Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football

Hawaii Warriors football
2008 Hawaii Warriors football team
File:HawaiiWarriors.png
First season	1909
Head coach	1st season, 0–0 (–)
Stadium	Aloha Stadium (capacity: 50,000)
Field surface	FieldTurf
Location	Honolulu, Hawaii
All-time record	491–373–26 (.566)
Bowl record	5–3 (.625) ()
Conference titles	3
Colors	Green and Black
Mascot	Vili The Warrior
Rivals	Fresno State (main rival) Boise State BYU
Website	HawaiiAthletics.com

The Hawaiʻi Warriors football team represents the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team, which is currently coached by Greg McMackin, is part of the Western Athletic Conference. They are the third non-BCS team to play in a BCS bowl game, having faced Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on January 1, 2008.

Hawaii Warriors Football History

Important milestones

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Vili Fehoko portrays Hawaii Warriors football mascot, Vili The Warrior.

• 1909 - The College of Hawaiʻi "Fighting Deans" played and won its first game against McKinley High School by a score of 6-5 in front of 2,500 fans at Punahou School.

• 1920 - The College of Hawaiʻi becomes the University of Hawaiʻi and the football team plays its first intercollegiate game against Nevada, losing 14-0 on Christmas Day.

• 1922 - Hawaiʻi defeats its first collegiate opponent, beating Pomona 25-6 on Christmas Day.

• 1923 - A rainbow appears over Moiliili Field after Hawaiʻi upsets Oregon State, 7-0. Local reporters begin calling UH athletic teams the "Rainbows."

• 1924-25 - The Rainbows, under the guidance of coach Otto Klum, complete back-to-back undefeated seasons. The Rainbows outscore their opponents 606-29 in 18 games. Among the schools defeated during this time are Colorado, Colorado State and Washington State. These two teams become known as the "Wonder Teams" due to their outstanding play.

• 1926 - The Rainbows play their first game at their newly-constructed home field, Honolulu Stadium. The Rainbows fall to the Town Team by a score of 14-7 in front of 12,000 fans on Armistice Day.

• 1935 - Rainbow running back and future coach Thomas Kaulukukui becomes Hawaiʻi's first All-American player. Kaulukukui starred on Hawaiʻi's 1934 undefeated team and set a school record in 1935 with a 103-yard kick return touchdown during a 19-6 loss to UCLA in Los Angeles. Kaulukukui's number 32 is later retired by the University and remains the only number to be retired in Hawaiʻi football history.

• 1942 - Following the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States' entry into World War II, Hawaiʻi cancels the 1942, 1943, 1944 and 1945 football seasons. This marks the second time Hawaiʻi has had to cancel football seasons due to the breakout of war. The 1912-14 seasons were cancelled due to World War I .

• 1946 - Hawaiʻi resumes football play after a four-year hiatus as a member of the NCAA. Hawaiʻi enters as a Division II Independent. The Rainbows continue to play local teams on occasion but the bulk of their schedules are made up of collegiate teams.

• 1955 - A year after suffering a 50-0 blowout loss to Nebraska in Honolulu, the Rainbows go up to Lincoln the following season and upset the Huskers 6-0. The win is considered one of the school's all-time biggest upsets.

• 1961 - The UH Board of Athletic Control votes to abolish the football program due to a lack of finances. The program would return to intercollegiate competition the following year behind the urgings of new athletics director Young Suk Ko.

• 1966 - Hawaiʻi completes its first all-collegiate schedule.

• 1968 - Head coach Dave Holmes begins what would be the most successful coaching tenure at Hawaiʻi. From 1968-1974, UH won 67 percent of its games and never suffered a losing season. Holmes still ranks as the all-time leader at Hawaiʻi in winning percentage (.718)

• 1973 - The Rainbows record what is widely considered to be the biggest upset in school history, defeating Washington 10-7 in front of 52,500 in Seattle. The Huskies were favored to beat Hawaiʻi by as many as 50 points.

• 1974 - Hawaiʻi becomes an NCAA Division I member. The team's new nickname becomes the "Rainbow Warriors." They play their final year at Honolulu Stadium.

