NFL
By: Brock Vierra
In a new series, I dive into the history and legacies of college football’s most iconic teams. To start, I begin with my personal favorite. A team who made me fall in love with football, a team who made a state and a people believe…The 2007 Hawaii Warriors.
To understand the importance of this team, we must go back in history. The University of Hawaii Warriors are the closest thing to a professional team that the football-deprived state of Hawaii has. For decades, the Warriors played in front of 50,000 people at Aloha Stadium and despite their massive triumphs across the 20th century, Hawaii was a mid-level team at best. However, the hope of Hawaii was ignited via the success of the 2006 season which saw Hawaii go 11-3 with a 41-24 victory in the 2006 Hawaii Bowl. A final ranking of #24 and the NFL Draft that saw the selections of Warriors Ikaika Alama-Francis (RD2.PK58), Samson Satele (RD2.PK60), Reagan Maui’a (RD6.PK181), Mel Purcell (RD6.PK200) and Nate Illoa (RD7.PK236) meant the program was on the rise and the success of fellow Western Athletic Conference member Boise State who would upset Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl put the islands in the state of delirium. For the first time in a long time, Hawaii felt like a powerful force in the world of college football and the three-letter acronym of BCS was the only thing on people’s minds.
With the hopes of an entire state resting on the shoulders and right arm of a walk-on, the Run N Shoot offense of Hawaii would become must-watch, late-night television. The gunslinger with the appropriate first name of Colt had a remarkable 2006 season. After establishing himself as QB1 in 2005, Colt Brennan would break the NCAA record for passing touchdowns in 2006, tossing 58 touchdowns as the prolific passing offense was held under 30 points once in the entire season and scored over 40 points on 11 different occasions. Hawaii was so good on offense that they scored over 60 points in four different games but the excitement wasn’t only due to their All-American QB. The Dreadhead Trio of Ryan Grice-Mullen, Davone Bess, and Jason Rivers operated as Brennan’s top targets with C.J. Hawthorne operating as a speedy fourth option.
On defense, the charge was led by a massive defensive line, CFL legend Soloman Elimimian and one of the best DBs in school history in Ryan Mouton. The defense was commanded by DC Greg McMackin who previously worked with the Miami Hurricanes and Texas Tech Red Raiders along with the Seattle Seahawks while CFL legendary coach Jeff Reinebold coached kicker Dan Kelly into being one of the nation’s best.
The 2007 season started off on track. Hawaii was in the preseason Top 25 for the first time in school history and they came out firing. The #23 ranked Hawaii beat FCS Northern Colorado 63-6. Brennan who was already a fan favorite, endeared himself to the Hawaii faithful when he announced he would be returning for his senior season during a press conference on Christmas day, gave Hawaii another gift when he threw six first-half touchdowns. However, there was a clear difference in the effectiveness of Hawaii’s offense on the island versus when they were on the road. 7-0 to start the season, Hawaii would win all of their home games with ease. However, it took two overtime efforts to get past Louisiana Tech and San Jose State on the road. Both teams would finish the year with a losing record so it was of concern for Hawaii fans that Hawaii could be had at any time.
These worries were amplified when Brennan suffered a concussion against Fresno State. A 37-30 home win came at a big price as they would be forced to go on the road to Reno to face arch-rival Nevada while starting backup QB Tyler Graunke. This matchup was heightened even more as Nevada HC Chris Ault and Hawaii have had major wars in the past and his pistol offense had a young dual-threat QB at the helm by the name of Colin Kaepernick. Kaep who was running and throwing the ball up and down the field all season helped the Wolfpack put in a solid offensive performance, scoring 26 points. Yet in what is arguably the finest coaching performance of his career, June Jones created a perfect game plan that saw Graunke throw for 358 yards and two touchdowns. However, Hawaii needed a little more luck as they would trail Nevada 26-25 with less than two minutes to go. Tyler Graunke would engineer a last-minute drive that set up Dan Kelly with a 45-yard attempt for the win and to keep the BCS dream alive. With the clock winding down to under 25 seconds, Kelly attempted the kick and nailed it. As Hawaii fans were about to breathe a sigh of relief, the refs ran onto the field. Chris Ault had called timeout.
According to Jeff Reinebold, this moment exemplified Dan “The Iceman” Kelly on what a confident player he was. After calling timeout, Chris Ault in what I presume to be an attempt to get into Kelly’s head, was talking trash to him. Kelly did not put up with Ault’s disrespect as he talked trash back while walking towards the Nevada sideline. He got so close, some of the Nevada players stood up to confront Kelly. After the refs cleared the situation, Kelly smashed his next attempt down the middle, crushing Nevada’s dreams of an upset. The win was Hawaii’s first win in Reno since 2000 and set up a winner take all matchup the following week against Boise State. The winner would claim the WAC title outright.
