Derby’s blast from the past
Brian Derby put together a five-part video slideshow of his era of UH football. / Star-Advertiser graphic by Jerry Campany
A few years ago, former University of Hawaii football player Brian Derby put together a special tribute to days long gone.
Derby, an offensive lineman at UH from 1981 to 1985, compiled a video slideshow of his era, broken up into five parts. Derby was coach at Damien in 2007 and has run camps for O-linemen for years.
For a nostalgic experience of the Dick Tomey era of Rainbow Warrior football, players like Al and Niko Noga, Rich Miano and Walter Murray, and WAC battles against the likes of BYU, Utah, Wyoming and San Diego State, here’s the entirety of Derby’s “Once We Were Rainbow Warriors” series. It takes about 20 minutes to view it all.
PART 1
PART 2
PART 3
PART 4
PART 5
COMMENTS
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That’s my best boy Vinny Sides, #37, sweetest feet and moves from Cooke Field to Spats. The Golden Age of UH football, we played on smaller night, before over 40,000. Derbs did a fantastic job!! Lots of faces from back in the day…..sweet to see. Vinny, you are still missed!
The green unis w/ white helmets brought back lots of memories. Many great victories. Time moves on and its black, green and white Warriors. Just wish the big crowds return to Aloha Stadium. Speaking of which, I wonder when a new stadium will be build to replace Aloha Stadium. If it is to be state money, then it will be a long wait since Gov. Ige just announced a new prison will be build at a cost of $525 million.
Yes brought back memories of the big crowds back in the day. Mahalo to Derby. The state should review how CSU’s was able to build a new stadium on campus with private monies.
Bring back da rainbow!!!
Great tribute to a magical time!
These were very special times for all involved. I could write a book or at the very least a few good chapters describing the importance of what this period did for football in hawaii as we know it today, the family unit, and the culture in hawaii. It will definitely be described in my memoirs.
True warrior Brian Derby took my son there to Kapahulu park taught him how to pass block
many top lineman working out there , played at city college SF 2 years coach rush and 2 national titles
and 2 years Kstate under coach Snyder, mahalo Brian for FREE lessons in life and football on those weekends your finger prints all over Hawaii and Mainland.
It was a very Special time for many people. Rick, you know a lot about this time as you followed every part of the program. I met awesome people on and off the field. A time that I will never forget.
Mahalo everyone for the awesome comments. Let’s go Bows!
Boolakanka. SPATS? I don’t think so. Point After was Da Place. Bookumdanoaloha.
It was a special time for friends and family to gather before and during every home game. Our family and church gang were all season ticket holders. We got married on November 7, 1981 and scheduled our wedding on an away date to ensure people would come to the wedding. We also had to purchase a new invention called VHS VCR for $1,200.00 and promised we would record the away game that happened on our wedding day and everyone could come over and watch the next day. I recall sitting in the pastors office just prior to the start of our ceremony listening to the game on the radio against UTEP. We even got back from our honeymoon in time for the next home game on November 14, 1981 against our rival BYU, both teams were ranked & undefeated and the game was broadcast live via satellite to the mainland, something rare during those years.
Great presentation. Brought back so much good memories of UH Football. The crowd is not the same but this spoke of the best years of UH football.
Forgot the backer who went airborne over the O line to get to the qb but it really freaked the crowd out. I remember going nuts after seeing that play. Semeri Ulufale..original Flyin Hawaiian..wedge buster maniac..fearless..but a gentle soul. Fletcher, Gaison, Niko, Al, Petelo, Lopati, Morgado, Levi, Laboy, June, Golden, Colt, Higa (Timex), Tuineis, Woodcock, Matsushima, and countless men who made Saturdays a much anticipated day…Game Day!
Mahalo to all who played and are Warriors! … IMUA!
These were probably some of the best memories in my life! Dick Tomey cultivated a culture of ohana that reached far beyond the team, but throughout our communities and entire state!
All of the current connections via social media and reunions at various games throughout the season reflects just that. The ohana connections are still there! Nice job of Brian Putting these videos together!
Derb, thank you for putting this together and reminding us of those AWSOME times! Each one brings tears to my eyes. It was a golden era for the ‘Bows and, win or lose, those teams brought it week in and week out and made the whole state and Hawaiians everywhere proud! It was an honor playing with you (‘81-‘83) and being your roomy for two years and playing against your Chargers in HS. Mahalo for bring Samson and your othe coaches to Richmond every year to coach up our OL!
My favorite was the one with you Brian, and Richard Higa. Go Pearl City Chargers!
Really great montages! xoxoxo