• 1975 - 50,000-seat Aloha Stadium becomes the new home of Hawaiʻi football. Hawaiʻi loses its first game in the new stadium, falling to Texas A&I by a score of 43-9 in front of a crowd of 32,247.

• 1976 - The NCAA reclassifies its divisions and drops Hawaiʻi to Division I-AA (now FCS). Athletic Director Ray Nagel appeals the decision and the next month the NCAA reinstitutes Hawaiʻi to Division I-A (now FBS) status.

• 1979 - Hawaiʻi becomes a member of the Western Athletic Conference.

• 1986 - Defensive end Al Noga becomes the first Hawaiʻi player to be named a first-team All-American by the Associated Press. He also was tabbed as the school's first Heisman Trophy candidate.

• 1989 - Hawaiʻi plays in the program's first major bowl game — the Jeep Eagle Aloha Bowl. Hawaii falls to Michigan State, 33-13, before a sellout crowd at Aloha Stadium.

• 1990 - The Rainbow Warriors rout BYU, 59-28, on December 1. Earlier that day, BYU quarterback Ty Detmer won the Heisman Trophy.

• 1992 - Hawaiʻi wins a share of its first-ever WAC championship and posts its first bowl game victory, a 27-17 defeat of Illinois in the Thrifty Car Rental Holiday Bowl. Hawaiʻi would finish the season ranked 20th in the nation and post a team-record 11 victories.

• 1998 - Hawaiʻi suffers through the program's first-ever winless season, going 0-12 under head coach Fred von Appen. Von Appen coached the Rainbow Warriors to a 5-31 record in his three years at Hawaiʻi. He would be fired after the season.

• 1999 - June Jones becomes the new head coach at Hawaiʻi and guides the Rainbow Warriors to the best single-season turnaround in NCAA history, winning nine games and a share of the WAC championship. Hawaii would go on to defeat Oregon State in the Jeep Oʻahu Bowl, 23-17.

• 2001 - Hawaiʻi changes its nickname from "Rainbow Warriors" to simply "Warriors." Wide receiver Ashley Lelie becomes the highest draft pick in program history as the Denver Broncos select him with the 19th pick in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft.

• 2002 - Hawaiʻi is invited to play in the inaugural ConAgra Foods Hawaiʻi Bowl. The Warriors would fall to Tulane, 36-28.

• 2003 - Hawaiʻi returns to the Hawaiʻi Bowl and defeats Houston in a wild 54-48 triple-overtime game.

• 2004 - Hawaiʻi returns for a third-straight season to the Hawaii Bowl and triumphs over UAB, 59-40. Hawaiʻi quarterback Timmy Chang would also become the NCAA's all-time leader in passing yards with 17,072 over the course of his career, eclipsing the old mark (15,031) set by former BYU quarterback Ty Detmer.

• 2005 - Hawaiʻi finishes 5-7 and misses out on playing in a bowl game for the first time since 2001, despite a breakout year for quarterback Colt Brennan.

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2007 WAC Championship, Boise State @ Hawaii (HAWAII 39-27)

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2008 Sugar Bowl Georgia vs. Hawaii (GEORGIA 41-10)

• 2006 - Quarterback Colt Brennan sets NCAA single-season records for touchdown passes (58) and passer efficiency rating (185.96), on his way to a sixth-place finish in the Heisman Trophy voting. The Warriors return to the Hawaiʻi Bowl and defeat Arizona State, 41-24. Hawaiʻi head coach June Jones passes Dick Tomey to become the winningest head coach in school history.

• 2007 - Brennan adds to his collection of NCAA records, breaking Detmer's career records for TD passes and total TDs responsible for. He and wide receiver Davone Bess have also tied an NCAA record for most career TDs by a quarterback-receiver combination. The Warriors are unbeaten, with a breakthrough win against Boise State, giving the Warriors their first win ever over the Broncos as a WAC member and their first outright WAC title ever. A 35-28 win over Washington in the season finale on December 1 resulted in them finishing #10 in the BCS rankings and earning a berth in the Sugar Bowl. This is the first regular season Hawaiʻi has ever gone undefeated. Hawaii was also the sole undefeated college football team for the season. Hawaiʻi then played Georgia on Jan. 1, 2008 in New Orleans, losing 41-10.

