Still no word on USFJ-AFL Torii Bowl date

We're no closer at 8:40 p.m. Tuesday to a new date for the U.S. Forces Japan-American Football League championship Torii Bowl game, which has been postponed for a second time.

The postponement is largely due to the South Division pushing its championship game back to Saturday, at 6 p.m. at Kubasaki High School's Mike Petty Stadium.

While the move was made partly to let wounded players heal and to add a few days' cushion to a jam-packed makeup schedule that saw Kadena and Joint Task Force play twice in five days, the crux of the matter is "finding a dedicated stadium" for South Division teams to play, assistant coach Paul Nuttall of defending champion Foster said.

South Division games have changed venues this season the way some people change socks. It almost appeared as if the division had found a home at Ryukyu Middle School on Kadena, but that fell through late last month. Two games have been played at Kadena High School -- which doesn't have lights -- another was played at Courtney Bowl and last week, the South Division semifinal was staged at Joint Task Force's practice field at Camp McTureous.

Mike Petty -- a first-class facility with turf in far better shape than any of the others -- was made available but only on Saturdays.

Problem with staging the South title game on July 24 is ... the Torii Bowl was slated for July 25 by commissioner Sean Dath. Impossible for Foster or JTF to do, play the Torii Bowl one day after the division championship.

Dath is on leave from his regular job, as Fleet Activities Yokosuka's acting chief of public affairs, and was unavailable for comment.

Problem with trying to reschedule is ... Yokota can't host a game the following weekend because fitness and sports at Yokota is supporting another event that weekend.

Problem with that is ... the next available date is Aug. 7, on which the three North Division teams have scheduled a game with a Japan X-League semipro team; all three North teams are contributing players to that.

Aug. 14? Much too late in the game, several have said. "We don't want to drag out the season," Yokota coach Selwyn Jones said.

Should the South title game have remained on Tuesday? "We were ready to go tonight," said one JTF player.

Should Yokota find some way to squeeze in the game despite the other activity taking place July 31? "We accommodated Yokota last year; it's only fair that they do the same for us this year," Foster receiver Corey Moore said.

Should another way be found to play the game on July 31, such as having Yokota host it at Yokosuka Naval Base's Berkey Field? In the spirit of cooperation, that would be the ticket.

"July 31 is the best date for all concerned," Moore said.

The problem is, getting that date to work.

Stay tuned. More to come.

• Email
• Print
• More...