Hawaii Warriors Football

Honolulu—Nestled side-by-side in the Koolau Mountain Range on the island of Oahu, the valleys of Manoa and Palolo are less than two miles and five minutes apart.

But, for one man in particular, it has taken the better part of a lifetime to make the journey.

On Thursday, 65-year-old Palolo native Norm Chow was introduced as the 22nd head football coach of the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He became the first person of Asian-American ancestry to ever lead a major college football program.

Words struggle to describe the occasion.

In a room packed with reporters, television cameras, university officials, old friends and family members, the anticipation was palpable as the minutes ticked down to Chow's first official appearance.

Hawaii, we now realize, had been starved to have one of its own guide the football team that it is so proud of. After 20 minutes up on the dais, it became clear that Chow himself was equally starved to come back home.

A man of tremendous passion and character, Chow couldn't contain his emotions. His life came full circle in front of dozens of people as a state-wide audience watched live on television.

"I hope I can hold this together," he said. "I'm honored, I'm humbled and I'm awfully excited to be here. To stand before you as the next football coach of the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors."

Never has there been a more accomplished football coach to come out of Hawaii than Chow.

From Palolo Elementary to Maryknoll and then Punahou School, the Chinese-Hawaiian-and-Portuguese mix became a baseball, basketball and football star in the 1960s. He went on to play offensive guard at the University of Utah from 1965 to 1967 where he met his wife, Diane.

"I'd like to thank my family," Chow said, naming his wife, four children and five grandchildren. "I need to thank my mother and my father...I don't think you can ever stop trying to please mom and dad."

He's already pleased the people of Hawaii.

Chow spent 39 years coaching at six destinations throughout the mainland. On Wednesday, he signed a contract with an annual salary worth less than half of what his predecessor, Greg McMackin, made ($1.15 million).

"Money has nothing to do with this," Chow said. "Money has absolutely nothing to do with this equation. I have a chance to come home. I have a chance to represent this university. I have a chance to represent this state. I have a chance to hopefully be an example to some.

"How much can you pay for that?" Chow asked.

The bulk of Chow's career was spent at Brigham Young, his first destination. For 27 years he coached under LaVell Edwards, BYU's legendary head coach. In 2000, he left for North Carolina State before continuing on to Southern California, the Tennessee Titans, UCLA and Utah.

Chow has coached on three national championship teams (BYU-1984, USC-2003, 2004) and has molded three Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks (Ty Detmer, 1990-BYU, Carson Palmer, 2002 and Matt Leinart, 2004-USC). He also coached NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young.

But he never became a head coach.

"It means the whole world. It means the whole world," Chow said when asked if it's more special to become a head coach for the first time at Hawaii.

"I get asked all the time about head coaching, 'Why you haven't been?' And I'm not trying to brag to you, but I turned down opportunities to do so on the mainland.

"If it wasn't right for the family then it wasn't right for me. A long time ago my wife and I sat down and decided that our family was going to be first, and if (coaching) meant moving around we weren't going to do it, I'd get out of the profession."

Being at BYU for 27 years enabled Chow and his wife to raise a family the way they wanted to.

"We have four children that graduated from the same elementary school, same junior high and high school, and that's what our goal was. I tried to be as normal as we could possibly be," he said.

Though Chow obviously was away for a long time, he insists that he's still a "Hawaii Boy" where it counts: on the inside.

"I'm born and raised in Palolo Valley, never left the islands til I left to go away to college," he said.

Harkening back to his childhood, Chow said, "It was the best. It was absolutely the best.

"I had great parents. They sacrificed a tremendous amount for me and my two brothers to go to school...I remember some great times, and I also remember the value system that we were taught. And hopefully we can pass that on to some other people."

The young people on the Hawaii football team in Manoa would be a great place to start.

Chow has finally arrived.

Kevin Riley is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand.

In one of the feel good stories of the college football season, long-time offensive coordinator Norm Chow will finally get a shot at a head coaching job with the University of Hawaii.

