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MARCH 19, 2014 LEAHEY & LEAHEY
>>JIM: HEY, WELCOME BACK. >> KANOA: GOOD TO BE BACK.
>>JIM: YOU WERE BUSY WITH ESPN. DOING ESPN.
NATIONAL CABLE. I DID NOTICE ONE THING.
OF ALL THE GAMES YOU DID, YOU WERE WEARING THE SAME SUIT.
>> KANOA: NEW IT'SED THAT? IT'S TRUE.
IT'S LIKE THE OLD RODNEY DANGERFIELD JOKE.
I'VE GOT A SUIT FOR EVERY YEAR. THIS IS IT.
>>JIM: YEAH. >> YOU NEVER KNOW WHO'S GOING TO
BE SITTING AT THE KITCHEN TABLE ON "LEAHEY & LEAHEY."
A GENERATIONALLY CHALLENGED DISCUSSION ON SPORTS AND OTHER
LIVING THINGS. "LEAHEY & LEAHEY."
>> KANOA: WHAT'S UP. WELCOME TO ANOTHER EDITION OF
"LEAHEY & LEAHEY." OUR GUEST COMING BY THE HALE,
FORMER KAHUKU FOOTBALL COACH REGGIE TORRES IS GOING TO BE
SWINGING BY. INVOLVED IN A CONTROVERSIAL MOVE
BY THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT KAHUKU WHERE SHE HAD ALL THE FALL
SPORTS COACHES AND THE EXPECTATION IS THAT SHE WILL DO
THE SAME FORT WINTER AND SPRING COACHES.
THEY ALL HAD TO REAPPLY FOR THEIR OLD POSITIONS.
IN THE CASE OF REGGIE TORRES, HE WAS REPLACED BY A COACH BY
IDAHO, LEE LESLIE. >>JIM: YEAH.
YOU KNOW WHY HE WAS REPLACED? HIS RECORD.
75-14. >> KANOA: IN IDAHO.
>>JIM: NO, NOT IDAHO. REGGIE TORRES.
I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE GUY FROM IDAHO.
>> KANOA: REGGIE TORRES WAS THE LAST THREE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
WOULD HAVE PROBABLY HAD A THIRD TO START THAT RUN OFF HAD IT NOT
BEEN FOR SOME OF THE SITUATIONS THEY RAN INTO.
LEE LESLIE COACHING IN IDAHO. THE REASON I SAID THAT IS HAWAII
BRAND OF FOOTBALL IS A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN IDAHO'S BRAND OF
FOOTBALL. >>JIM: DO YOU THINK?
>> KANOA: I THINK THAT'S CLEAR. SO WE START OFF OBVIOUSLY THAT
THE SHOW IN THE HOT TOPICS WITH THAT.
AND MY TAKE ON THIS, POPS, IS IT'S JUST PREPOSTEROUS.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A CIVILIZED
SOCIETY, AND ESPECIALLY HERE IN THE ISLANDS, WHERE WE TRY TO DO
BUSINESS IN THE WAY THAT CAN BE DESCRIBED AND CATEGORIZED AS
PONO, I DON'T THINK IT IS PONO TO MAKE SOMEBODY REAPPLY FOR A
JOB THEY ALREADY HAVE. PARTICULARLY, THEY HAVE A JOB IN
WHICH THEY ARE EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS OR IN WHICH THEY
ARE THRIVING IN WHICH THEY ARE DOING INCREDIBLE THINGS.
THE REASON WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS IS, I HAVE A STRONG OPINION
ON THIS, AND I DON'T WANT TO BE -- OUR RANT TO BE CONFUSED
WITH REGGIE TRYING TO PUT THIS NARRATIVE TOGETHER.
THIS IS WHAT I THINK. THIS IS WHAT WE THINK.
WE THINK IT'S PARTICULARLY UNFAIR.
>>JIM: THE PRINCIPAL HAS A CHANCE TO HAVE HER NAME TO GO IN
INFAMY. THAT'S HOW SERIOUS THIS IS.
THIS IS NOT JUST ANY COACH. THIS IS NOT JUST A COACH THAT
HAS USED UP HIS TIME. THAT HE'S NO LONGER EFFECTIVE.
HIS TEAM DOESN'T PAY ATTENTION TO HIM.
