YEAH HAWAII

Have you seen the latest college football top 25 polls yet? Didja notice who snuck into 25 in the AP, USA Today, and Harris Interactive polls? Yessir, that's right ladies and gentlemen, the University of Hawaii is ranked #25. The same University of Hawaii that I was planning to play at, who gave me "preferred walk-on" status, and who sent me a tshirt and two hats in an attempt at recruitment. I was all set to go there and play with NFL Europe champion and former Detroit Lion (for a week) Timmy Chang. That was, until my parents told me I'd have to pay my way through college if I went to Hawaii. Thus ended my dreams of playing college football and a great excuse to spend four years in paradise (because though I was received letters from Grand Valley State [my number three option after Michigan and number two option for football], Miami Ohio, EMU, WMU, CMU, and other D2, D3, D4 schools, there was no way I would go to those schools to play football over Michigan's academia). It would've been nice if I was there now because I'd be in complete warmth and not freezing in the damn snow.

In any case, I still have a good amount of Warrior pride in me, and I can't help but enjoy the fact that they're back in the top 25. The last time they got in they got up to 24 when Timmy Chang was gunslingin, back when I was in high school. I wanted to play at Hawaii after watching one game when BYU was nationally ranked and went into Hawaii, expecting a blowout. Hawaii fucking lit BYU up, scoring 60 points by the third quarter. Michigan State also played Hawaii a couple of years ago, going down by 30 points and making an incredible run to embarrass and upset the Spartans by coming back.

Former NFL coach June Jones runs the original spread, pass-heavy offense that so many teams have copycatted because they realize its potential in the right hands. Thus far this year, Hawaii is 9-2, losing only to Alabama and #12 ranked Boise State (who they only lost to by a touchdown). Take a look at their scoring numbers:

Sat, Sep 2 at Alabama ----- L 17-25
Sun, Sep 17 UNLV ----- W 42-13
Sat, Sep 23 at (12) Boise State ----- L 34-41
Sun, Oct 1 Eastern Illinois ----- W 44-9
Sun, Oct 8 Nevada ----- W 41-34
Sat, Oct 14 at Fresno State ----- W 68-37
Sat, Oct 21 at New Mexico State ----- W 49-30
Sun, Oct 29 Idaho ----- W 68-10
Sat, Nov 4 at Utah State ----- W 63-10
Sat, Nov 11 Louisiana Tech ----- W 61-17
Sat, Nov 18 San Jose State ----- W 54-17
Sat, Nov 25 Purdue ----- 11:05 pm
Sat, Dec 2 Oregon State ----- 11:05 pm

How often do you see 60 point games? These guys do it consistently. Quarterback Colt Brennan has 48 touchdowns - only two less than Chad Henne and Troy Smith COMBINED. Brennan has the most yards and touchdowns in the NCAA, even though he's only ranked fourth in terms of pass attempts (he has 143 less attempts than Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell - Brennan averages a touchdown every 8.7 passes, so if he threw as many times as Harrell he'd have at least 16 more TDs, upping him to 64). And yes, they are extremely pass heavy, but their runningback Nate Ilaoa has 686 yards and 10 touchdowns... which could be mine.

In any case, I wish the Warriors all the success in the future, even though they've already claimed the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. Yes, they made a bowl just for themselves (which they've been to the past 4 out of 5 years), but they're still sweet.

If you wanna watch the gunslinging high-powered action of the Hawaii Warriors, make sure to catch the 2006 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, Christmas Eve at 8 PM EST on ESPN or ESPN2.



DAMMIT, that could've been me

University of Hawaii Football
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl