After being involved in a near-fatal automobile accident in February of 2001, Hawaii coach June Jones returned to the field for the first time during fall camp.

Simply glad to be alive, Jones could have coasted through the season. Instead, he inspired his players with his courage and guided them to a 9-3 record -- Hawaii’s best under his three-year tutelage.

The Warriors finished at 5-3 in the Western Athletic Conference, broke 78 school records and tied six more. Hawaii broke two NCAA records, including total return yardage (342 against BYU) and kickoff return yardage (249 against BYU) and tied one for most touchdowns on kick returns (eight). Along the way, Hawaii upset No. 8 BYU and No. 18 Fresno State.

The start of the season gave no indication of what was to come later. After beating Montana in the season opener, the Warriors dropped WAC games at Nevada and at home against Rice. Starting quarterback Timmy Chang injured his right (throwing) wrist against Rice, and did not play the rest of the season.

Team Info Location:   Honolulu, HI   Conference:   Western Athletic   Last Season:   9-3 (.750)   Conference Record:   5-3 (t-3rd)   Off. Starters Returning:   6  Def. Starters Returning:   8  Nickname:   Warriors  Colors:   Green & White  Home Field:   Aloha Stadium (50,000)   Head Coach:   June Jones (New York State Regents)   Record at School:   21-16 (3 years)   Career Record:   21-16 (3 years)   Assistants:   George Lumpkin (Hawaii '72) Associate Head Coach/Linebackers      Kevin Lempa (Southern Connecticut St. '74) Defensive Coordinator      Mike Cavanaugh (Southern Conn. St. '86) Offensive Line      Ron Lee (Williamette '67) Wide Receivers      Rich Miano (Hawaii '87) Secondary      Dan Morrison (UCLA '71) Quarterbacks      Vantz Singletary (Kansas State '89) Defensive Line      Wes Suan (Linfield '75) Running Backs      Tyson Helton (Houston '99) Offensive Assistant   Team Wins (last 5 yrs.):   3-0-9-3-9   Team Rank (last 5 yrs.):   103-109-65-90-30   2001 Finish:   Beat BYU in regular-season finale.

It was senior Nick Rolovich to the rescue. He stepped in as the starter at SMU and led the Warriors to five straight wins, including a 38-34 victory over No. 18 Fresno State.

Hawaii then lost to Boise State before closing out the season with decisive victories over Miami-Ohio, Air Force and BYU. A sellout crowd of 50,000 watched the Warriors demolish then 12-0 BYU, 71-45.

At season’s end, four Hawaii players were chosen to various All-American teams: Wide receiver Ashley Lelie, return specialist Chad Owens , place-kicker Justin Ayat and offensive lineman Uriah Moenoa .

Surprisingly, despite its 9-3 record and convincing wins over ranked teams, Hawaii was left out of a bowl game. That forced the WAC into action. Along with Conference USA and Hawaii, the WAC petitioned the NCAA’s Bowl Certification Committee to grant permission for a new bowl in December. In May, the request was granted. The Hawaii Bowl will be played in Honolulu on Christmas day and match teams from the WAC and C-USA.

Chang (6-1, 195), a sophomore, will take over for Rolovich, who passed for a school-record 336.5 yards per game.

Chang was granted a medical hardship and will have three years to play three seasons.

Chang started and played in three games in 2001 and completed 83 passes for 1,100 yards and six touchdowns. Before his injury, Chang led the nation in total offense, averaging 349.7 yards per game. He is currently sixth on UH’s all-time passing list with 4,141 yards. He is 4-8 as the Warriors’ starter.

During spring drills, Chang did not participate while recovering from surgery. Senior Shawn Withy-Allen (6-4, 220) took snaps with the first team in the spring.

The backups at quarterback are red-freshman Jeffrey Rhode (6-5, 233), who also played baseball, and junior Jason Whieldon (6-0, 187).

The Warriors return sophomore Mike Bass (5-6, 158) and senior Thero Mitchell (5-10, 215), who rushed for a combined 936 yards in 2001.

Bass, who started nine games last fall, is expected to get the starting nod.

Junior college transfer running back John West (5-10, 180) broke several impressive runs during spring drills. He played two seasons at Yuba City College in California, where he was selected first-team California Junior College All-America.

West helped Yuba to the Bay Valley Conference championship in 2000 and 2001. He finished third in the state in all-purpose yardage (227.2), fifth in rushing (146.8) and sixth in scoring (10.4). He ran for 1,468 yards and 15 touchdowns last year.

Three of the four starters are gone, most notably Lelie. Also gone are Craig Stutzmann and Channon Harris, who combined for 123 catches, 1,407 yards and 13 touchdowns.

The only starter returning is senior Justin Colbert (5-7, 160), who had 55 catches for 801 yards and three touchdowns last year.

