Former Rainbow Warriors thrilled for Hawaii Bowl homecoming

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - We’re just days away from the Hawaii Bowl, and while the Rainbow Warriors aren’t in the matchup, four University of Hawaii alums are.

There was pure elation on the San Jose State University campus earlier this month when the Spartans found out their season would end with a trip to the islands, especially among coaches Craig and Billy Ray Stutzmann, John Estes, and head coach Ken Niumatalolo.

“I don’t think there’s a better place to be than being in Waikiki on Christmas Eve getting ready for a bowl game,” said SJSU offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann.

“You get a whole week paid for it. You get to kick back. You got Duke’s right there. Every morning you get to go out into the ocean and go surf, and be around your friends and family. It’s pretty magical,” he added.

After a career built at Navy on grinding teams down with the run, Niumatalolo has embraced a style change and is bringing over a Spartans passing attack that ranks among the best in the country.

“I think he said he won a bunch of games and didn’t even throw it once, which is the opposite of the old mid 2000s run-and-shoot days where you’re dropping 80 times and throwing it all over the yard,” said Estes, a former UH lineman who is now SJSU’s offensive line coach. “He’s adapted. He likes what we do.”

As Niumatalolo wraps up his first season at SJSU, the former Rainbow Warriors are embracing the challenge of building a culture rooted in family values, especially important in today’s era of the transfer portal.

“We appreciate Coach Ken. We appreciate the players. The players appreciate us,” Stutzmann said. “I think what you’ll see in this game, maybe even on the sidelines, is you see guys that communicate with each other well and guys that really love playing with one another.”

Now what awaits is a well-deserved visit home and a bowl game at the TC Ching Athletics Complex, tough to fathom given how these alums remember that field.

“We practiced on the surface, not the Astroturf, but they ripped the green layer off the Astroturf and it was the padding between the concrete,” Estes said. “That little black pad and they painted lines over it. We practiced on that during the Sugar Bowl run. How’s that one, hey we made it work.”

The complex will be in prime shape as these former ‘Bows gear up for their moment in the national spotlight.

“The only game on during Christmas Eve is the Hawaii Bowl,” said Billy Ray Stutzmann. “We’re the one show. Everyone is usually sitting around their houses, eating great food, and everyone’s got football on. Knowing that you are the one show on this day, there’s no better opportunity for us.”

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