And people wonder why I love girls basketball...

Football was, still is, my first love. But that doesn't mean there aren't some things about it that suck.

Star-Bulletin: Aiea, Campbell to forfeit game

Yes, I mean suck. When you think about it, all the hours and sacrifice (family time, rest, etc.) that coaches give to our football programs statewide is remarkable. In Texas, there are some schools that pay their coaches major salaries — six figures — simply for coaching. That's what weekly crowds in excess of 10,000, even 20,000 can do.

But here, coaches do it for the love. They average a few pennies for each hour of their labor. Labor of love.

And how do they get paid in the currency of football? Their players go off near the end of a game and commit flagrant acts against the other team. They incite a near-riot. They bring shame and ridicule to their schools, their communities. All in a matter of seconds.

The coaches don't teach this. And it's not entire teams that go bonkers. It just takes a few rotten apples.

That's the emotional reaction by a football fan, some who played sports, officiated sports and coached kids. And that's where things get more interesting. These are teenagers, raging with hormones and trying to keep some semblance of balance in their busy lives. I remember those days. Getting up at 7 a.m. wasn't easy. Not having any spending money wasn't fun. Keeping up with schoolwork wasn't simple. But it was a great time because of the coaches and administrators at my school (Kaimuki) who did their best for us whether it was school or fundraising or anything else.

I think back to Pat Foster, who came up with money so those of us who were short on money could travel to the Far East for a basketball trip. He passed away long ago, long before I knew what he had done for someone like me. I never got to thank the man. I wish I could right now. I'd give the big man a big hug and just say, "Thank you, coach."

When Charlie Miyashiro passed away last year, I was stunned. I had seen him a few months before he passed. He was at a flag football game, watching his grandson play. I thanked him, and he smiled. He was one of the most joyful coaches and athletic directors I've ever met. The guy loved coaching so much, he used to coach at Kaimuki and Pac-Five at one time.

But when I see players get out of line and carry on, it almost breaks my heart. I know they'll regret it later. I know they'll recognize that one foolish moment of reaction wasn't worth the price. As Coach Wendell Say told me, it's a lesson worth learning in the long run. Kids have to find out at some point that an extreme emotional reaction is NOT what is best, regardless of the situation and cause.

That's the only silver lining out of this situation. It's a painful lesson, a public lesson, but one that can be heartfelt and never forgotten for every player at Aiea, Campbell, the OIA, and the rest of the state. And as Coach Say said, better that this happened early in the season than late.

I love football, but trust me, sportsmanship prevails best in girls athletics. It's not perfect there, either, but the players have a lot more maturity and self-control on the whole. I can live without another testosterone-laden incident as long as I live.

The best way to say "thank you" to your coaches is to play the way they taught you. They put their heart and soul into teaching you about the game, about life. So thank them now, while you still can, and thank them in every way on and off the field.

Pupule's Top 20

Time for some shuffling. Here's how I voted in today's Star-Bulletin Football Top 10.

1. Saint Louis (1-0-0)
Last week: def. Kahuku 21-6
This week: at Kailua
Crusaders have some work to do, but what they've already done supercedes all opposition. They had the physical power to contain Kahuku's lethal ground attack. They were superior on special teams, which is never surprising. The offense will come around, and when it does, Saint Louis will be explosive. Mamiya's return is the biggest plus of all, and when he regains his accuracy, this group of receivers will show how good it can be.

2. Punahou (1-0-0)
Last week: def. McKinley 56-18
This week: bye
Buffanblu have a lot of strengths at the skill positions and an experienced defensive unit. Sloppy tackling, however, will be a focal point after the unit gave up two long touchdown passes to McKinley.

3. Kahuku (0-1-0)
Last week: lost to Saint Louis 21-6
This week: bye
Red Raiders have great potential, but as Reggie Torres says, they need time. Jray Galeai is getting more comfortable with the offense. Strong arm, great wheels, only a junior. Kahuku defense stood strong despite poor field position for much of the second half against Saint Louis.

4. Baldwin (0-0-0)
Last week: did not play
This week: at Kamehameha-Hawaii, Friday
Bears slide one spot in my ballot only because Punahou executed so well on Saturday against McKinley. Perhaps the most explosive passing attack in the state. The O-line is relatively young and will be tested this weekend.

5. Mililani (1-0-0)
Last week: def. Castle 43-6
This week: bye
Trojans are always tough at home and proved it with a rout of Castle. The Darnell Arceneaux era is off to a bullish start.

6. Waianae (1-0-0)
Last week: def. Farrington 21-7
This week: bye
I can hardly wait for the Mililani-Waianae showdown.

7. Kamehameha (0-0-0)
Last week: did not play
This week: at Castle
Almost unfair to gauge a team that hasn't played yet. If the Warriors win, but don't blow out Castle — a proud program that returns home this week — voters will give Mililani more votes. That's not fair since emotion is a huge part of prep football. Castle will likely respond well to last weekend's loss at Mililani, and it usually plays well at home. Castle led Saint Louis before losing last season 17-13.

8. Aiea (1-0-0)
Last week: def. Kaimuki 21-7
This week: bye
Na Alii beat a solid Kaimuki squad, and yet Iolani zoomed into the Star-Bulletin Top 10 and landed above Aiea. Never underestimate the power of a good returning quarterback (Keenan Naeole).