Chow has been the coordinator at BYU, NC State, USC, UCLA and Utah, as well as spending a brief stint as the Tennessee Titans’ OC, but he is now returning home to his native Hawaii. At 65, he will be the third oldest active head coach in college football.

Chow has helped coach some great quarterbacks including Jim McMahon, Steve Young, Philip Rivers, Ty Detmer, Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart.

The Warriors have had no shortage of quality quarterbacks in recent years with Timmy Chang, Colt Brennan and now Bryant Moniz. While his eligibility is over at the end of this year, it shouldn’t be long before another great quarterback emerges with Chow at the helm,

"I am extremely honored to receive the privilege of leading the University of Hawaii football program; it is very humbling," he said in a statement. "This is a program with great history, and I feel excited and energized about creating a program that will make all of the people of Hawaii feel pride for the university and our state. I am looking forward to coming home, to family and friends, and I am going to do my best to contribute to the rich history of Hawaii and its progress."

He is the perfect fit for Hawaii because of his roots there as well as what the team has been known to do with the spread offense. This is a great move for Chow and the university.

The Hawaii Warriors are working out the contract details to have Norm Chow be their new football head coach, and it's a win-win for all of those involved. 

According to the Honolulu Star Advertiser, Chow has been chosen as head coach for the Warriors. Chow has bounced around all over the coaching spectrum, from college football to the NFL, and now he is returning home. 

Born in Honolulu, Chow is an excellent hire for Hawaii. He may be 65 years old, but he knows how to run an offense well, and he will also help the Warriors out in recruiting. 

The paper claims that Chow could receive a five-year contract, which is pretty fair considering this will be his first head coaching job. 

Chow has been an offensive coordinator with North Carolina State, USC, the Tennessee Titans, UCLA and most recently Utah.  

Many believed Chow would remain at Utah for quite some time since it's his alma mater, but you can't blame him for taking the leap toward what will likely be his only head coaching job ever. 

Plus, Chow will be back where he grew up, which had to be the main reason he took the job in the first place.

Having been a part of three national championship teams, Chow has the experience the Warriors need at head coach. What's more, Chow was the offensive mastermind for multiple Heisman Trophy winners. 

Some prominent players Chow has coached and helped develop during his 38-year career include Jim McMahon, Ty Detmer, Steve Young, Philip Rivers, Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart. 

The Warriors are in good hands now, and it shouldn't be long before Chow has them competitive again in the WAC.

Honolulu—The University of Hawaii at Manoa announced it had received 30 applications by the end of business on Monday, Dec. 12 for its recently-opened head football coaching position.

Applications are still being accepted. Last Monday, four year head coach Greg McMackin announced his retirement with one year remaining on his contract.

The university has assembled a Search Advisory Committee to screen applicants and make recommendations. As previously reported, the six members of the committee are:

1. Dr. Rockne Freitas, Vice President for Student Affairs and University/Community Relations at the University of Hawaii and former All-Pro Professional football player with the Detroit Lions

2. Peter Ho, Bank of Hawaii Chairman, President & CEO

3. Bert Kobayashi, Jr.  Partner, Kobayashi, Sugita & Goda

4. Duane Kurisu, entrepreneur, owner, PacificBasin Communications and Hawaii Sports Network, and the San Francisco Giants

5. Dr. Edison Miyawaki, Cincinnati Bengals football team minority owner, Hawaii Health I and II

6. Jean Rolles, Vice President of Community Affairs, Outrigger Enterprises, Inc.

According to the job listing on the university's website, the minimum qualifications are as follows:

"Graduation from an accredited four year college or university.  Five (5) years experience coaching football at the college or university level. Knowledge and ability to organize, implement and develop a football program as played at the collegiate level; or any equivalent combination of education and experience."

Desired qualifications are: "Successful Division I football coaching experience. Demonstrated ability to coach and recruit the highly skilled student-athlete. Masters Degree."

