Hawaii football picked fourth in Mountain West’s West Division

Tarot-card reader Samina helps head coach Nick Rolovich interpret the Warriors' prospects. / Photo by Stephen Tsai

HENDERSON, NEV. >> The media spoke, predicting the Hawaii football team would place fourth in the Mountain West’s six-team West Division.

And then head coach Nick Rolovich appealed to a greater source — Samina, a Las Vegas-based tarot-card reader. Samina was Rolovich’s guest at opening day of the Mountain West Media Days in Henderson, Nev. In previous years, Rolovich brought Elvis Presley and Britney Spears impersonators.

Despite returning a conference-high 18 starters and earning a first-place vote, the Warriors were picked to place behind Fresno State, San Diego State and Nevada.

Slotback Cedric Byrd was the only Warrior named to the preseason team.

West Division
1. Fresno State
2. San Diego State
3. Nevada
4. Hawaii
5. UNLV
6. San Jose State

Mountain Division
1. Boise State
2. Utah State
3. Air Force
4. Wyoming
5. Colorado State
6. New Mexico

Here’s some more from Mountain West Media Days:


Helmets of the Mountain West. / Photo by Stephen Tsai

COMMENTS

  1. PONO July 23, 2019 6:28 am

    Wow only Byrd on the pre season team?


  2. A-House July 23, 2019 6:46 am

    by-us this — by-us dat!

    BTW, why does the I am Not a Robot pictures not appear on the screen for selection and ‘submit’ in the afternoon?

    siestah time???


  3. Boolakanaka July 23, 2019 7:26 am

    Rolo is a smart wiley buggah! Better for our opponents to bask in over-confidence and being under prepared. First time in a decade that I feel this way , but we are not just going to surprise some folks but we are going to beat up on some of these teams …. lying in the shadows being underestimated is the way to go!


  4. H-Man July 23, 2019 7:32 am

    4th. Good starting point. On the BC Show this morning, Rocky Long, San Diego St head coach, expressed surprise Hawaii wasn’t ranked higher. He’s always the gentleman (and politician). He also mentioned that he has changed their offense to an option-style where they might pass 10 times a game; run the rest of the time. As for Byrd on Warrior on pre-season team, I am assuming you’re talking about first team only. That being the case, I think that’s about right.


  5. Andrew July 23, 2019 8:06 am

    1

    Had UH not gotten destroyed by La Tech in the building, there would have been more players on that list.


  6. Kawika July 23, 2019 10:26 am

    Cole and Kaimana represent Hawaii (UH, the State, people) and are great individuals. While I wish them well and no disrespect in saying that Tua, Milton, Anae, Fehoko, among other locals at mainland schools do not. They represent their respective schools and States. The local press needs to get this.


  7. NorthShoreFan July 23, 2019 10:38 am

    Preseason predictions are just that….Fortune telling.
    After the last game is what counts. Like Boola said, lay low and beat the heck out of them..all it ambush.
    Imua Warriors!


  8. islandman July 23, 2019 10:47 am

    Nick said on radio that the defense was not too good the past 3 years and has to improve.
    Also note that the offense averaged 28 pts in MW games while the defense allowed 35 pts per game. Got to solve the 8- man coverage schemes.


  9. islandman July 23, 2019 11:04 am

    8. UH averaged 28.6 pts while allowing 36.5 on defense in MW games.


  10. Da Punchbowl Kid July 23, 2019 11:27 am

    *Yaaawwwwnnnn* Ho hum.

    Bumbye dey learn wen da clobberin’ time is on. By den, goin’ be too late.

    Warriors see this lots and lotsa times they prove this prediction stuff wrong.

    GO WARRIORS!!!


  11. sackkabooya July 23, 2019 11:31 am

    I think the experts are under estimating two key things from their expectations from this Hawaii team.

    1) The running game will be significantly better than last year. I think it will surprise everybody and will require some adjusting to by coordinators early on. All because the O-line returns its entire unit. Will make the offense really multi-dimensional compared to last season. Much more fluid.

    2) The Defense. I think experts look at last seasons numbers and perceive that there is lack of talent overall here. But Batoon rotated a lot of bodies in and out, up and down the field last year. In his second season he should feel more comfort in his personnel fit. Players should feel the comfort too. Should be much easier execute advanced schemes, More fluid here as well. Plus they added speed all over the secondary. Big difference.

    We realize the schedule is a challenge. But with the opening game vs. Arizona here at home the crowd should be a huge factor. As momentum builds who knows how good Hawaii will be? “Sky is the limit” I think. Lots of work to do but in this second season of this “New Era” the “big picture” is much, much clearer. Can do.


  12. Maddog50 July 23, 2019 11:43 am

    Glad Bernal-Wendt is back on roster


  13. H-Man July 23, 2019 2:31 pm

    Islandman, at the risk of sounding negative, I suppose that’s why Hawaii is predicted to finish 4th n the Western Division. Warriors have basically the same cast of characters on offense, sans John Ursua. Same for defense, sans Jahlani Tavai. O and D-lines, for the most part, same players. Same for running backs, defensive backs. Yes, there’s new infusion like Michael Eletise, Eliki Tanuvasa, Mason Vega, Jared Smart, Melquise Stovall and Cortez Davis, but it’s uncertain how much of a difference they will make. The key to me is just how much the returning cast has improved. Can they play good assignment football and execute? We’ll find out soon enough how much on August 24th.


  14. islandman July 23, 2019 3:04 pm

    H-Man , Cole said he wished UH was picked lower and they have to show what they have on the field as you said.
    Padello said he is studying Arizona on film, looked at many of their games from last season and said they have to find a way to contain their QB.


  15. Whitey July 23, 2019 5:11 pm

    Macadang image Tsaikos. Good to see the Warriors ditch their bottom mode of the past years


  16. Whitey July 23, 2019 5:12 pm

    Macadang umaga. Dang spell check


  17. Da Punchbowl Kid July 23, 2019 9:54 pm

    Whitey! Howzit?!


  18. H-Man July 24, 2019 7:40 am

    Whitey, glad you mentioned that Kaimana studying Arizona’s offense. Some folks, especially the one on the morning show, considers the Wildcats 12-pt favorite over Hawaii as totally out of line because of their 5-7 record. However, Looking at their record last season, they are a lot better than their record, having lost two games by a total of two points, losing to UCLA 30-31 and to Arizona St 40-41. They also lost close ones to USC 20-24 and to BYU 23-28. Cannot underestimate them. Can Hawaii beat them? Of course, but I would agree with the 12-point spread. It’s guys like Kaimana that can make a huge difference.


  19. Andrew July 24, 2019 8:10 am

    19

    Arizona has a veteran QB returning too. Recent history proves also that UH defenses do not fair well against QBs that are both running and passing threats. This game could easily be a close one to the finish or a complete blow out win by Arizona. I don’t see UH blowing out Arizona


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