Hawaii Warriors Football

The University of Hawai'i is in one of the most beautiful states in the United States of America. The University is in Manoa, Oah'u and Aloha Stadium is located in Aiea, Oah'u.

It is also home of the Hawai'i Warriors football team. Hawai'i doesn't have any other big time college football programs or pro football programs so Warrior football is the best the locals can get in the fall. 

The Warriors have had some prolific players and coaches such as Timmy Chang, Colt Brennan, Davone Bess, Jason Rivers, Ashley Lelie and June Jones. 

In 1999 June Jones took over the team went 9-4 and lead one of the quickest turnarounds in NCAA history after the team lost all twelve games the prior season.

Jones came in with the "run n' shoot" attitude on offense and it worked producing Timmy Chang and then later Colt Brennan. Both of them broke and hold numerous NCAA passing records. 

Brennan and Chang were also Heisman candidates. Chang being one in 2003 and Brennan being one in 2007. 

In the 2007 season Jones and Brennan lead the team to it's first perfect 12-0 season and got its first BCS bid. They played in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia and got manhandled 41-10. 

Hawai'i making it to the Sugar Bowl was exciting for the school and state alike along with myself seeing I had just got accepted to the University of Hawai'i. 

Sadly following the 2007 season head coach June Jones left the University of Hawai'i for Southern Methodist University for numerous reasons. The main reason being a lack of good athletic facilities. (Recently the school just got an endowment to build one)

Jones had a record of 75-41 with 5 bowl appearances and three wins. 

Luckily for the University and the football team their Defensive coordinator Greg McMackin took over as head coach. 

Since McMackin took over he is 9-12 with an appearances in the Hawai'i bowl in 2008 which they lost. 

Unfortunately McMakin has all ready been through four different quarterbacks and this is only his second full season. 

So far this season has not gone well for the Warriors especially since Saturday's 54-9 blowout by #4 Boise State. They currently sit at 2-5 overall and 0-4 in conference play.

Time will tell if McMakin can find his Chang or Brennan and bring Hawai'i back to a BCS game. 

NCAA College Football Betting Preview by Jay of BangTheBook.com
Hawaii Warriors (2-1) at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (1-2)
Wednesday, September 30th, 8:00PM Eastern

Online sportsbook betting line—Louisiana Tech -3.5

Normally, the college football week does not heat up until Thursday night, but the WAC will highlight a conference battle this Wednesday night to kick start Week Five, when the Hawaii Warriors leave the island to take on the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs.

The game will mark the first conference match of the season for both teams. While Boise State is a huge favorite to take down the conference as the top “BCS Buster” in America, both Hawaii and Louisiana Tech will be trying to make noise out of the conference this season, as well.

The Warriors suffered their first loss of the season in a 34-33 heartbreaker last week to UNLV. They gave up a touchdown pass with just 36 seconds remaining in the game, resulting in their first loss of the season. They will look to bounce back this Wednesday night, however, as their offense leads the charge against the Bulldogs defense.

Hawaii, led by quarterback Greg Alexander, is averaging 33 points per game on the season. Alexander has already thrown over 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns in just three games, while gibing up just two interceptions.

Alexander, who is completing 67 percent on the season, has found comfort in wide receivers Greg Salas and Rodney Bradley. Both receivers are averaging over 20 yards per catch, while Salas leads the team with an impressive 479 yards. The Bulldogs secondary has been a concern, and if they do not play well this Wednesday, it will be a long day from a dangerous Hawaii passing team.

Louisiana Tech, on the other hand, has not had a lot of success on offense so far this year. QB Ross Jenkins is averaging 220 yards per game, but has thrown just three touchdown passes on the season and two picks. WR Phillip Livas leads the team with 10 catches and WR Dennis Morris has two touchdowns catching the ball.

The Bulldogs are attempting over 30 passes per game, but also give a good bit of action to running back Daniel Porter. However, Porter has been held to just 138 yards in three games after rushing for nearly 1,200 yards in 2008. The Bulldogs desperately need Porter to produce, which would open up the rest of the offense.

