I know he loves MSU and the state of Montana. But I wonder if Jerry Glanville would be interested in coming here? I know I heard his name for the North Texas and La Tech jobs.
He has done an unbelievable job at Hawaii this past season. He would give the program everything they need right now. Talk about a great football coach but just as great in PR.
Here is a name....
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By Jamie Newberg
National Recruiting Analyst
Posted Nov 9, 2006
He wears all black and a cowboy hat. He was the mastermind of one of the NFL's greatest defenses. He's unconventional and unique. He's Jerry Glanville and he has been Hawaii's Defensive Coordinator for just under two seasons. Glanville has quietly turned things around on the other side of the ball for June Jones. And Glanville still has one of the best football minds in the game.
The game of college football always generates great stories. This season there are many like Ohio State’s run for another championship, the resurrection in Ann Arbor, and the winning ways of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, just to name a few. One exceptional story a few time zones away is that of the University of Hawaii. The Warriors, led by Head Coach June Jones and quarterback Colt Brennan, are off and running with a 7-2 start.
Once again, the offense is stealing the headlines. Brennan stats are mind boggling through nine games leading this Hawaii offense. He has completed 72.9% of his passes for 3,347 yards, 39 touchdown passes (only six interceptions in 340 attempts). Brennan leads the NCAA in pass efficiency (189.96). The offense is averaging 47.3 points per game which leads the NCAA. They are also college football’s leader in total offense and passing offense.
This offensive onslaught is nothing out of the ordinary for a June Jones offense. The college football world has certainly taken notice but it’s the defense for Hawaii that’s the bigger story.
The man running the defensive show is none other than Jerry Glanville. Love him or hate him Glanville is back, and in black, stalking the sidelines. He has quietly done an amazing job with this Warrior defense but that is nothing new for Glanville. He had very good career coaching in the pros, both as an assistant and head coach. He was the Defensive Coordinator and architect of the famed Falcons defense called the “Gritz Blitz” in the ‘70s, where they set an NFL record for points allowed (129) in a season that still sets the standard today.
Glanville made his way to become the Head Coach for the Houston Oilers (1986-89) and the Atlanta Falcons (1990-93), where he led those teams to the playoffs on four different occasions. Along the way his persona often overshadowed his coaching. In Houston it was the “House of Pain” and leaving tickets for Elvis Presley and in Atlanta it was the “California Trophy” and M.C. Hammer. Regardless of his off the field antics, the coach dressed in black with the big belt buckle was often mis-read by the mainstream media and wrongly criticized for how he did things.
After he left the Falcons, Glanville spent 11 years in television with Fox, CBS, The Football Network, and HBO. Then, two years ago, he did something that changed his life and brought him back to the game he loves.
In March of 2004, Glanville was part of the NFL Alumni Association that sent six former players and coaches on a secret mission to Iraq. Some who made the trip included Bud Grant, Deacon Jones and Randy Gradishar. The mission was so secret that Glanville and the others didn’t know who was going and they couldn’t tell a soul. Everything was covert, mainly for their protection. Their initiative was simple; give the U.S. troops a morale boost. Glanville and the others did just that but for Glanville the trip to Iraq changed his life.
“I took back ten times what I think I gave while I was there,” proclaimed Glanville. “I talked with so many young men, all around the age of 19. I was there to help boost them up and inspire them. But it was those troops that inspired me. There was no griping or complaining from any of them despite the job they had to do. They have a mission they want to accomplish. The people back in the states have no idea what these troops are actually doing there. It’s amazing. That trip to me was extraordinary in so many ways. I said to myself ‘if I do get home then I want to get back into coaching and work with kids that are 18, 19, 20 years old.’ I truly believe they are a greatest generation of Americans today.”
Glanville and his counterparts spoke to roughly 5,600 troops while in Baghdad. There, they were protected by the Army First Calvary. They wandered in both the dangerous Red and Green Zones of the Iraqi capitol, often putting them in harms way to accomplish their mission.
“We spoke to everyone we could, Navy Seals, snipers, engineers and all the men and women in the U.S. forces. We were protected every step of the way. We spoke to so many troops one on one. God was a part of each one, each conversation. It was such a spiritual education for me and the others. I wrote a diary while I was there and collected names and phone numbers of family members of these troops and I tried to contact them all when I got back home. Some parents hadn’t spoken to their kids in 12 to 14 months. It was an amazing experience and so interesting to me. It made me so proud of our youth.”
True to his word Glanville came back home to the states and started looking for coaching opportunities. One arose at a small Division II school in South Dakota a short time later. Glanville interviewed for the head coaching position and even met with the team. Reports started to surface that he would be offered the job at Northern State University. One such story came across the internet while June Jones was surfing the sports web-sites. He saw that his old friend was on the verge of getting back in the game. But for Jones, he wanted Jerry Glanville on his sidelines at the University of Hawaii.
“I saw on the internet one night reading,” explained Jones. “I’m a sports junkie and I saw where he was trying to get back in to coaching. I had an offensive line coach leave and I told him I can juggle my staff around if you’d like to come back and coach. So he said that he’d like to do that. I said get on the plane. Let’s go. Let’s talk about it. When he hit Hawaii it was like we never missed a beat.”
“I was basically packing my bags for South Dakota and the phone rang. It was June. He said ‘why are you going to coach there when I need you here?’ June told me he wanted me to coach his defense. He said ‘the (plane) tickets will be waiting for you at the counter so get over here immediately.’ He then hung up the phone. I unpacked my suitcase and started re-packing shorts and t-shirts and headed for Hawaii.”
For Glanville though it was a difficult decision. He hadn’t actually been offered the job officially but it was tough for him because he had already met with the team.
“They are great people over there at Northern State University. I told them if there was anyway possible I could help them out in the future then I would. I felt I owed them that. But I also owed June two favors so that helped with my decision.”
Glanville was again true to his word. Last year, during the season, he flew to Aberdeen, South Dakota, on his dime, for a fundraiser auction for their program.
“I know I would have loved coaching those kids at Northern State University.”
Glanville and Jones have known each other for quite some time. Their relationship started in Atlanta where Jones was a backup quarterback while Glanville was the Falcons Defensive Coordinator. It was Jones who threw during defensive ball drills and the rest is history. Since, their paths have crossed as Jones has worked for Glanville at two stops and replaced him in Atlanta as the head coach and now come full circle, as Glanville is his defensive coordinator.
“I let him do his job,” said Jones. “That’s kind of the way we’ve always been. When I worked for him and when he worked for me I don't feel there is anything different, we still do things exactly the same way.”
Glanville made his way to Hawaii and quickly realized there was much work to done. It was a great group of kids but these kids were different than what you normally see on a Division 1-A campus. They had heart and wanted to be great but they just needed the coach and the proper mindset to show them the way. Enter Jerry Glanville.
“We may not have the talent you see across the nation in college football but what I have are young men that are totally unselfish. They play so hard and want to be the very best. We may now have six scholarship players on the defense and that’s up from four. That’s it. It doesn’t matter to these kids because they want to learn, get better and play football.”
Case in point is what transpired in week two of this college football season. It was their bye week and Jones gave the coaching staff and players three days off. Their upcoming opponent the following week was UNLV. Glanville announced that he would be on the practice field at 10 a.m. on Sunday, one of their off days, if anyone wanted to work on the UNLV option.
“15 kids showed up because they wanted to learn how to better defend that option. 15 kids. Do you know what happened the following Saturday? We dominated UNLV. I tell you what, I may not have the most talented players, I may not have the greatest athletes out there but this game means so much to these young men and they take so much pride in how they play.”
Said Jones, “since he’s (Glanville) come back, I've seen a whole new him. He can still get on someone, but he is also influencing and changing his coaching personality. He really does love the kids and he does love coaching. He has the ability to get the players to play over their heads.”
Hawaii is a D-1A team that plays in the Western Athletic Conference. But unlike most of the major programs, the Warriors lack the big recruiting budget that most schools have. They don’t get to hit the road and recruit like most programs and they are isolated on an island. They don’t have the big backyard to pull players in quality and quantity. Hawaii just has enough money to make a few recruiting trips and have just a handful of prospects in for official visits. In fact, some coaches like Glanville pay to watch video of players on college football recruiting websites like Scout.com on their own. That’s how tight things are for them in terms of recruiting.
Now locally, they are blessed in the fact that the state of Hawaii produces good linemen on both sides of the ball. In Hawaii football is important to the locals and they play the game hard and play the game well. So they get many of their big men from the island(s) but they have to go to the mainland to find the skill players. The later is accomplished by watching a ton of film and working the phones diligently.
“We have to be very, very selective,” said Hawaii Defensive Line Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Jeff Reinebold. “We just don’t have the budget so we have to watch a ton of film and hit the phones so hard. We have to ask the right questions and talk to everyone we can about a particular prospect. We have to be selective and picky because we can’t afford to waste our time or money. Certain places like Los Angeles are pretty good to us on the mainland. Other than that it really depends on what we need that year.”
With their limited scholarship numbers and budget Hawaii obviously depends on walk-on players. And it’s these walk-on players that make this Warrior team. As far as numbers are concerned they have 120 or so players on their roster of which about 80 are on scholarship. But many of these players are former walk-ons with the Warriors. It’s almost like an open door for those (walk-ons) that would like to give it a shot. “I tell you what,” said Glanville. “June makes Hawaii the greatest place to be a walk-on.”
