Rebuffed in U. S., Kane Looks Toward Europe : Halfback Anxious to Try Italian Football

Thwarted in attempts to catch on with professional football teams in the United States and Canada, Mike Kane has set his sights on another continent.

The former All-American tailback at Cal State Northridge appears headed for Europe to play in the Italian-American Football Assn.

If final details on a contract can be worked out, Kane--suitcase and translation book in hand--may say arrivederci as early as next week. His destination: the city of Milan in northern Italy.

Kane, Northridge’s all-time leading rusher, worked out for several NFL scouts last year and also attended tryout camps for Canadian football teams. He has written to every NFL team again this year requesting a tryout but says he is tired of waiting.

“I’d still like a tryout with somebody,” he said, “but when this came along I decided to go with it.”

Kane last played football for Northridge in 1986, gaining 1,565 yards and earning a Western Football Conference award as offensive player of the year. Since then, he has continued studies at CSUN for a degree in physical education.

Despite the many accolades he earned in four seasons as a starter in the Northridge backfield, the 5-10, 185-pound Kane was passed over in the professional draft. Subsequent attempts to catch on with a team during this season’s NFL players’ strike were fruitless.

He is hopeful that a big season in Italy might still spark some interest.

The chances of that happening? Well, NFL scouting only stretches so far, but Bob Frasco, who has played in the Italian league the past two years, thinks Kane will be molto magnanimo (“among the finest”) of the IAFA’s rushers.

“From what I’ve seen and what I’ve heard, he should be one of the best,” said Frasco, who helped the Milano Frogs to the league championship last year. “If he doesn’t play for our team, I’m sure I can arrange for him to play with another team.”

In October, Milano Coach Andy Everest asked Frasco to bring the Frogs a new set of legs when he returned to Italy to play this season. Frasco, the starting quarterback at San Jose State in 1983 and 1984, said he will be leaving for Italy soon to work out the final details of a contract for Kane--with one team or another.

The Italian style of play and Kane seem suited for each other. “Teams run,” Frasco said. “That’s mostly it. Last year, we were the first team in league history to pass for more than 2,000 yards in a season.”

Italian football, which starts in February and ends with a championship game in mid-July, is played on a regulation field and is governed by NCAA rules. Three American players are allowed on the roster of each of the league’s 26 teams, but none can play quarterback and only two can be in the lineup at the same time.

Frasco, who was a reserve quarterback on the Rams’ strike team, played running back and outside linebacker for the Frogs last season.

The American players, who are there to coach as much as anything else, are the only ones who get paid. Frasco earned $1,200 a month last season with all expenses paid, including a car, an apartment and money for meals.

Kane could make as much as $3,000 a month, Frasco said, because for the first time in the eight-year history of the league the Italian government is a sponsor.

Football is the most popular sport in Italy among teen-agers, Frasco said. “The older generation doesn’t understand it, so they don’t come out much, but the younger generation is really into it,” he said. “They televise one NFL game a week and people just go crazy.”

Crowds average about 5,000 during the regular season, and as many as 25,000 attend playoff games.

The Milano team practiced three nights a week last season--the Italian players have to work during the day--and played on Saturdays.

“That’s the only bad part about it,” Frasco said, “You have a lot of spare time. There’s not much to do but travel around.”

Kane thinks he can live with that drawback. “As soon as I get an official offer, I’m out of here.”