THIS WAS A CHAMPIONSHIP COACH. HE WON THREE CHAMPIONSHIPS TWO
OF THE LAST THREE HE'S WON. 75 VICTORIES.
ONLY 14 DEFEATS. HE WAS THE COACH THAT WAS
LEGENDARY. AND TO BE TREATED LIKE THIS --
TO BE TREATED LIKE THIS IS UNCONSCIONABLE.
IT REALLY IS. IT'S THAT SERIOUS.
>> KANOA: AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME HE'S BEEN AT KAHUKU.
AND THE LOYALTY HE'S SHOWN NOT ONLY AS A FACULTY MEMBER BUT
REGARDS TO THE FOOTBALL TEAM. THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT THAT
PROGRAM HAS MADE, AND THIS PROGRAM HAS BECOME NOW THE
STANDARD IN PREP FOOTBALL. WHAT IS AN INCREDIBLY HIGH LEVEL
BRAND OF FOOTBALL IN THE STATE OF HAWAII ON THE PREP LEVEL.
KAHUKU IS NOW THE STANDARD. AND HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST DECADE
OR SO. SO TO THEN PUT THE HEAD COACH OF
THAT PROGRAM TO A DECISION LIKE THAT OR TO A SCENARIO LIKE THAT
WHERE, HEY, LOOK, GREAT JOB. JOB WELL DONE.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REAPPLY FOR THIS JOB THAT YOU ALREADY
HAVE. AND IT WILL BE DIFFERENT IF WE
HAD DONE PRIVY TO, SAY, YOU KNOW, STORIES OF REGGIE TORRES
NOT TREATING PLAYERS FAIRLY OR BEING TOUGH TO DEAL WITH FROM A
FELLOW FACULTY STANDPOINT OR NOT DEALING WELL WITH PARENTS OR
DOING A DISRUPTION IN THAT WAY. BUT WE KNOW HIM.
HE CERTAINLY IS NOT THAT. HE'S THE ANTITHESIS OF THAT.
HE EMBODIED, I THINK, WHAT SPORTSMANSHIP AND LOYALTY AND
CARING ABOUT THE KIDS, WHICH IS THE PART OF THE JOB THAT SHOULD
COME FIRST NO MATTER WHAT. HE'S THE EMBODIMENT OF THAT.
>>JIM: THERE'S NO ONE -- FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T THINK HE SHOULD
HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT IF HE IS REPLACED, THERE'S NOBODY IN
HAWAII? THEY HAD TO GO TO IDAHO?
IT LOOKS LIKE A SETUP. >> KANOA: THERE ARE OTHER
SUBPLOTS TO THIS. FROM WHAT WE ARE INFORMED, LEE
LESLIE IS A MEMBER OF THE LSB CHURCH.
THERE'S A PROMINENT PRESENCE ON THE NORTH SHORE.
WHO KNOWS IF THAT PLAYED A ROLE IN THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
HERE. BUT I DO THINK, HEY, LEE LESLIE,
GOOD LUCK TO YOU. GOOD LUCK IN THAT NEW VENTURE.
HERE'S COMING FROM IDAHO. IDAHO IS NOT HAWAII IN TERMS OF
FOOTBALL. AGAIN, IT WAS UNFAIR.
>>JIM: YOU KNOW, THE NEW COACH IS GOING TO COME IN, AND HE'S
GOING TO HAVE ALL KINDS OF DIFFICULTIES, I THINK.
BUT FOR HIM TO TAKE THE JOB, FOR HIM TO JUST TAKE THE JOB AND
SAY, YEAH, I WANT THE JOB. I WANT THE JOB, TO REPLACE A
LEGEND OF REGGIE TORRES, THAT, TO ME, THERE'S SOMETHING FLAWED
IN HIS PERSONALITY. >> KANOA: I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
CAN FAULT HIM. THE JOB WAS OPEN.
IN HIS MIND, AS FAR AS WHAT HE WAS INFORMED, AS FAR AS THE
INFORMATION PRESENTED TO HIM. THE JOB IS OPEN AND YOU HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE IT. I DON'T BLAME HIM.
WE'LL TALK WITH REGGIE FURTHER ABOUT IT.
