When even the coach sports a bloody gash on his nose you know it was a war.
"I wonder what they would’ve done to me if we lost," jokes Doug Cosbie, whose 57-year-old schnoz encountered a happy helmet during the rambunctious celebration following his Kamehameha football team’s 38-17 win over No. 1-ranked Saint Louis on Friday.
Just a little scratch for Cosbie. This is a man who absorbed hits from people like Lawrence Taylor and Ronnie Lott when he was a Pro Bowl tight end for the Dallas Cowboys.
You wouldn’t guess he’s THAT Doug Cosbie by his demeanor.
"He looks kind of like an old surfer," notes running back Brandon Kahookele. "You know, he’s the O’Neill guy."
Kahookele says this with great reverence; if you’re a Hawaii kid, surf brand ownership impresses as much as an NFL career that ended before you were born.
Kahookele concedes, however, that Cosbie’s pro experience from the era of playing two running backs at the same time (oh my, how revolutionary!) benefits him and the Warriors.
THE EXTRA blocker helped Kamehameha’s big, experienced offensive line and the extra runner took more pressure off sophomore quarterback Noah Sua-Godinet as Kainoa Simao and Kahookele pounded away at a Saint Louis defense that is solid but smallish up front.
That was in the third quarter. In the fourth, the Warriors’ defense took over the game with three interceptions of Ryder Kuhns, one of the state’s best quarterbacks. It also stymied the Crusaders’ bullish running back Adam Noga throughout the game, rendering Saint Louis’ offense one-dimensional.
The 4-0 Warriors will likely be the new No. 1 in the Star-Advertiser poll, which comes out on Tuesday.
No one is surprised at the Kamehameha talent, or that Cosbie is successful — just that it’s happening this quickly, since he only took over three months ago and the Interscholastic League of Honolulu is a year-round endeavor.
"Believe it or not we’re not even close to where we should be," he says. "I’m happy where we are, but I’m not satisfied."
He can’t afford to be, not in the ILH. This Friday’s opponent is perennial Division II state champion ‘Iolani, and in two weeks it’s No. 2-ranked Punahou.
HOUSTON ALA, who coaches the defensive line, says staff and players have responded to Cosbie’s laid-back style. He sets a framework and lets his people work.
"He doesn’t micromanage. He puts you in a position to succeed and stays out of the way unless you need him, and he has a lot of expertise."
It’s back to the grind Monday. Sundays haven’t been Cosbie’s most important work day since 1989, when he hung it up in training camp with the Broncos after 10 years with the Cowboys.
This morning, it’s beach time.
"You live in Hawaii, you gotta take advantage of it," Cosbie says.
Today he’s just another surfer who looks like he took a board to the nose recently.
Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783 or on Twitter as @dave_reardon.
