Torres looking for the perfect beat

This is what he's gotta do ...

Star-Bulletin: OIA Red East football preview

Back in the 1980s, Afrika Bambaataa & the Soul Sonic Force had a declaration for the world. Mister mastermind of the funkiest kind said that he was looking for the perfect beat. This is what you gotta do.

This is what every coach, technician, coordinator, supervisor, et al does for a living. He or she looks for the perfect combination of talent, the chemistry that makes the whole thing percolate and succeed over the long haul. Nobody needs a rocket ship that launches brilliantly and goes ker-plunk 10 seconds later.

That's what Reggie Torres and his staff do. They're evaluating 96 players to find their roles. In Utah tonight, they'll study the 56 who made the travel squad. Kahuku will play for the win against Utah state champ Bingham, but not at the sacrifice of evaluation. And certainly not at the sacrifice of academics.

Some fans may feel sour because Torres won't bend academic requirements, because several players stayed home due to poor grades. But after coaching judo, wrestling and football for 20 years, why would anyone in his right mind expect Coach Torres to place winning at the altar ahead of integrity?

Before they play a down against a tough Bingham squad, the Red Raiders have already secured a victory. We won't see the fruits of this action right away, but they can be assured that they have a coaching staff that stands by them as men, not just as coaches. That's why coaching in Hawaii, despite its lousy pay, is a priceless opportunity to truly serve. It is, in many ways, the greatest civilian sacrifice for the youth of our communities.

My hat is off to the Kahuku program. Again.