Satele and Gaison are the captains on this all-time UH team

Merry Christmas. Today, let's unwrap a gift. Today, I'm going to do something I've always wanted to do. Today, people are undoubtedly talking about this as UH's greatest team of all time. So let's flip it. It's perfect timing. Let's talk about the all-time team.

Did I blow it, leave out some guys? Of course. (Where's Skippy Dyer? Where are the linemen from the 1955 win at Nebraska and the Wonder Teams?) So add them in. This isn't to exclude anyone. This is a celebration. This is a gift.

This is to remind us that UH football isn't just to be celebrated now -- that it always has been.

Let's dive in:

Defensive line: Al Noga, Niko Noga, Levi Stanley, Travis LaBoy

Honorable mention: Maa Tanuvasa, Larry Cole, Cliff Laboy

Comment: Why isn't No. 54 retired? Stanley was unstoppable (11 tackles when UH won at Washington in 1973). LaBoy might be the most physically talented player on this list.

Linebackers: Mark Odom, Solomon Elimimian, David Maeva

Honorable mention: Randy Ingraham, Pisa Tinoisamoa, Alvis Satele, Adam Leonard, Bill Wise

Comment: It's projection that Elimimian will have a great senior year next season -- but he'll have been a four-year starter and a stud on the '06 and '07 teams.

The other two guys ... wow.

Cornerbacks: Jeris White, Dana McLemore

Honorable mention: Abraham Elimimian, Joe Kaulukukui, Walter Briggs

Comment: White, Hawaii's first modern All-American, still has high praise for his defensive coach, Larry Price. McLemore made big plays in some of the biggest games Hawaii had ever played.

Safeties: Rich Miano, Blane Gaison

Honorable mention: Anybody named Kafentzis

Comment: There have been a lot of "star" safeties since, but these guys are still the standard.

Punter: John Morse

Comment: Morse could really punt it in the days when they could really punt it. Pro Bowler Mat McBriar is incredible in the NFL, but was still learning the game as a collegian. Kurt Milne was also a very good college punter.

Punt returner: Chad Owens

Honorable mention: Dana McLemore, Bobby Ahu

Comment: No words left for what No. 2 could do.

Wide receivers: Ashley Lelie, Jason Rivers

Honorable mention: Walter Murray, Golden Richards

Comment: Lelie, though he worked his way up from awkward walk-on, had otherworldly talent. Rivers, on the other hand, willed himself to greatness with a ferocious, almost angry style of play. Both were biggest in the biggest games.

Slotbacks: Chad Owens, Dane McArthur

Honorable mention: Davone Bess, Ryan Grice-Mullins, Jeff Sydner

Comment: McArthur was toughness and talent -- a complete football player who could run, block and catch. Bess and Grice-Mullins are great players -- but they're not Owens, not yet. This season happened because Owens made plays that changed games in 2004.

Running backs: Gary Allen, Travis Sims

Honorable mention: Larry Sherrer, Nolle Smith, Pump Searle, Hiram Kaakua

Comment: Sims made the fullback dive a thing of beauty. Allen might still be the best offensive player Hawaii ever had; he's still the hero of any UH fan aged 35 to 45.

Offensive line: Samson Satele, Jim Kalili, Jesse Sapolu, Leo Goeas, Joe Onosai

Honorable mention: Amosa Amosa, Vince Manuwai, Hercules Satele, Kaulana Noa, Larry Jones

Comment: Probably the deepest, most talented position in UH history. You could probably add five more names, and maybe five more after that. Hercules Satele will go down in history as a first-team All-American -- and well deserved. But any of these other guys might have earned the same honor on a 12-0 team.

Tight end: Harry Kahuanui

Honorable mention: Ron Hall, McKinley Reynolds

Comment: "Clown" was the territory's heavyweight Golden Gloves champ and the man at UH in the late '40s.

Quarterback: Colt Brennan

Honorable mention: Garrett Gabriel, Michael Carter, Nick Rolovich

Comment: Beating BYU is the prerequisite for making it as an all-time UH QB -- but the only guy who didn't is the starter, hands down.

Kicker: Jason Elam

Comment: No second place (though current kicker Dan Kelly would deserve a mention at most any other school). Elam will be the first 'Bow in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and should get some consideration for the college hall, too.

Kick returner: Tommy Kaulukukui

Honorable mention: Chad Owens, Larry Khan-Smith

Comment: Hawaii's first All-American is still running in our dreams, even if we never saw that touchdown against UCLA.

Special teams: Murray Cassidy, Mike Akiu, Semeri Ulufale, Matt Harding, Guyton Galdeira

Comment: Love these guys. LOVE them. You do, too.

All-time team offensive captain: Samson Satele

All-time team defensive captain: Blane Gaison

All-time opponent: BYU

Kalani Simpson can be reached at ksimpson@starbulletin.com