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| | Sunday, August 13 1999's feel-good story starts rebuilding | |||||
| By Stephen Tsai Special to ESPN.com Hawaii Warriors 1999 record: 9-4 (5-2 WAC) Coach: June Jones Starters returning: 12 (5 offense, 7 defense) Outlook Two years ago, UH finished an NCAA-worst 0-12 season and, school officials insisted, the football program was two poor fiscal years away from being shut down. But then along came Jones. Implementing a run-and-shoot offense, Jones led UH to a 9-4 record, co-championship and bowl victory. In the process, Jones won several national coach-of-the-year honors, and the school entered the record books for the most dramatic turnaround in NCAA football history. This year, UH changed its nickname to Warriors (dropping the "Rainbow" nickname it used for 77 years), hired power agent Leigh Steinberg to serve as the marketing agent and poured more money into the football program. Eight quarterbacks are competing for the job as successor to Dan Robinson, who completed his eligibility last December. The Warriors also must replace four offensive linemen, two of whom were selected in the NFL draft. The lone returning starter, Manly Kanoa, is moving from right guard to left guard. The Warriors' strength is in the defensive line. Three years ago, UH had so few down linemen it switched to a 3-4 set. There are 15 scholarship defensive linemen in camp competing for four starting jobs. Keep an eye on ... Strong safety Dee Miller, whose stock is rising. Miller, by the way, worked for a stock brokerage this summer. It's a good season if... The Warriors can find a quarterback and the four new starting offensive linemen can step up. |
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