So in essence what June Jones has accomplished in his eight plus years (60-39) running the Hawaii program has been pretty impressive. Don’t be surprised if Hawaii finishes in the top 25 after the Bowl season is over and wins at least ten games. Eleven or better is not out of the question. They close with four home games – Louisiana Tech, San Jose State, Purdue and Oregon State.
“That’s our goal,” said Glanville. “Our guys want to hit that Top 25. When they do, look out. That’s there goal and we are very close right now.”
If there is one constant with a June Jones team it’s his “Run and Shoot” offense. He is an offensive guru, especially in the passing game. That is the Jones way and what he believes in. Now he has that same type of coach for his defense in Glanville. Collectively, his staff from top to bottom is impressive. As a unit they have a total of 262 years of coaching experience.
“That’s the one thing about this place,” said Reinebold. “You are going to get coached by some unbelievable guys that have seen it all. That’s the reason I came here. I was working as the Senior Manager of NFL Development in Europe. I had a chance to come to Hawaii. When I learned Jerry Glanville was going there to become the Defensive Coordinator it sealed the deal for me. I was working with Chris Dishman in Europe. He played for Jerry and told me to get ready for the greatest coaching experience ever. It has been amazing here and Jerry is all of that and more.”
With the offense set under Jones, Mouse Davis and company it was the defense that needed overhauling. Coaching, especially on the defensive side of the ball, is even more of a premium. Glanville showed up for the first spring and got their attention immediately.
Under Glanville nothing is scripted. For him it’s all about feel and spontaneity. Everything he does is done with a great deal of thought because he knows what he wants. But Glanville just has unconventional coaching methods to the mainstream coach. In essence, Jerry Glanville defies the standard coaching model but the results are the same and than some.
The end results with this Hawaii defense have been staggering in just under two short years. In 2004, the defense gave up 38.4 points per game (113th in 1-A) and 487.8 total yards per game (117th). This season they are giving up 23.2 points per game (69th) and 395.3 total yards (99th). That’s amazing considering what he has to work with in relation to his opposition and that this is a defense that is always on the field. Last week against Utah State, Hawaii ran just 51 plays but scored nine touchdowns. In many instances the defense has to defend a short field. People also need to realize that because Hawaii throws the ball so often that their offense doesn’t exactly control the time of possession. In fact, their opposition has held the ball 29 minutes longer than Hawaii so far this season. That’s almost one half of a one game. Hawaii’s opposition has run 47 more offensive plays so far this year as well. This means Glanville’s defense is on the field a lot so Glanville basically plays just about everyone that dresses on defense. Of course Hawaii has injuries just like everyone else and they have had their share, especially in the secondary.
This year, Hawaii opened up their campaign against Alabama on the road. In a hard fought battle the Crimson Tide won 25-17. They held Alabama to two offensive touchdowns and only 21 yards rushing in the second half. In return, Jones and his team earned a tremendous amount of respect and a big pay day as well. What they made in Tuscaloosa should fund the team’s remaining travel budget for this season.
“If he (Glanville) wasn't the coordinator, they could sneak up on somebody,” said Alabama Offensive Coordinator/ Quarterback Coach Dave Rader. “But with him being there the opposing offenses have to cross their T's and dot their I's. If you don't prepare well against him, then he can make you look bad. Their players play hard. But that was evident on the tape. I've been a coach that went up against some of Hawaii's best teams (1992, 1999, 2003, and 2006). In my opinion, the 2006 team is the best of that group.”
Why might this be the best of the June Jones Hawaii teams? Simple, because of the defense.
Rader isn’t the only opposing coach that has taken notice. Hawaii beat Fresno State (68-37) earlier this season and Bulldogs Head Coach Pat Hill said “everyone talks about their offense but it’s also their defense.” They also beat Idaho (68-10) and their head coach, Dennis Erickson said “it was the finest coached defense he had ever seen.”
Glanville just has a way of getting more out of less. He has instilled an attitude, work ethic, discipline and mindset with this unit and his kids take great pride every time they step on the field. Glanville explains it best as just coaching fundamentals.
“My motto is simple. I just want to be the best teacher on campus. Coaching is teaching. It’s that simple. It’s a two hour teaching session every single day. It’s teaching the basics like assignments and reads.”
Chuck Smith was a defensive end that Glanville drafted out of Tennessee while he was with the Falcons in the second round back in 1992. Smith is a big believer in Glanville. “Jerry’s personality and the side show he brought overshadowed the great defensive mind he has,” said Smith. “He was all about the blitz before these coaches started blitzing. What sets Jerry apart from everyone is that his defenses will hustle and bring it on every play. They will always come with bad intentions, they will run their tails off and they will hit someone in the mouth. They will always run and hit and play to win. That’s what Jerry does with his defense.”
