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First
and Final
Impressions
When I first
came to Iolani,
I had not
yet heard
about the
legendary
Father Bray.
However, as
time passed,
I was soon
educated about
the amazing
man that led
Iolani to
victory in
various sports
on both the
ILH and state
levels. After
a few years
of attending
Iolani, I
had formulated
for myself
an image of
Father Bray
that was consistent
with the information
that I had
heard from
both students
and faculty.
He seemed
like the perfect
man: an impressive
coach, a humble
victor, and
the father
of the “one
team”
spirit. Judging
from the numerous
memorials
to Father
Bray that
can be found
around the
Iolani campus,
one could
easily assume
that Father
Bray was one
of the most
important
figures in
Iolani history.
What surprised
me most after
reading The
Ol’
Man, though,
was that despite
Father Bray’s
many accomplishments
and innovations,
he had to
deal with
many of the
same issues
and character
flaws that
can be found
in the common
man. Though
my opinion
of Father
Bray has not
changed too
much after
reading the
biography,
I did find
some of his
coaching methods
and eccentricities
to be quite
startling,
especially
by today’s
standards.
Nonetheless,
Father Bray
still possessed
a multitude
of admirable
qualities
in addition
to his flaws.
One aspect
of Father
Bray’s
coaching that
I found somewhat
surprising
was the aggressive
manner in
which he dealt
with his players.
On numerous
occasions
the biography
describes
instances
in which Bray
slaps, kicks,
or otherwise
inflicts unnecessary
pain on his
players in
order to get
his point
across. One
incident of
particular
note took
place during
one of the
long practice
sessions that
Father Bray
held after
school. A
talented running
back was unable
to focus on
the practice
session because
he did not
want to tear
off the newly
formed scab
on his wound.
Father Bray,
“frustrated
by the youngster’s
lack of concentration
and his inability
to give 100%,”
decided to
take matters
into his own
hands. He
took the boy
to the locker
room and proceeded
to “[nudge]
the boy over
to the sink,
[take] a scrub
brush and
[rub] the
scab off his
abrasion”
(129). Furthermore,
his use of
intimidation,
deprivation
(in the case
of the availability
of water),
and humiliation
were similarly
shocking.
One would
be foolish,
however, to
neglect the
obvious difference
in ideology
and general
coaching mentality
during this
time.
Bray utilized
tactics that
would most
likely be
ineffective
in modern
practices.
For example,
if Father
Bray was unhappy
with the way
practice was
turning out,
he was known
to walk away
from the team
until they
sent a delegation
out to his
house on Judd
Street to
beg him to
come back.
Years later,
one of his
former players,
who later
became a coach
himself, decided
to attempt
similar tactics.
Coach Masa
Yonamine decided
to walk off
the field
one day when
he was unsatisfied
with his team’s
performance.
Instead of
begging Yonamine
to come back,
however, the
entire team
decided to
go home. Sadly,
Yonamine “had
to ask his
assistant
to call all
the players
back to practice”
two days later
(185). Yonamine’s
players did
not understand
their coach’s
approach.
Yonamine’s
players’
reactions
reflected
the changing
times and
demonstrated
a shift in
the mentalities
of both coaches
and players.
However, Bray’s
ability to
influence
his players
did not arise
solely from
a difference
in the general
1950s coaching
mentality.
Bray possessed
many admirable
character
traits that
seemed to
draw people
to him in
an effort
to seek his
respect and
friendship.
After reading
the novel,
I realized
that Father
Bray could
be both generous
and caring
despite his
somewhat caustic
demeanor throughout
practices
and games.
Many times
after he had
been unkind
to one of
the players,
he would hug
him and share
some meaningful
words with
him. Also,
while he emphasized
the “one
team”
spirit and
humility,
there are
a few examples
of Bray rewarding
his players
monetarily
for their
accomplishments.
By singling
out an individual
and praising
him with a
monetary offering,
Bray seemed
to contradict
the “one
team”
concept that
he so often
preached.
Another surprising
revelation
was how much
of an effect
Bray had on
every single
one of the
young men
that he coached.
For me, it
is difficult
to understand
how his players
could have
respected
him so much,
especially
after he treated
them so unkindly,
at least by
today’s
standards.
I could not
make sense
of how Bray
could be such
a harsh man
on the field
but such a
kind, caring,
and father-like
figure as
he watched
over the boys
at the Judd
Street house.
The biography,
in its attempt
to be complete
and thorough,
may have portrayed
Father Bray
as more eccentric
and cruel
than the authors
intended.
For a man
to have garnered
so much respect
from not only
his players
but also the
entire community,
even years
later, speaks
volumes of
his character.
There must
have been
something
very special
about Father
Bray that
is not quite
perceptible
through the
available
literature,
but rather
only becomes
real when
one is in
Bray’s
presence.
Ideals and
methodology
have most
certainly
changed, but
for the people
who were coached
by Father
Bray or who
had the privilege
of knowing
him, there
appears to
be no question
in their minds
about the
greatness
of Iolani’s
Ol’
Man.
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