This was going to be the year the Rainbow Warriors became road warriors and earned some respect.
For years it's been said about the Hawaii football team that it plays tough in the Islands but can't win on the Mainland. The past two regular seasons, for example, the Warriors were 1-5 on the road, 15-2-1 at home.This year, the 'Bows scheduled five away games, to prove something. "Our bottom line goal is to have a winning season . . . and that means winning seven games," said coach Bob Wagner. "If we can win seven with our schedule, we could be in a bowl game."
In other words, if they win all seven home games, including a Nov. 30 contest with Notre Dame, they might get a bowl bid. That goal may have been dealt a fatal blow two weeks ago, however, when San Diego State crushed Hawaii in Honolulu, 47-21, after leading 47-0 at the end of three quarters.
The Hawaii team that plays BYU on Saturday in Cougar Stadium does not look like the same team that walloped the Cougars last December, 59-28, and which has outscored BYU 115-42 over the past two years.
Many of the players are the same, but the results are different, most noticeably on defense. Last year the Hawaii defense was the best in the WAC, allowing just 347 yards a game. This year it is eighth, giving up 442 yards a game. It has been weakest at stopping the pass, ranking last in the league in pass-efficiency defense.
Much of that drop-off can be attributed to injuries; the Rainbows have lost six defensive starters or projected starters since fall camp opened.
As an example of how worried Wagner is about his defense, consider this: When asked recently about his quarterbacks, who are completing just 38 percent of their passes, he said, "Quarterback is the least of our problems."
Quarterback does appear to be a problem, even if it is least. Starter Michael Carter leads the team in rushing, with 591 yards, but is last in the WAC at pass efficiency.
Running back is another problem area. The Warriors run a spread offense, with elements of both the triple option and run-and-shoot, which means it needs rushing threats to work. When fullback Jamal Farmer took his 474 yards and quit the team three weeks ago, that left Travis Simms, with 138 yards, as the team's leading running back.