University of Hawai'i at Manoa Athletics

2021 RAINBOW WARRIOR FOOTBALL

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

• Hawai‘i earned a bowl invitation for a program-record fourth consecutive year and fifth time in the last six seasons.

• UH received an invitation to the EasyPost Hawai‘i Bowl for the 10th time in program history, however the game was canceled due to COVID concerns.

• UH finished with a 6-7 overall record and was one of a league-record eight Mountain West teams to receive a bowl invitation.

• Hawai‘i placed two defenders on the All-Mountain West first team – LB Darius Muasau and S Khoury Bethley. Muasau received first-team honors for the second consecutive year while also eclipsing 100+ tackles both seasons. Bethley was among the nation’s leaders in interceptions.

• Two others were named to the second team – CB Cortez Davis and WR Calvin Turner, Jr., while five were honorable mention – DL Jonah Laulu, OL Kohl Levao, OL Ilm Manning, WR Nick Mardner, and OL Micah Vanterpool.

• OL Eliki Tanuvasa was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 team.

• PK Matthew Shipley was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, as the nation’s top placekicker, becoming UH's first semifinalist since Jason Elam in 1992.

• Six players received invitations to all-star games, including Turner, who appeared in the East-West Shrine Game. In addition, Levao and WR Jared Smart competed in the Hula Bowl while DB Eugene Ford, OL Gene Pryor and DB Colby Burton were selected to the SPIRAL Tropical Bowl.

• Bethley received two national player of the week awards from the Jim Thorpe Award and Bronko Nagurski Award after recording two interceptions, a forced fumble and nine tackles in UH’s win over Fresno State.

• UH’s 27-21 win over No. 18 Fresno State snapped a 13-game losing streak against nationally ranked teams that stretched over a decade.

• UH reclaimed the Paniolo Trophy after a 38-14 win over Wyoming, which was UH’s first win in Laramie since 1991.

• Quarterback Chevan Cordeiro became the first player in program history to surpass 6,000 career passing yards and 1,000 career rushing yards.

• Graham resigned following the season and former record-setting quarterback Timmy Chang became the program’s 25th head coach.

 WELCOME HOME 

UH played its first season on campus at the Clarence T.C. Ching Complex and posted its first win in its home-opener against Portland State.

AWARDS & HONORS

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

A total of 21 football student-athletes were recognized as academic all-conference by the Mountain West, while Eliki Tanuvasa earned a spot on the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team.

HUMAN HIGHLIGHT REEL

Calvin Turner Jr. showed why he was one of the most electrifying players in college football with a pair of jaw-dropping touchdown runs that went viral. 

HONORING A LEGEND

Less than six months following his untimely death, Hawai'i honored the legacy of the great Colt Brennan with an evening dedicated to his memory on Oct. 23. It was a remembrance highlighted by the retirement of his No. 15 jersey as Brennan became just the second player in program history to have his number retired.    

PICTURE PERFECT

BOWL BOUND

Hawai'i received a bowl invitation for a program-record fourth consecutive season however the its match-up against Memphis in the EasyPost Hawai‘i Bowl was canceled due to COVID concerns. 

CLASS OF 2021

The class of 2021 endured more than any senior class in school history, through a pandemic, a coaching change, empty stadiums, and so much more, yet through it all, they persevered and became bowl champions and UH Manoa graduates.

BRADDAHHOOD

The “Braddahhood” movement began during the off-season with current and former players and has now become the team's motto under new leadership of former record-breaking quarterback Timmy Chang, who became the program's 25th head coach.

#GOBOWS