On the other side of the field, Louisiana Tech has allowed over 400 yards per game. Those numbers can not continue, or it will be a long year, based on the offense’s production.

The Bulldogs rank dead last in the conference, allowing a lucrative 251 yards per game on the ground. The run defense may not be a huge concern given that Hawaii keeps the ball in the air. Actually, it favors Louisiana Tech, as they rank first in the conference, holding offenses to just 156 yards per game through the air.

The pass defense will have a tough challenge holding Alexander to those type of numbers, but if it does continue to stay strong, they may get their first conference victory of the season.

Betting Trends—Hawaii is 5-1 in their last six games ATS on the road and more importantly 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games against Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs have beaten Hawaii just once in their last 7 meetings, but do own an 8-1 mark SU in their last nine games at home.

BTB’s Football Pick—The Bulldogs do not have the firepower to keep up with Hawaii, unless they force a ton of turnovers. However, Alexander will have none of that and will post another 400-yard passing performance. Take Hawaii +3.5

Hawaii 31 LOUISIANA TECH (-5.5) 30

Hawaii is averaging a healthy 32 points per game, but the Warriors are a much better offensive team than that figure indicates, as they've averaged 517 total yards per game at an incredible 8.4 yards per play against teams that would allow 6.1 yppl to an average offensive team.

Hawaii has had trouble scoring in the red zone (just 3.4 points per opportunity inside the opponent's 20 yard line), but a lot of that is just random variance and I expect Hawaii to be better in that category going forward.

Quarterback Greg Alexander, averaging an incredible 9.8 yards per pass play, and the Hawaii offense should have no trouble moving the ball against a bad Louisiana Tech pass defense that has allowed 7.7 yards per pass play to 3 teams that would combine to average only 5.7 yppp against an average defensive team.

Hawaii's defense hasn't been too much worse than average (5.2 yppl allowed to teams that would average 4.9 yppl) and the Bulldogs' attack has been limited to just 5.5 yppl by teams that would combine to allow 6.0 yppl to an average team. In two games against Division 1A teams the Bulldogs have averaged just 3.7 yppl (against Auburn and Navy), so they're struggling offensively.

Unfortunately, Hawaii applies to a very negative 66-156-2 ATS situation and a 109-198-6 ATS situation that combine to go 1-12 ATS when both apply to the same team. Still, it's clear to me that Hawaii is the much better team and should be favored in this game.

I'll consider Hawaii a Strong Opinion at +3 points or more based on the line value, but the situational analysis will keep me from making the Warriors a Best Bet.

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After getting out quickly and holding off the Washington State Cougars, Hawai'i met a stronger opponent in Mountain West foe UNLV.  In the end, the Warriors came away with a loss in the second of a three-game mainland road trip.

But there were plenty of positives to be found in that game against the Rebels.

UNLV is Not a Bad Team.

First, give credit to UNLV.  After a disappointing 2008 campaign, many believe that the Rebels were due to rebound and have a solid season.  UNLV was also coming off a tough loss against Oregon State.

In that game against the Beavers, the Rebels took a fourth quarter lead and looked poised to win the game.  After taking a 21-20 lead, UNLV kicked off and the Beavers took with just over four minutes to drive 64 yards on 12 plays.  Oregon State kicker Justin Kahut booted through a 33-yard field goal for the victory.

Even though it was a loss for UNLV, they demonstrated that they could hang with the Beavers, a mid-to upper tier Pac-10 team.  For Hawai'i to lose to UNLV, it could almost be seen as expected.  Remember, UNLV was a seven-point favorite going into the game.

Greg Alexander Continues to Shine.

Another week, another record game for Hawai'i quarterback Greg Alexander.  The gunslinger was 31 for 44 passing for a career-high 477 yards and three touchdowns.  He did have one interception though.

