RICKY, don't lose that number . . . Ricky’s record run
started at Aloha StadiumIt's painful watching the Hawaii Rainbows get killed in football. But it's still a treat watching a quality team with quality players.
So Rainbow fans should view today's Michigan game through rose-colored glasses.
Never mind the final score. Just remember, for future reference, some of the names of the Wolverines in today's game: Tai Streets, Jerame Tuman, Sam Sword and Drew Henson.
The first three -- especially Streets, who could present a nightmare for the UH secondary just as Northwestern's D'Wayne Bates did last week -- will definitely be playing on Sundays in the National Football League.
Henson, a backup quarterback, might become a future star in the NFL or the major leagues. He can hardly be called one of the boys, having got a $2 million signing bonus from the New York Yankees.
HENSON'S name comes to mind because of what another true freshman did against the Rainbows four years ago at Aloha Stadium. He also signed a baseball bonus out of high school.
His name? Ricky Williams, who became the all-time rushing leader in NCAA Division I (6,279 yards) with a 259-yard performance in Texas' 26-24 victory over Texas A&M yesterday.
All told, Williams set or tied 16 NCAA records, including most touchdowns (75), most points (452) and most all-purpose yards (7,206) in his four-year career with the Longhorns.
Ninety-five of those rushing yards and two of his touchdowns came in his college debut against Hawaii on Sept. 2, 1995. He scored on touchdown runs of 65 and 10 yards, and set up another with a 48-yard reception to the UH 2-yard line.
After the game, then UH defensive coordinator George Lumpkin said, "That kid is going to be something."
Quite a prophet, by George.
In a fitting football karma, Williams will play his final game as a collegian in the Hula Bowl on Maui on Jan. 24. Talk about coming full circle.
The football 'Bows, too, have come full circle, although right now it seems as though they're running in circles. Or are they just circling the wagons?
But despite the 'Bows' woes of late, fans have enjoyed a close-up look at some great football talent over the years.
Obviously, Williams is the latest great to come to mind, having just set all those records and virtually clinching the Heisman Trophy.
If Williams gets the award as expected, he'll be the sixth Heisman winner to have played against the Rainbows. The others are Nebraska's Johnny Rodgers and Mike Rozier, Southern Cal's Charles White and Marcus Allen and Ty Detmer of BYU.
BESIDES Williams, who replaced Pittsburgh's Tony Dorsett as the all-time Division I-A rushing leader, the 'Bows played against two others who are among the top 10 in that category -- White, who's No. 3, and Texas A&M's Darren Lewis, who is third.
If he returns for a fourth year, Wisconsin's Ron Dayne could surpass them all.
Dayne, too, played against the Rainbows. Who can forget it? As a true freshman three years ago, Dayne ran for 339 yards in three quarters against Hawaii.
Like Williams, he left an indelible impression on UH fans, and a lot of footprints on the backs of UH defenders.
Dayne can replace Williams as the all-time rushing leader if he returns for his senior year.
Dayne ended his junior year with 4,845 yards, just 51 yards from cracking the top 10 and 1,434 yards behind Williams. But will he stick around like Ricky did?