2011 Record: (6-7, 3-4 in WAC)
Head Coach: Norm Chow (first time head coach)
Coaches by the Numbers Hiring Grade
Last Bowl Game: 2010 Hawaii Bowl: lost to Tulsa 62-35
Schedule Glimpse:
Big Name Opponents: 9/1 at USC, 11/10 vs Boise St
Must Win: 9/15 vs Lamar, 10/13 vs New Mexico, 11/24 vs UNLV, 12/1 vs South Alabama
Swing Games: 9/22 vs Nevada, 9/28 at BYU, 10/6 at SDSU, 11/16 at Air Force
Statistical Snapshot:
Stat to Cheer: 35 sacks in 2011 (15th in Nation)
Stat to Fear: allowed 41 sacks in 2011 (113th in Nation)
Personnel:
Phil Steele’s Returning Starters: (Offense: 6; Defense: 4; Specialists: 2)
Key Defensive Returnees: LB Art Laurel (60 tackles, 8 sacks), CB John Hardy-Tuliau (73 tackle, 3 INTs), DE Paipai Falemalu (50 tackles, 4.5 sacks)
Key Offensive Returnees: RB Joey Iosefa (548 yds, 7 TD), WR Billy Ray Stutzmann (78 rec, 4 TD), WR Jeremiah Ostrowski (65 rec, 5 TD), OG Dave Lefotu
Top Recruits: OG Dejon Allen (Scout.com’s #49 OG), RB Steven Lakalaka, OT Kiha Sai
Verdict:
Hawaii is another team that is taking the step from the WAC to the MWC. They will also be taking the field under new head coach Norm Chow. One thing that will be interesting to watch is how Chow’s “pro style” offense takes hold at Hawaii. Hawaii will be running the football more under Chow but how quickly and how successfully will it happen?
Chow has added some discipline to Hawaii with his tougher style of practices than the Warriors are used to. I like the fit of Norm Chow in Hawaii and I think he will have success….in the long term. As for this year, I think it’s going to be a bit of a struggle at times. You will see some really great stuff, some really mediocre stuff and probably some really bad stuff. This is a transition year for Hawaii. The critical stretch is from 9/22 to 10/6. They host Nevada on 9/22 and then they travel to BYU and San Diego State in back-to-back weeks. That stretch will decide the Warriors season.
2012 Prediction: 5-7
Previous 2012 Previews:
C-USA: Memphis, Rice, Southern Miss, Tulane
Independent: Navy
MAC: Akron, Bowling Green, Buffalo, EMU, Kent St, Miami (OH), Ohio, Toledo, UMass, WMU
MWC: Air Force, Colorado St, New Mexico, San Diego St, Wyoming
Sun Belt: Arkansas St, FAU, Louisiana, MTSU, North Texas, South Alabama, Troy, ULM, WKU
WAC: Idaho, New Mexico St, San Jose St, Texas State, Utah State, UTSA
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