The Search Advisory Committee will meet for the first time on Monday evening when it will begin reviewing applications.

Honolulu—Today, the University of Hawaii at Manoa formed a Search Advisory Committee to aid in its efforts to find the next head coach for the Hawaii Warriors football team.

On Monday, four-year head coach Greg McMackin retired with one year remaining on his contract.

The six-member committee includes university and community leaders—some of which possess past experiences in similar searches at the professional and collegiate level—and is tasked with screening applicants and making recommendations.

The members are as follows:

1. Dr. Rockne Freitas, Vice President for Student Affairs and University/Community Relations at the University of Hawaii and former All-Pro Professional football player with the Detroit Lions

2. Peter Ho, Bank of Hawaii Chairman, President & CEO

3. Bert Kobayashi, Jr.  Partner, Kobayashi, Sugita & Goda

4. Duane Kurisu, entrepreneur, owner, PacificBasin Communications and Hawaii Sports Network, and the San Francisco Giants

5. Dr. Edison Miyawaki, Cincinnati Bengals football team minority owner, Hawaii Health I and II

6. Jean Rolles, Vice President of Community Affairs, Outrigger Enterprises, Inc.

The committee's first meeting will be on Monday, Dec. 12, 2011, and the review of applications will begin after 4:30 pm that day.

Hawaii Athletic Director Jim Donovan is creating the timetable for the search, the charge to the Search Advisory Committee members, and the criteria for evaluation and nomination that the committee will consider.

Further details on these issues and others such as salary range and potential length of contract will be forthcoming from the university.

Honolulu, HI—Shortly after University of Hawaii head football coach Greg McMackin announced his sudden retirement on Monday with one year remaining on his five-year contract, we caught up with the Warriors starting quarterback, David Graves, to talk about it.

From how the team learned that McMackin would retire, to his own personal feelings toward his departed coach, to who he thinks should take over as the next head coach of the Hawaii football team, the redshirt sophomore shared it all in this one-on-one interview.

Below, in it's entirety, is the conversation we had with David Graves.

Bleacher Report: Hi Dave. We found out earlier today that there was going to be a press conference at 3:30 to announce McMackin's retirement. When did you guys find out as a team the situation, what was going on?

David Graves: They just told us this morning that we had a meeting at three o'clock. We had a meeting this morning, I think they gave out our all-WAC [Western Athletic Conference] Academic papers, our WAC awards. So that seemed kind of odd to us, to have a meeting at three o'clock because we've never had before. So we all just came to the meeting and everyone was kind of talking about it, "I heard this," "They heard this," "They heard that." We were just waiting for our questions to get answered.

BR: So there were rumors flying around beforehand?

DG: There were rumors flying around that this was going to be the last Coach Mack meeting.

BR: Was it a Coach Mack meeting? Was Mack at the meeting at three o'clock?

DG: Yeah, that's what it was for. He addressed the team and he told us that he loved us and that he really was looking after our best interests, and you could really feel that he was sad to go. And he told us that no matter what he wanted us to keep fighting, that he was going to be watching us. I have a lot of respect for him.

BR: Did he get emotional up there?

DG: Yeah, definitely he got a little emotional up there. But he's a good guy, I really felt it. I really felt that he was there for us.

BR: What was the reaction from the team listening to him, did you guys get emotional?

DG: Yeah, some of the guys...Yeah, some of the guys were sad...I don't know...I think some of us expected it a little bit, just the situations that have been going on. But yeah, it was definitely sad.

BR: Is there any anger from you or from the players that maybe the "system," being like the media, led to his retirement; because there was so much heat on him this year, caused from stuff outside of your locker room. Is there anger?

DG: I don't think there's any anger at the media...You know...I don't know...I felt like this team was really led by mostly the assistant coaches; and the majority of the work getting done was by the assistant coaches. And so we've expected it, and it was just sad to see him go. Coach Mack was a great man and he really looked after us. But we didn't know if he was going to be our leader that we needed him to be sometimes.