9. Iolani (1-0-0)
Last week: def. Kaiser 44-0
This week: vs. Kalaheo, Saturday
Raiders rolled big over alumni and Kaiser coach Pat Samsonas at the Father Bray Classic. Big test for the ILH's defending D-II champion this weekend. Kalaheo is coming off a 43-0 win at Nanakuli. Afternoon football at Iolani hasn't been kind to OIA teams recently, though.

10. Lahainaluna (0-0-0)
Last week: did not play
This week: vs. Waiakea, Saturday
Often underrated, the Lunas are West Maui's favorite sons this time of year. Physical, disciplined and tricky with that Wing T offense.

More?

11. Leilehua (0-0-0)
Last week: won at Kailua 6-3
This week: bye
The Mules' offensive success in recent years may not prepare fans for baseball scores, but this is going to be more of the norm. Leilehua has led the OIA Red West in total defense the past two seasons and the trend continues. Can't fight the trend.

12. Farrington (0-1-0)
Last week: lost at Waianae 21-7
This week: vs. Damien, Kunuiakea Stadium, Saturday
Very little time for the Governors to rest after a loss on the road at Waianae. These are excellent testing grounds for a team that has potential. Damien will be just as ornery after a road loss to Kapolei.

13. Kapolei (1-0-0)
Last week: def. Damien 14-0
This week: vs. McKinley, Roosevelt Stadium, Saturday
Hurricanes are on a mission. So much talent has departed in recent years, but they keep reloading. Damien provided basic run-first football. McKinley will be more familiar — a run-and-shoot/flex option offense with big-play potential.

14. Pac-Five (1-0-0)
Last week: def. Radford 21-12
This week: at Moanalua, Saturday
Every year, the Wolf Pack holds its own against OIA teams, then faces a mountain in the ILH. So far, so good.

15. Kealakehe (1-0-0)
Last week: def. Scotts Valley (Calif.) 23-21
This week: bye
Good news: Waveriders won their opener under a new coach. Bad news: Offense scored only one touchdown.

16. Kauai (1-0-0)
Last week: def. Keaau 35-6
This week: at Hilo, Friday
Keaau is D-I in name, but hasn't been a strong program since the school opened nearly 10 years ago. Hilo will provide much better competition for the Red Raiders. Classic matchup of opposites. Kauai's run-and-shoot versus Hilo's rugged defense. Hilo veteran Albert Kawalu against first-year Kauai coach Derek Borrero.

17. Kamehameha-Hawaii (0-0-0)
Last week: did not play
This week: vs. Baldwin, Friday
This team is 17th when Kolten Wong is on the field. He's been busy with baseball, you may have heard.

18. Kailua (0-1-0)
Last week: lost to Leilehua 6-3
This week: vs. Saint Louis, Friday
A lot of raised expectations on the Windward side for the Surfriders and gentleman coach Gary Rosolowich.

19. Damien (0-1-0)
Last week: lost at Kapolei 14-0
This week: vs. Farrington, Kunuiakea Stadium, Saturday
Monarchs want to make a statement against neighborhood rival Farrington.

20. Kalaheo (1-0-0)
Last week: won at Nanakuli 44-0
This week: at Iolani, Saturday
Biggest game for Kalaheo in recent memory is a few days away. Senior quarterback Cody vonAppen is a key, steadying factor for Coach Mellor's squad.

How deep is deep? OIA Red West ringing bells

That's right, the OIA Red West is the deepest division in the state.

Poll: Which OIA Red West team will be next to join Star-Bulletin Top 10?

There's no question that the Mililani Trojans have enough depth and talent to move up the ladder real soon.

Mililani at No. 7 is a bit of a question mark. If they were to play Kahuku this weekend, what would happen? To me, it would be an even battle because Mililani's offense is playing with cohesion — no surprise since new head coach Darnell Arceneaux was the OC last year. Talk about a perfectionist, that's what he is.

The OIA Red West is a toss up, from top to bottom. Four of the seven West squads are in the Top 10, and I've written that we could see as many as five in the poll this season. That makes the West as strong as any division or league in the state this season. That's to be expected since population growth in Central and West Oahu have grown substantially over the past two decades.

Now, though, there are quality feeder programs and depth in coaching to match the numbers.

For argument's sake, though, the ILH can't be neglected. Pac-Five, one of the ILH's Division II teams, beat OIA Red West Radford 21-12 over the weekend. Kapolei, meanwhile, blanked Damien 14-0.

Are Pac-Five, Iolani and Damien as good as Radford, Campbell and Kapolei? Tough call.

Na Alii at the 9 spot

Often enough in sports, a team has its best season immediately after losing great individual players.

Honolulu Star-Bulletin: You don't Say, Aiea No. 9

That isn't to say that Aiea will have a great season now that superb athletes like Lofa Liilii have graduated. What I do believe is that Na Alii have a solid tradition in place, strengthened by standouts like Lofa.

With a strong defense, speedy receivers and one of the OIA's top passers in Keenan Naeole, Aiea is in the mix for a state-tournament berth and maybe even a league championship.

The problem is that the OIA Red West may be the best league in the state from top to bottom. It is deeper and more balanced than the Red East — again — and has no peer from Neighbor Island leagues. Only the ILH can boast of a league as deep.

Wendell Say and his staff are confident about their defense, but what I'll be looking for is play in the trenches. There were times in the late stages of games last year when Na Alii were dominated inside. Fatigue? Only Aiea knows. If they can match their size with endurance, Naeole could guide the team to new horizons.