The other starters in the four-receiver set will be sophomore All-American Owens (5-8, 175), junior Gerald Welch (5-7, 201) and senior Neal Gossett (5-10, 172), although the competition was strong in the spring.

Owens is an honors candidate for the Warriors after breaking two NCAA records for most combined returns in a game (342) and most yards on kickoff returns (249). He caught five passes for 57 yards and a touchdown last year and had three rushes for 51 yards and a touchdown.

Welch caught two passes last season while playing in five games. Gossett played in eight games and also had two catches.

The backups will be sophomore Kanale George (6-1, 199), sophomore Mark Tate (6-1, 212), sophomore Britton Komine (5-9, 184), red-shirt freshman Nate Ilaoa (5-9, 190), junior Clifton Herbert (5-7, 162), red-shirt freshman Mike Akiu (5-7, 151) and junior Omar Bennett (5-11, 178).

Welch, Ilaoa, Owens, Komine and Herbert are close in talent at slot-back, Lee told the Star Bulletin.

As part of spring cleaning, Hawaii reorganized its offensive line.

All-American Moenoa (6-4, 331), who was the No. 1 center during spring practice, was moved to right tackle, where he started 12 games last season.

Senior Lui Fuata (6-2, 313), a left tackle last season and left guard in spring practice, moved to center. Junior Wayne Hunter (6-6, 278), who moved from the defensive line, is the top left tackle. Senior Vince Manuwai (6-2, 285) returns at right guard. Senior Shayne Kajioka (6-3, 323), who was a backup on the spring depth chart, will start at left guard.

"We want to put our best five out there, and we believe, right now, they are the best five," offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh told the Honolulu Advertiser.

Cavanaugh said the five linemen will enter training camp as starters, although "that could always change when we start practicing again."

The changes were triggered by Kajioka’s progress. Kajioka played well at right tackle in spring practice, but Cavanaugh told the paper, "Kaj is a better guard than he is a tackle."

Elevating Kajioka to starter meant moving Fuata to center, which resulted in Moenoa going back to right tackle.

The odd man out is right tackle Ryan Santos , (6-5, 335) a sophomore.

The one person Cavanaugh does not worry about is Manuwai, who is being trumpeted as an Outland Trophy candidate as the nation’s best lineman. Cavanaugh said Manuwai has increased his maximum bench press to 500 pounds. He allowed only 5.5 sacks in 570 pass attempts last year and led the team with 35 "de-cleaters.’’

Providing depth at tackle will be senior Charlie Dutra (6-6, 315), red-shirt freshman Brandon Eaton (6-2, 292) and sophomore Phil Kauffman (6-1, 269). The backup centers are red-shirt freshman Derek Faavi (6-0, 281) and senior Kealii Agular (6-1, 299). Another guard is sophomore Chad Kahale (6-1, 315).

Sophomore All-America (Football News) kicker Ayat (5-11, 203) returns after a memorable 2001 season.

Ayat kicked the winning field goal, a 24-yarder, with no time left on the clock to help the Warriors beat Miami-Ohio, 52-51. He also kicked a career-long 55-yard field goal, tying for second longest in school history.

Ayat is one of only eight kickers in school history to make a field goal of 50 or more yards. In 2001, he was 19-of-29 on field goals and 54-of-57 on PATs.

The defensive line lost starters Mike Iosua and Joe Correia, who both played in the Hula Bowl.

They will be replaced by juniors Lui Fuga (6-1, 302) and Kevin Jackson (6-5, 244). Fuga, an eight-game starter in 2000 before red-shirting last year, will start at left tackle and Jackson, who made 29 tackles last year, at right end.

Because Fuga was such a leader the year before, it was deflating for the Warriors to see him on the sideline last fall. Fuga gained an additional season of eligibility because of medical hardship -- hardship he says is history.

Starters Lance Samuseva (5-11, 285) and Laanui Correa (6-4, 267) return at right tackle and left end, respectively. Samuseva, a junior, made 38 tackles and recovered two fumbles last year. Correa, a senior, had a breakout year in 2001 with 51 tackles, an interception, 10 quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery.

Providing depth will be juniors Houston Ala (6-1, 251) and Colin Wills (6-1, 252). Ala has the ability to play tackle, but is more of a natural end.

Junior college transfer Matt "Rocky’’ Faga (6-3, 330), who will arrive in the fall, is also expected to push for playing time at tackle.

The linebackers will be the strength of the defense as four key contributors return, including All-WAC honoree Chris Brown (6-2, 258). A senior, Brown had a team-leading 124 tackles last year.

Brown hopes to make money playing football, beginning next year. He is beginning to look like a prototype NFL linebacker.

Senior Pisa Tinoisamoa (6-0, 217) started nine games, leading the Warriors with five sacks while making 67 tackles. He was selected second-team all-conference.

Senior Matt Wright (6-1, 222) also returns after making 51 tackles. He had a memorable interception that turned into a 90-yard touchdown against UTEP.