LET'S GET INTO OTHER THINGS. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT
RAINBOW WARRIOR BASKETBALL. TOMORROW HAWAII TAKING ON CAL
STATE NORTHRIDGE IN A FOUR-FIVE SEED IN ANAHEIM.
HAWAII REACHING 20 WINS. FIRST TIME IN THE GIB ARNOLD
TENURE, POPS, HOW YOU FEELING ABOUT THE 'BOWS HEADING INTO
THIS TOURNEY. BIG WEST TOURNAMENT WIDE OPEN.
>>JIM: YEAH, WIDE OPEN. AND THIS TEAM IS THE KIND THAT
HAS THE POTENTIAL TO GO FAR. HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PLAY
EXCITING BASKETBALL NO MATTER WHOM THEY ARE PLAYING AGAINST.
BUT THERE IS THAT QUESTION MARK. THAT QUESTION MARK THAT ALWAYS
LOOMS AT THE END OF THEIR PERFORMANCE, ARE THEY GOING TO
BE GOOD OR ARE THEY NOT GOING TO BE GOOD BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE
THE CONSISTENCY. THAT'S WHAT I WORRY ABOUT.
DO I WISH THEM WELL? YES.
I HOPE THEY GO TO THE BIG DANCE, AS THEY CALL IT.
BUT I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY'LL BE ABLE TO DO IT THREE STRAIGHT.
>> KANOA: AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WIN THE TOURNAMENT TO GO
TO THE DANCE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A ONE-TEAM
LEAGUE ONE IT COMES TO THE NCAA TOURNAMENT.
IRVINE WRAPPED UP THE BERTH. FOR HAWAII, 20 WINS, THAT'S THE
BARRIER. YOU MORE OR LESS HAVE TO BREAK
THAT EVEN TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE NIT BECAUSE OF THE BERTH.
THERE AREN'T AS MANY AT LARGE SPOTS AVAILABLE.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS THAT'S UP FOR GRABS.
ABSOLUTELY UNEQUIVOCABLY HAWAII CAN GET HOT.
HE'S SO IMPORTANT TO THE OVERALL SUCCESS OF THE TEAM.
IT'S ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE FIRST TEAMERS.
CHRISTIAN STANDHARDINGER AND ISAAC FOTU.
CAN THEY AVOID FOUL TROUBLE? CAN THEY PRODUCE PUT-UP NUMBERS?
>>JIM: IT'S A NEUTRAL COURT. ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.
THEY HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO DO IT.
>> KANOA: ON THE WOMEN'S SIDE, KAMILHA JACKSON DID NOT GET
RECOGNITION. POPS, YOU DO THOSE GAMES.
LET THEM KNOW. >>JIM: KAMILHA JACKSON IS A
WONDROUS PLAYERS. SHE HAS OVER 1500 POINTS.
SHE IS AN AMAZING PERFORMER. HER 55 DOUBLE-DOUBLES OVER THE
COURSE OF THE SEASONS THAT SHE HAS HERE, THAT'S PRETTY HARD TO
BEAT. SHE MISSED THE LAST SIX GAMES OF
THE REGULAR SEASON. AND THAT'S WHAT PROBABLY KNOCKED
HER OFF THE PERCH OF THE FIRST TEAM SELECTION.
SHE MADE SECOND TEAM WITH EASE. BE THAT AS IT MAY, HOPEFULLY
SHE'LL BE ABLE TO PLAY. IT'S A GAME TIME DECISION.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF PERCENTAGE SHE'LL HAVE.
WILL SHE BE 90%? 80%?
HOPEFULLY SHE'LL BE ABLE TO PLAY A MEANINGFUL GAME.
THIS IS WHAT BOTHERS ME. THE WOMEN IS SUPPOSED TO BE
EQUAL TO THE MEN. REMEMBER TITLE IX?
YOU WOULD THINK IT'S GOING TO BE PLACED ON A NEUTRAL FLOOR.
NOT -- IN THIS CASE, HAWAII HAS TO PLAY LONG BEACH AT LONG
BEACH. NOW YOU TELL ME HOW THAT
HAPPENED? NO ONE TALKS ABOUT THAT.
OH, SCHEDULING PROBLEMS WITH THE WOMEN.
THEY CAN'T FIT ALL THE TEAMS IN ANAHEIM.