BR: That comment that you just made could be interpreted in a couple of different ways...

DG: Which one?

BR: ...about the assistants doing a lot of the work. Did that stand out to you as kind of odd that he was in the back too much, or is that kind of typical of a big Division-1 program?

DG: No, it wasn't that he was in the back. It was just that the assistants really were coaching us, were really teaching us what we needed to know. And I believe in our assistant coaches, I really believe that what they were coaching us was going to get the job done. It was just, I don't know...It's tough for me to say, but it just felt like we needed a, I don't know...Like a stronger leader. Just to bring us all together.

BR: Having a team member to do that? Or an authority figure, like a head coach?

DG: An authority figure. I feel like [Dick] Tomey, Coach Tomey, the special teams coach, he really inspired the team; really, really got 'em to go. And we really would believe in what he was saying. And I don't know so much how everyone interprets how our special teams did this year, statistically, but from an attitude standpoint, we were definitely a different team out there on special teams this year thanks to Tomey's leadership, I would say. And he was very strong when he would get up in front of the team. And I don't know, Mack was just...I don't know. I don't know how to say it.

BR: Was there a change in Mack, in what you're trying to explain, from last year to this year? Or was it the same from the whole time that you've been here?

DG: No. It's from the whole time I've been here. I don't know, we just needed that...

BR: Fire?

DG: Yeah, we needed a fire! It was...I don't know...this is really stirring me up to say something like this because I respect Coach Mack. I really believe he was a great man and he really cared for us. But it was just...I feel like it was hard for the team sometimes to respect everything that he was saying when we were preparing into games. Or getting into the true grit of football.

BR: Because he's too laid back?

DG: It wasn't the laid back, it was just...maybe his public speaking. He would go off on tangents sometimes, and we would lose sight of what he was really trying to tell us just because sometimes he talks too much.

BR: It's interesting that you say that because a lot of the heat that he got from the public was from his press conferences, and his public speaking skills. So is it fair to say that when he spoke in front of the team it was the same way?

DG: Yes, yes...I don't know...Right now, I don't feel totally comfortable talking about all this but I feel like in a way it needed to be said. He was a really great man, but just the leadership; the person that really needed to grab us together, he wasn't...Maybe it's just his public speaking skills in front of the team.

BR: These feelings that you have are kind of a gut feeling, or an intellectual feeling for each person. Do you think other players on the team shared the same...

DG: No doubt.

BR: Was it ever discussed or talked about?

DG: Yeah, we just kind of...We wouldn't always take everything he said seriously just because we knew that sometimes he would contradict himself, or say things that were a little far-fetched, or excessive. And it was just, I don't know...We would go into his meetings and we would listen to him and we would listen to what he had to say, but it would kind of sometimes...

BR: Go in one ear and out the other?

DG: ...sometimes we would have to do that, yeah. Instead of maybe when Tomey would get up and talk we would really be like, "Yes! We know this guy got the right head on his shoulders and he's ready to go with us." And McMackin was just kind of, "Okay, okay, boom-boom."

BR: From that point, then oftentimes you would meet with your position coaches. Would they know what was going on, and redirect your attention to the message or the goal after a McMackin meeting...

DG: Right.

BR: Did the assistant coaches kind of know that you needed that extra kick in the butt?

DG: Yes. The assistant coaches would get us ready in the way that we needed to get ready, I feel.

BR: Do you think that would just happen naturally, or because they kind of knew McMackin was missing that punch when he talked to you guys?

DG: I think they knew as well.

BR: Now, is this something that you think was apparent to the guys who are graduating this year, when they got here, or is this something that you think kind of changed or came about more in the last couple years when you were here?

DG: No, it was apparent to the seniors as well, I think.

BR: So when you got here was there a message about that or anything? Was it talked about, or was there anything that you heard?

DG: Just the whole attitude of the team was that like we understood; we just kind of understood. I don't know...We needed a stronger...I don't know, I'm just trying to be careful with my words...