After a 2008 season of Russian Roulette at quarterback, it is nice to have solid, steady play at the QB position.

The Emergence of New (Multiple) Targets

Hawai'i fans knew that Greg Salas would blow up this season.  Salas has scored in all three games this season, and has tallied over 100 yards in each contest.

The emergence of junior Rodney Bradley has allowed for more diversity in the passing game.  Bradley followed up a big game at Washington State (seven catches for 150 yards and two scores) with another 100-yard performance against the Rebels (189 yards, to be exact).  He is becoming a big time threat for the Warriors.

Add to that Kealoha Pilares, who set a career high in receptions (13) and receiving yards (146).  For the season, Pilares has totaled 27 catches for 257 yards.

With the emergence of the latter two to compliment Salas, Alexander has several targets to choose from and that should make the offense difficult to stop.

Coach Greg McMackin commented that the "offense played excellent."  Even though the running game was not there against UNLV (and it is not as though it is a major component of the offense), the passing game definitely looked excellent.  Alexander and the receiving corps continue to blossom and will only get better.

Are there concerns from the UNLV game?  Sure.  But it appears to be confined to that game.  As Coach McMackin noted, "If if you always win two out of three phases of the game [offense, defense and special teams] you are going to win the game...We only won one phase."

In other words, the problems from the UNLV game can be corrected.

But again, why dwell on the negatives?  The Warriors are 2-1 and face a stiff challenge in the third game of the long road trip; at Louisiana Tech on Wednesday September 30.

It was not pretty, but it was one of those "we'll take it" victories over the Bears of Central Arkansas.

What was likely perceived by some to be an automatic "W" became a fight for survival for the Hawaii Warriors as they were able to overcome a 12-point deficit and then a one-point deficit late to beat their FCS-opponent at Aloha Stadium. 

It could certainly be a sign of bad things to come.

But before fans begin to give up on the Warriors and turn their attention to the Wahine volleyball team, it is important to take the positives from a tough first game.

First, no one is going to mistake Central Arkansas for the University of Arkansas or even Arkansas State.  They are not even on par with Richmond or Northern Iowa, two of the top teams in the FCS.  But the Bears are a solid team.  And the gap between the FCS and the mid-tier FBS schools is smaller than many recognize.

The Bears sported one of the top offenses in the FCS last season, and they returned top rusher Brent Grimes (who scored all three Bears' TDs).  While they did break in a new starter in Robbie Park, who was efficient, they return talent at the wideout position.

Also, Central Arkansas' defense is solid and led by all-American DE Larry Hart, who did register one of UCA's four sacks.  Hart is a beast in the college ranks (12 sacks, 43 tackles last year), but likely a late round NFL pick.

So UCA came in with some talent and an offensive scheme that is explosive.  Despite that, Hawaii still tallied over 400 yards of offense while limiting the Bears to 270 yards.

The Warriors were their own worst enemy, committing four turnovers in the game, including one that set up Central Arkansas' first score early in the opening quarter.

Despite those miscues, Hawai'i was able to overcome it and win the game.  And, protecting the football is something that can be corrected.

Also, keep in mind that the Warriors only committed two penalties.  It is hard to say that such a trend will continue, but that shows good discipline.  The turnovers hurt, the Warriors did not compound issues by having costly penalties.

Overcoming turnovers and keeping penalties down is a major positive.  As Coach Greg McMackin noted after the game,

"we lost the turnover battle, but still pulled out the win. That’s a good sign, we didn’t do that last year. I’m also happy about the lack of penalties. We only committed two for the game, which is something to be really proud of."

Third, Greg Alexander and Greg Salas were superb.  Alexander threw for over 300 yards and tacked on another 76 on the ground, the latter a career high.  His scrambling ability and improvisation will be a major asset down the road.

As for Salas, seven catches for 180 yards and one score were big for the Warriors.  His 66-yard catch and run were crucial in setting up the game winner-His play earned him WAC offensive player of the week!