That’s another staple of a Glanville defense, they will beat on you for all four quarters. This season they have knocked out six quarterbacks and 10 running backs.
“A NFL scout recently told me that Hawaii was the hardest hitting team he has seen on the west coast,” proclaimed Glanville. “When he told me that I swelled with pride. Then I thought why just the west coast? Now our job is to erase that west coast label.”
That mindset started on that very first spring practice back in ’05. To play for this man you better be tough. During that first spring, Hawaii’s best defensive player was thrown off the practice field by Glanville because then he wasn’t showing toughness. That same player learned how to play the Glanville way and is now the leader of the defense.
“We practice like we play on Saturdays,” said Reniebold. “Our guys fly around the football. Glanville always says that your players will become what you demand them to be. He preaches that message every day.”
To take it one step further Glanville shows highlights of the defense to his defense the night before each game. To him, that reinforces their playing identity and who they are.
So this begs the question, why Hawaii for Glanville? Why isn’t he a head coach somewhere on a bigger stage? Some say his persona and how he carried himself away from the sidelines was just too much. Some say it was all about Glanville. But the media did blow much of the outside stuff way out of proportion.
For example, he is perhaps best known for leaving Elvis Pressley tickets. The perception is that he did this often when in fact it only happened on one occasion. That was in Memphis in 1987 when he was the head coach for the Oilers. Houston was playing New England in a pre-season game when he and June Jones heard something strange on the radio on the drive to a practice.
“We heard that there was an Elvis sighting in Michigan,” explained Glanville. “They were also dedicating the halftime show to Elvis for our game. So June suggested we leave tickets for Elvis at will call. I joked about it at a press conference and that thing just took off. I only did it that one time. The funny thing is that I am not that big of an Elvis fan and really only like three of his songs.”
Glanville really loves Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson. In fact that trio has something in common with Glanville other than the fact they were and are great friends. They all wear black and they all appear on Glanville’s football card, an NFL first.
The people close to Glanville will say that’s just Jerry. He is just a unique individual and his individuality shouldn’t diminish what this man does for a profession. The bottom line is that he still has one of the brightest minds in the game at any level despite his black attire and cowboy hat, which he still wears to this day.
James Dukes played on the offensive line at center for Jerry Glanville in Atlanta for four seasons. He believes Glanville is something special as a coach. “Jerry is the smartest coach I have ever been around and I have been around some great ones (Bobby Bowden, Mike Holmgren). He can call and understand the game of football at any level. I would equate Jerry to a Charlie Weis. He can flat out just coach. And it’s not just defense. He’s just as impressive with offense and special teams. Quite honestly I think Jerry Glanville is a genius when it comes to coaching. He also makes you enjoy the game. I never had more fun playing football than I did when I played for him.”
Reinebold echoes the same sentiment about his Defensive Coordinator. “I have seen for myself what this man can do as a coach. He may not be able to pronounce their names but he is a great person that just loves these kids. Jerry is an idea and concept guy that recognizes things so quickly. It’s amazing the understanding he has for the game. There is no doubt that he should be wearing the big whistle once again.”
Glanville is now 65 years old. You talk with his friends and they say he has the energy of two 30 year olds. He still has the passion, fire, and football intellect to coach and it took a trip overseas for him to realize just how much his missed the game and that he wanted to work with what he calls “the greatest generation of Americans.” What transpired since is truly a great story, as he joined his old coaching friend and added a formidable defense to an already offensive potent attack.
“My deal is to spend everyday just trying to be the best I can be as a coach and as a person. If I do that people will notice. Right now, I just want to be the best defensive coordinator I can. And right now, I am having a blast working with these kids and that’s what counts.”
National Recruiting Analyst
Posted Nov 9, 2006
He wears all black and a cowboy hat. He was the mastermind of one of the NFL's greatest defenses. He's unconventional and unique. He's Jerry Glanville and he has been Hawaii's Defensive Coordinator for just under two seasons. Glanville has quietly turned things around on the other side of the ball for June Jones. And Glanville still has one of the best football minds in the game.
The game of college football always generates great stories. This season there are many like Ohio State’s run for another championship, the resurrection in Ann Arbor, and the winning ways of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, just to name a few. One exceptional story a few time zones away is that of the University of Hawaii. The Warriors, led by Head Coach June Jones and quarterback Colt Brennan, are off and running with a 7-2 start.
Once again, the offense is stealing the headlines. Brennan stats are mind boggling through nine games leading this Hawaii offense. He has completed 72.9% of his passes for 3,347 yards, 39 touchdown passes (only six interceptions in 340 attempts). Brennan leads the NCAA in pass efficiency (189.96). The offense is averaging 47.3 points per game which leads the NCAA. They are also college football’s leader in total offense and passing offense.
