Aloha Prep Bowl to Show Hawaii’s and Mainland’s Best Prep Football Players

HONOLULU , HI – November 17, 2009 – The best of the best senior high school football players from Hawaii, American Samoa and the Continental United States have been chosen for the second annual Aloha Prep Bowl, presented by the Hawaii Army National Guard, set to take place Saturday, December 12, 2009 at Hawaii’s Aloha Stadium. The Aloha Prep Bowl is produced by Football University (FBU), an invitation-only camp for elite-level youth and prep players, in conjunction with the Hawaii Union Builders (HUB) Foundation. Proceeds from the Aloha Prep Bowl go to the HUB Foundation, which provides scholarships to Hawaii college-bound student athletes.

FBU executives said the impetus was to showcase the great football talent and culture of Hawaii to other top prep athletes and sports fans across the nation. The Aloha Prep Bowl is a two-game showcase that features the Hawaii Goodwill Senior Bowl (4:00 PM HST) and the Hawaii/Polynesian-Mainland Bowl (7:00 PM HST). FBU is owned and operated by SportsLink.

“Hawaii has one of the best football cultures in the world, a true warrior mentality and continually produces top football talent. The state isn’t recognized like a Texas, California or Georgia, but deserves more of the spotlight,” said Rich McGuinness, president of FBU. “Hawaii is a hotbed for gridiron talent and we are pleased to be involved with an event that can create an opportunity for more Hawaii high school senior players to showcase their skills.”

The Aloha Prep Bowl will highlight 138 top Hawaii players. One hundred of the best Oahu players will play in the Hawaii Goodwill Bowl, now in its 19th year thanks to the HUB Foundation, in an East vs. West challenge. Forty of mainland U.S.A’s top prep football players will compete against a Hawaii team comprised of 38 players from across Hawaii, three players from American Samoa, and nine mainland players with ties to the Aloha State in the Hawaii/Polynesia-Mainland Bowl. Rosters to be announced shortly.

The Mayor of Honolulu, Mufi Hanneman, was a leading advocate of bringing a national high school game to Honolulu last year, when it was known as the Hawaii All-Star Football Classic.

The Hawaii/Polynesia Mainland Bowl will be broadcast nationwide on FOX West Prime Ticket (blacked out in Hawaii) and in other select regions from around the country. The Hawaii Goodwill Senior Bowl will be broadcast live locally via OC16 pay-per-view. Both games will be on Starcomm Sports Radio (ESPN 1420), and via the internet by Hawaii Digital Sports at www.hawaiidigitalsports.com and by ScoringLive at www.ScoringLive.com.

Tickets are available now at the Aloha Stadium Box Office and at www.HawaiiAthletics.com. Ticket Pricing: General Admission $10, Premium Seating $20, and Free for children 5 and under.

Helping make this bowl a reality is the Aloha Prep Bowl local sponsors, including: presenting sponsor, Hawaii Army National Guard; OC16; Dixie Grill; Starcomm Sports Radio; Hawaii Digital Sports; Honolulu Star-Bulletin/MidWeek; Ward Pet Spot; Pacific Administrators, Inc.; The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 1186; Bank of Hawaii; Hawaii Self Storage; Seven-Eleven Hawaii, Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines; McDonald’s Hawaii; Lemke, Chinen and Tanaka, CPA, Inc., and Ironworkers Union Local 625.

The Aloha Prep Bowl and the island of Oahu will be featured in the reality show, “The Ride.” “The Ride” is America’s newest sports reality show and will be on hand at the bowl to film for two episodes. The show, which airs on Fox Sports Net (Fox Sports Net West Prime Ticket in Hawaii) and Comcast SportsNet affiliates nationally, takes eight quarterbacks in a gradual elimination format and provides them with elite training from FBU’s NFL instructors. Two quarterbacks will advance to participate in the Aloha Prep Bowl with one vying for a chance at being named to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. These two players will be announced later.

Visiting the islands from January 22nd to the 24th will be FBU, the nation’s best football training experience. Modeled after an NFL mini-camp, FBU is an elite, invite-only football camp with NFL instructors like Andre Rison, Hawaii’s own Kurt Gouveia and top-notch NFL coaches who have trained the likes of Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Matt Ryan.

FBU and the return of the Aloha Prep Bowl signify the growth of the 50th state on the football field.

About SportsLink/Football University: SportsLink was started in 2000 as a sports-marketing and management company that produces and oversees many sporting events and properties, including the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, Football University and the Football University Youth All-American Bowl. The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is the nation’s premier high school football game, featuring the best 90 players in a classic East vs. West match-up. Reggie Bush, Adrian Peterson, Terrelle Pryor and Tim Tebow all made their national debuts as U.S. Army All-Americans. Football University is an invitation-only camp for elite-level youth and prep players focusing on teaching technical and skill in a small-group setting under the professional tutelage of former NFL players and coaches.

Football University is the nation’s foremost gridiron training experience, bringing together NFL star players and coaches along with top prep athletes. Numerous college athletes have gone through the ranks of Football University, receiving three days of elite training and unprecedented recruiting and media coverage.

About Hawaii Union Builders Foundation: The Hawaii Union Builders Foundation (HUB Foundation) is a federal tax-exempt 501(c)(3) educational and charitable organization.  The foundation develops and implements programs, services, and activities of a charitable nature designed to foster and enhance the education and quality of life of the general populace within the State of Hawaii, with special emphasis on students within the primary and secondary school system.  The HUB Foundation’s Hawaii Goodwill Senior Bowl was created in 1991, by those who wanted to develop a “goodwill” concept for a high school All-Star East versus West football match-up. A true community event, the Bowl salutes the outstanding efforts of Oahu players, coaches, cheerleaders and marching bands.