Lastly, it is just the first game.  There are always jitters in that first game, even when the opponent is an FCS team (just ask Virginia, Iowa, Duke, Indiana, East Carolina, Wyoming, etc.).  And, that very young and inexperienced defense now has a game under their belt before heading into Pullman on Saturday.

Were there negatives?  Of course!  But why dwell on those?

Football season has arrived and the Warriors are 1-0—Right now, that is all that matters!

Earlier this week, University of Hawaii coach Greg McMackin made a very inappropriate comment about a dance that Notre Dame performed at the Hawaii Bowl a couple of days before the game. The comment was anti-gay and should never be said publicly by a person in his position.

On Thursday, he issued an apology on the local news in Hawaii. Of course it did not sit well with the local gay community. They want more than an apology.

Now I am in no way condoning what McMackin said. It was disgusting. There is no two ways about that. I also realize that many of my fellow Irish fans are rightfully upset over what he said. Having said that I still believe that Coach McMackin is a good guy and a good coach.

About 10 years ago, I moved to Maui from Michigan. Over time I have grown fond of the University of Hawaii football team. I saw no harm in rooting for the Warriors. They are a WAC team and their paths will never cross with Notre Dame or Michigan. At least that is what I thought.

We all know how that turned out. When I heard that Notre Dame was playing at Aloha Stadium, I just had to fly over. I have been to that stadium before and most of the time I have rooted for Hawaii. So some were shocked to see me show up in Blue and Gold.

One guy asked, "You cheered for UH all year, how do you not cheer for them in the biggest game of the year?" My response was "blood is thicker than water." Another Warrior fan said that he would be in the same boat as me if they were playing Oklahoma. I appreciated that.

Although I was rooting for Notre Dame, the Hawaii fans were very gracious to me. It really isn't like other places. They do believe in sportsmanship and want you to feel welcome in their home. I know that it is similar in South Bend, even with USC fans.

That was really a great day for me. I saw the Irish break the infamous long bowl losing streak. I also just left with a very good taste about the Hawaii program and those who support it. I honestly expected to be treated much worse than I was in Irish colors.

A couple months later, the UH team flew over to Maui for a spring practice and scrimmage. The stadium was just packed to watch this. Coach McMackin made it a point to go up in the stands and thank everybody for being there. 

He literally went to every person in the stands and introduced himself and thanked everybody for supporting the team. He also spent time with each person talking to him/her. I thought that was really cool.

After the scrimmage, many of the players did the same thing and were very appreciative of the fans. That is a reflection of the coach.

In general, McMackin has really been a class act in how he has run the program.

So, although he made a stupid comment in which he got caught in the moment, we all have done that at some point in our life.

The fact is that he has done enough right to where I will forgive this one wrong.

Center Olin Kreutz has been a staple in the Chicago Bears organization since the team drafted him out of Washington St. 12 years ago. Kreutz, a leader both on the field and in the locker room, leads by example through hard work and determination. He keeps players in line and commands respect from not only his teammates, but opposing players as well.

Kreutz was raised and played high school football in Hawaii for St. Louis High, a team consistently playing for the island title, where he was all-state in both football and wrestling. Hawaii was his kickoff point for a prosperous and productive NFL career.

And Kreutz isn't the only one to bring the island madness to the team.

The Bears selected safety Al Afalava in the sixth round of the 2009 draft. Afalava grew up in Laie, located on the north shore of Oahu, and played high school for the Kahuku Red Raiders, a perennial powerhouse, before moving on to Oregon St.

If you look closely, there are quite a few connections to the pacific islands throughout the Bears roster:

Undrafted free agents Will Ta'ufo'ou (FB from Cal) and Johan Asiata (OG from UNLV) are both in contention for roster spots. Asiata, originally from New Zealand, actually grew up in Hawaii.

Reserve defensive tackle Matt Toeaina played high school football on the tiny island of American Samoa, which is located east of Fiji and North of Tonga before he moved on to play college ball at the University of Oregon.

