This week, the University of Hawai'i athletic department launched a national e-mail campaign trumpeting the success of its football team (7-2 record, 5-1 in Western Athletic Conference), nation's highest-scoring offense (47.3 points per game) and total-offense leader Colt Brennan (394.8 yards per game).

The portrayal as overnight success has surprised the Warriors, who, in fact, built to this point starting at the end of the 2004 season. At that time, record-setting quarterback Tim Chang and All-America receiver/returner Chad Owens had completed their NCAA eligibility. Chang and Owens had led a group that appeared in three consecutive post season bowls.

Head coach June Jones could have stood pat, repeating the same formula. Instead, offensive line coach Dennis McKnight said, "June went to work."

Jones decided to reshape the team. He coaxed Jerry Glanville, who had been out of coaching for 12 years, to become defensive coordinator. Jones allotted more scholarships to the defense. He then hired Jeff Reinebold, who coached in NFL Europe and in Canada, as a graduate assistant. Finally, Jones ordered his assistant coaches to recruit speedy players.

In spring practice and then training camp in 2005, Glanville phased out the 4-3 defense — a scheme used in Jones' first six season as UH head coach — in favor of the blitzing 3-4 concept. Reinebold was assigned to coaching the defensive ends.

Jones then simplified his four-wide offense to accommodate the new starters at the six ball-handling positions.

"I knew it would be a struggle at first," Jones said. "But it was something we had to do."

Jones had gone through a similar makeover following the 1999 season, his first as UH head coach. The Warriors had gone from 0-12 in Fred vonAppen's last season in 1998 to 9-4 in 1999. But Jones had realized that 1999 was fueled by emotion.

Jones placed a strong emphasis on recruiting locally. He landed 14 top Hawai'i prospects, including Chang, in 2000, then let them learn on the job.

"We knew we would have some growing pains," Jones said. "But that set the way for that great run."

The Warriors finished 3-9 in 2000, but followed with seasons of 9-3, 10-4, 9-5 and 8-5. That is why Jones remained optimistic when the Warriors went 5-7 last year.

"We were still learning," Brennan said. "He kept it simple for us. The whole year was a learning experience. He spent his time teaching the receivers the basics, and teaching me the reads."

At mid-year, Jones added the shovel pass to the offensive menu, and, later, began the fad of moving nose tackles to running back.

Glanville also stuck to basics on defense. While the defense's early struggles drew criticism, Jones said, "I knew what Jerry could do. He's a great teacher."

In the ensuing offseason, Reinebold replaced defensive line coach Vantz Singletary, who accepted a job at Tennessee-Chattanooga, and McKnight joined as a graduate assistant. McKnight now coaches the offensive line.

"No, no, no," McKnight protested. "I'm just relaying June's system. He's the best offensive line coach in the country. He knows pass protection better than anybody in the country. That's just the flat-out truth.

"Everybody thinks June is a quarterback guy or a receiver guy or whatever," McKnight added. "First and foremost, he's an offensive line guy. Mike Cavanaugh is a good line coach, but he became a great line coach learning and working under June."

Jones also took over coaching the scout team that goes against the offense in practice.

"He puts us in the worst situations every day," Brennan said. "He sends blitzes right to the ball-carrier. He throws so many different things at you in practice. That's why it's easier in a game. We're never going to see the things he throws at us. That's why we're able to handle it when (other) teams throw different looks at us. We're a much better offensive team because of him."

The defense has improved under Glanville, who has instilled a gang-tackling attitude. After the first three games, the Warriors were minus-8 in turnover margin; in the last six games, they are plus-10.

"I knew Jerry would get them to hit," Jones said. "If you want to play for Jerry, you have to hit."

Louisiana Tech coach Jack Bicknell, whose team plays the Warriors tonight, said, "they look like they're a different (defensive) team from last year. Some of that has to do with their offense. It must be nice to play defense when you're ahead by 30 points all of the time. But they're doing a great job, and they've got good players and great coaches and a great scheme."

The Bulldogs hope to go through a similar transformation.

After a strong run, the Bulldogs are struggling this season. They have endured key injuries, and adjusted to a change in defensive coordinators two days before the start of training camp.

"That's just the style of college coaching," Tech offensive coordinator Conroy Hines said. "Guys graduate, and another guy has to come in and play."