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A trip down memory lane to FAU's win against Hawaii in 2004

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A trip down memory lane to FAU's win against Hawaii in 2004

Hawaii was complaining about Georgia piling up the score on them. It seems I remember Hawaii's fans being a bit arrogant when FAU beat them in 2004. I found this blog by a UH alum. Hawaii has a bit of a reputation of being rough on the opposing fans and visitors to their stadium.

University of Hawaii Football Fan Blog: September 2004

Before the Game.

UH plays Florida Atlantic tonight!
I think it's a scrimmage. Can't be sure. Let's hope no one gets injured!

Saturday, September 04, 2004
Season Opener

Just three hours before Hawaii takes on Florida Atlantic in a pre-season scrimmage. Timmy Chang will hopefully amass 2218 in passing yards in this game, breaking Ty Detmer's career passing mark, and thus negating our having to hear about it for the rest of the season. I'm assuming 2218 yards in one game would probably break other records too. Bonus!

I have been eagerly anticipating the UH football season. I hope they don't chump it tonight and lose. I've already spent like $40 bucks on food and drink. I got my Newcastle Brown Ale, my Farmer John hot dogs, my Pizza Hut pizza with ham, pineapple and mushrooms. And I got me some weeeeed! I'm just kidding. Say no to drugs. Or at least drugs that don't involve sweet sweet booze.
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After the game.

Sunday, September 05, 2004
My Heart is Torn Asunder
The University of Hawaii's dream of an undefeated season is no more, as they lost their season opener to Florida Atlantic, 35 to 28. Yes, that's right, the same Florida Atlantic you've never even heard of. So go ahead and laugh! I don't give a crap! But let me tell you one thing…

*cue ominous 50s noir music, along with corresponding noir accent*

Unlike you, at least I'm passionate about something! Oh, I'm sorry, did I touch a nerve? Forgive me, please, for I had no idea you still felt anything, seeing as how your heart is as barren as an empty tin of childhood promise! Seeing as how your life now consists of nothing more than a going through of the motions, secretly longing – not only for that young scamp you didn't have the courage to take to the ball all those years ago – but for the cold comfort of death's eternal embrace! That's right baby! The big sleep!

I suppose I'm taking this loss a bit too hard. There will be other games, after all. Sigh.
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Later his review of the game gets angrier during the week after.

Friday, September 10, 2004
Startling
At the bottom of this column, ESPN the Magazine's Bruce Feldman calls FAU's victory over Hawaii as "the most startling event of the opening weekend."

The Indianapolis Star does a little profile on Florida Atlantic coach Howard Schnellenberger and his bitchy comments about Hawaii's run and shoot offense that he made before the game. Man, did UH players hear these comments and still only score 28 points? The opposing coach pretty much implied you were a bunch of pussies, and you didn't slap that Rollie Fingers mustache off his face? Oh, the pain!
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Re: A trip down memory lane to FAU's win against Hawaii in 2004

Awesome. Thanks for posting....This guy and the rest of Hawaii will never forget that game.
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Re: A trip down memory lane to FAU's win against Hawaii in 2004

You make note of Hawaii's game against Georgia. I was really hoping that Hawaii would make that a game and maybe even pull off the win for the feel good story of the season. Instead, they were DESTROYED by Georgia. The Bulldog's exposed a weak Hawaii offensive line as they beat Colt Brennan into submission all night long. I for one don't think Hawaii is as bad as they looked against Georgia. I just think Georgia played their best game of the season and they have one of the top teams in the country hands down.

GO OWLS!!!

2017 and 2019 Conference USA Champions
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Re: A trip down memory lane to FAU's win against Hawaii in 2004

I had no idea about this.

June Jones resigns from Hawaii to go to SMU. Fans and alumni are angry at UH.

Hawaii News, Honolulu, Honolulu News, Sports, Editorial, Features, Travel and Business - Honolulu Star-Advertiser - Hawaii Newspaper

University of Hawai'i coaches lamented and politicians pointed fingers over football coach June Jones' apparent resignation from the university.

According to Al Souza, Jones' close friend, the coach announced his resignation in an e-mail to friends yesterday. Included was a copy of his resignation letter that was sent to athletic director Herman Frazier, though Frazier said he had not received a copy.

Jones, whose five-year contract expires June 30, cited a lack of loyalty and commitment from athletic department leaders.

He's in Dallas to interview for the coaching vacancy at Southern Methodist University.

"I'm saddened that if the reports are correct … myself and so many other people have helped the program, inside and outside," said Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl executive director Jim Donovan, a former UH administrator and football player. "I'm thankful for what he has done the last nine years. Anybody would be sad he would be leaving."