Newly acquired linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa played for the University of Hawaii for four years. He made first team all WAC his senior year and was drafted in the second round of the 2003 NFL draft by the St. Louis Rams.

The Bears even have had a couple Hawaii players represented on the practice squad and in training camp. Safety Leonard Peters, also a Kahuku graduate, was on the Bears practice squad for the 2007 season. And former UH standout wide receiver Ryan Grice-Mullens was added to the Bears roster last season in training camp to add some depth, but failed to make the final cut.

And it doesn't end there, lets kick it back a little further.

Anyone remember tight end Gabe Reid? He played four years for the Bears from 2003 through 2006 and recorded a total of seven receptions—okay, not exactly stellar numbers but Reid was also a product of American Samoa and was a competent third stringer for the team.

And if you want to go old-school, how about Lakei Heimuli? Heimuli was a running back out of BYU who grew up in Tonga and played one season for the 1987 Chicago Bears. He only made it into three games that year, but to be fair, his numbers weren't terrible: 34 carries for 128 yards (for a 3.8 average), and five receptions for 51 yards and one lone touchdown.

So really, this island theme from the Bears is not a new one. And judging from recent trends, look for more and more of these Polynesian products to follow in the footsteps of Kreutz, Pisa, Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu, and Steelers safety Troy Polamalu.

USC's athletic director Mike Garrett announced this past Wednesday that USC and Hawai'i would play a home and home during the 2012-2013 seasons.

That is great news for college football fans...if USC can play the 2006 version of the Warriors, that is.

Listen, nothing against the Warriors, they are a great team to watch with their crazy offense and all that, but since Colt & Co. left they have just been, well, mediocre. Sure, it was only one season, but c'mon, they made Jimmy Clausen look like John Elway during the Hawaii bowl.

So, now that we can be assured that this won't be headline news anywhere in America with the exception of Honolulu and Los Angeles—make that just Honolulu, LA has that whole Lakers thing going on, supposedly it's a big deal there—let's look at this story from a USC point of view shall we?

How about Pete Carroll, eh? And there are people that still don't know why he is one of the most successful coaches in the whole country. It's because he is good with math, simple math actually:

Early season trip to Hawai'i = happy players. Happy players = great season.

Nothing like a good trip to the Islands to boost the morale of the troops.

This isn't the first time Carroll has done this. USC played in Hawai'i in 2005 and will do so again in 2010. That means that only the 2006 recruiting class did not go to Honolulu—no wonder they haven't won a title since.

I wonder what a conversation between Carroll and a recruit sounds like.

Carroll: I assure you that you will be attending one of the best programs in America.

Mom & Dad: What about academics?

Recruit: Mom, we talk about academics later, okay? So, I know you are a big deal and all, but Florida has said I will start my freshman year, can you promise that?

Carroll: Well, I can promise we will give you a chance, but I can't promise you we will just give you the position.

Recruit: Well....

Carroll: Have I told you we are going to play our season opener in Hawai'i in 2010 and 2013.

Recruit: Really? So, where do I sign?

But back to reality, these trips to Hawai'i are what separate Carroll from most of the other coaches. He thinks like a 20-year old male, he knows what they want and he gives it to them.

Think about this for a second, a coach and an athletic director are trying to fill out their 2012 schedule and they have a choice of playing either Hawai'i in September or Wyoming in November. I mean, is there really any decision to make?

These games will not make headlines, they will not get the attention of most people—unless USC loses, knock on wood—but these are the little things that make a championship team. Give them a treat, a trip to Hawaii, and they will repay you when you need them to—a foggy, rainy night in Corvallis or Pullman or Berkley; you get the idea.

The genius of Pete Carroll is simple enough, as simple as simple math.

Early season trip to Hawai'i = happy players. Happy players = great season.

