Boston College had just upset No. 8-ranked Kansas State in the 1994 Aloha Bowl to culminate a season that included victories over Notre Dame and Syracuse.
As he left the islands, the first-year BC coach looked forward to a bigger and brighter future, maybe even a possible run at the 1995 Big East title.
But things didn't work out that way for the former NFL coach.
The sophomore jinx paid Henning a visit last season, due in part to numerous freshmen being forced into action.
The resulting lopsided losses to Syracuse (58-29) and Army (49-7) en route to a disappointing 4-8 campaign left the 54-year-old head coach running for cover.
In a rare alignment, players, fans and media alike took their shots at Henning. Thus, this season has become something of a proving ground.
A win against the University of Hawaii Saturday in a nationally televised season opener would be just about as important as that Aloha Bowl victory 20 months ago.
The Eagles' next two games are at home against Big East rival Virginia Tech and on the road against Big Ten powerhouse Michigan.
Later in the season, the Eagles also have to play Notre Dame and Miami, Fla., which doesn't give Henning a lot of leeway.
He is taking this game so seriously that after the team landed at Honolulu International Airport yesterday he escorted his players to Aloha Stadium to practice.
This is after a 15-hour, 5,500-mile journey from Boston that didn't officially end until the team pulled into the Turtle Bay Hilton late last night.
Henning will close today's practice at Kahuku High School in an attempt to keep any of his game plan from leaking out.
The last time he was here, he knew everything about his team and nearly as much about his opponent.
Such is not the case this time around.
"Unlike the Aloha Bowl, we don't know anything about our opponent," Henning said. "We don't really know what they can or will try to do, and we really don't know what we're going to do until after that first game."
Much like last year's team, Henning will be forced to use young players. Granted, he feels this is an outstanding recruiting class, but it's hard to predict what freshmen will do in their first game.
On offense, Henning starts only two seniors, both in the line. His sophomore quarterback, Scott Mutryn, hasn't thrown a pass in a year.
He was 18 for 44 as a freshman in relief of an injured Mark Hartsell. After an 0-2 start, the Eagles needed a win over Pittsburgh, and Mutryn delivered.
An injury forced the Ohio native to redshirt last season. He recently won the starting job from junior Matt Hasselbeck, and said yesterday he is ready to return to action.
"It's exciting to be back on the field as the top quarterback," Mutryn said. "We don't really know what Hawaii is going to do, but after the game gets going, I think we can settle into it."
Mutryn will be without two of his best receivers. Kenyatta Watson was suspended for breaking team rules and Brandon King broke a bone in his right foot nearly two weeks ago.
But he does have top returning receiver Steve Everson, who had 42 receptions for 557 yards last year, and talented running backs Mike Cloud and Omari Walker.
They combined for 1,164 yards and eight touchdowns in 1995, and figure to see plenty of playing time this weekend in the run-oriented, two-tight end attack.
The real key will be the play of the defense, one that yielded nearly 200 yards a game rushing last season.
Henning hired Phil Elmassian as defensive coordinator in January. The former assistant at the University of Washington loves the 46 defense made famous by the Chicago Bears.
The Eagles could put as many as eight men on the line of scrimmage in hopes of forcing Hawaii into committing turnovers or making hasty decisions on the perimeter.
Henning started five freshmen and sophomores defensively, but senior tackle Stalin Colinet, senior nose guard Nick Gianacakos and senior safety Daryl Porter should balance off that inexperience.
Porter had 74 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery last year, Colinet finished with 48 tackles and one quarterback sack, while Gianacakos added 52 tackles, including five sacks.
"I hope our older guys help our younger ones, with this schedule," Henning said. "I believe our guys have come together, they're focused.
"But you don't really know what's going to happen until you get out there on the field. This is a test for us. We had some fun the last time we were here. Maybe we can do it again."