• 2008 - Head coach June Jones resigns shortly after the 2007 season, ending his nine-year coaching run to become the new head coach at Southern Methodist University. On January 15, Greg McMackin, formerly the Defensive Coordinator under June Jones, accepted the position of Head Coach.

Rivalry

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Fresno State Bulldogs

The rivalry with Fresno State has increased greatly in recent years, with both teams contending regularly for the conference championship. The Bulldogs hold a slight edge in the series with a record of 20-18-1 against the Warriors. Coaches from both schools have accused each side of various episodes of poor sportsmanship over the years, and both schools have some of the nation's rowdiest home fans. The rivalry has featured some lopsided results, including a 70-14 Fresno victory in 2004 and a 68-37 Warriors victory in 2006. In 2007, allegations that Fresno State fans were physically and verbally abused by hometown University of Hawaii fans circulated the internet and television media added to this rivalry.

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Boise State Broncos

It was being reported that several Fresno State fans attempted to warn Boise State fans from attending University of Hawaii football games due to potential violence against them, however no incidents were reported by Boise State fans and many photographs from Hawaii-based publications covered incidents where Hawaii and Boise State fans were seen mingling together before and after their 2007 WAC Championship game.

Boise State and Hawaii have begun to develop a rivalry since the Broncos joined the WAC in 2001. Until Hawaiʻi defeated Boise State 39-27 on November 23, 2007 to clinch that year's WAC championship outright, the Broncos had won the all of the contests between the two schools since Boise State became a conference member. Many of them have been very closely contested. As these two teams are usually two of the better teams in the WAC, the rivalry can only be expected to grow in the coming years.

BYU Cougars

BYU had been regarded by many Hawaiʻi residents to be the Warriors' biggest rival and most high-profile game. One of the reasons for the interest in games against BYU comes from the large Mormon population in Hawaiʻi, especially on the island of Oʻahu, and BYU's success in recruiting players from Hawaiʻi (in addition, BYU has a campus in Hawaii). The rivalry with BYU has been largely one-sided, with the Cougars holding a 19-8-0 all-time advantage in the series and going 18-5 since 1972 when LaVell Edwards became BYU’s head coach. BYU won 10 straight contests against the Warriors from 1978 through 1988 and 6 straight from 1993 through 1998. Hawaiʻi has never won in Provo, Utah, losing all 8 contests by an average score of 34 to 18. The series has decreased in notability and importance due to BYU's defection to the Mountain West Conference in 1999. In 2001, Hawaiʻi ruined the then 8th-ranked Cougars' perfect 12-0 season and ended any chance of BYU earning a BCS bowl bid with a 72-45 victory at Aloha Stadium. The last meeting between the two teams was a 35-32 BYU victory at Provo in 2002. The rivalry has also been considered by some people to be one-sided on the terms of emotion. Though Hawaiʻi had considered BYU its main rival for quite some time, BYU usually did not return the favor, considering Utah to be their main rival.

Chronology of Hawaii Head Coaches

YEAR NAME RECORD NO AFFILIATION 1909–1911 Austin Jones 8–6 1912-1914 No Team 1915 John Peden 5–1–1 1916 William Britton 3–2–1 1917–1919 Dave Crawford 11–1–2 1920 Raymond Elliott 6–2–0 1921–1939 Otto Klum 82–46–7 1940–1941 Edgar Gill 10–6 1942–1945 No Team DIVISION II INDEPENDENT 1946-1950 Tom Kaulukukiu 42–19–3 1951 Archie Kodros 4–7 1952–1960 Hank Vasconcellos 43–46–3 1961 No Team 1962–1964 Jim Asato 15–12 1965 Clark Shaughnessy 1–8–1 1966 Phil Sarboe 4–6 1967 Don King 6–4 1968–1973 Dave Holmes 46–17–1 DIVISION IA INDEPENDENT 1974–1976 Larry Price 15–18 1977–1978 Dick Tomey WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE 1979-1986 Dick Tomey 63–46–3 1987–1995 Bob Wagner 58–49–3 1996–1998 Fred von Appen 5–31 1999–2007 June Jones 75–41 2008–present Greg McMackin 0–0 Bowl Games Results/Stats, Conference Championships and All-Time Team SEASON BOWL GAME OPPONENT W/L PF PA HEAD COACH 1989 Aloha Bowl Michigan State* L 13 33 Bob Wagner 1992 Holiday Bowl Illinois* W 27 17 Bob Wagner 1999 Oahu Bowl Oregon State* W 23 17 June Jones 2002 Hawaii Bowl Tulane L 28 36 June Jones 2003 Hawaii Bowl Houston W 54 48 June Jones 2004 Hawaii Bowl UAB W 59 40 June Jones 2006 Hawaii Bowl Arizona State* W 41 24 June Jones 2007 Sugar Bowl Georgia* L 10 41 June Jones * BCS team BOWL STATS Bowl Game Record 5-3 vs. BCS School 4-1 BCS Bowl 0-1 Conference Championship Year Championship Record HEAD COACH 1992 WAC^ 11-2 (6-2) Bob Wagner 1999 WAC^ 9-4 (5-2) June Jones 2007 WAC* 12-1 (8-0) June Jones * Outright ^Shared ALL-TIME TEAM OFFENSE DEFENSE QB Colt Brennan DL Al Noga Timmy Chang Falaniko Noga WR Ashley Lelie Levi Stanley Jason Rivers Travis LaBoy Davone Bess Maa Tanuvasa Chad Owens LB Mark Odom Walter Murray Jim Morris RB Gary Allen David Maeva Travis Sims Pisa Tinoisamoa TE Harry Kahuanui Randy Ingraham OL Samson Satele DB Abraham Elimimian Jim Kalili Jeris White Jesse Sapolu Dana McLemore Leo Goeas Rich Miano Joe Onosai Blane Gaison Amosa Amosa P John Morse Vince Manuwai K Jason Elam Dan Kelly HONORABLE MENTION QB Garrett Gabriel, Michael Carter, Nick Rolovich WR Justin Colbert, Jeff Sydner, Dane Mcarthur, Ryan Grice-Mullins, Golden Richards RB Nate Ilaoa, Larry Sherrer, Nolle Smith, Hiram Kaakua, Heikoti Fakava OL Hercules Satele, Kaulana Noa, Larry Jones, Adrian Klemm, Kynan Forney, Tala Esera DL Melila Purcell, Larry Cole, Cliff Laboy, Ikaika Alama-Francis, Isaac Sopoaga LB Alvis Satele, Adam Leonard, Bill Wise, Jeff Ulbrich, M.L. Johnson DB Joe Kaulukukui, Nate Jackson, Kevin Millhouse, Hyrum Peters, Leonard Peters, Eddie Klaneski K Justin Ayat P Chad Shrout Uniforms File:08warriorsunderarmoruniform.jpg Hawaii Warriors 2008 uniform provided by Under Armour. File:Hawaiihelmet.gif Hawaii Warriors 2000 green helmet will be use for both home and away games. Recently for the 2008 season coming the warriors launched new under armor uniforms.They have removed all silver from the uniforms including the helmet and have for away white jerseys green numbers and green pants Black Jerseys with black pants. With only one green helmet. They had a black home jersey with green numbers, white away jersey with black numbers and a green jersey with black numbers. They had two sets of pants, silver and black, which feature a Polynesian tattoo design on one leg. They also had a green helmet worn at home and away and they had silver helmets worn home and away. For the 2008 Sugar Bowl, they introduced a new uniform consisting of plain white pants, white jerseys, and silver helmets. Their uniforms are made by Nike and their uniforms have been this way since 2005. In the 2005 season, they wore a white jersey with silver numbers that lasted