BR: Well there's a flip side to this too, because everyone loves Mack. I love Mack...

DG: I love Mack, yeah.

BR: So aside from that, it could kind of be a good thing for the team and the players...

DG: I definitely agree, yeah.

BR: ...because everyone knew beforehand, that something extra was needed...

DG: Yeah, exactly. I really do believe that this could be a very good thing and that the future could be very bright. And I really believe that we had something special with our assistant coaches, and I really am, I would really support hiring from internally, from the assistant coaches. I believe our coaching staff is great, it's just Coach Mack, himself, was just...He would call meetings that were long, and I would feel like they just weren't necessary. He would call long meetings and he would talk to us for a long time, but I really don't think it would move us at all.

BR: Do you have a recommendation from inside the staff? [Associate head coach and secondary coach Rich] Miano has been named the interim head coach...

DG: I believe Miano is a very strong leader. I actually played DB [defensive back] last year so I sat in on a lot of Miano meetings and I feel like he could be a very, he could be the next guy, he could be a very strong leader. And he's been around the game for a long time. I think he would be a great head coach, I really do.

BR: Age-wise on this staff, Miano is right in the middle, Tomey is up here and [offensive coordinator Nick] Rolovich is down here. Is Rolo too young, and Tomey too old, to take over that position, or maybe just not even ready yet compared to Miano?

DG: You know, who am I to say. I'm new...I'm not new, but I've been in this game, this is my third year of college football and I'm learning a lot as I'm going on. This is only my third year of being exposed to this business, so for me to say, I'm not really sure. But from a leadership standpoint I believe that several of our coaches on the staff could do the job.

BR: Now, it was just solely a McMackin move. None of the other assistants are affected, no one else was made to retire...

DG: Right. And I'm real happy about that. I'm real happy about that. I think we still have a very strong coaching staff no matter what. It's just that I'm excited, and hopeful, that we get a strong leader to come in and just pull us together.

BR: Did you, personally, get emotional in the meeting?

DG: A little bit, yeah. You know, it was real sad; Coach Mack, you know, you said it too, we all love Coach Mack. He's a great guy and he really looked after us, I really believe that he did a lot of great things for the program. He helped the summer school; I'm going to graduate early, I think I'll graduate in three-and-a-half years thanks to summer school. And I'll be able to go onto a Master's program and get as much out of my schooling as I possibly can, thanks to Coach Mack. And he's done great things with our APR [Academic Progress Rate], he really focused our team on the grades and keeping us in the classroom and made sure that was our focus. But it was sad to watch him go, he really did care for us. Yeah, I was getting a little emotional. Everyone felt the somber. Felt the sadness. It's tough, man.

BR: Thanks for your time.

Kevin Riley is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand.

Honolulu—Two days after a season-ending defeat to Brigham Young, University of Hawaii head football coach Greg McMackin is stepping down from his position with one year remaining on a five-year contract that pays him an annual salary of $1.1 million.

"Hawaii has meant a lot to my family and me," McMackin said. "I appreciate Chancellor Hinshaw giving me the opportunity to be the head football coach at the University of Hawaii.

"I have decided to retire from my position at this time. I believe in my players and their potential for success. In their honor, I am foregoing $500,000 in the final year of my contract which I hope will help strengthen the UH football program. I want to thank my players, coaches, staff and the good people of Hawaii."

There had been criticism of Hawaii for giving McMackin a five-year contract without a buyout clause written into the deal in case the Warriors did not live up to expectations under his direction—as is currently the case.

McMackin's forfeiture of $500,000 serves the same purpose, allowing the program to go into another direction as it heads into the Mountain West Conference next season, leaving behind the less-competitive Western Athletic Conference.

"I know that Coach McMackin cares deeply for this team, his coaches and staff, the university and people of Hawaii," UH-Mānoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw said. "I respect his decision to retire from this position at this time and understand that he continues to think about the best direction for his team now, as he always has. I am grateful for his many contributions and wish him and his family the very best in their future."

