Hawaii Warrior Football: A Story of Faith, Hope, and Redemption [Hardcover]

J. David Miller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2007

Hawaii sits in the middle of the ocean like a gigantic chunk of blue-green gemstone that has been cut whole and set neatly into place. Sparkling, at its center, is the radiance of a top-20 college-football program that experts said was absolutely impossible to build. Ostracized and shunned for years by the college-football powers-that-be, the Warriors talent has overcome such bias: They have crashed the pious gates of self-righteous coaches, fans and media, forcing the world to recognize their staggering accomplishments. With Coach June Jones at the helm, since 1999 the Warriors have played in 5 bowl games. led the country in offense twice, groomed 10 All-Americans, 56 all-conference performers and 16 NFL draft picks, including 5 drafted in 2007. Jones has, in his own words, done it with mirrors, miraculously assembling one of the most talented, disciplined football teams against insurmountable odds. The most authoritative and significant book in the history of the University of Hawaii football, Hawaii Warrior Football: A Story of Faith, Hope, and Redemption is drawn directly from authorized inside sources during quarterback Colt Brennan s backstretch sprint for the Heisman Trophy. This uniquely Hawaiian book, with its powerful vortex of football, passion and people, will pull in the most casual reader for the ride of a lifetime.

Editorial Reviews

Review

I loved every single word of this book! This book is a wreck -- as in what the University of Hawaii football program was when June Jones took over; how he flirted with death after an unimaginable car accident; and how today he continues to wreck conventional football thinking with the Warriors success. J. David Miller weaves a fascinating story about how the biggest turnaround in NCAA history was just an opening act orchestrated by a man whose teams' highs and lows so closely mirror the identity of the state it represents. You need not be familiar with June Jones or Hawaii to enjoy this story of faith, hope and redemption. It s basically a real-life fairy tale. I'm not kidding you! --Neil Everett, ESPN SportsCenter

Whether you're an aspiring young coach, a veteran coach or a football fan, this is a book you should read. It's about building a winning football program, but equally important it's about a special guy, June Jones, and how he does it. June relies on Xs and Os of course, but it's his relationship with his players, coaches, administrators and friends, as well as his deep faith, that make it all work. It's easier to win when your players and coaches are having fun, and no one makes the game of football more fun than June. He's awesome. --Bobby Beathard, four-time Super Bowl winner

Miller brilliantly chronicles how Hawaii players, coaches, and fans struggled to overcome adversity and find meaning and definition in life. The value system of Coach June Jones, and his emphasis on character and ethics, provides a role model to anyone attempting to succeed in a world of social Darwinism, where the end justifies the means----and still retain their soul. J. David Miller's Hawaii Warrior Football restores our hope in the transcendent and mystical power of sport to inspire and unite us. --Super-agent, Leigh Steinberg

About the Author

As a young contributor to Sport magazine, where he would later become pro football editor, J. David Miller was the first writer to nationally document the amazing success of Coach Mouse Davis and his Run n Shoot offense the offense that would eventually lead Hawaii and countless other pro and college teams to prominence. Davis protégé at this time was assistant coach June Jones, who became one of Miller's most trusted NFL sources during his entire tenure as a pro football insider. Miller has written eight books, including Third and Long (Fleming H. Revell, 1986), Elvis Don t Like Football (MacMillan, 1990), The Super Book of Pro Football (Little, Brown & Co., 1990), and Hank Stram's Pro Football Scouting Report (Bonus Books, 1991-92). He is a also a contributing freelance writer to dozens of national periodicals. Miller lives in Florida with his wife, Laurie, and their four daughters. He is a skilled diver, both free and scuba, with experience in four oceans. A novice sailor and surfer, he also enjoys music, reading, and of course, writing.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Bess Press (October 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573062820
• ISBN-13: 978-1573062824
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 11.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #406,995 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

J. David Miller is an award-winning, best-selling author, as well as a writer, director and producer of short- and long-form direct-response campaigns. However, in 1984, Miller was just a young editor for SPORT Magazine in New York covering the now-defunct United States Football League. While the older writers took the "plum" NFL assignments, Miller would cover the unheralded United States Football League, a career choice that would change his life.

