RECRUITING season is here, and once again the big question looms: How ya gonna keep 'em home? To stay or go away
is not an easy choiceFred vonAppen says there are a dozen local athletes he has his eyes on this year, but he insists he won't be laying guilt trips on those who verbally commit elsewhere.
"There's no sense in calling someone a Benedict Arnold for wanting to leave the state,"the University of Hawaii football coach said. "If your program can't stand up to someone else's recruiting, it's your own fault."
It's good to know vonAppen feels that way because the last thing these kids need is emotional terrorism.
Questioning one's loyalty to the aina is a dirty trick.
Earlier this decade, I interviewed local recruits who were so apologetic about not choosing the University of Hawaii that they were almost afraid to reveal their mainland choices.
A blue-chip athlete's decision process can be a trying ordeal, and pressure to commit to the home team can negatively affect both his grades and family harmony. Much of that pressure comes from overzealous fans who find ways to approach the young man, who is usually too polite to tell them where they can plant their pennants.
THE best-known and probably most recruited local prospects this year are defensive lineman Tony Tata and quarterback Jason Gesser of St. Louis, and offensive lineman Rockne Freitas of Kamehameha.
VonAppen can't acknowledge he's interested in any of them, due to NCAA restrictions. But I think it's safe to assume all three are at the top of his list. And I'd venture to guess that the list includes other prospects like slotback Craig Stutzmann and linebacker Fabian Manumaleuna of St. Louis, Iolani linebacker Matt Wright, Kamehameha offensive lineman Hanale Vincent, Leilehua defensive lineman Lauvale Sape, McKinley offensive lineman Aukeso Tuiolemotu, Radford offensive lineman Chris Hogge, Waianae defensive lineman White Sosene, linebacker Robby Takara and defensive lineman Mark Muasau of Campbell.
If he's after running backs, the likely prospects might be Leilehua's Cameron Watson, Waianae's West Keliikipi or Kamuela Black, and Mililani's Jose Serate.
"We're in the hunt but I can't say what the yield will be," said vonAppen. "People today are so cosmopolitan. They're not as tied to the home state."
While there aren't any USA Today All-American candidates among the local prospects, it's significant that vonAppen believes there are as many as a dozen recruitable players right here.
He's been tracking these kids and he's confident they are academically as well as athletically worth pursuing.
VONAPPEN, a second-year head coach, knows he can do only so much to sell a program that is lacking in many areas beyond his control.
"We tell local prospects that we have fewer road games and a lot of home games -- eight -- so their parents can see them play. No place in the country can make that offer.
"And because we're still a basement-dwelling WAC team, there is opportunity to play.
"Also, we play in a conference that has a heavy pro orientation, and a lot of kids want to go to the NFL. We display what pro scouts are looking at."
These are sound selling points, but probably not strong enough to beat out a Nebraska, Colorado, Washington or Stanford for a highly recruited local player's favor.
VonAppen's task is formidable.
And the thing he really has to worry about is that local kids no longer apologize for going away.