By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

UH coach June Jones envisioned the Warriors as a nationally ranked team. “We’re getting closer to where we thought we would be. But to get there, we need to be consistent, and to be consistent, we need to keep winning.” Advertiser library photo

He spoke of implementing an offense that could score in any situation, of creating a defense intent on inducing fear and chaos, of marketing the football program as if it were the first cola.

Three years later, the vision is taking shape. The team, now known as the Warriors, with the rainbow long faded to black — and green — is knock-knock-knockin' on a football heaven's door. The Warriors won big in 1999 and 2001, enthralled a national television audience with pulsating victories over Fresno State and Brigham Young last year, and answered doubts as to whether an offense similar to few others could succeed.

The scene is set for the payoff. The players have been personally selected for this system. There is talent. There is depth. And now ...

"We have to go out and win this year," Jones said. "We're getting closer to where we thought we would be. But to get there, we need to be consistent, and to be consistent, we need to keep winning."

The Warriors have provided too many loopholes for their critics. Despite going 9-3 last year, they finished in a tie for fourth place in the Western Athletic Conference, and did not receive serious consideration from bowl committees or pollsters. The Warriors have not produced consecutive winning seasons in more than a decade, and have not been above .500 in the past four even-numbered years.

"I guess people out there on the Mainland don't think we can really play," UH quarterback Tim Chang said. "They don't really think too highly of us. But our coaches know we can play, and we believe in ourselves. We believe in what we practice every day. We didn't run all of those laps or lift all of those weights for nothing. But if we want to show we can build a dynasty, we have to be consistent and have a winning season year in and year out. It has to start now."

One indisputable perception is the Warriors will never be voted Most Popular. They acknowledge they have few friends, especially among teams annoyed at the glee the Warriors seem to express in beating opponents.

"We, as a team, walk around with a swagger," Chang said. "We have a chip on our shoulder, knowing that every week we're (being) head-hunted ... that (opponents) don't respect us. We're out to prove something. It's not like we're cocky ... that we think we're better than everybody else. ... I believe (the opponents) are working just as hard. ... Our team is confident because we know what we're capable of doing."

Chang said the Warriors' unabashed enthusiasm is part of the sport. "You have to be emotional in a game like this," he said. "The game is all about emotion. You play with fire and passion. That gives you the extra drive to do better. We play with emotion because we're out to prove something, to put Hawai'i on the map, every game in and game out."

UH offensive guard Vince Manuwai, a candidate for the Outland Trophy as the nation's top lineman, acknowledged that Fresno State, Brigham Young and Texas-El Paso were frosted after losing to the Warriors last season.

"Fresno was ranked 18th and BYU was undefeated," Manuwai said. "I mean, if I were in their shoes, I'd be pissed off, too. ... We just play. I don't see anybody trying to be cocky."

Manuwai said the Warriors do not intentionally try to run up scores. UTEP players believed otherwise following a one-sided loss last year.

"It's not our fault," Manuwai said. "We're a passing team. If we're up by 20 points, we're not going to run, because that's not what we know how to do. The receiver can't run out of bounds just to save points. A second-team or a third-team player wants to play. They're going to give full effort. ... Against BYU, we ran only one time in the first half, on a draw, and we fumbled. We can't help it if we throw a pass and the guy's wide open and we score, even though that puts us up by 50 points. That's the nature of our offense."

Jones has been told opponents have targeted the Warriors this season.

"Who knows," he said. "You probably have to ask them. I'm sure the better you get, the more teams are gunning for you. It's just like everybody is gunning for Fresno State and BYU. If people are gunning for you, you're getting some respect."

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