Most of Miller's thousands of printed articles and many books now connect back to the United States Football League, including Third and Long, with Neil Lomax; Elvis Don't Like Football, with Jerry Glanville;  Hawaii Warrior Football: A Story of Faith, Hope and Redemption, with June Jones. 

Most recently, he just finished Carolina Baseball: Pressure Makes Diamonds, with NCAA Coach of the Year  and the back- to-back National Champion Head Coach, Ray Tanner, with his co-author Ron Kule (www.PressureMakesDiamondsBook.com) Upcoming is 'My Miracle on Ice,' with hockey legend and NHL Hall-of-Famer Craig Patrick, the assistant head coach of the U.S. hockey team that defeated the Russians in 1980. Patrick is now the recently appointed senior advisor to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Miller also wrote books with NFL Hall of Fame head coach Hank Stram, and the Kids' Super Book of Football for Sports Illustrated. Currently, Miller just  completed 'The Dentist Who Drilled the NFL: How I Took on the NFL and Won, and My Plan to Reform the NCAA,' with dentist-turned-NFL Super Agent, turned USFL team owner, Dr. Jerry Argovitz, which will be released by Skyhorse Publishing in August 2012.

Miller has been published more than 1,000 times in national and international periodicals, and earned the coveted Page One Award from the New York Newspaper Guild for outstanding investigative journalism.

He has experience both in front of, and behind, the camera. He conceived, wrote, co-directed and co-produced three major infomercials, including one with NFL legend and Hall-of-Famer Mike Ditka; another with Dr. Robert Voy, former Chief Medical Officer of the United States Olympic Committee; former CNN anchor Bella Shaw; and hosted two long-form shows himself. The Smart Heart Program, and The Five-Time World Champion Tampa Bay Storm (Arena Football).

During this span, J. David Miller worked closely with career actor, director and producer Jackie Earle Haley, who earned the Academy Award for best supporting actor in 2007.

Miller is a father of four beautiful daughters, and resides with his beautiful wife, and best friend, Laurie Beth, anywhere they can find an ocean.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring!!!, November 12, 2007

By 

Jenny C "Imelda" (Mililani, HI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hawaii Warrior Football: A Story of Faith, Hope, and Redemption (Hardcover)

I just purchased this book and it's excellent! The photos are great, the flow of writing easy to follow and keeps the reader enthralled! There were tear-jerking and funny moments mixed with the hard work and serious work ethic of these boys turned men. Overall, it's an inspirational book for anyone who's ever been at the bottom and had only hope to bring them back up again. This is definately one of my favorite books! GO WARRIORS!!!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book that it what it says..., December 17, 2007

By 

Larry L. Snyder II "Skip" (Gainesville, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hawaii Warrior Football: A Story of Faith, Hope, and Redemption (Hardcover)

This book has a well-executed literary "gameplan". It discusses the history of the Hawaii program, the origins and meanings in its culture and traditions, the respective backgrounds of so many key figures, and an undeniable thread (Faith, Hope and Redemption)that weaves step by step, through from start to finish, the finish of course being the incredible achievements of an overlooked and under-funded football program long given up for dead.

If someone submitted a movie screenplay of the true stories that make up this book, they'd be laughed off the studio lot. Or at best, the film would be marginalized down to cheap laughs, stereotypical characters and situations.

This is an amazing and compelling story, whether you're a fan of Hawaii football, if you're a fan of sports in general, or even if you've never heard of June Jones or Colt Brennan but just want to read an uncommonly uplifting book. Highly recommended and very timely with their recent success and national recognition.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirtional!, December 29, 2007

By 

Gootz (Honolulu, Hawaii) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hawaii Warrior Football: A Story of Faith, Hope, and Redemption (Hardcover)

I live in Hawaii and never realized the unbelievable story of the University of Hawaii Football's dramatic comeback from being an all but forgotten footnote as a loseing fooball program to becomeing one of the nations best! The book is uncompromising in detail of the foritude and perseverence of what one man, coach June jones can do. It's what legends are made of. I haven't played football in over 37 years but it brought back the spirit and love for the game I thought I had forgotten. This book has soul and love for the players outside of the game. This book is hard to put down...I reccommend it to every father who has a son. Every person who loves Hawaii. Anybody who wants to read a 'true hero story!' And the Hawaii football story is still not over yet!