In McMackin's four years as head coach, Hawaii had a 29-25 record and made two bowl appearances.

Last season, he led the Warriors to just the fourth WAC championship in school history.

"I sincerely appreciate all the contributions that Coach McMackin has made to UH football for the past four years," UH Athletics Director Jim Donovan said.

"From last year's WAC Championship to the greatly improved APR (Academic Progress Rate) scores, Coach Mack has accomplished so much. He set the future for UH football. I wish Coach Mack, Heather and their whole family all the best as they head into this new chapter of their lives."

Honolulu, HI—With 6:52 left in the third quarter of Saturday's football game at Aloha Stadium, a man dressed as Santa Claus streaked across the field, his arms spread wide, attempting to simulate the look of flying without the assistance of his reindeer.

Then, right after Jolly Old St. Nick was escorted from the premises, Brigham Young proceeded to score its fourth touchdown of the game—and third of the quarter—for a commanding 31-13 lead in the nationally-televised ESPN2 contest.

For Hawaii, Santa Claus may as well have been the Grim Reaper, because the Warriors' season was dead—there would be no victory, or Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve for these Warriors.

BYU showed it was the superior team, and overpowered Hawaii in the second half after a close first half, turning the lights out in the third quarter with four scores en route to a 41-20 win. The Cougars—10-3 on the season—will play in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 30 in Dallas. Their opponent will be named later today.

For the Warriors, this is it. Their season is pau.

There will be no swan song for the 27 Warrior seniors who donned leis and bid adieu to their teammates after the game in an emotional rollercoaster for everybody involved.

Watching the happenings on the field, Hawaii assistant coach and former Warrior, Ashley Lelie, knew the feeling first-hand. Almost 10 years ago to the day, Lelie made the same journey as a junior before being selected by the Denver Broncos in the 2002 NFL Draft.

"All their emotions are starting to come out," Lelie observed. "It's been a long—for a lot of them—a long career. (The emotions are) kind of fresh, you don't know what to expect, what's coming next. Everything is new, so there's a lot of emotions. A lot of different emotions.

"If it doesn't hit 'em right now, it will definitely hit 'em when they wake up (in the morning) and realize that their college career is over.

"I just remember seeing all my teammates," Lelie said, thinking back to his final game as a Warrior in 2001. "All the other seniors leaving, seeing the tears in their eyes and everything like that...And getting ready to go into the real world."

Off in another direction, Hawaii head coach Greg McMackin held court in front of a slew of reporters. His comments were brief. His appearance not unlike that of a heavyweight prize-fighter after 12 grueling rounds.

"We didn't win the ball game," McMackin said matter-of-factly. "I've been proud of my players the whole year, but we didn't win the ball game. So we're not going to a bowl game. We didn't really reach our goals. I feel bad for the players, and feel bad for the coaches, and the fans...I just feel bad."

The rollercoaster of emotions mimicked the rollercoaster of a season the Warriors have endured.

Chosen as the preseason favorites to repeat as Western Athletic Conference champions, Hawaii's season quickly went downhill after an exciting season-opening win over Colorado. A two-game road trip that yielded two defeats to Washington and Nevada-Las Vegas followed and were a sign of things to come.

The Warriors never won more than two games in a row this season, and lost four of their final five to finish at 6-7—ineligible to play in a bowl game.

"I just can't really believe that it's done," senior linebacker Corey Paredes said, "it goes by so quick. I wish we was playing in the bowl game; I wish I was still playing so I could say I'm a Warrior, but it is what it is. BYU was just a better team tonight.

"It's awesome having all your family out here supporting you and giving you love," Paredes continued. "But like you said, it's really sad; really surreal looking at this empty field, this empty stands knowing that that was my last game ever in my life as a University of Hawaii Warrior."

As the night came to a close, family members outnumbered the players on the field four-to-one, and many of the players were chin-deep in leis.