Jones' resignation comes less than week after Hawai'i's 41-10 loss to Georgia at the Sugar Bowl, marking one of the biggest highlights in Jones' tenure, which included taking over a program that had went 0-12 the year before he started.

Yet, it has long been known that Jones' contract would be up this year. And when there were reports that SMU was interested in Jones, UH officials didn't make any offers until late Thursday.

"I'm extremely disappointed" Mayor Mufi Hannemann said. "I think the state and the university is just too little, too late. They stepped up too little, too late."

Hannemann even added he wished the university was a City & County institution, not a state one, so he could act upon the situation.

Rep. K. Mark Takai, who led a four-hour session between the Senate and House education committees and the university over several issues in May, pointed out how Frazier had said then that drafts were being worked on for Jones' contract proposal.

"I think the fact that Herman Frazier didn't act on the commitment he made to the legislature in May and not jump on the opportunity to negotiate an extension on the contract has paid dearly not only for the program, but the entire state," said Takai, who was reached during dinner with Donovan in Los Angeles last night.

Takai added Frazier isn't the only person who should be held accountable.

"Frazier, Chancellor (Virginia) Hinshaw, the Board of Regents, (UH) President (David) McClain, and some extent the governor," Takai said. "All of those people had from May to take this situation and to make certain decisions.

"The chain of command is such where if the lower command falters, the next person needs to take the lead. It goes all the way to (the) governor. I hold her ultimately accountable."

An attempt to reach Lenny Klompus, senior advisor to Gov. Linda Lingle, was unsuccessful last night.

"Hawai'i just celebrated a few days ago, the biggest sports success it has ever had," said Takai, who attended the Sugar Bowl. "How can you fumble that?"

One issue raised during the four-hour session in May was the state of facilities at the university. In early May, quarterback Colt Brennan spoke out on the deteriorating conditions.

Leigh Steinberg, Jones' agent, has said the coach's focus has been improving facilities and resources to the level comparable to those of nationally-ranked programs.

"Well, I think if you compare what we have for football with other programs, he's absolutely right on," said UH women's volleyball coach Dave Shoji.

"When I go to college campuses, I notice facilities. I know what our football team has and what others have … I know that's one thing that's frustrated June."

Shoji said he couldn't "think of one football program where our facilities are better."

"What program are we better than as far as facilities?" Shoji asked. "I've never seen a program where our facilities are better."

Coaches and colleagues lent their support to Jones.

UH men's volleyball coach Mike Wilton also expressed his disappointment.

"I genuinely like June Jones," Wilton said before last night's match against UCLA. "I think he's a genuine guy and he cares about other people. I'm just really sad right now."

Some feel the repercussions of Jones' resignation and how the situation was handled will be felt beyond the program.

"This is going to hurt the state and university beyond the football field when the story behind the story comes to light," Hann-emann said.

Donovan said he has discussed the situation with ESPN, which owns the Hawai'i Bowl. The network is taking a "wait-and-see approach" to who the new coach is — if there is indeed a new coach.

"I just want what's best for June and his family," Donovan said. "I believe everything works out best in the long run. If this is what's best for him, I support him because of how much he has done for the school and state.

"If you look at the passion he's put into the program and how much he's turned the program, around, it's nothing short of phenomenal."

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Re: A trip down memory lane to FAU's win against Hawaii in 2004

Losing Jones sucks for UH.  I'm guessing that SMU threw an enormous amount of cash at him just like they did Matt Doherty.  Doherty's team by the way is 5-6 with losses to USC Upstate and Centenary College….
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Re: A trip down memory lane to FAU's win against Hawaii in 2004

It is the university's fault. He had asked for 19 changes in how the program was run and was rejected on all of them. How you let a coach that took over a 0-12 football team 9 years ago get into the final year of his deal is bad management. June Jones loved Hawaii but he had been fighting his AD for the last couple of years. UH fans and alumni want the AD fired for allowing Jones to leave.
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Re: A trip down memory lane to FAU's win against Hawaii in 2004

I don't blame Jones.  From the sounds of it, his demands were reasonable and were only in the best interests of the program.  He certainly left that team in better shape then when he got there.  It will be interesting to see if they can build off this season's success even without him.  I'm sure those facilities will get upgraded now, albeit too late to keep him there. 
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Re: A trip down memory lane to FAU's win against Hawaii in 2004

WOW!  I remeber listening to that game while crammed in a house with several friends and a family, thanks to the hurricane that was suppose to hit the next day.  Wpierson and i were soo excited…..and b4 we lost power we got to see the score flash on the ticker on espn.  That was a proud day in FAU sports!

