Hawaii Warrior Football: A Story of Faith, Hope, and Redemption (Hardcover)

by J. David Miller (Author)

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

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

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

Product Description
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.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Bess Press (October 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573062820
• ISBN-13: 978-1573062824
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.5 x 1.1 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.com Sales Rank: #740,368 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 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

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!!!

6 of 6 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 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.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	Gootz (Honolulu, Hawaii) - See all my reviews

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!