This offensive onslaught is nothing out of the ordinary for a June Jones offense. The college football world has certainly taken notice but it’s the defense for Hawaii that’s the bigger story.
The man running the defensive show is none other than Jerry Glanville. Love him or hate him Glanville is back, and in black, stalking the sidelines. He has quietly done an amazing job with this Warrior defense but that is nothing new for Glanville. He had very good career coaching in the pros, both as an assistant and head coach. He was the Defensive Coordinator and architect of the famed Falcons defense called the “Gritz Blitz” in the ‘70s, where they set an NFL record for points allowed (129) in a season that still sets the standard today.
Glanville made his way to become the Head Coach for the Houston Oilers (1986-89) and the Atlanta Falcons (1990-93), where he led those teams to the playoffs on four different occasions. Along the way his persona often overshadowed his coaching. In Houston it was the “House of Pain” and leaving tickets for Elvis Presley and in Atlanta it was the “California Trophy” and M.C. Hammer. Regardless of his off the field antics, the coach dressed in black with the big belt buckle was often mis-read by the mainstream media and wrongly criticized for how he did things.
After he left the Falcons, Glanville spent 11 years in television with Fox, CBS, The Football Network, and HBO. Then, two years ago, he did something that changed his life and brought him back to the game he loves.
In March of 2004, Glanville was part of the NFL Alumni Association that sent six former players and coaches on a secret mission to Iraq. Some who made the trip included Bud Grant, Deacon Jones and Randy Gradishar. The mission was so secret that Glanville and the others didn’t know who was going and they couldn’t tell a soul. Everything was covert, mainly for their protection. Their initiative was simple; give the U.S. troops a morale boost. Glanville and the others did just that but for Glanville the trip to Iraq changed his life.
“I took back ten times what I think I gave while I was there,” proclaimed Glanville. “I talked with so many young men, all around the age of 19. I was there to help boost them up and inspire them. But it was those troops that inspired me. There was no griping or complaining from any of them despite the job they had to do. They have a mission they want to accomplish. The people back in the states have no idea what these troops are actually doing there. It’s amazing. That trip to me was extraordinary in so many ways. I said to myself ‘if I do get home then I want to get back into coaching and work with kids that are 18, 19, 20 years old.’ I truly believe they are a greatest generation of Americans today.”
Glanville and his counterparts spoke to roughly 5,600 troops while in Baghdad. There, they were protected by the Army First Calvary. They wandered in both the dangerous Red and Green Zones of the Iraqi capitol, often putting them in harms way to accomplish their mission.
“We spoke to everyone we could, Navy Seals, snipers, engineers and all the men and women in the U.S. forces. We were protected every step of the way. We spoke to so many troops one on one. God was a part of each one, each conversation. It was such a spiritual education for me and the others. I wrote a diary while I was there and collected names and phone numbers of family members of these troops and I tried to contact them all when I got back home. Some parents hadn’t spoken to their kids in 12 to 14 months. It was an amazing experience and so interesting to me. It made me so proud of our youth.”
True to his word Glanville came back home to the states and started looking for coaching opportunities. One arose at a small Division II school in South Dakota a short time later. Glanville interviewed for the head coaching position and even met with the team. Reports started to surface that he would be offered the job at Northern State University. One such story came across the internet while June Jones was surfing the sports web-sites. He saw that his old friend was on the verge of getting back in the game. But for Jones, he wanted Jerry Glanville on his sidelines at the University of Hawaii.
“I saw on the internet one night reading,” explained Jones. “I’m a sports junkie and I saw where he was trying to get back in to coaching. I had an offensive line coach leave and I told him I can juggle my staff around if you’d like to come back and coach. So he said that he’d like to do that. I said get on the plane. Let’s go. Let’s talk about it. When he hit Hawaii it was like we never missed a beat.”
“I was basically packing my bags for South Dakota and the phone rang. It was June. He said ‘why are you going to coach there when I need you here?’ June told me he wanted me to coach his defense. He said ‘the (plane) tickets will be waiting for you at the counter so get over here immediately.’ He then hung up the phone. I unpacked my suitcase and started re-packing shorts and t-shirts and headed for Hawaii.”
For Glanville though it was a difficult decision. He hadn’t actually been offered the job officially but it was tough for him because he had already met with the team.
“They are great people over there at Northern State University. I told them if there was anyway possible I could help them out in the future then I would. I felt I owed them that. But I also owed June two favors so that helped with my decision.”
Glanville was again true to his word. Last year, during the season, he flew to Aberdeen, South Dakota, on his dime, for a fundraiser auction for their program.
