The expectations are unprecedented, from the hardcore fans who pack Aloha Stadium to those lounging under umbrellas on pristine Waikiki.
The plan is simple for Hawaii: go undefeated, become the second Western Athletic Conference team to crash the Bowl Championship Series and win in exhilarating fashion — exactly what Boise State accomplished in 2006.
"It's definitely a different thing that the community feels that way for the first time in the history of the school," Hawaii coach June Jones said. "There's never been this kind of national attention given to the team."
Led by record-setting quarterback Colt Brennan, who spurned the NFL and returned to the islands for his senior season, the Warriors could finally break Boise State's five-year hold on the WAC.
The conference is coming off a highly successful season, capped by Boise State's 13-0 record and remarkable 43-42 overtime win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. Four WAC teams qualified for bowl games last year, with the only defeat being Nevada's 21-20 loss to Miami in the MPC Computers Bowl.
"I think our notoriety is growing and people are starting to pay attention to it," Boise State coach Chris Petersen said. "We're better than a lot of people thought we were."
This year, Hawaii (No. 23) and Boise State (No. 24) will both be ranked when the season begins. Each school can claim legitimate Heisman candidates — Boise State running back Ian Johnson and Hawaii's Brennan. And both schools have favorable schedules that could lead to a Nov. 23 showdown in Honolulu to decide the conference crown and possibly a second consecutive BCS berth for the WAC.
"When I got here and you told me the WAC would have two Heisman candidates, I would have laughed," Johnson said. "Now, we're a very good conference that people know stuff about and know we have very good teams."
Brennan's numbers in 2006 were staggering. He topped 400 yards nine times and capped his season with 559 yards passing and five touchdowns against Arizona State in the Hawaii Bowl. He finished with 5,549 yards passing and an NCAA-record 58 TD passes.
Three of his top four receivers return, including favorite target Davone Bess, who had 96 catches and 15 TDs. Brennan will get plenty of opportunity to make a case for Heisman consideration, with at least four games on national television and most of the Warriors' tough games in Honolulu. He can also pad his stats against two teams from the Football Championship Subdivision, formerly I-AA.
"I can't imagine there is another quarterback in the U.S. better than Colt Brennan," Jones said. "Someone will have to convince me of that this year."
Johnson and the Broncos will need more than a hook-and-lateral, halfback option pass and "Statue of Liberty" play to go undefeated again. Gone is three-year quarterback Jared Zabransky and stalwart linebacker Korey Hall. Johnson, who rushed for 1,713 yards and 25 TDs, gets to run behind an offensive line that returns four starters, anchored by massive left tackle Ryan Clady.
"You can't live in last year's feelings, but we have guys from last year's team," Johnson said. "We have to build on what we already started."