for only 3 games made by Nike. Then they went to the away jerseys with black numbers for the rest of the season and up to 2007. Before that, Hawaii had a green jersey with white numbers, a white jersey with green numbers and a black jersey with green numbers. They had one helmet that was green. They had one set of black pants. They had these uniforms, which were produced by Reebok, until 2000. Hall of Fame Coach Clark Shaughnessy Individual Awards/Recognitions AP All-Americans Colt Brennan, 2006 & 2007 3rd team Q Davone Bess, 2007 3rd team WR Chad Owens, 2004 2nd team KR (AP) Jason Elam, 1991 3rd team K Larry Khan-Smith, 1988 2nd team RS Al Noga, 1986 1st team DL Walter Murray, 1985 3rd team WR AP Little All-Americans Levi Stanley, 1973 2nd team DT Jim Stone, 1971 3rd team DE Tim Buchanan, 1968 1st team LB Nolle Smith, 1941 1st team HB Scripps/FWAA Freshman All-Americans Davone Bess, 2005 WR Samson Satele, 2003 OL Chad Owens, 2001 KR CoSIDA Academic All-Americans Chris Shinnick, 1997 Mosi Tatupu Award Chad Owens, 2004 Sammy Baugh Trophy Colt Brennan, 2006 School Record Holder Team records Consecutive victories: 13, 2006 - 2007 Consecutive home victories: 11, 1988-1989 Consecutive winning seasons: 9, 1967-1975 Largest NCAA Division I margin of victory: 59 vs. UTEP, Oct. 13, 2001 Most points in a season: 554, 2007 Victories in a season: 12, 2007 Career records Career passing yards: 17,072 (NCAA record), Timmy Chang, 2000-2004 Career passing touchdowns: 131 (NCAA record), Colt Brennan, 2005-2007 Career rushing yards: 3,451, Gary Allen, 1978-1981 Career rushing touchdowns: 39, Michael Carter, 1990-1993 Career touchdowns responsible for: 146 (NCAA record), Colt Brennan, 2005-2007 Career touchdowns, quarterback-receiver combination: 39 (ties NCAA record), Colt Brennan to Davone Bess, 2005-2007 Career receptions: 293, Davone Bess, 2005-2007 Career receiving yards: 3,919, Jason Rivers, 2003-2007 Career receiving touchdowns: 41, Davone Bess, 2005-2007 Career all-purpose yards: 5,461, Chad Owens, 2001-2004 Career points leader: 395, Jason Elam, 1988-1992 Career tackles leader: 366, Levi Stanley, 1969-1972 Career sacks leader: 36, Mark Odom, 1987-1990 Career interceptions leader: 13 (Tie), Keone Jardine, 1977-1979 & Kevin Millhouse Jr., 2001-2003 Single-game records Most passing yards in a single game: 559, Colt Brennan vs. Arizona State, 2006 Most passing touchdowns in a single game: 8, Nick Rolovich vs. BYU, 2001 Most rushing yards in a single game: 270, Pete Wilson vs. BYU, 1950 Most rushing touchdowns in a single game: 5, Heikoti Fakava vs. Yale, 1987 Most receiving yards in a single game: 308, Jason Rivers vs. Arizona State, 2006 Most receiving touchdowns in a single game: 4, Jason Rivers vs. Idaho, 2004, vs. Washington, 2007 and Ryan Grice-Mullen vs. New Mexico State, 2005 Most receptions in a single game: 14, Chad Owens vs. Army, 2003, Davone Bess vs. Fresno State, 2005, Jason Rivers vs. Arizona State, 2006, and Ryan Grice-Mullen vs. San Jose State, 2007 Most total kick return yards in a single game: 342 (NCAA record), Chad Owens vs. BYU, 2001 Longest field goal made: 56 yards, Jason Elam vs. BYU, 1992 Most points scored in a single game: 72, vs. BYU, 2001 Single-season records Most passing yards in a season: 5,549, Colt Brennan, 2006 Most passing touchdowns in a season: 58 (NCAA Record), Colt Brennan, 2006 Most passing touchdowns in two seasons: 94, Colt Brennan, 2006 Most consecutive pass attempts without an interception: 182, Colt Brennan, 2006 Best efficiency rating in a season (min. 100 att.): 185.96, Colt Brennan, 2006 Most rushing yards in a season: 1,498, Travis Sims, 1992 Most rushing touchdowns in a season: 18, Jamal Farmer, 1989 