COME ON! HERE IS A TEAM, HAWAII, WHO IS
RANKED HIGHER THAN LONG BEACH STATE AND THEY'RE GOING TO PLAY
LONG BEACH STATE AT LONG BEACH STATE.
COME ON! >> KANOA: GO FIGURE.
FORMER UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII QUARTERBACK COLT BRENNAN, WHO
WAS INVOLVED WITH THAT SERIOUS 2010 CAR ACCIDENT ON THE BIG
ISLAND. WAS RECENTLY DIAGNOSED
OFFICIALLY WITH TBI, TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.
AND OF COURSE COLT SIGNED WITH AND EXPECTED TO PLAY FOR THE
LOS ANGELES KISS OF THE ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
SIGNED LAST OCTOBER. HE HAD BEEN IN TRIALS AT LEAST
AND IN TRAINING CAMP WITH A COUPLE OF OTHER TEAMS.
COLONIALS. NONE OF THOSE STOPS DID THEY
DIAGNOSE HIM WITH TBI, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT STEMS FROM THAT
ACCIDENT. POPS, WHERE ARE WE AT WITH COLT.
HOW DANGEROUS IS THIS DIAGNOSIS? >>JIM: I HAVE A FEW MORE CLASSES
BEFORE I GET MY MEDICAL DEGREE. I DON'T KNOW HOW SERIOUS.
AND IT CAN BE LETHAL. THIS IS WHAT SCARES ME.
HE PROBABLY CANNOT PLAY CONTACT SPORTS AGAIN, FOOTBALL AND
THINGS LIKE THAT. BOY, WAS HE A GOOD PLAYER.
58 TOUCHDOWNS IN ONE YEAR. HE WAS A TERRIFIC PLAYER.
AND I THOUGHT HE'D HAVE A FINE PRO CAREER.
BUT WITH THIS DIAGNOSIS, YOU KNOW, WE WISH HIM WELL BUT HE'S
GOT TO DO SOMETHING ELSE. >> KANOA: YEAH.
THIS IS A WRAP. AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE.
HE HAD SUCH A TREMENDOUS CAREER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.
BELOVED BY THIS PLACE. THINGS HAVE GONE SOUTH AS FAR AS
HIS FOOTBALL CAREER. THINGS HAVE GONE SOUTH IN HIS
OFF THE FIELD EXPERIENCES AND ENDEAVORS BECAUSE OF THE
ACCIDENT. BECAUSE OF THAT DUI LAST YEAR
THAT HE PLEAD GUILTY TO EVENTUALLY.
HE JUST HAS HAD A ROUGH GO OF IT, AND THIS JUST COMPOUNDS
THAT. ANYBODY THAT TALKS TO HIM SINCE
THAT ACCIDENT KNOWS THERE WASN'T SOMETHING RIGHT.
HE ACTUALLY WOULD ADMIT, I HAVE SOME MEMORY LAPSES.
I HAVE ISSUES WITH THAT. BEING ABLE TO PAY ATTENTION FOR
A LONG TIME. ALL OF THE SYMPTOMS SEEM TO BE
THERE. NOW YOU GO TO THE
IRRESPONSIBILITY OF THE DOCTORS AFFILIATED.
THOSE DOCTORS THAT LOOKED AT HIM, HOW COULD THEY NOT HAVE
DIAGNOSED HIM WITH THAT? HOW AT RISK WAS HE?
THIS IS NO TYPE OF INJURY, FROM WHAT I GATHER THIS IS AN INJURY
WHERE IF HE WERE TO TAKE SOME KIND OF SQUARE SHOT AND HE WERE
TO RECEIVE ANOTHER CONCUSSION, THAT COULD BE FLAT LINE TIME.
THAT'S SOMETHING HE COULD LOOK AT FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT.
>>JIM: WE WISH HIM WELL. [DOG BARKING]
>> KANOA: COMING IN COACH. >> HOW ARE YOU?
>> DOGS GOT BIG. >> KANOA: REGGIE TORRES.
NOW WE HAVE TO DESCRIBE YOU AS THE FORMER HEAD COACH OF THE RED
RAIDER FOOTBALL TEAM. WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT COLT
BRENNAN. HE WAS HELPING YOU WORKING WITH
THE QB'S. IF I MAY ASK YOU YOUR THOUGHTS
ON COLT. >> WE HEARD THAT TRAUMA HE HAD
WITH HIS BRAIN, BUT HE WAS A GOOD COACH.