Thanks for the post!
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Re: A trip down memory lane to FAU's win against Hawaii in 2004

rook01 said

The Indianapolis Star does a little profile on Florida Atlantic coach Howard Schnellenberger and his bitchy comments about Hawaii's run and shoot offense that he made before the game. Man, did UH players hear these comments and still only score 28 points? The opposing coach pretty much implied you were a bunch of pussies, and you didn't slap that Rollie Fingers mustache off his face? Oh, the pain!


Gotta admit, that's some pretty good bloggery.  :D

I don't remember the game because I was "hunkered down," like everyone else in Palm Beach on 9/4/04.  It wasn't until Monday when I was up at my parents' house (somehow, they had power in PBG), when I got on the Internet to see how bad FAU lost.  Oh, ye of little faith.  My jaw hit the floor.

I remember that it was supposed to be run in its entirety on that POS Channel 15, back when it was still an independent – this is pre-CSS days, of course – but they cut it right as they were going to OT in order to show some anti-John Kerry propaganda.  I was so pissed.
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Re: A trip down memory lane to FAU's win against Hawaii in 2004

The fans and their reaction may change June Jones mind about leaving Hawaii.

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/Jan/06/br/br0129456387.html

Agent Leigh Steinberg said June Jones, moved by e-mails and phone calls from Hawaii supporters, is having a change of heart and is reconsidering a decision to become Southern Methodist University's next football coach.
Steinberg said Jones arrived in Dallas today with the intent of joining SMU, but those plans have been put on hold.

Steinberg also said the UH president David McClain has assumed a lead role in negotiations. McClain, according to Steinberg, has addressed many of Jones' concerns about improving the UH athletic facilities.

Steinberg said he expects Jones to make a decision by early tomorrow.

Jones, whose five-year contract expires June 30, is the winningest football coach at UH, compiling a 76-41 record and seven winning seasons in his nine years at Manoa.

Jones reportedly was offered a five-year deal with an annual salary of up to $2 million to become SMU's head football coach.


UH, which made no contact with Jones or Steinberg during the 2007 season, tried to make a last-ditch attempt to keep Jones, offering as much as a reported $1.7 million. Jones' salary was $800,016 a year.

But Steinberg said, "the issue of June's compensation has never been June's concern. June's focus has been the facilities, and the ability to take the program to the next level. And I'll leave it at that."

Jones was hired by UH in December 1998 and resurrected a football program that had just finished the season at 0-12. He received a five-year contract extension and a raise from $320,000 in 2003. Since then, Jones had four winning seasons in five years, earned four bowl berths, and accumulated records of 11-3 and 12-1 the past two seasons. The 2007 season was capped by the school's first invitation to a Bowl Championship Series bowl, the Sugar Bowl in the Superdome in New Orleans.

According to close friend Al Souza, Jones resigned yesterday, a move that allowed Jones to formally entertain an offer from SMU, which has been without a head coach since firing Phil Bennett Oct. 28.

SMU has raised $10 million to give the next head coach during the life of a five-year contract.

SMU is a member of the 12-team Conference USA and finished 1-11 overall and 0-8 in the conference last season. The Conference USA, like the Western

Athletic Conference in which UH is a member, is not one of the six BCS conferences with an automatic berth to a BCS bowl.

Steinberg said Jones was inundated with calls and e-mails from fans imploring him to remain at UH.

"It was heart-wrenching," Steinberg said.

Steinberg said Jones was moved by the outpouring.

In an e-mail distributed to select friends Saturday, Jones included a copy of the letter of resignation he sent to athletic director Herman Frazier.

Souza said Jones broke down in tears as he mulled his decision Friday night.

"He doesn't want to leave," Souza said.

Last summer, Jones told UH officials that he would not negotiate a contract extension between the start and end of the recently completed season.

Frazier said the Board of Regents did not approve a measure to increase the ceiling for the head coach's salary until last July, not leaving him enough time to assemble an offer by Jones' deadline.

Frazier confirmed he did not have contract talks with Steinberg during the 2007 regular season.

In an e-mail to Frazier on Christmas Eve, Jones requested permission for Steinberg to listen to offers from other suitors. Frazier gave his blessing.

In an e-mail to Frazier on Dec. 26, Steinberg wrote that he was contacted by a school with a "time-sensitive situation." That school, it turned out, was SMU.

On Thursday, SMU asked Frazier for permission to interview Jones. Frazier gave his approval.

That night, Frazier, UH president David McClain and Manoa chancellor Virginia Hinshaw offered Jones a contract of about $1.1 million a year.

The next day, the UH trio told Jones they would make a second offer, even before hearing a response to the first proposal.

That second offer, according to Jones' friends, was close to $1.7 million annually.

But the second offer did not include any provisions promising improvement to facilities or added resources for the football program.

Frazier said his main focus was to make an initial financial offer, then work on the other concerns in future discussions.

Frazier said if Jones were to leave, he would release him from the final six months of his UH contract.

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