championships. In OIA D-I and D-II, those two weeks of playoffs will consist of semifinals and finals to determine the one or two state representatives in each division.

Several ILH coaches reached via cellphone Wednesday said their league is in the process of formulating a playoff format to determine the league’s one state qualifier each in the Open, D-I and D-II. Calls on Wednesday to Gaison and Assistant Executive Director Georges Gilbert for comment on the league’s playoff plans were not immediately returned.

One possibility, according to ILH coaches reached, would pit Open Division Seed No. 2 vs. Seed No. 3, with the winner playing Seed No. 1 for the league title and state berth. ILH playoffs in D-I and D-II could go several different ways, and one idea is for the two D-I teams (Damien and St. Francis) and the two D-II teams (‘Iolani and Pac-Five) to play in one-game playoffs.

The 2018 high school football season’s first week of games will be the weekend of Aug. 3-4. As usual, in that initial week, teams can schedule any nonleague game they want against teams from Oahu, the rest of the state or mainland.

The full slate of Oahu football games will begin the weekend of Aug. 10-11, and the two weeks of playoffs will be held Oct. 19-20 and Oct. 26-27. The state tournament follows on the weekends of Nov. 2-3, Nov. 9-10 and Nov. 16-17.

According to Tanaka, in the 10 weekends between Aug. 10-11 and Oct. 12-13, the schedule-makers are trying to pick one week in which there is an Oahu-wide bye. That would give enough weekends to fill the nine-game slate for the 10 teams each in D-I and D-II. The nine Open Division teams — with only eight games — would get an additional bye.

In any case, coaches are looking forward to a new football era that restores some old regular-season rivalries (such as Farrington vs. Punahou) that were lost when some ILH public school teams left to join the OIA due to a rift in 1970.

“We’re all excited,” said coach Kale Ane of Punahou, an ILH team. “We’re waiting to finalize things (schedule, playoff format). It will be a process with so many steps.”

Cal Lee, who coaches Saint Louis of the ILH, said, “This is great for the kids, the fans, everyone.”

Pat Silva, who coaches McKinley of the OIA, is all for the new format, too.

“I think it’s great,” he said. “It brings back the old days of the ILH before schools branched off in 1970. I have coaches and friends in both public and private schools who think this will be beneficial. Fans can look back and enjoy the old rivalries. I am for any opportunity for the kids where they can expand their level of competition.”

By joining forces for these regular-season, interleague games, the OIA and ILH are ensuring that lower-level teams do not have to schedule games against higher-level teams. The more competitive matchups will likely boost attendance, fan interest and safety, according to many coaches and administrators.

“This is a step forward for both leagues,” said Tanaka, who also touched on the likelihood of increased revenue and fan interest, saying, “That’s what we’re hoping for.”

Q&A: SUPER CONFERENCE NOW A REALITY

Pilot program aims for boost in attendance, interest and revenue

QUESTION: Why is this a big deal?

ANSWER: Except for a few crossover games in the early 2000s, the public- and private-school teams haven’t played each other in regular-season games since the 1970 breakup of the old ILH. It helps to ensure that Oahu teams will be playing against schools of similar caliber, cutting down on blowouts that have become commonplace.

The more competitive matchups in all three levels (Open, Division I and Division II) are likely to attract more fan interest, lead to larger revenue and be safer for players on lower-level teams since they no longer will be playing against top-level teams.

Q: When will the OIA and ILH start playing each other?

A: It starts this season under a two-year pilot program that will be revisited at its conclusion.

Q: How will the revenue be shared?

A: For interleague games at OIA sites, the revenue

after expenses goes to the OIA. From games at ILH sites and Aloha Stadium, the revenue will be split based along the lines of the ratio of participating football teams (22 OIA, seven ILH). ILH-only games will be kept by the ILH. OIA-only games will be kept by the OIA.

Q: Will TV be involved and how will those revenues be disbursed?

A: Yet to be determined.

Q: How will each champion be determined?

A: OIA will determine its champions based on games against OIA competition only. The ILH’s plans to

determine its champions are still being worked out.

Q: Is it varsity football only?

A: No. The alliance also extends to junior varsity football. May be part of doubleheaders, where possible.

Q: How many schools will be involved?

A: Twenty-nine, spread over three divisions — Open, Division I and Division II.

THE ILH-OIA TIMELINE

1903: Honolulu High (later renamed McKinley), Kamehameha and Punahou form three-team league.

1909: Interscholastic League of Honolulu formed with University of Hawaii as an unofficial member.

1924: Saint Louis added to ILH.

1932: Roosevelt joins.

1936-38: ‘Iolani and Farrington added.

1940: Rural Oahu Interscholastic Association formed with Kahuku, Leilehua, Benjamin Parker (now Castle), Waialua and Waipahu as charter members.

1944: Kaimuki joins ILH.

1945: ‘Iolani, which dropped football during World War II, rejoins ILH.

1955: Kailua joins ROIA.

1958: Radford and Waianae added to ROIA.

1960: Kalani joins the ILH.

1962-69: Aiea, Campbell and Nanakuli join ROIA.

1970-71: ILH operates as a five-team league with Damien, ‘Iolani, Punahou, Kamehameha and Saint Louis.

1970: Farrington, Kaimuki, Kalani, McKinley and Roosevelt bolt the ILH, resulting in an expanded ROIA that is renamed the OIA.

1973: OIA and ILH begin postseason Prep Bowl, later renamed the Oahu Prep Bowl. Waianae wins first title.

1972-73: Hawaii Baptist Academy, Maryknoll, Mid-Pacific Institute and University High join forces as the HUMMERS in the ILH. Addition of Our Redeemer Lutheran brings realignment under banner of Pac-Five.

1999: Oahu Prep Bowl gives way to first Hawaii High School Athletic Association championship in football. Saint Louis wins inaugural title.

2003: Division II added to HHSAA state championships. Aiea defeats Damien in the inaugural final.

2016: HHSAA adds Open Division to expand state championships to three tiers.

2017: OIA reverses course and boycotts Division I, sending representatives to only two divisions in state championships.

2018: OIA principals approve three-tier regular and postseason format for 2018 season and make a proposal to the ILH. ILH athletic directors vote to approve a two-year pilot program aligning both leagues for football beginning with the 2018 season. Plan is ratified by ILH and OIA principals.