Mililani’s Dillon Gabriel leads Oregon to another win. The Ducks remain undefeated on the season and Gabriel is among the Heisman favorites.
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Mililani’s Dillon Gabriel leads Oregon to another win. The Ducks remain undefeated on the season and Gabriel is among the Heisman favorites.
And while we’re enjoying watching Dillon’s success, it’s also fun to remember his dad’s glory days on the gridiron.
Depending on how old you are, you know Dillon Gabriel as the Oregon quarterback. Or you know him as the son of Garrett Gabriel – all-everything at Pac-5 and former quarterback at the University of Hawaii.
“Kids at my school come up and say ‘eh are you Dillon Gabriel’s dad’ and I be like ‘yup yes,’ but it’s perfectly fine,” said Garrett Gabriel. “He’s done a great job so when they say that, it does make me feel proud.”
Garrett Gabriel’s currently a school counselor, but he was the guy at UH from 1987 to 1990.
He actually was the school’s leader in passing yards pre-run and shoot.
He even led the Rainbows to their first NCAA bowl game, and had two massive wins against arch-rival BYU. So when it comes to quarterbacking – he knows.
“People think it’s an easy job but we understand, who played the position, it aint easy,” said Gabriel. “And it’s week by week. You can be the hero one week and you’re the goat next week.”
And he knows Dillon is doing well. He’s gone from the University of Central Florida, to Oklahoma and now to Oregon, and is climbing the record books.
He should be passing current UH coach Timmy Chang for second in career passing yards very soon. Same for the career touchdown passing list.
“I’ve told him that he’s met all my expectations already and whatever happens from this point on is gravy so he knows that,” said Gabriel. “He looks like a quarterback, he plays like a quarterback, he understands everything about the position. And again, it’s even more than that, it’s about leadership. Leading guys and so there’s no question he’s a better quarterback than I was.”
Dillon Gabriel’s football career started in Mililani, with dad Garrett as coach. Even Garrett says he’s amazed at what his son has accomplished, but not surprised.
“I knew he had potential,” said Gabriel. “And I think some of the NFL scouts and some of the other people always will bring up his size but I’m a believer that if you can play football, doesn’t matter what level.”
But before that, Garrett says Dillon has big goals for his final season in college.
“He’s always wanted to get to the pinnacle which is the college football playoff,” said Gabriel. “Playing big games against Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, you know those types of teams. And so this year, if all things go accordingly, I think he’ll have that opportunity.”