I end my Pro Day trips with a school's Pro Day that, while not the size of USC's (scouts and team personnel and as many fans and media), was still a well attended, well run day with several players whom scouts were keenly interested in.

The day, held at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, was attended by about 30 scouts from teams such as Carolina, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Minnesota, Seattle, and both New York teams.

It was a well attended and well orchestrated day, held in two places—one area for the workout drills and one grass field for positional drills.

We started out in a small meeting room where UH head coach Greg McMackin and associate head coach Rich Miano showed the scouts some highlight videos featuring the various players who would soon be working out.

This just in—all defensive lineman David Veikune does is make plays.

Veikune was certainly one of the main attractions for scouts on Thursday. While he stood on most of the results of his Scouting Combine performance, he did do the 40 yard dash. He ran a 4.80/4.81 in the 40, with 10 yard and 20 yard splits of 1.64/1.71 and 2.82/2.78 respectively.

Veikune also did position drills, of course, and as there is some question as to just where he will fit in at the pro level. He drilled as an outside linebacker and worked some coverage as well.

Having played as a defensive end in college, Veikune may have to make the switch to a linebacker, specifically if he ends up in a 3-4 scheme. But, honestly, scouts and teams are just going to try to find a way to get this playmaker on the field.

He won't go early, but he will go and already has interest from several teams, including the Eagles, Cowboys, Dolphins, and Titans.

Another player scouts were itching to see was cornerback Ryan Mouton. Mouton had pulled a hamstring at the Combine, and was hoping to make an impression this time out for scouts.

He began his day on a very high note with an outstanding 11-foot broad jump. He chose to stand on his bench and vertical from the Combine and got set to run the 40.

I mentioned this in the USC piece I did, but it seems to me I have written about multiple injuries during 40's this year. Maybe they are just leaping out at me this year, but it feels like I am seeing many more.

Why do I bring this up? You guessed it—he pulled up lame in the 40. Mouton said later he felt it at about the 20-yard mark, and he was in clear pain when he crossed the finish line. Still, he ran an impressive 40 time (especially considering).

Various scouts had him at anywhere from 4.42 to 4.48. I had him timed at 4.46.

And he did that while clearly pulling up in the last leg. I boggle at how he might have timed had it not happened.

The injury looked worse than what it turned out to be, as he sat in the corner of the practice area for some time. Still, he was out for the day. There were more than a few disappointed noises from the scouts and that tells me he was—and likely still is—very much on the radars of several teams.

In fact, he already has a meeting with Jacksonville, according to the Honolulu Advertiser.

Several other players are worth talking about as well. Defensive lineman Josh Leonard benched a fantastic 41 times, ran a 4.97 in the 40, had a 31 1/2 vertical, and looked solid in drills.

Another Leonard linebacker, Adam Leonard, had a so-so 40 (7.41/7.52) but that was due in part to some bad starts.

As I saw in San Jose State with corner Coye Francies, stumbling a few times can get in your head. Heck, it was such a worry for USC's Rey Maualuga (who missed drills at the Combine because he pulled a muscle in the 40) that he did the 40 after his position drills.

It certainly affected Adam Leonard, and probably contributed to a slower than expected 40 time. But his film and other drills will keep him hopping and he will have the chance to show his stuff at team visits and private workouts, I'm sure.

Finally, is it possible to be wowed by a long snapper? Is it right?

Well, it must be, because I love what I saw of Jake Ingram.

Ingram was a guy the staff talked about during the film session as a perfectionist and a hard worker. The first guy at practice, the last one to leave.

And you could tell he was a hard worker. Ingram did every drill he could, ran a 4.90/4.86 in the 40, showed a 30-1/2" vertical, a 9'9" broad jump, benched 18 times, and ran a 4.59 short shuttle.

And that was before he snapped in positional drills.

I wasn't the only one impressed, as I saw Bengals special teams coach Darrin Simmons talking to Ingram a ton, and a lot of it was shop talk. Of course, a snapper has to do more than snap the ball—and certainly teams will take a long look at a guy like Ingram to make sure he can cover and block.

