Keeping up
with the Jones
The Warriors' unique style is by design
QB caught up with Hawaii football coach June Jones during two-a-days. He's a man true to his convictions and a creature of habit: he was attired in his traditional black pants and long-sleeve gray T-shirt despite 95-degree heat on a day when the trades had been traded away.
QB: How important is it for UH football to have its unique style?
JJ: It's as important as anything. We've done a good job at this school of branding ourselves and creating an identity. That's what successful people and successful programs do.
QB: Do you still get a lot of people telling you your offense is not "real" football?
JJ: I'm sure if I was still in the NFL they'd be saying that. In college, a lot of teams play like we do. It's taken 30 years to change the mentality, but we've done it. I don't really worry about what other people say.
QB: Have you changed your offense significantly since you returned to Hawaii five years ago?
JJ: You constantly try to adjust. I think we've been able to tweak.
QB: How about yourself, your personality?
JJ: I think I'm the same person.
QB: You've had about two weeks to work with your new players. How do you feel now?
JJ: I am still excited. I think we have more depth at certain positions than we've ever had, but all of a sudden we're a little bit thin at D-line. But we have young guys who can get opportunities to rotate in. That will be fun and exciting, too. But at the same time, you don't know how that's going to play out until you get on the field for their first game.
QB: The cultural makeup of this team is unique. It brings about a unique style. Does that help attract fans and make the players proud?
JJ: Creating our own identity started with that thought of Polynesian kids with tattoos around their arms and legs, and we incorporated that with our shirts and pants. It's unique and it's done with that in mind, to create an identity. The kids have picked up on it, and when anyone in America sees our kids and our uniforms, they know that's Hawaii.
QB: Would you ever get a tattoo yourself?
JJ: (Laughs) I'm not into tattoos, but I have to admit the kids have done a pretty good job with them.
QB: If the players were to say, "If we go 13-0, you gotta get a 'tat' coach," would you?
JJ: I probably would do that, but I'm into just winning one at a time and don't think down the line that way.
Numbers
Coach June Jones has won 40 games and lost 25 in five seasons with the Warriors.
1999:
Tied for first in WAC after 0-12 season
2000:
His only losing season
2001:
Crushed rival BYU 72-45
2002:
First 10-win season since '92
2003:
Beat Houston in Hawaii Bowl in triple OT
www.hawaiiathletics.com
