Konrath Profile

The Chicago Sun-Times' Taylor Bell writes a profile of linebacker Kevin Konrath, who will become a Warrior next year.

He also was recruited by Illinois, Northwestern, NIU and Army. But nobody recruited him as hard as Hawaii. When he added up all the positives -- most importantly, head coach June Jones and assistants Jerry Glanville and Reinebold have NFL experience -- he committed.

Hawaii doesn't get much exposure in the Chicago area, save a few late-night games on cable. But the Rainbows Warriors*, who have been invited to play in the Hawaii-Sheraton Bowl on Dec. 24 in Honolulu, are one of the most exciting and highest scoring teams in Division I. They scored 60 points in one game, 68 in another.

''It's great to play for a team like that. Defensive players like good offense,'' said Konrath, who will make an official visit to the Honolulu campus in early December. ''I was shocked when Hawaii called. I didn't think they recruited this area. This is the first time they have ever recruited in Chicago.

''I never thought about going to Hawaii. What do I know about it? It's paradise, surrounded by ocean, warm weather. I don't surf. But I've seen lots of pictures on television. I want to see Pearl Harbor. The football stadium is next to Pearl Harbor. And I'll go to Waikiki Beach a lot.''

*I had to make a slight correction to that article. I hope Taylor don't mind. There were others I could've made, but I'm not Taylor's copy editor!

Anyway, glad to hear Kevin is excited to come to Hawaii. He sounds like a great player who will thrive in Jerry's hard-hitting defense! And I'm happy Coach Reinebold is expanding recruiting to places UH has never really recruited before. This will only help UH get more fans nationally and internationally, with more and more people being woken up at 1 A.M. by the cheering coming from next door for the WARRIORS! In Illinois or Texas or Florida or places you only thought existed in fairy tales, like Denmark or Hanau, Germany! ICH BIN EIN WARRIOR!!!