Tinoisamoa picked up in the spring where he left off at the end of last season.

Backup Keani Alapa (6-0, 222) also played in 10 games last year, making 38 tackles, one sack and recovering one fumble.

The backups will be sophomore Kilnahe Noa (5-11, 214) and red-shirt freshman Isaiah Alameda (6-1, 212).

The Warriors lost starting safeties Jackson and Jacob Espiau.

Senior Sean Butts (6-3, 193), who spent most of his time blocking kicks, downing punts and recovering fumbles on special teams last fall, will step in at one safety spot.

The other starter at safety will be freshman Leonard Peters (6-1, 163), who was granted a medial hardship. Peters will have four years to play four seasons for the Warriors after complaining of chronic knee pain. He did not play in 2001

All three players who started games at the cornerback positions return in the spring with junior Hyrum Peters (5-8, 190) and sophomore Abraham Elimimian (5-10, 180) the probable starters.

Junior Kevin Millhouse (6-1, 198), who started in nine games last year, will be an important third cornerback. Junior David Gilmore (6-0, 188), senior Keith Bhonapha (5-9, 188) and sophomore Matt Manuma (6-1, 200) will also play in the secondary.

Hawaii lists senior punter Mat McBriar (6-1, 189) as an honors candidate. He was voted second-team all-conference in 2001, averaging 43.4 yards per punt.

McBriar was chosen WAC Special Teams Player of the Week on Nov. 5 and owns the second-longest punt in school history (69 yards against Tulsa). He was on the "watch list’’ for the Ray Guy Award.

Owens earned Freshman All-America honors by the Football Writers Association. He also tied the NCAA record for most return touchdowns in a game with two (one punt, one kickoff) against BYU. Owens was voted WAC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against Air Force when he returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown.

Owens broke the school record with nine kickoff returns for 233 yards and a 25.9 average against Miami (Ohio). He led the WAC and ranked second in the nation in kickoff return average (33.6) and finished second on the team in all-purpose yards (113.1).

Hawaii signed 24 players on national signing day in February. Jones and his staff took seven players out of junior college and the remaining 17 out of the prep ranks.

"Pretty much everyone we expected signed," Jones said. "Overall, I think this is one of our best recruiting classes."

Many of the top local high school prospects got away, including a Parade All-America defensive lineman and the state’s most explosive offensive player. The Warriors lost a battle with BYU for Kahuku running back Mulivai Pula, the Star-Bulletin’s No. 3 prospect in the state. UH had already landed five of the top 10 prospects, but only one other in the top five -- Kailua offensive lineman Samson Satele (6-6, 240). The Warriors signed six offensive linemen.

Defensively, the Warriors needed help right away and got it in the form of junior college transfers, but lost out on Kahuku All-American Jonathan Mapu (Tennessee) and Kamehameha’s Brandon Ala (Washington), the state’s top two prospects.

Among the six defensive line recruits is end Hausia Faleofa (6-1, 240), who is known as "The House."

"He’s got a motor," College of the Canyons coach Chuck Lyon told the Star Bulletin. "He goes full-speed every play. He was our best defensive lineman."

Faleofa played at Kahuku High School. He runs 40 yards in 4.75 seconds and benches 400 pounds.

Two of the Warriors most highly regarded national recruits are cornerback A.J. Martinez (6-0, 185) and linebacker Chad Kalilimoku (6-0, 240).

Martinez was an all-state defensive back at Huntington Beach Edison, one of California’s best programs. Kalilimoku, a Roosevelt grad, is a junior college All-American. "In particular, I think Chad is going to be a big time player for us," Jones said. "He was, I think, the most highly recruited junior college player in America."

Kenny Patton (6-0, 175) is also making a homecoming, as the cornerback from St. Francis (Calif.) prepped at Punahou.

With five road games -- the most Hawaii has encountered in its Division I-A existence -- and a lot of teams itching to even scores from last season, the Warriors have their work cut out for them.

"It is definitely our hardest schedule," Jones said. "Everybody will be aiming for us, BYU and Fresno State, they aren’t talking about anything else right now."

The schedule changed over the summer when Alabama replaced Washington State as Hawaii’s Nov. 30 opponent.

Jones knows that, from an athletic point of view, this could be one of his best teams. He knows the key will be winning on the road.

It will also be important for Chang to bounce back and be effective in Jones’ run-and-shoot offense. Doctors have told Jones that his quarterback will be as good as new, but there is still reason for concern.

The Warriors will be sound defensively with two of the league’s best linebackers in Brown and Tinoisamoa and the special teams are arguably the best in the conference.

This will be an exciting year in the WAC with Hawaii in the chase for the championship along with Louisiana Tech, Fresno State and Boise State. The Warriors haven’t forgotten last season’s bowl snub, and will do their best to make sure they don’t get shut out two years in a row.