“I know I would have loved coaching those kids at Northern State University.”
Glanville and Jones have known each other for quite some time. Their relationship started in Atlanta where Jones was a backup quarterback while Glanville was the Falcons Defensive Coordinator. It was Jones who threw during defensive ball drills and the rest is history. Since, their paths have crossed as Jones has worked for Glanville at two stops and replaced him in Atlanta as the head coach and now come full circle, as Glanville is his defensive coordinator.
“I let him do his job,” said Jones. “That’s kind of the way we’ve always been. When I worked for him and when he worked for me I don't feel there is anything different, we still do things exactly the same way.”
Glanville made his way to Hawaii and quickly realized there was much work to done. It was a great group of kids but these kids were different than what you normally see on a Division 1-A campus. They had heart and wanted to be great but they just needed the coach and the proper mindset to show them the way. Enter Jerry Glanville.
“We may not have the talent you see across the nation in college football but what I have are young men that are totally unselfish. They play so hard and want to be the very best. We may now have six scholarship players on the defense and that’s up from four. That’s it. It doesn’t matter to these kids because they want to learn, get better and play football.”
Case in point is what transpired in week two of this college football season. It was their bye week and Jones gave the coaching staff and players three days off. Their upcoming opponent the following week was UNLV. Glanville announced that he would be on the practice field at 10 a.m. on Sunday, one of their off days, if anyone wanted to work on the UNLV option.
“15 kids showed up because they wanted to learn how to better defend that option. 15 kids. Do you know what happened the following Saturday? We dominated UNLV. I tell you what, I may not have the most talented players, I may not have the greatest athletes out there but this game means so much to these young men and they take so much pride in how they play.”
Said Jones, “since he’s (Glanville) come back, I've seen a whole new him. He can still get on someone, but he is also influencing and changing his coaching personality. He really does love the kids and he does love coaching. He has the ability to get the players to play over their heads.”
Hawaii is a D-1A team that plays in the Western Athletic Conference. But unlike most of the major programs, the Warriors lack the big recruiting budget that most schools have. They don’t get to hit the road and recruit like most programs and they are isolated on an island. They don’t have the big backyard to pull players in quality and quantity. Hawaii just has enough money to make a few recruiting trips and have just a handful of prospects in for official visits. In fact, some coaches like Glanville pay to watch video of players on college football recruiting websites like Scout.com on their own. That’s how tight things are for them in terms of recruiting.
Now locally, they are blessed in the fact that the state of Hawaii produces good linemen on both sides of the ball. In Hawaii football is important to the locals and they play the game hard and play the game well. So they get many of their big men from the island(s) but they have to go to the mainland to find the skill players. The later is accomplished by watching a ton of film and working the phones diligently.
“We have to be very, very selective,” said Hawaii Defensive Line Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Jeff Reinebold. “We just don’t have the budget so we have to watch a ton of film and hit the phones so hard. We have to ask the right questions and talk to everyone we can about a particular prospect. We have to be selective and picky because we can’t afford to waste our time or money. Certain places like Los Angeles are pretty good to us on the mainland. Other than that it really depends on what we need that year.”
With their limited scholarship numbers and budget Hawaii obviously depends on walk-on players. And it’s these walk-on players that make this Warrior team. As far as numbers are concerned they have 120 or so players on their roster of which about 80 are on scholarship. But many of these players are former walk-ons with the Warriors. It’s almost like an open door for those (walk-ons) that would like to give it a shot. “I tell you what,” said Glanville. “June makes Hawaii the greatest place to be a walk-on.”
So in essence what June Jones has accomplished in his eight plus years (60-39) running the Hawaii program has been pretty impressive. Don’t be surprised if Hawaii finishes in the top 25 after the Bowl season is over and wins at least ten games. Eleven or better is not out of the question. They close with four home games – Louisiana Tech, San Jose State, Purdue and Oregon State.
“That’s our goal,” said Glanville. “Our guys want to hit that Top 25. When they do, look out. That’s there goal and we are very close right now.”
If there is one constant with a June Jones team it’s his “Run and Shoot” offense. He is an offensive guru, especially in the passing game. That is the Jones way and what he believes in. Now he has that same type of coach for his defense in Glanville. Collectively, his staff from top to bottom is impressive. As a unit they have a total of 262 years of coaching experience.
“That’s the one thing about this place,” said Reinebold. “You are going to get coached by some unbelievable guys that have seen it all. That’s the reason I came here. I was working as the Senior Manager of NFL Development in Europe. I had a chance to come to Hawaii. When I learned Jerry Glanville was going there to become the Defensive Coordinator it sealed the deal for me. I was working with Chris Dishman in Europe. He played for Jerry and told me to get ready for the greatest coaching experience ever. It has been amazing here and Jerry is all of that and more.”