"It was really emotional once that clock hit zero," senior safety Richard Torres said, half-a-dozen family members by his side. "It just hits you that it's over, but to see all the families and the fans' support you just can't help but smile and those tears go away.

"Family is the best way to cheer someone up, I feel."

As Lelie attested to, this will be a night that former Hawaii Warriors will always remember. And the messages shared with each other on the field will last for a lifetime.

"I think we have so much love on our team, it wasn't so much 'Good luck at the next level.' Or it wasn't like, 'I'll see you around,'" Paredes said.

What we said to each other, "Was just 'I love you, man. I'm gonna miss you.'

"There was so much love on this team it's unreal, and I'm really happy to say I played next to these guys, next to these great athletes. And I love them all to death. I'm going to really miss them."

The tear in Paredes' eye attested to that.

Kevin Riley is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand.

Honolulu, HI—At kickoff, the temperature will be 83 degrees.

During game breaks, ESPN2 (7:30 p.m. ET) will show the obligatory footage of Waikiki Beach basking in all its glory—enough surf and sunshine to make you book a vacation.

But on the field, when the University of Hawaii football team comes out to play Brigham Young, it will be "Winter Time at Aloha Stadium."

In the rebirth of a rivalry that's 81 years old and nine years in hibernation, BYU has won 19 of the 27 contests between the former Western Athletic Conference schools, though nothing can erase Hawaii's penchant for the dramatic and unexpected win at home.

In 1989, Hawaii broke a 10-game losing streak to BYU with a 56-14 shellacking, which led to never-before-seen bedlam at Aloha Stadium.

A year later, the Warriors proved it was no fluke when Ty Detmer and company were embarrassed by Hawaii on the day Detmer received the Heisman Trophy. The No. 4 Cougars lost that one, 59-28, as the Warriors' Jeff Sydner struck a Heisman pose after scoring a touchdown.

"I don't think (the players) understand the passion that the people (in Hawaii) have for this rivalry," Hawaii offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich said. "It's going to be great for them to see it, it really is. Because it really opens your eyes, you feel it, it's a feel you get from the people and there's excitement around. Especially with something to play for.

"A meaningful game at the end of the season at Aloha Stadium, it's a great place. Winter time at Aloha Stadium...We're hoping one more time."

The last time BYU came to Hawaii in 2001 was the ganddaddy of them all.

Undefeated at 12-0 and ranked No. 8 in the country, the Cougars came to the islands and ran into a Warriors buzzsaw quarterbacked by Rolovich. Now in charge of calling offensive plays, Rolovich torched the Cougars' defense for eight touchdowns and 543 passing yards that day, in a 72-45 win, that set a school record for points.

"I get too much credit for an eight-touchdown game," Rolovich said. "That game was a total team effort. Seven turnovers, two special teams touchdowns, on offense we played great; but it was about the love for each other and playing for each other that really I think created that game."

At 6-6, Hawaii needs a win to become bowl eligible, and play in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Dec. 24. BYU (8-3) has already accepted an invitation to play in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 30 in Dallas.

A repeat performance of the 2001 game is all the Warriors want for Christmas.

Rolovich's message to the team was it would take another great team effort to beat BYU, with all three phases contributing.

"On top of this being a game to get us into a bowl game, it doesn't really get bigger than this," Hawaii senior defensive tackle Vaughn Meatoga said. "The fact that these guys are the same guys that I watched Coach Rolo play back in the day...I was a big Rolo fan, and to see what he did to them back in the day, there's big history between us and it fuels the fire, definitely.

"You want to step up to this kind of stage, and the stage is set for ESPN and our bowl game bid. Everything's set, and my year's riding on this game. So it's big for us."

Hawaii senior safety Richard Torres added, "This is what you dream of as a kid: Last game of the season, a game that counts, make it or break it. You win you got to play another game, you lose, season's over.

"It don't matter what the records are in a rivalry game, anything can happen. It's just who wants it more.

