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Pacific SportsBlogOkinawa-based sports reporter Dave Ornauer on military-related sports in the Far East. |
More Columbus Day football extravaganza talk
Posted November 20th, 2007 by Dave OrnauerPartly inspired by message traffic between coach Brian Donalson of Singapore American School and Marcus George of Ansbach, Germany, there is discussion about possibly staging a major weekend of football at a site to be determined over Columbus Day weekend.
This would in part mirror the Super Eight weekend, when all four DODDS-Europe football championship games are staged in the same location.
It would also certainly help Okinawa's Kadena and Kubasaki High Schools, which play far fewer games than the other leagues in the Pacific.
Let's just for argument's sake suggest that Columbus Day weekend remain an open weekend for the 10 DODDS and DDESS football teams in the Pacific. If they choose to play interarea competition that weekend, fine. If they choose to take the week off to heal injuries and such, also fine.
Since most, if not all, roads lead to Tokyo, suggest Yokota as the primary playing location. Great field, great lighting, not too chilly at that time of year, and Coach Shima does a wonderful job of keeping the field in shape, not to mention cooking up THE finest burgers and cakes this side of Mount Fuji.
If all 10 DODDS and DDESS schools and two teams from Singapore are game, here's how to schedule them:
Friday -- Kubasaki vs. Nile C. Kinnick at 4 p.m. and Kadena vs. Yokota at 7 p.m. in a rematch of the Class AA championship.
Saturday -- Singapore Oilers vs. Guam High at 10 a.m., Singapore Vikings vs. Osan American at 1 p.m., Seoul American vs. Zama American at 4 p.m. and Robert D. Edgren vs. Taegu American at 7 p.m. in a rematch of the Class A championship on Saturday.
What say?
Something new is appreciated...
Something that adds a little refresher into the season would be appreciated; however, I think it's asking too much. On Columbus day weekend there are regular season games scheduled. Now, I suppose this proposed tournament game could replace those games. Would these tournament games be purely 'friendlies" or actually count in a teams wins/loses column which has Far East playoff implications? Teams from Korea would have to travel to Yokota which costs money for a football team (25 players(?)). DoDDS, I doubt will fund it. Last year the Korea schools had school on the Friday before the Columbus day weekend. It wouldn't be logical to expect a Korea team to travel to Yokota on Friday evening or Saturday morning for a Saturday game, only to head back home Sunday. Far East is different, it's expected, it's funded and the teams are generally there for three days. I like the idea, but I think it will be tough to get the administration to buy into it, especially with the Far East tournament only a month later which will require more money.
Re: Something new is appreciated ...
No question, funding is always the issue when attempting something new, and something as involved as that. Need to look into corporate sponsorship in such a way that the appearance of conflict of interest would not surface. Everybody stands to benefit in that they would see teams they otherwise would not see, and it would especially give Kadena and Kubasaki, who only play each other, some different opponents that they clearly, really need. And it would involve all teams at all levels, not just the Class AA powers. Administration wouldn't buy off on missing class time for something like this; hence, we'd have to hope for an early-dismissal day on Friday.
As Marcus George so succinctly put it, "We just have to get to 'why not' ... instead of 'no.'" Seek reasons to do things, instead of excuses and hiding behind the reg book to not do things. They desire to give the full-fledged high school experience to youngsters? Give it to them. This is a way to do that.
Thanks
Dave, thanks for recognizing Coach Shima. This guy works on the field year long to keep it in playing shape. He is the unsung hero of our program (along with Coaches Capps and Mariuzza). We are very lucky to have him with us.
no regular scheduled games that week
As for the comment that there were regular season games scheduled that week - there wasn't any in Japan, or Okinawa. I don't know about Korea and Guam.
I think it's an excellent idea.
I also think that DoDDS should be willing to pony up extra money to make the sporting experience for students in the Pacific similar to what's available in Europe.
It's not the students fault that their sponsors are in the pacific - and clearly, they thought it was important enough to do a "Super Eight" in Europe - so why not something similar in the pacific?
Different World
I must be in a different place than some people on this thread. We should be lucky DODDS Pacific is able to maintain the activities we have, yet alone adding new ones. I would love to see something happen, but it's idealistic, not realistic to think it's that easy or that the Pacific Area Office has that kind of cash laying around.
Hey mr. ornauer, do you know
Hey mr. ornauer, do you know of anyone that has a video of the Far East semi final football or the final game that is willing to post it on youtube or some way of getting it on Stars and Stripes website? (Coaches, friends, etc)
Re: Hey mr. ornauer, do you know
Tony, not personally, although I'm sure there were a great many up in the stands at Kadena or at Blue Jacket Field who did.
Who out there in Pacific SportsBlog Nation might have an answer to the question?