KIDS LOVED HIM. HE WAS PATIENT, HE WAS CALM
UNDER PRESSURE. I THINK THAT'S AN AVENUE HE
SHOULD PURSUE. >> KANOA: THAT WOULD BE
SOMETHING. STILL BE INVOLVED WITH THE GAME.
AS HE HAS BEEN THE ENTIRE TIME WE'VE KNOWN HIM, HE'S AS
CHARISMATIC AND REMAINS THAT WAY.
THAT'S AN INTERESTING THOUGHT. LET'S GET TO YOUR SITUATION.
YOU WERE THE HEAD COACH AT KAHUKU SINCE 2006.
75 WINS FOR YOUR FOOTBALL PROGRAM.
11 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS TO YOUR CREDIT IN FOOTBALL, WRESTLING
AND JUDO. IT GOES ACROSS THE BOARD AS FAR
AS THE KIND OF IMPRINT YOU LEFT WITH KAHUKU.
WHEN DID YOU FIRST LEARN OF THE DECISION WHERE THE COACHES WERE
GOING TO BE ASKED TO REAPPLY? WHAT WAS YOUR THOUGHT OF THAT?
AND AS THE THING HAS PLAYED OUT, WHERE ARE YOU WITH IT?
>> WELL, WE FIRST GOT WIND OF THIS FROM OTHER COACHES.
THEY CALLED ME. IT WAS TUESDAY, THE LAST WEEK OF
JANUARY. THEY WERE ABOUT TO START OUR
PREPARATION FOR OUR OFF SEASON TRAINING.
THEY TOLD ME CHECK MY MAIL. THE MAIL SAID ALL SPORTS WILL BE
OPEN FOR HIRE. YOU KNOW, FOR ME I WAS SHOCKED,
DISAPPOINTED, BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.
JUST WENT ON AND TRIED TO DO MY BEST TO GET THE JOB BACK.
>>JIM: AND, SEE, IF IT HAPPENED TO ME, IF I GOT A LETTER AFTER
MY RECORD THAT, SAY, I HAD THE SAME RECORD AND STATE
CHAMPIONSHIP. AND I GOT THAT -- YOU HAVE TO
REAPPLY, I'D BE FLATTENING TIRES.
NO, YOU CAN'T DO THAT TO ME. THAT'S THE WRONG WAY TO REACT TO
THIS, OF COURSE. YOU HAVE TAKEN THE HIGH ROAD.
AND I THINK THAT'S COMMENDABLE THAT YOU HAVE REACTED THAT WAY.
IF IT HAPPENED TO ME -- >> KANOA: FLATTENING TIRES.
YEAH, HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO HOLD IT TOGETHER IN THE WAY THAT
YOU HAVE? >> IT'S TOUGH, BUT I ALSO
REPRESENT MY STAFF. A LOT OF GOOD COACH WHO PUT AS
MUCH TIME AS I HAVE INTO OUR PROGRAM.
YOU KNOW, THEY WANTED TO CONTINUE COACHING.
I WENT OUT THERE TO TRY TO WIN THE JOB NOT JUST FOR MYSELF BUT
FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HELPING ME.
MY COACHES, STAFF MEMBERS, TEAM MOMS.
EVERYONE INVOLVED WITH THE PROGRAM.
WHEN I LEAVE, WE DON'T HAVE TO BE BACK IN THE PROGRAM.
IT'S UP TO THE NEXT COACH. >> KANOA: THIS IS A PROGRAM AND
A JOB THAT, LIKE SOME OTHERS, YOU CAN PUT ST.~LOUIS INTO THAT
CATEGORY. THIS FAN BASE HAS THE UTMOST OF
EXPECTATIONS. YOU WIN YOU GO 12-0, THEY IN A
SEASON AND YOU WIN A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
THERE ARE FANS THAT SAID YOU SHOULD GO 13-0.
THIS IS THAT KIND OF COMMUNITY AND THAT KIND OF FAN BASE.
YOU HAD TO FACE SOME OF THAT AND DEAL WITH SOME OF THAT
THROUGHOUT YOUR TIME AS HEAD COACH.