"We know that this game is how we're going to be remembered. We can either come out, play great, and be remembered as a team that turned it around. Or we can go out there and just fold and then just be remembered as a losing team. We know what's at stake. It's exciting that we can turn this season around with just one game."

Game Notes

Hawaii ranks 10th nationally in passing offense (311.0).

Brigham Young ranks 19th nationally in passing defense (190.5).

This will be the seventh game in the series played on national television, including the last two (In 2002 Brigham Young won 35-32 at home).

Next season, the teams will meet again on Sept. 29, in Provo, Utah.

Kevin Riley is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand.

Honolulu, HI—After Hawaii's 35-23 football win over Tulane Saturday night at Aloha Stadium, four Warriors sat elbow-to-elbow behind a small table, answering questions about the game.

Two of the four were quarterbacks—sophomore David Graves, who started, and senior Shane Austin, who relieved him.  The other two were linebacker Corey Paredes and safety John Hardy-Tuliau.

Though Austin came into the game at a crucial time in the third quarter, executed Hawaii's offense to near perfection and orchestrated the final touchdown drive that sealed the win, the first question he answered was preempted by his own personal declaration to the man sitting next to him.

"First of all, I just want to say, Dave, in his first start, I got to give my hat off to him.  Because he played a great game," Austin said, much like an older brother.  "I know it's tough going in there in your first start, so I just got to say Dave played a great game."

Paredes and Hardy-Tuliau nodded at Austin's comment in approval, like a big family.  That's a direct reflection of head coach, Greg McMackin, to whom family is everything.

So it comes with no surprise that at Monday's press conference, McMackin revealed what every ardent Hawaii fan already knew: Either Graves or Austin could be called on to start Saturday's season finale game against Brigham Young, and it will be no sweat off anyone's back.

"I'll just throw it out there, that either one of them could go," McMackin said, "because that's sort of how we played it last time.  We'll play whoever gives us the best chance to win.  And if David's doing good, then he'll play, and we know that Shane can help us also.  He came in (against Tulane) and did a great job.  So I'm confident with either one of them."

No controversy, just a team with a HUGE game on Saturday.

If Hawaii wins, it will be rewarded with a berth in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Dec. 24.

If Hawaii loses, its season will be over and it will have been at the hands of its arch nemesis, BYU.

Understand this about the two teams that will square off at 2:30 p.m. HST on ESPN2: If there are ghosts lurking around Aloha Stadium late at night when the lights are turned off, they are surely the ghosts of past players from the rivalry between the Hawaii "Rainbows" and Brigham Young Cougars.

Garret Gabriel.  Kyle Morrell.  Jamal Farmer.  Ty Detmer.  Jeff Sydner.

There is nothing more meaningful for Hawaii football than its rivalry with BYU—June Jones and Colt Brennan notwithstanding.

A series that dates back to 1930, its heyday was in the '80s and '90s when both schools were members of the Western Athletic Conference.

BYU holds the all-time edge in the series, 19-8, dominating it from 1978-1988 when they reeled off 10 consecutive wins—one of which was paramount to the Cougars' lone national championship in 1984.

That, of course, all changed with Hawaii's epic back-to-back wins in 1989 and 1990.  A stunning victory in 2001 was the cherry on top of a long-awaited treat for Warriors fans in a series that has always tilted in the Cougars' favor.

"It's good to start the rivalry again," McMackin said.  "It was a great rivalry and we're scheduled for a long time in the future, so it's going to be exciting to start that rivalry again because it's two great programs."

The schools announced in May an agreement to play up to nine games between 2011 and 2020. This Saturday's game will be the first since 2002.

"We have to play the best game we can possibly play because this is a very good football team that's coming here," McMackin said.  "BYU is well coached, has good athletes and plays very physical.  They're as physical of a team as we will have faced this year; they're very similar to Washington."

If only someone could bring two signs to the game: "RAIN" and "BOWS."  Maybe the chant will help awaken the ghosts from games past.

Kevin Riley is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.  Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand.