By Lance Tominaga
There are some major questions about the upcoming University of Hawaii football season: Will the Rainbow Warriors play a full 13-game schedule? Will fans be allowed at Aloha Stadium? Will there even be a season at all? (The answer to the last question has to be “yes,” right? RIGHT?) But one thing that isn’t a question is this: The UH football program has had its share of outstanding players in its proud history. From college football record setters to All-Americans and even a Heisman Trophy finalist, Hawaii fans have been able to witness the talents and grit of many gridiron greats.
But which players are the best of the best? Who would comprise the All-Time Rainbow Warrior football team?
Selecting such a team is nearly an impossible task because there are so many deserving players to choose from. For example: Colt, Timmy or Michael Carter? Lelie, Bess or Murray? Woodcock, Noga or Sopoaga? Even attempting to put together a list like this can be considered c-r-a-z-y.
But being sheltered in place for two months makes you do crazy things.
So here’s my All-Time UH Offense. We’ll focus on the Defense later this week.
A brief explanatory note: In selecting my team, I went with a traditional football lineups. (Sorry, no run-and-shoot or spread offense here.) Also, my memories of UH football only date back to the tail end of the Dave Holmes years, so unfortunately you won’t find a Larry Sherrer or Tommy Kaulukukui on this team.
Here we go:
OFFENSE:
Quarterback: COLT BRENNAN. In his junior season in 2006, he shattered numerous UH records, including single-season passing yards (5,549) and total yards (5,915). He also set the NCAA single-season record with 58 TDs. The next season, Brennan led the program to a perfect 12-0 regular season and it’s first-ever Sugar Bowl berth. He finished third in the Heisman Trophy race.
Running Back: GARY ALLEN. Hawaii’s career rushing leader, with 3,451 net yards. More importantly, he was an electrifying centerpiece of the Rainbow Warrior teams that brought “Saturday Night Fever” to the Islands in the late 1970s-early 1980s. A UH Sports Circle of Honor inductee.
Running Back: JOEY IOSEFA. Iosefa would line up at fullback on this team. A punishing runner with nimble feet, he finished his career No. 5 on the school’s all-time rushing list (2,218) before having a brief stint with NFL’s New England Patriots.
Center: SAMSON SATELE. A four-time All-WAC selection (2x First Team), Satele anchored the UH O-line that protected both Brennan and Timmy Chang.
Guard: JESSE SAPOLU. He would go on to be win four Super Bowl rings as a member of the San Francisco 49ers, but Sapolu was a standout lineman at UH. He was an All-WAC guard for the team before being asked to switch to Center after an injury to Ed Riewerts. “I had never played center before. Taking a step back and snapping your hand back we’re totally new to me,” he once recalled. (Sapolu would become a 2x Pro Bowl selection at that position.)
Guard: VINCE MANUWAI. A standout on June Jones’ earliest UH teams, the Farrington alum didn’t allow a sack in his final 35 games. He was a 3x All-WAC selection, and College Football News named him a First-Team All-American after his senior campaign. He also enjoyed a lengthy NFL career with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Tackle: LEO GOEAS. Came to UH hoping to be a tight end, but wound up becoming an outstanding tackle for the Warriors in the mid- to late-1980s. He was later a third-round selection of the San Diego Chargers and had an eight-year NFL career.
Tackle: DAN AUDICK. At 6-2, 250 lbs., Audick was a bit undersized for his position, but his smarts and technique made him a key component on the offensive one during the Larry Price era. He was later drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers and won a Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers.
Tight End: JERRY SCANLAN. No, he didn’t have big numbers. He played in the 1970s for Larry Price and Dick Tomey, who emphasized the running game. But the Iolani product was a key member of the offensive line. He played briefly for the Washington Redskins before a neck injury ended his career.
Wide Receiver: ASHLEY LELIE. He’s the only UH receiver to log three 200-yard games, and all three came during his senior year in 2001. Had a combined 547 receiving yards in consecutive games that season (285 versus Air Force, 262 against BYU. Became the highest NFL Draft pick in school history (No.19 overall in 2002).
Wide Receiver: DAVONE BESS. Greg Salas had more yardage, but I’m giving Bess a slight edge because of his ability to score (Bess is the UH career leader with 41 receiving TDs; Salas had 26). He was perhaps Colt Brennan’s most reliable weapon.
*** [5/27/20] ***
Earlier this week, I presented my (very) subjective picks for the University of Hawaii’s All-Time Offensive Team. This time around, I’ll focus on the defense. As you might imagine, it was a thankless and nearly impossible task. Historically, defense has always been the heart and soul of the Rainbow Warrior football program, characterized by bone-crunching hits and goal line stands. It was tough to leave so many great defenders off this roster. But here we go.
Defensive Tackle: LEVI STANLEY. A Second-Team Little All-American selection in 1973. Led UH in total tackles in both his junior and senior seasons. Finished his career as Hawaii’s all-time leader in total tackles (366, since surpassed by Solomon Elimimian and Jahlani Tavai.
Nose Guard: FALANIKO NOGA. Longtime UH fans still remember Noga’s epic battle with Nebraska’s Outland Trophy winner, Dave Rimington. (Rimington remembers it, too.) Noga was an All-WAC honoree for all four seasons he played at UH. Honorable Mention All-American in 1981. The “original 54.”
Defensive End: AL NOGA. “The Samoan Sack Man.” Probably the greatest defensive player in program history. Hawaii’s only First-Team All-American (1986). He was also the school’s first promoted Heisman Trophy candidate. Set single-season UH records for sacks (17), tackles for loss (31) and forced fumbles (6).
Defensive End: TRAVIS LABOY. Used his uncanny speed to become a standout edge rusher. In 2003, he recorded 13 sacks and 22 tackles for loss. The Tennessee Titans drafted him in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft.
Linebacker: MARK ODOM. The program’s all-time leader in sacks (36) and second only to Al Noga in tackles for loss (68). Played his best when the games mattered most. To wit: In Hawaii’s exhilarating 56-14 blowout of BYU in 1989, Odom sacked Cougar QB Ty Detmer four times.
Linebacker: PISA TINOISAMOA. Led the team in sacks his junior and senior campaigns. Finished his career with 15.5 sacks and 38 tackles for loss. Became a second-round draft pick of the St. Louis Rams and had an eight-year NFL career.
Linebacker: SOLOMON ELIMIMIAN. Meet the school’s all-time leader in career tackles (434). Led Hawaii in tackles both in 2007 and 2008. Was voted the Canadian Football League’s “Most Outstanding Player” in 2014. Earlier this year, he was elected president of the CFL’s Players Association.
[no Jeff Ulbrich?]
Cornerback: DANA McLEMORE. A First-Team All-WAC selection and Honorable Mention AP All-American In 1981. Snared 7 career interceptions at UH. Later won a Super Bowl ring with the San Francisco 49ers.
Cornerback: JERIS WHITE. Named First-Team All-American by The Sporting News and Time Magazine in 1973. Set the single-season record for interceptions (6, since broken by several players). Was drafted in the second round by the Miami Dolphins and won a Super Bowl ring with the Washington Redskins.
Safety: BLAINE GAISON. No, he didn’t set any school records. But there wasn’t a better leader or tougher competitor than Gaison. That’s why he’s in the UH Sports Circle of Honor. Started his career as a quarterback before transitioning to safety. Was a First-Team All-WAC selection in 1979. Later played for the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.
Safety: RICH MIANO. The ultimate rags-to-riches story. Began his UH career as a walk-on and ended up as a First-Team All-WAC selection in 1984. Also an Honorable Mention All-American. Led his team in tackles in back-to-back seasons. Played 11 seasons in the NFL.
*** [6/3/20] ***
In football, a lot of emphasis is placed on the offense and defense, but knowledgeable fans know that special teams play often makes the difference between winning and losing a game. Special teams affect field position and can change the momentum of a contest with a blocked punt, long kick return or costly turnover. University of Hawaii football fans have been fortunate enough to witness some the game’s best special team performers display their talents while wearing a Rainbow Warrior uniform. Here are our picks for the best special teams players in UH history:
Placekicker: JASON ELAM. Can there be any doubt? Finished his collegiate career with 395 points, the most in UH and WAC history, and third in NCAA history. Successfully converted 79 of 100 FG attempts. Set the school record for longest FG (56 yards) against BYU In 1992. Later won two Super Bowl rings with the Denver Broncos.
Punter: RIGOBERTO SANCHEZ. We went with Sanchez over Matt McBriar, but you could make a case for either. Sanchez tops the list of punters with a career average of 44.84 yards a punt. Was 10th in the nation in punting average during his senior season.
Kickoff Returner: CHAD OWENS. Tops all UH returners with a 29.4-yard average in his collegiate career. Took it to the house twice. Honorable mention goes to Mike Edwards, who had returns of 90-plus yards three times in 2012.
Punt Returner: CHAD OWENS. As good as he was as a kick returner, “Mighty Mouse” was even more electrifying when returning punts. Earned Second-Team All-American honors in 2004, when he set an NCAA record with five punt returns for TDs.
Long-snapper: JAKE INGRAM. Originally a walk-on defensive lineman, Ingram made the switch to long-snapper the fourth game into his freshman season. The Mililani product started every game since then and was drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. Played all 16 games that season for the Patriots.
*** 6/10/20 ***
Ranking the U.H. coaches
Since joining the ranks of NCAA Division I, the University of Hawaii football program has seen its share of highs and lows – including a Sugar Bowl appearance (Yay!) and a winless season (@&#%!). During this span of time – 46 years – the program has had nine different head coaches, including current head coach Todd Graham. We thought it would be fun to rank the coaches from best to worst. Take a look and see whether you agree with our ranking. (Note: Graham, for obvious reasons, is not included on this list.)