BUT IN YOUR WILDEST DREAMS, DID YOU EVER THINK IT WOULD GET TO
THE POINT WHERE YOU, WHO OCCUPIED THIS POSITION, HAS TO
BE PUT IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAD TO DEFEND YOURSELF AS FAR AS
YOUR PLACE IN THAT POSITION? >> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S A
BUSINESS. AND I UNDERSTAND IT'S PART OF
WORK. IT'S A BUSINESS.
NEW MANAGEMENT, THEY COME IN. THEY CAN CHANGE THE STAFF.
THAT'S PART OF THE BUSINESS. BUT FOR ME WITH THE TIME I'VE
SPENT AT KAHUKU, THIS IS GOING ON MY 29TH SEASON AND THE
PROGRESS WE MADE FROM YEAR ONE TO YEAR EIGHT, WE'VE PUT IN A
WORKOUT PROGRAM. WE CHANGED OUR WEIGHT TRAINING
PROGRAM. WE CREATED A TUTORING AND
MENTORING PROGRAM. I WAS SHOCKED.
AND NOT GETTING BACK THE JOB, IT WAS HURTFUL, TOO.
BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS. IT'S A NEW VISION FOR OUR NEW
ADMINISTRATION. I GUESS WE'RE NOT PART OF IT.
>> KANOA: YOU MENTIONED HURTFUL. ARE YOU HURT BY THIS?
>> OF COURSE. YOU PUT IN A LOT OF TIME.
YOU KNOW, ANY COACH WHO GOES INTO A PROGRAM ALWAYS WOULD LIKE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT ON YOUR OWN.
YOU WANT TO LEAVE THE GAME WHEN, I DID ALL WE CAN.
WE FELT THAT WE DIDN'T ACCOMPLISH YET AND WE WANTED TO.
WE FEEL WE'RE A FEW YEARS TO GETTING THE PROGRAM WHERE IT
JUST FLOWS. IT'S ABOUT THE CULTURE.
WE'VE CHANGED AND CONTINUED TO WORK ON IT.
CONTINUE TO GET PEOPLE TO -- BUY INTO IT.
FROM YEAR ONE TO NOW, PEOPLE OFF THE BOARD WERE ON THE BOARD.
SEEING THE DIRECTION WE'VE BEEN TAKING.
BUT IT'S A BUSINESS. I UNDERSTAND THAT ASPECT.
AND IT'S TOUGH. >>JIM: HOW CAN YOU CALL -- YEAH,
IT'S ULTIMATELY IT'S A BUSINESS, BUT IT'S A BUSINESS THAT IS
COACHED WITH EDUCATION. IT IS COACHED WITH HIGH SCHOOL
EDUCATION AND NOT ONLY ACADEMICS BUT ATHLETICS TOO.
AND TO HAVE THIS DONE TO YOU OR TO YOU WITH THIS KIND OF -- LIKE
IT WAS AGREED BEFORE THIS PROCESS EVEN STARTED.
THAT'S WHAT I'M REALLY HAVING TROUBLE WITH BECAUSE ALL OF A
SUDDEN, THIS NEW COACH SHOWS UP. NOT OF HAWAII BUT OF IDAHO, AND
HE'S GOING TO COME IN AND TAKE OVER A PROGRAM THAT IS ONE OF
THE BEST IN THE STATE OF HAWAII. AND CAN BE COMPARED WITH OTHER
PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES.
AND I'LL BE WONDERING ABOUT THAT.
HAVE YOU WONDERED ABOUT THAT? THIS WAS DONE BEHIND THE SCENES
EARLY? >> I'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF
CALLS AND TEXTS AND E-MAILS. A LOT OF SUPPORTERS ARE
WONDERING THE SAME THING. I TRY NOT TO FOCUS ON THAT.
I TRY TO FOCUS ON THE KIDS AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE THE
TRANSITION EASIER FOR THEM. THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO.
THEY OPENED UP THE POSSESSION. I WAS FORTUNATE AND THANKED THE
PRINCIPAL FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY AND AT
LEAST HAVE A CHANCE. THIS COACH GOT IT.
I JUST HOPE HE CAN DO IT RIGHT FOR THE KIDS.
IF THAT'S THE BEST, SO BE IT. >> KANOA: WHAT ABOUT YOUR NEXT
MOVE? YOU'RE BEING COVETED BY MANY
PROGRAMS BY THE STATE OF HAWAII. I'M SURE YOU'VE BEEN CONTACTED
ALREADY. THERE'S ALREADY BEEN A FEW
THINGS WRITTEN IN THE NEWSPAPER ABOUT THE OPENING AT MOANALUA.
DO YOU SEE YOURSELF TAKING ANOTHER COACHING JOB?
>> RIGHT NOW IT'S TOUGH BECAUSE I'VE BEEN A RED RAIDER FOR LIFE.
I GRADUATED FROM THERE. I PUT SO MUCH TIME INTO THAT
SCHOOL. NOT JUST ATHLETICS BUT THE
SCHOOL ITSELF. TWO OF MY KIDS GRADUATED FROM
THERE. IT HELPED CREATE ME AS A PERSON.
MY COACHES, MY TEACHERS, AND IT HELPED CREATE MY KIDS TO BE
SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE OUT IN THE WORLD.
IT'S TOUGH TO LEAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
LEAVE THAT BEHIND. 29 YEARS THERE, YOU KNOW.
THAT'S NOT EVEN COUNTING AS A STUDENT.
YOU LOOK AT ALL THE YEARS, THREE-FOURTHS OF MY LIFE.
I TOOK A STEP BACK. I GOT NINE HAWAII SCHOOLS THAT
HAD CONTACTED ME OFFERING POSITIONS.
AND IT'S GREAT. IT FEELS GREAT TO BE APPRECIATED
THAT WAY. BUT RIGHT NOW I'M TRYING TO
SPEND TIME WITH MY NEW GRANDCHILDREN.
I'M A GRANDFATHER. I'M TRYING TO WORK ON MY GOLF
GAME, WHICH NEEDS A LOT OF WORK. I DON'T WANT TO JUMP INTO A
DECISION AND LATER ON NOT DO RIGHT BY THE DECISION.
IF I JUMP TO MOANALUA AND IF I GET THAT POSITION, YOU GOT TO GO
WHOLEHEARTEDLY. I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT PROGRAM
INJUSTICE IF MY HEART IS SOMEWHERE ON THE NORTH SHORE.
IT WOULDN'T BE FAIR TO THE KIDS. FOR ME TO MAKE A MOVE AS FAR AS
COACHING, I NEED TO LET KAHUKU GO FIRST SO CAN I MOVE FORWARD.
IF NOT, IT WON'T BE FAIR. >>JIM: IT SEEMS TO ME THERE'S
GOING TO BE A ROLE FOR YOU AS -- THAT COMES NATURALLY BECAUSE OF
YOUR SUCCESS OF GURU. THE PLAYERS WILL COME AFTER
PRACTICE, THE PLAYERS WILL COME JUST TO TALK TO YOU.
BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN THERE SO LONG.
YOU'VE BEEN PART OF THEM SO LONG.
YOU JUST DON'T CUT THAT OFF. SO YOU'LL STILL BE THERE BUT
YOU'LL BE THERE IN A DIFFERENT ROLE LIKE YOU'RE ON THE TOP OF
THE HILL. YOU'RE THE GURU.
IF THEY HAVE PROBLEMS. >> KANOA: THAT'S AN INTERESTING
QUESTION. DO YOU HAVE TO, OUT OF RESPECT
TO THIS NEW STAFF, DO YOU HAVE TO WATCH THAT OR TRY TO NOT BE
AS CLOSE TO THE PROGRAM OR PLAYERS?
IS THERE GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOME KIND OF BOUNDARY THAT YOU
HAVE GOING TO HAVE TO ADOPT IS THIS.
>> NUMBER ONE THING IS TRY TO MAKE THE TRANSITION EASIER.
WE CAN'T HAVE THE KIDS LOOKING TOWARDS ME WHEN THE COACH IS
TALKING. IT'S ABOUT RESPECTING THE COACH
AND CONTINUE WORKING. KEEP WORKING HARD.
KEEP APPLYING THE STUFF WE TAUGHT THEM.
AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL CONTINUE TO BE TAUGHT.
THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO. LIKE I TOLD MY PRINCIPAL, I'M
GOING TO LEARN HOW TO BE A CHEERLEADER TO SUPPORT THEM.
