Kalani’s Glenn Oshiro Still Looking For A Few Good Men
By Jack Danilewicz
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It may be the age of the quick fix, but second-year Kalani High football coach Glenn Oshiro knows the long, hard route is sometimes better when it comes to building a program.
A year ago, Kalani was without a junior varsity team, but that won’t be the case this year - even if it means having a smaller varsity squad. Oshiro hired Brandon Wilson as Kalani’s head JV coach in the off-season, a move he expects to pay dividends in the future.
“He’s put together a good JV staff, so we’re building for the future,” said Oshiro, whose Falcons opened fall camp for the coming season on Monday. “We’ve really invested in the underclassmen. It (the future of the program) is all dependent on developing our JV program. We have to get them to commit themselves and enjoy playing football. It all starts with our JV program. Enthusiasm will then work its way into the rest of the student body. It’s been great to see the kids come out and work hard and want to play football.”
While numbers are up at the junior varsity level, Oshiro also welcomed back 20 lettermen to the varsity from last year’s team when fall camp started this week. By the time of Kalani’s season-opener Aug. 25 at Roosevelt, the roster could also increase from its present total of 38. A lack of depth due to low turnouts has long been the program’s Achilles heel.
“We’d like to improve our numbers,” the coach admitted.“If we could pick up a few more when school begins, our defense would be our strength. I’m enjoying what I’m seeing of them (in pass league and summer workouts). They’re starting to play together and gel. We need more (players) who can give them some rest, so they can play at a higher level. (Offensively), if the numbers are against you, you have to work at controlling the ball.”
With a number of players projected to play both ways for the Falcons this season, conditioning “was a top priority for us,” Oshiro said of spring practice as well as summer workouts and the 7-on-7 pass league.
“(Conditioning) is something we’re excited about,” he added. “We have a group that works hard at running and lifting. We’re hoping that will keep us healthy for the whole season.”
Among those hoping to rebound after an injury-interrupted season in 2006 is wide-receiver Timothy Benito, a 5-9, 160-pound senior, who also will hold down a corner spot on defense.
“We lost him early on last year, so we’re hoping to keep him healthy,” Oshiro said. “He’s a smart receiver, a good player who will bring some maturity to our offense and defense this year.”
At quarterback, Oshiro has settled on senior Jason Fujioka to run the Falcons’ spread offense. He was a starter for the junior varsity in 2005, but elected not to play football last season.
“He brings some experience even though he didn’t play last year,” Oshiro said. “A mature quarterback holds an offense together, and we think he’ll be OK.”
Oshiro also hopes to groom junior Michael Deseria (6-3, 220) to play quarterback in the future. A projected two-way starter on both the offensive and defensive line this fall, he’ll be taking his share of snaps during camp.
“We’re looking to convert him - we’ll take a good look at him.”
Elsewhere in the trenches, Oshiro will count on Elliott Kaiapoepoe (6-0, 230 pounds) to be a two-way performer for the team.
“He’s a very smart, very mature lineman,” the coach said.“He’ll be a very active player for us.”
Oshiro also expects wide receiver/defensive back Matt Shishido, wide receiver/linebacker Duran Tsukiyama, wide-out/linebacker Andrew Jones and linebacker/line-man Peter Soares to be impact players for the Falcons.
While Oshiro is expecting Kalani’s defense to lead the way early on, he thinks the team has a better handle on his version of the spread offense entering fall camp.
“Hopefully, we can do a little more (scheme-wise) with our offense this year,” he said.
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