2006

Dave Reardon has a couple articles reviewing the 2006 season. This article also has mini-recaps of all 14 games this year. The last part of the article says it all.

While the 2006 Warriors enjoyed an abundance of talent and experience, their greatest attribute was character. All successful football teams become so because of camaraderie. Guys play hurt (and guys who don't play hide their hurt) more on winning teams.

"I think these kids just understood that it's not 'me.' Everybody plays hard for each other," Jones said. "They understand putting the other guy first, all that kind of stuff."

They played for each other, and let the rest take care of itself.

"I really wanted to hand it off with a win," Alama-Francis said after the Hawaii Bowl.

Dave also asks if this was the best UH football team in school history. He interviews former head coach Bob Wagner about the 1981 and 1992 teams.

"First of all, I want to congratulate the 2006 team and June (coach Jones) and his staff. Colt Brennan had a great year, very positive and humble and a class act," Wagner said. "However, I think it comes down to winning percentage. (A record of) 11-2 is better than 11-3. And 9-2 (the 1981 team's record) is better than 11-3. Also, the conference was tougher then."

Wagner added that the 1992 team won two big road games, at Oregon and Air Force, as well as the Holiday Bowl against Illinois in San Diego.

Jones -- whose team came within eight points of winning at Alabama and seven points at Boise State -- conceded that point.

"Different eras, different schemes. A whole lot of differences," Jones said. "But what Bob said is correct. They beat Oregon on the road, and beating Illinois in a bowl game on the mainland was large. That says a lot right there."

And the best is yet to come!

Jeff D'Alessio of the Atlanta Journal Constitution writes about a junior wide receiver from Georgia named Brice Butler who is showing a lot of interest in UH.

Norcross junior receiver Brice Butler figures to be one of the top 2007 prospects at his position and he’s already landed one SEC scholarship offer — from Mississippi State.

Auburn, Georgia, Virginia Tech and Clemson have also shown interest.

The leaders for Butler — if they should offer — would be Louisville and Hawaii, he told the AJC’s Bill Sanders.

“My dad has talked to [Hawaii coach] June Jones and sent him a tape and he liked what he saw,” Butler said. “And they throw it like every time. Louisville throws it a lot too out of the spread.”

Butler hopes to make a couple of official visits as early as this spring, he said.

Winning and exposure are doing wonders for UH. The 2008 recruiting class is already being lined up!

And finally, I'd like to let you know that I'm psychic. From an August 21st post from this blog, with my psychic prediction in bold:

Keane Santos of Ka Leo O Hawaii has a rundown of the Warrior offense. Here's a quote from wide receiver Ross Dickerson:

“We haven’t done nothing yet. We have to produce in the game to be the best,” Dickerson said. “[But] our offense will be one of the best in the nation; you can quote me on that.”

I think he's just being modest. If the Warriors remain healthy, I think they'll have the number one offense in the nation this season, both in scoring and yardage. And if we can have a decent defense to go along with it, this team will be unstoppable!

I'm glad the Warriors were able to make my predictions and Warrior fans' dreams come true! And the best is yet to come!

GO WARRIORS!!!!!
UPDATE: Here is the Warriors' final 2006 record taken from the sidebar.

2006 Hawaii Warriors (11-3)
Football Final Record

Date	Team/Record	Results
09/02	@ Alabama (6-7)	L 17-25
09/16	UNLV (2-10)	W 42-13
09/23	@ #5 Boise St. (13-0)	L 34-41
09/30	Eastern Illinois I-AA (8-5)	W 44-9
10/07	Nevada (8-5)	W 41-34
10/14	@ Fresno St. (4-8)	W 68-37
10/21	@ New Mexico St. (4-8)	W 49-30
10/28	Idaho (4-8)	W 68-10
11/04	@ Utah St. (1-11)	W 63-10
11/11	Louisiana Tech (3-10)	W 61-17
11/18	San Jose St. (9-4)	W 54-17
11/25	Purdue (8-6)	W 42-35
12/2	#21 Oregon St. (10-4)	L 32-35
12/24	HAWAII BOWL vs Arizona State (7-6)	W 41-24