>> KANOA: YOUR SON RICHARD, FORMER UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII
STANDOUT, GETTING INTO COACHING. WHAT HAS HE SAID?
DOES THIS DISCOURAGE HIM FROM HIS ASPIRATIONS IN THE COACHING
INDUSTRY? >> IT'S BEEN TOUGH FOR MY FAMILY
AND KIDS. RICHARD, HE'S COME BACK AND
GIVEN SO MUCH IN THE PROGRAM. HE'S ALWAYS BEEN A RED RAIDER.
MY OLDER, SHE WENT TO KAMEHAMEHA AND DIDN'T LIKE IT AND CAME BACK
TO KAHUKU. RICHARD WAS ALWAYS, I WANT TO
PLAY AT KAHUKU. IT'S BROKEN HIS HEART BECAUSE
THIS IS THE SCHOOL THAT HE LOVED.
THAT HE LOOKED UP THAT. AND HE WANTS TO COME BACK AND
GIVING BACK. NOW IT'S LIKE, YOU HURT MY DAD,
I'M DONE. AND IT'S SAD.
YOU DON'T WANT THEM PICKING THAT UP.
KAHUKU HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR THEM.
THAT'S THE ROAD HE'S TAKEN. HE'S DOING THE GA AT U.H.
WHEN HE'S DOING MAYBE HE WAS GOING TO HELP MIANO.
MIANO HAS BEEN ALWAYS GOOD TO HIM.
DAD, JUST MOVE ON ALREADY. BUT HE'S HURTING.
HE'S DISAPPOINTED IN THE SCHOOL. >>JIM: YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR A
LOT FROM THE PLAYERS WHO HAVE TO ADJUST TO THE NEW PHILOSOPHY AND
COACHING STAFF. YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THEM.
I SAID THAT YOUR IMAGE AT KAHUKU IS NOT DONE YET.
>> KANOA: THE WAY YOU TALK ABOUT STILL WANTING THE BEST FOR THESE
KIDS, YOU SAID YOU THANKED THE PRINCIPAL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
APPLY FOR THE POSITION. THAT GOES, I THINK, DIRECTLY
TOWARDS THE CHARACTER THAT YOU'VE EXHIBITED FROM THE FIRST
DAY THAT I MET YOU. AND I'M CERTAIN I SPEAK FOR POPS
AS WELL. THAT CLASS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A
PART OF WHO REGGIE TORRES IS. THAT SAID, WHAT WILL YOU SAY
WHEN YOU COME FACE TO FACE WITH THE NEW HEAD COACH?
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR FIRST PEACE OF ADVICE?
HE'S NOT A GUY WHO EXPERIENCED A NORTH SHORE.
IT'S A UNIQUE PLACE. WHAT'S YOUR FIRST BIT OF ADVICE?
>> GOOD LUCK. THE BIGGEST THING IS WEAR
EARPLUGS. EVERY COACH THAT CAME BEFORE ME
WENT THROUGH THE SAME THING. YOU'LL NEVER PLEASE EVERYONE.
THE BIGGEST THING IS FOCUS ON THE KIDS IN FRONT OF YOU.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT. FOCUS ON THEM.
YOU DO THAT YOU'LL BE FINE. >>JIM: THE FOOTBALL IS NOT OVER
FOR, I THINK, REGGIE TORRES. I THINK HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL IS
GOING TO BENEFIT FROM YOUR EXPERTISE IN THE YEARS TO COME.
AND IN THAT, I REALLY WISH YOU WELL.
BECAUSE WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO YOU, I THINK, IS UNJUST IN THE
LEAST. IT JUST DOESN'T FIT.
>> KANOA: IT WON'T BE THE SAME TALKING ABOUT -- IT WILL BE VERY
STRANGE TALKING ABOUT KAHUKU RED RAIDER FOOTBALL AND NOT
ASSOCIATING YOUR NAME WITH IT. WE WISH YOU THE BEST.
YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN A PERSON WE'VE RESPECTED.
PLAYERS WILL MISS YOU. HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE A NEW
SET OF PLAYERS THAT WILL COME ACROSS THAT COACHING PHILOSOPHY
AND THAT CLASS THAT YOU BRING. SO GOOD LUCK WITH THAT.
>> THANKS. >> KANOA: REGGIE TORRES.
SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON "LEAHEY & LEAHEY."