2 ILH teams

[twnoexcuses]

Here's why, in my view, it will never happen.

It comes down to questions and perceptions of "class".

Those questions and perceptions cut straight to the hearts of all involved, and when people make decisions with their hearts, the existence AND the absence of "class" cause wrong decisions.

"Class Resentment"

As reflected constantly on this board, and in discussions, and in the stands every time an OIA and ILH school play one another, there are perceptions that the OIA and ILH represent two different socio-economic "classes" in Hawaii. While that is basically untrue, because all of us suffer living in paradise, and in some cases, private school attendance (and therefore, ILH participation) actually makes most ILH family's economic struggle worse, the perception exits, in no small part by the attitude and approach of the OIA and DOE (not to mention that it is their go to excuse for lack of accomplishment). Embedded in the OIA sports establishment's psyche and message is a convenient belief that the ILH operates at some sort of higher level, worthy of and justifying resentment.

"Class Warfare"

Once resentment becomes so deeply rooted, there is no hope of "fairness" or sportsmanship. It becomes a contest. And, the OIA claims victory in that contest by using its votes to exclude what it resents, and "getting" more than it may actually deserve. 3 OIA teams in the State tournament. 1 ILH. A resounding "win" every year. The oppressed overcoming the oppressors. The mob getting justice. The OIA getting revenge on the kids and families who've abandoned it.

"No Class"

But, in the end, as in any display of "no class", things end up backfiring. Whoever ends up being the third place OIA team, they will enter the State tournament with a clear label that there is at least one better team out there more deserving than they. This year it is St. Louis. In other years, it could be Kamehameha Kapalama or Punahou. It is an annual conclusion that everyone comes to in the recent decade. Ultimately, it is not fair to the third place OIA team to be looked at as the beneficiary of ill gotten, or undeserved achievement. But, that is how it's viewed.

"No Class Builds Character"

Enduring "no class" and its effect, however, does have its positives. In the immediate short term, and especially for the second place, and even third place team annually in the ILH, it is painful to know that on the merits, they deserve a shot at playing in any Hawaii State football championship tournament.

But, that pain is fleeting, as is, actually, the joy of winning the State Championship or playing in the State Tournament.

Life is long. The lessons to be gained about fairness, unfairness, what kind of person one wants to be, what if feels like to be the victim of unfairness, what "no class" looks like, and how to choose to act with "class" or "no class" are all important.

The ILH first, second and third place kids get and understand those lessons. I think, though unfair, it makes them stronger in the end.

And, because of that dynamic, there's kind of a reverse engineering effect, and fait accomplis going on.

How much of a leap is it to look at the OIA's tooth and nail fight to get its third place team into the State Championship as similar to the DOE concept of social advancement from one grade level to the other? Isn't that one of the messages sent by the OIA? "We will reward ostensibly questionable achievement and portray it as success"??

I think the OIA thinks it is "leveling the playing field" somehow. That it is compensating somehow for the intrinsic unfairness they see in the nature of public versus private schools.

But, by doing so, I think the playing field becomes more skewed. I think that artificial creation or definition of success that gets the third place OIA team a spot in States is precisely the attitude that private school parents consider insufficient and dangerous. So, instead of being more attractive, an OIA school, particularly one vying for 3rd place in the OIA, becomes less attractive. And, a plan ostensibly designed by the OIA to keep kids at their schools (for the heightened possibility of playing in a State Championship tournament), becomes a subconscious reason why the private school route is more attractive.

And, so, you have the fait accomplis. Private schools are more attractive. Maybe the chances of playing in a State Tournament are less But, the chance of avoiding being taught and supervised, and role modeled by those whose first instinct is to behave with "no class" appears to be a greater concern.

[twnoexcuses]

Perhaps the most graphic recent example of what I wrote of above, in addition to the annual limit of one ILH team in the football state championships (and the keeping of the total number of DI slots at 6 (to prevent 8 teams and the necessity of a 2nd ILH team), is last year's White Division All Star voting.

That was inexcusable and a complete display of "no class".

What happened to the Kaiser players in that voting was a travesty.

Perfect example of perceived class warfare, the mob ganging up and "no class".

As is the OIA's way, kids suffered. Both the possible ignominy of being named to the All Star team undeserving, as well as being left off as if they themselves had done something wrong, other than just playing in a system designed by adults (and left without recourse to correct the things the White coaches were bitter about by adults).

[yobabyyo]

How they figure ranking D1 teams when do not play each other?

[base]

How can you have rankings when it doesn't mean anything? The best teams are not competing in the State Tournament! SMH #backwards

[dirtylickens]

One OIA team should he replaced by UH. I think UH could probably beat the third place OIA team.

the ILH and UH recruit their players so they should have their own state title game.

the OIA can have our own seperate state title game (public schools state title).

and the winners of both conferences can meet in the hawaii bowl

When you say recruit, do you imply that we just allow kids to come into the school without taking exams of any sort or going through the exact same exams as other perspective students? because you are completely wrong. Say what you want about recruiting in private schools but unlike Kaiser, and Mililani, its not a signed paper turned into the DOE and youre all of a sudden playing for Rich Miano or Rod York. Its exams, interviews and an entire process you go through. Now do athletes get breaks? Yes, but that does not mean the ILH is looking at these kids and handing them a schedule and a playbook to show up and play. These families are making sacrifices to give their children opportunities that are not available at a public school. Punahou, Kamehameha, St. Louis, Iolani, and most of the other private schools in the state are great schools, and parents are sending there kids to take interviews at these schools to give them better academics and opportunities. The ILH has been a better league collectively over the past decade. Say what you want about the size, but the ILH has had better teams left out than the OIA 3rd place teams that have gotten in.