Dubbed the biggest game in Hawaii football history, fans lined up outside Aloha Stadium for six hours before opening in anticipation of this matchup. Number #14 Hawaii versus Number #17 Boise State. ESPN is on the call. Could Colt Brennan and Hawaii beat Boise State, something the program has never done since Boise State became a member of the FBS? You bet your bum they can. A back-and-forth battle between the two programs was decided when Hawaii had a monster of a second half. Outscoring Boise 20-10 in the second half, a 495-yard and 5-touchdown performance from Colt Brennan was enough to give Hawaii the lead but it was the defense that shut the door on the Broncos. Shutting out Boise State in the fourth quarter while forcing a Boise fumble gave Hawaii a 39-27 victory. The victory gave June Jones his second WAC title as Hawaii head coach and the program’s first (and as of writing only) outright conference title.
Due to the high cost of travel for the Warriors, the NCAA grants them an additional home game for lost revenue. Thus Hawaii would have its senior night against Jake Locker and the four-win Washington Huskies. What was supposed to be a celebration of a fantastic season turned into a nightmare as Washington jumped out to a 21-0 lead. However, Hawaii stormed back with three touchdowns to cut the lead to seven. Hawaii trailed at halftime 28-21. Seniors Colt Brennan and Jason Rivers connected for all three touchdowns as well as a fourth to tie the game in the fourth quarter. Brennan would once again lead his men downfield as a quick pass to Ryan Grice-Mullen combined with a flurry of illusive moves by the wideout helped Hawaii capture their first lead of the game. Up 35-28, Hawaii was rolling as Brennan and his wide receivers took the opportunity to pay homage to the late Sean Taylor who was tragically killed earlier in the year.
However, the good times quickly dissipated as Locker hooked up with Marcel Reese for a 49-yard completion that took Washington to the Hawaii 6-yard line. With 12 seconds left, Locker looked to put Washington in a position to win as he fired a bullet to the endzone. The pass however was bobbled by his wideout and as the ball fell to the ground, Hawaii safety Gerald Lewis popped the ball in the air as DB Ryan Mouton intercepted it, giving Hawaii its desired undefeated season.
The #10 ranked Hawaii would get its BCS wish as it was awarded a birth into the Sugar Bowl against #4 Georgia. Georgia who was led by Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno was too much for Hawaii as the Bulldogs cruised to a 41-10 victory. As great as that season was, in a blink of an eye it was over. Hawaii has failed to return to a NY6 bowl game and the program currently sits as one of the poorest in the nation. Following the Sugar Bowl, Brennan would graduate as most of the juniors on the team would declare for the NFL Draft. Dealing with a lack of improvements to the program and failed negotiations meant June Jones was out of a contract as he quickly announced his move to SMU.
Brennan would be drafted by Washington in the sixth round. He would have an impressive preseason before injuries and a car accident derailed his career. Brennan’s story becomes incredibly sad as said car accident put Brennan into a coma and he would have brain damage as a result. Brennan would have drug and legal issues before suffering a fatal overdose in 2021. Yet despite his troubles, the love he had for Hawaii and the love Hawaii has for him can not be accurately reported as it is innumerable and it exists in such a huge amount till today. The program would retire his number and his iconic look and play are still talked about routinely on CFB social media pages and in chat rooms. Brennan holds numerous school records, holds/ held multiple NCAA records and remains the only Hawaii Warrior to be a Heisman finalist, finishing third in the 2007 voting.
The Dreadhead Trio would all embark on professional careers, with Davone Bess having the most success in his stops with the Browns and Dolphins. Ryan Mouton would play for the Titans as Soloman Elimimian became one of the best linebackers in Canadian football history.
What makes Hawaii iconic was their look and play. This was a team that was looking for the deep ball constantly while passing over 50 times a game. They put up points in quick succession as their offense serves as the blueprint for the modern spread offenses of today. Brennan passed for over 4300 yards with 45 total touchdowns. Hawaii had three wide receivers put up 1000 receiving yards and Brennan and Bess connected for 39 career touchdowns, tying an NCAA record.
Their all-black and all-white uniforms with Polynesian designs are still an envied look, especially with the Warrior’s helmets and visors, equipped with unique stickers. The success of the team increased the university’s enrollment and Hawaii’s involvement in the Sugar Bowl helped loosen the stranglehold the Power 5 conferences had on big-money bowl games.
Hawaii was also a place of understanding and acceptance. Many players came to Hawaii for a second chance, a change of environment, or just for an opportunity to play. What they found was a new home that welcomed them for who they were. While fans of programs in other places criticize players on how they play or how they look, Hawaii just liked them for who they are. Watching guys with dreads rock the All-Black Hawaii jersey as they fly up and down the field was a joy. Watching Colt Brennan dye the islands into his blonde hair was super cool to see or when Brennan learned Samoan to better communicate with his offensive line. Watching guys with last names like Bess, Brennan, Washington, Lewis, Lafaele, Elimimian, and Soares. Men from all walks of life, from different places, come together in brotherhood. It was something truly special to witness
Hawaii would finish the 2007 season with a 12-1 record and the #17 spot in the final Top 25 rankings. They remain a part of college football lore as their story continues to be expressed by people like me, people who were there to witness and appreciate it. They made Hawaii and I believe and for six months in the autumn of 2007, there was no better place to watch football than Halawa, Hawaii.
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