With the offense set under Jones, Mouse Davis and company it was the defense that needed overhauling. Coaching, especially on the defensive side of the ball, is even more of a premium. Glanville showed up for the first spring and got their attention immediately.
Under Glanville nothing is scripted. For him it’s all about feel and spontaneity. Everything he does is done with a great deal of thought because he knows what he wants. But Glanville just has unconventional coaching methods to the mainstream coach. In essence, Jerry Glanville defies the standard coaching model but the results are the same and than some.
The end results with this Hawaii defense have been staggering in just under two short years. In 2004, the defense gave up 38.4 points per game (113th in 1-A) and 487.8 total yards per game (117th). This season they are giving up 23.2 points per game (69th) and 395.3 total yards (99th). That’s amazing considering what he has to work with in relation to his opposition and that this is a defense that is always on the field. Last week against Utah State, Hawaii ran just 51 plays but scored nine touchdowns. In many instances the defense has to defend a short field. People also need to realize that because Hawaii throws the ball so often that their offense doesn’t exactly control the time of possession. In fact, their opposition has held the ball 29 minutes longer than Hawaii so far this season. That’s almost one half of a one game. Hawaii’s opposition has run 47 more offensive plays so far this year as well. This means Glanville’s defense is on the field a lot so Glanville basically plays just about everyone that dresses on defense. Of course Hawaii has injuries just like everyone else and they have had their share, especially in the secondary.
This year, Hawaii opened up their campaign against Alabama on the road. In a hard fought battle the Crimson Tide won 25-17. They held Alabama to two offensive touchdowns and only 21 yards rushing in the second half. In return, Jones and his team earned a tremendous amount of respect and a big pay day as well. What they made in Tuscaloosa should fund the team’s remaining travel budget for this season.
“If he (Glanville) wasn't the coordinator, they could sneak up on somebody,” said Alabama Offensive Coordinator/ Quarterback Coach Dave Rader. “But with him being there the opposing offenses have to cross their T's and dot their I's. If you don't prepare well against him, then he can make you look bad. Their players play hard. But that was evident on the tape. I've been a coach that went up against some of Hawaii's best teams (1992, 1999, 2003, and 2006). In my opinion, the 2006 team is the best of that group.”
Why might this be the best of the June Jones Hawaii teams? Simple, because of the defense.
Rader isn’t the only opposing coach that has taken notice. Hawaii beat Fresno State (68-37) earlier this season and Bulldogs Head Coach Pat Hill said “everyone talks about their offense but it’s also their defense.” They also beat Idaho (68-10) and their head coach, Dennis Erickson said “it was the finest coached defense he had ever seen.”
Glanville just has a way of getting more out of less. He has instilled an attitude, work ethic, discipline and mindset with this unit and his kids take great pride every time they step on the field. Glanville explains it best as just coaching fundamentals.
“My motto is simple. I just want to be the best teacher on campus. Coaching is teaching. It’s that simple. It’s a two hour teaching session every single day. It’s teaching the basics like assignments and reads.”
Chuck Smith was a defensive end that Glanville drafted out of Tennessee while he was with the Falcons in the second round back in 1992. Smith is a big believer in Glanville. “Jerry’s personality and the side show he brought overshadowed the great defensive mind he has,” said Smith. “He was all about the blitz before these coaches started blitzing. What sets Jerry apart from everyone is that his defenses will hustle and bring it on every play. They will always come with bad intentions, they will run their tails off and they will hit someone in the mouth. They will always run and hit and play to win. That’s what Jerry does with his defense.”
That’s another staple of a Glanville defense, they will beat on you for all four quarters. This season they have knocked out six quarterbacks and 10 running backs.
“A NFL scout recently told me that Hawaii was the hardest hitting team he has seen on the west coast,” proclaimed Glanville. “When he told me that I swelled with pride. Then I thought why just the west coast? Now our job is to erase that west coast label.”
That mindset started on that very first spring practice back in ’05. To play for this man you better be tough. During that first spring, Hawaii’s best defensive player was thrown off the practice field by Glanville because then he wasn’t showing toughness. That same player learned how to play the Glanville way and is now the leader of the defense.
“We practice like we play on Saturdays,” said Reniebold. “Our guys fly around the football. Glanville always says that your players will become what you demand them to be. He preaches that message every day.”
To take it one step further Glanville shows highlights of the defense to his defense the night before each game. To him, that reinforces their playing identity and who they are.
So this begs the question, why Hawaii for Glanville? Why isn’t he a head coach somewhere on a bigger stage? Some say his persona and how he carried himself away from the sidelines was just too much. Some say it was all about Glanville. But the media did blow much of the outside stuff way out of proportion.