Most receiving yards in a season: 1,713, Ashley Lelie, 2001 Most receiving touchdowns in a season: 19, Ashley Lelie, 2001 Most receptions in a season: 108, Davone Bess, 2007 Most total tackles in a season: 169, Jeff Ulbrich, 1999 Most sacks in a season: 17, Al Noga, 1986 Most interceptions in a season: 9, Walter Briggs, 1989 Statistics compiled from the University of Hawaiʻi football Media Guide and NCAA.org. Where Are The Warriors Now? Current NFL players Jason Elam - K, Denver Broncos Jeff Ulbrich - LB, San Francisco 49ers Kynan Forney - OG, Atlanta Falcons Ashley Lelie - WR, San Francisco 49ers Vince Manuwai - OG, Jacksonville Jaguars Pisa Tinoisamoa - LB, St. Louis Rams Isaac Sopoaga - DT, San Francisco 49ers Travis LaBoy - DE, Tennessee Titans Ikaika Alama-Francis - DE, Detroit Lions Leonard Peters - SS, Chicago Bears practice squad Melila Purcell - DE, Cleveland Browns Dane Uperesa - OL, Cincinnati Bengals practice squad Samson Satele - OL, Miami Dolphins Reagan Mauia - FB, Miami Dolphins Tala Esera - OL, Indianapolis Colts practice squad Mat McBriar - P, Dallas Cowboys Other Current Professional Players Timmy Chang - QB, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, CFL Chad Mock - WR, British Columbia Lions, CFL Other Famous Coaches and Players Jerry Burns - Former head coach at Iowa (1961-1965) and for the Minnesota Vikings (1986-1991). Former Hawaii assistant coach. Dom Capers - Former head coach of the Carolina Panthers (1995-1998) and Houston Texans (2002-2005). Former Hawaii assistant coach. Keith Gilbertson - Former head coach at Idaho (1986-1988), Cal-Berkeley (1992-1995) and current assistant coach for the Seattle Seahawks (2005-present) . Attended school. Paul Johnson - Former head coach at Georgia Southern (1997-2001), Navy (2002-2007), and the current head coach at Georgia Tech (2008-current). Former Hawaii assistant coach. Ken Niumatalolo - Current head coach at Navy (2008-current). Former Hawaii player. Al Noga - Defensive lineman, Minnesota Vikings (1988-1992), Washington Redskins (1993), Indianapolis Colts (1994). Larry Price - Former Hawaii head coach and current radio personality for 92.3 KSSK in Honolulu. Jesse Sapolu - Offensive lineman, San Francisco 49ers (1983-1997). Two-time Pro Bowler, four-time Super Bowl champion. Roy Shivers - Former Hawaii assistant coach and former general manager of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Maa Tanuvasa - Defensive lineman, Los Angeles Rams (1994), Denver Broncos (1995-2000), San Diego Chargers (2001). Two-time Super Bowl champion. Mark Tuinei - Offensive lineman, Dallas Cowboys (1983-1997). Two-time Pro Bowler and three-time Super Bowl champion. Dick Tomey - Former Arizona (1987-2000), Hawaii head coach and current head coach at San Jose State (2005-present). Bob Wagner - Former Hawaii head coach. June Jones - Former Hawaii head coach and current SMU head coach (2008-present). Former head coach for the Atlanta Falcons (1994-1996) and San Diego Chargers (1998). Led Hawaii to 2 WAC Championships. For a full list of Hawaii players drafted into the NFL, visit NFL.com Previous team helmets c. 1950s & 1960s c. 1950s & 1960s c. early 1970s c. early 1970s 1974 1974 1976-1977 1976-1977 1978-1981 1978-1981 1982-1998 1982-1998 1999 1999 2005-2007 (away helmet) 2005-2007 (away helmet) 2000-present 2000-present External links University of Hawaiʻi - Office of Intercollegiate Athletics Warrior Sports Network - University of Hawaiʻi Sports Forum Sports Hawaii Forums - University of Hawaiʻi Football The Warrior Beat - by Stephen Tsai Colt Brennan for Heisman 2007 NCAA.org - Football records The Helmet Project Fan Page (live-blogging of Warriors' games and news)