Ingram looked good whenever he was asked to do something, and he came off as personable and a nose-to-the-grindstone type of guy.

It's not often I spend much time talking about long snappers, but Ingram had a very solid day.

So ends another Pro Day season and another road trip. It's been a long few months of travel, but it's always worth it.

Getting to know the scouts a little, chatting with the players, and meeting other press like Stephen Tsai and Leila Wai from the Honolulu Advertiser, Sam Farmer from the LA Times at USC's Pro Day, and the whole "Path to the Draft" crew as well—all of it always makes even the longest trips a real joy.

Now comes the hard part for me and the scouts –figuring out where everyone goes.

An outpouring of praise from the Notre Dame faithful, but no love for the Warriors? 

I watched this game well into the fourth quarter, at which point I became tired of the blowout.  I would have to call myself a college football fan in general, as I didn't favor either team, so I wanted to see a closer game for Hawaii's sake, especially given the fact the team was playing at home. 

Blowouts aren't good for anyone, especially the guys on the receiving end. 

Getting to the substance of my thoughts, however, I know Hawaii looked flat right out the gate, but I think the play calling was off.  I didn't get to see a lot of Colt Brennan and this offense last year, but I do know that Hawaii was competitive because of careful play calling and execution. 

If June Jones implementation of the run-and-shoot spread is only one year removed, then McMackin or his offensive coaches must've changed the recipe, because the ingredients are still around. 

Think about it: Hawaii plays in the WAC, a conference where the bottom half, annual doormats, might be dominant I-AA teams.  Maybe that is being too generous.  In any case, it is my understanding that Hawaii is competitive largely because of their system, not because they can get four and five-star recruits like the Irish, no matter how well they sell the island paradise angle. 

Colt Brennan mastered the slants and underneath routes that turn into big gains when secondaries aren't diligent.  I am not knocking his skills, but even Greg Alexander, a JC transfer, should be able to work defenses over with these staples of the spread. 

Instead of going with what is proven to work, I saw Hawaii's receivers routinely going 10, 15, or 20 yards down the field on almost every play.  This can't possibly play to Hawaii's strengths against an athletically superior team like Notre Dame. 

That is why Alexander was sacked eight times.  On virtually every play, he was flushed out of the pocket or tried to scramble away, but there was no one underneath to throw the ball away to; they were all too far downfield and covered.  That is not how the spread flourishes. 

Against a faster, more athletic defender, a receiver's best chance to get separation is at his initial cut when the defender doesn't know what he's committed to running.  In this game, the offensive minds at Hawaii seemed to forget how they could still compete on short, quick routes. 

As a result, Alexander was left with the choice to:

(1) Throw 20 or more yards downfield into thick coverage against quick defenders that will have enough time to adjust to the throw at that distance, or

(2) Run for his life, getting sacked more often than making a play. Alexander had 13 rush attempts for -16 yards.

Notable is the fact that Alexander's backup, Inoke Funaki, had success in the fourth quarter making several throws underneath (finishing five of five for 65 yards and a TD), the ones that worked and gained yardage consistently throughout June Jones' tenure.

Irish fans can say what they will about second or third string defenders in at that point, but aren't those guys still more highly recruited and rated than Hawaii's starters?

I am merely wondering who on the Hawaii staff thought it was a good idea to try to run with or past the faster athletes of the Notre Dame secondary?  Why not use their speed against them when they over-pursue and are too aggressive defensively?  Why not give poor Greg Alexander a chance instead of feeding him to the dogs every play? 

Against top-tier talent, I wouldn't expect Hawaii's defense to win the game.  Scoring lots of points is what defines a Hawaii win.  At worst, short completions eat up the clock so the Irish offense isn't on the field enough to score 49 points, and the game at least stays within range. 

It's too bad for Hawaii they didn't remember the little things and implement what made them competitive on offense the rest of the year.