For example, he is perhaps best known for leaving Elvis Pressley tickets. The perception is that he did this often when in fact it only happened on one occasion. That was in Memphis in 1987 when he was the head coach for the Oilers. Houston was playing New England in a pre-season game when he and June Jones heard something strange on the radio on the drive to a practice.
“We heard that there was an Elvis sighting in Michigan,” explained Glanville. “They were also dedicating the halftime show to Elvis for our game. So June suggested we leave tickets for Elvis at will call. I joked about it at a press conference and that thing just took off. I only did it that one time. The funny thing is that I am not that big of an Elvis fan and really only like three of his songs.”
Glanville really loves Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson. In fact that trio has something in common with Glanville other than the fact they were and are great friends. They all wear black and they all appear on Glanville’s football card, an NFL first.
The people close to Glanville will say that’s just Jerry. He is just a unique individual and his individuality shouldn’t diminish what this man does for a profession. The bottom line is that he still has one of the brightest minds in the game at any level despite his black attire and cowboy hat, which he still wears to this day.
James Dukes played on the offensive line at center for Jerry Glanville in Atlanta for four seasons. He believes Glanville is something special as a coach. “Jerry is the smartest coach I have ever been around and I have been around some great ones (Bobby Bowden, Mike Holmgren). He can call and understand the game of football at any level. I would equate Jerry to a Charlie Weis. He can flat out just coach. And it’s not just defense. He’s just as impressive with offense and special teams. Quite honestly I think Jerry Glanville is a genius when it comes to coaching. He also makes you enjoy the game. I never had more fun playing football than I did when I played for him.”
Reinebold echoes the same sentiment about his Defensive Coordinator. “I have seen for myself what this man can do as a coach. He may not be able to pronounce their names but he is a great person that just loves these kids. Jerry is an idea and concept guy that recognizes things so quickly. It’s amazing the understanding he has for the game. There is no doubt that he should be wearing the big whistle once again.”
Glanville is now 65 years old. You talk with his friends and they say he has the energy of two 30 year olds. He still has the passion, fire, and football intellect to coach and it took a trip overseas for him to realize just how much his missed the game and that he wanted to work with what he calls “the greatest generation of Americans.” What transpired since is truly a great story, as he joined his old coaching friend and added a formidable defense to an already offensive potent attack.
“My deal is to spend everyday just trying to be the best I can be as a coach and as a person. If I do that people will notice. Right now, I just want to be the best defensive coordinator I can. And right now, I am having a blast working with these kids and that’s what counts.”
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HeHateGriz
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SonomaCat
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I don't know Glanville's full history ... but it is a fact that he is close to the MSU football program on a personal level.HeHateGriz wrote:Please...this is the most ridiculous topic in a day of dumb topics. People are spouting off that "he played for us" as if saying it makes it true. He did not play for "us" unless us is Northern Michigan.
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Cat Grad
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Not true. He transferred to Northern Michigan from us where he finished his eligibility.HeHateGriz wrote:Please...this is the most ridiculous topic in a day of dumb topics. People are spouting off that "he played for us" as if saying it makes it true. He did not play for "us" unless us is Northern Michigan.
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CARDIAC_CATS
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I am pretty sure I read that he did play for us (1-2 years?). I read it in a program or something somewhere?HeHateGriz wrote:Please...this is the most ridiculous topic in a day of dumb topics. People are spouting off that "he played for us" as if saying it makes it true. He did not play for "us" unless us is Northern Michigan.
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SenorWeezer
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CelticCat
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It couldn't hurt to contact him. I don't think Kramer is going to leave this year, though.
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WyomingGrizFan
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He must have been the best LB you guys have ever had then. Does that mean that the species of Wildcat that Northern Michigan has is a type of bobcat as well? At least back to 1961 - 1964 I suppose, huh? Jeez. Delusions of grandeur.I don't know whether he was an assistant, but I know he played for us.
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DaCats Forever
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What gives you the right to judge us for hopin a big "name" joins the program. If I remember, there were a few Griz followers that loved that Kennedy joined the Griz b-ball team a few years back. I wish that I was so pessimistic that I could not see a coach leaving and getting a quality one in return. Oh wait, if Hauck doesn't leave this year, you're stuck with that fool for the rest of his life, cuz this is the year he leaves for "big-time" program if he ever does.WyomingGrizFan wrote:He must have been the best LB you guys have ever had then. Does that mean that the species of Wildcat that Northern Michigan has is a type of bobcat as well? At least back to 1961 - 1964 I suppose, huh? Jeez. Delusions of grandeur.I don't know whether hwas an assistant, but I know he played for us.
In response to other criticizm, drinking and typing don't mix. GO BEARS!!! SUPER BOWL OR BUST!!!!!!!!
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DaCats Forever
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