Oshiro: Falcons Gained Practical Experience From 2006
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usKalani High’s football success may have been measured in something other than wins and losses this fall, but Falcons’ head coach Glenn Oshiro knows that better days are ahead as the off-season begins.
Hired last March less than eight weeks before the beginning of spring practice, Oshiro’s transitional period that always accompanies a coaching change will be long in the rear-view mirror by the time the Falcons begin their off-season weight training and conditioning program in February.
“I hope so,” laughed Oshiro, whose Falcons completed their season on Oct. 19.“I learned a lot this season. We’re still excited. Our systems are in place now so, hopefully, next season we can start off running. Our primary goal was to get our systems implemented.
“The kids are looking forward to next year. Our outlook is still positive. We’re looking forward to being with these kids and following through with our system. Our seniors held together and finished strong, and we’re hoping the underclassmen can follow in their footsteps next year.”
Eleven seniors completed their eligibility in Kalani’s regular-season finale, 30 returning lettermen figure to be back in the fold for the 2007 season if all goes according to plan. Oshiro also expects “that we’ll pick up a few more upperclassmen along the way” by spring football, while the Falcons will field a junior varsity team again next fall after having not had one this season.
“We’re really looking forward to having a junior varsity team next fall,” he emphasized.
Of his varsity returnees , 12 were starters this season with seven expected to be back from the offensive side of the ball, which was one of the youngest units in the Oahu Interscholastic Association’s White Conference this season.
The Falcons struggled to find the end zone in 2006, tallying only 20 points in a winless campaign, but a year of experience should serve them well heading into next season, according to Oshiro. In short, Oshiro is hoping the Falcons’ Achilles heel in 2006 will be their strength in 2007.
Kalani’s football prospects for the future are also invariably tied to the school’s other athletic programs, Oshiro noted. The second-year coach is encouraging his football players in other sports.
“We think it helps to build a better atmosphere and helps them build more school pride,” he explained. “We want them to support all of the other programs here. It helps to keep them academically sound and on track instead of not having anything to focus on.”
Oshiro didn’t anticipate any changes in his varsity coaching staff in the off-season, but he plans to hire more coaches to help with the junior varsity program.
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