SB FILE / 1992 Michael Carter took Paul Johnson's offense and ran with it in 1992, finishing 11-2.

Team stacks up to ’81, ’92 editions

The legacy of the 2006 Hawaii football team is yet to be determined, since UH could end up ranked in the final polls. (UH was rated No. 24 and 25 for two weeks before losing its last regular-season game to Oregon State.)

The Warriors went 11-3 and tied the school record for wins. They put on one of the most sparkling offensive displays in the history of college football over the course of one season.

It was great entertainment.

But was it the best football team in the school's history?

Two other editions can lay claim to the title: Dick Tomey's 1981 squad and Bob Wagner's 1992 team.

Wagner, now the athletic director at Kamehameha-Hawaii, is partial to his Rainbows who went 11-2 and finished ranked 20th.

"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."

The 1992 team's losses were by 21 points to Utah and 26 points to Marshall Faulk and San Diego State. The 2006 team's three losses were by an average of six points.

"But we found a lot of ways to win. A very resourceful team," Wagner said.

With kicker/punter Jason Elam and returners Darrick Branch and Matt Harding, special teams were a strength.

"When we beat Wyoming to clinch the Holiday Bowl, we had a great special teams game," Wagner said. "Matt Harding turned the game with a blocked punt."

Elam and defensive tackle Maa Tanuvasa went on to win two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos. Running back Travis Sims and offensive lineman Doug Vaioleti joined them on the All-WAC first team.

Wagner said the 1981 team might have gone 10-1 if not for a decision he made as UH's defensive backs coach.

The Rainbows lost to BYU after winning their first seven games. The next opponent was Pacific. Wagner benched a starting safety because of tardiness to meetings.

"On the first play, they come out empty (no running backs) and we're in man-to-man," Wagner said.

The replacement player got beat for a touchdown, and Pacific won 23-17. UH took it out on Colorado State 59-6 the next week and ended with a 33-10 win against South Carolina.

Running back Gary Allen, kicker Jim Asmus, cornerback Dana McLemore, defensive tackle Niko Noga and center Ed Riewerts made the All-WAC first team.

"The 1981 team might have been the best," Wagner said. "They were about defense. We were a very balanced team in 1992. It depends what you like."

If you like offense, the choice is clear.

So is Jones'.

"I'll play anyone with this team," he said.

The Season in Quotes

"I think it's the most talented group we've had since I've been here, yeah. Pretty much in every spot. I say that hesitantly until we see everyone, especially the corners. But athletically, with who we've recruited, I think we're talented there, too."
-- June Jones, July 22.

"What we're doing is not normal. If what we were doing was normal, I wouldn't be here. I think we've got a chance to do better if I don't screw it up. Not necessarily wins and losses, but the idea of having pride in our defense."
-- Jerry Glanville, July 31.

"We could have had a shutout tonight. On the play they scored we only had nine people on the field. Nine against 11, sometimes you don't win."
-- Leonard Peters, Sept. 16.

"A big heart and a scrotum full of testicles."
-- Dennis McKnight, Sept. 19, when asked what it takes to play on UH's kickoff coverage team

"Our game is swarming to the ball and hitting hard. We're trying to knock them out of the game, but we're not trying to hurt anyone. We want them to be all right for their next game."
-- Adam Leonard, Oct. 18.

"It had to be that way because their receivers can catch the ball. And our defense had to hit them in the mouth to give us the ball back. They can score and we can score. So whoever's defense was there, out there hitting, making guys fumble (would win)."
-- Ross Dickerson, Oct. 21.

"The way the offense is going now, it's like going to Magic Mountain. You just know you're going to have fun."
-- Ryan Grice-Mullins, Oct. 22

"We're bowling, baby -- put on your bowling shoes. It's obviously night and day compared to last year."
-- Colt Brennan, Nov. 4, after UH beat Utah State 63-10 and became bowl eligible

"We're getting to the point where we can play the same way each down. They came out fired up, they wanted to pull off a big upset. We know every team that comes in the next few weeks is going to play like that."
-- Adam Leonard, Nov. 11.

"I think he did get 200. But it was sideways. But that doesn't count last I checked."
-- Leonard Peters, Nov. 18, after San Jose State running back Yonus Davis rushed for 29 yards after he said he'd go for 200 against UH

"I feel like right now, you bring anybody in here, no matter who it is, we're gonna have a chance to outscore 'em."
-- June Jones, Nov. 27, after he said Hawaii could beat Ohio State at Aloha Stadium

"We didn't punt once, so it wasn't like they stopped us."
-- Colt Brennan, Dec. 2, after UH's nine-game winning streak snapped by Oregon State

"One day (volunteer Brian Kajiyama) told me we have to move the D-linemen next to Colt (Brennan) in the locker room, so they could at least get close enough to smell a quarterback."
-- Jeff Reinebold, Dec. 22

"There were some things their corner was doing that we knew we could take advantage of. Jason pointed out some things, and I said, 'He's right, let's do this.'"
-- June Jones, Dec. 24, after Jason Rivers caught 14 passes for 308 yards

"I'm going to come back, probably. There'll have to be a huge deal I can't refuse."
-- Colt Brennan, Dec. 24, when asked about his plans for next year

"I hate college football. I'm going to go back to the NFL and try to get these 10 guys I'm losing."
-- Jerry Glanville, Dec. 24