1. JUNE JONES. (1999-2007). Hawaii’s all-time winningest coach in the Division I era, with a 76-41 record over nine seasons. His run-and-shoot offense put up gaudy numbers and made Hawaii relevant again in college football. His signature achievement, of course, was the 2007 season, when UH went a perfect 12-0 in the regular season, captured its first outright WAC championship and appeared in its first-ever major bowl game – the 2008 Sugar Bowl. That “sugary” season ended on a sour note, with the Rainbow Warriors getting pummeled by Georgia and Jones leaving for SMU. But no head coach has taken the program to greater heights. That’s why he’s our No. 1.
2. BOB WAGNER. (1987-1995) “Wags” did something even Jones could not do: win a bowl game on the mainland. The Rainbow Warriors’ 27-17 victory over Illinois in the 1992 Holiday Bowl remains one of the milestone moments in Hawaii football history. Wagner, who was 58-49-3 as UH head coach over nine seasons, also was the man who broke the “BYU Curse.” In fact, his teams beat the rival Cougars three times. Upon replacing Dick Tomey in 1987, Wagner brought in Paul Johnson to install the triple-option spread offense, which was as effective as JJ’s run-and-shoot system.
3. DICK TOMEY. (1977-1986) One of the most beloved coaches in UH history. Tomey arrived on campus during a tumultuous time in the football program. Hired during the summer of 1877, he didn’t have the benefit of spring practice, but was able to cobble together a unified team that went 5-6 on the season. Although known as a conservative coach, he delighted the Aloha Stadium crowds with the occasional “muddle huddle” plays, no-huddle drives and platoon substitutions. Attendance soared under his tenure, as Hawaii took on national powers the likes of USC, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Michigan, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Tomey was 63-46-3 in Hawaii over ten seasons. In 1981, he also led the program to its first-ever national ranking. He never won a conference title, and that’s because BYU always stood in his way.
4. NICK ROLOVICH. (2016-2019) Like his mentor and former coach, June Jones, Rolovich inherited a program that was in shambles. He led the Rainbow Warriors to an admirable 7-7 season in his first year, including a convincing win over Middle Tennessee in the 2016 Hawaii Bowl. In his four seasons in Hawaii, “Rolo” went 28-27 and made three Hawaii Bowl appearances. His 2019 team captured the Mountain West Conference’s West Division.
5. GREG McMACKIN. (2008-2011) Coach Mack had the unenviable task of following June Jones and Hawaii’s Sugar Bowl season. He also had the misfortune to make his head coaching debut against the No. 5 team in the country, against Tim Tebow and Florida in Gainesville. He was 29-25 in his four seasons at the helm, leading UH to a pair of Hawaii Bowl appearance (both lopsided losses). His best season was 2010, when the Rainbow Warriors won nine of their final 10 regular-season contests and captured a share of the WAC title.
6. LARRY PRICE. (1974-1976) Price’s tenure as UH head coach ushered in the school’s entry into the NCAA Division I level. Noted for his “Hula-T” offense – a veer option attack that featured a running QB – Price also employed an attacking defense that the local fans appreciated. The installation of the Hula-T serendipitously led a young QB named June Jones to transfer to Portland State, where he became an eager disciple of Mouse Davis’ run-and-shoot offense. Price went 15-18 in his three years as head coach.
7. NORM CHOW. (2012-2015) His UH tenure began with “Chow Time” and ended with “Ciao Time.” His four seasons leading the UH program – his record was 10-36 – lent credence to the adage that great assistant coaches don’t always make great head coaches. Twice went winless in the Mountain West. The low point was the 2013 season, when the Rainbow Warriors lost their first 11 games of the season before posting a win over Army in the season finale. (Note: Chris Naeole was named interim head coach after Chow was fired during the 2015 season and went 1-3.)
8. FRED VON APPEN. (1996-1998) As bad as Hawaii’s 2013 campaign was, it was still better than Von Appen’s 1998 season, when UH went 0-12. The former San Francisco 49ers assistant spent three miserable years in Hawaii, posting an overall record of 5-31. His best moment in Hawaii was the 1997 season opener, when UH defeated Minnesota, 17-3. Wrote Honolulu Advertiser columnist Ferd Lewis after the game: “Now that the Rainbows have 1996 behind them, there is, indeed, a lot to look forward to.” The best thing about the No. 8 coach on this list was his firing led to the hiring of our No. 1 on this list.
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6/17/20 - When June Jones was the enemy
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7/17/20 - Ten best players from the Wagner era
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8/27/20 - Top ten UH quarterbacks
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11/27/20 - Top ten UH receivers
