Wearing a heavy green jacket designed to produce sweat on this sultry Cooke Field afternoon, it's not surprising the University of Hawaii defensive coordinator was a little hot under the collar.

"Suppose we hadn't held Boise State on that last drive and they win the game by one," Lindsey began. "What do you suppose everybody would have talked about?

"I'll answer that one for you. They would have said the defense couldn't keep them out of the end zone and that's why we lost again, just like against Boston College.

"But we held them, and the only thing I heard about was how much the offense had improved, and how well we ran the ball, and all that other stuff, which is fine.

"But I'm looking out for my guys. They gutted it up down there and they held them. They could have given in to their doubts, but they didn't. And to me, they deserve some credit."

This fiery attitude is one reason why Lindsey has become the minister of defense for the UH football team.

While most of the attention this season has been directed at the West Coast offense - a concept Lindsey believes was around long before Bill Walsh - the defense has been lost in the shuffle.

But take a look at some of the numbers, and it might surprise you just how well the Rainbows are doing through four games.

Hawaii is fifth in the league in rushing defense, seventh in passing defense and second in total defense behind Texas-El Paso.

Last year, Hawaii finished No. 93 in the country by giving up 432 yards a game. So far this season, the Rainbows are yielding 331.5 yards a game, good enough for No. 52 nationally.

Teams also are having trouble passing on the Rainbows. Hawaii is yielding only 166 yards through the air, the fourth-best average in the Western Athletic Conference.

"OK, so how come you guys gave up 66 points against Wyoming?" Lindsey said. "That's the obvious question people are going to ask you, but if you break it down, the total is misleading."

For starters, two touchdowns came by way of a blocked punt and a fumble in the end zone on a kickoff return.

"Our guys aren't even on the field, but if you go by the numbers, we've given up 14 points," Lindsey said.

And it doesn't end there.

Lindsey pointed out that five of Wyoming's drives started from Hawaii's 31-yard line and in.

"If we play the greatest defense in the world, we hold them to only five field goals or 15 points," Lindsey said.

The Rainbows weren't quite up to that task. Wyoming scored three touchdowns and one field goal from point-blank range. Another field goal was missed.

"In fact, I figured out that their scoring drives were an average of 44 yards," Lindsey said. "A high-powered offense like that one is going to score often if given that kind of field position."

In Hawaii's other two losses, to Boston College and Ohio University, Lindsey said the defense did its job again.

"We gave up only two touchdowns to Ohio because one of those was scored on a blocked punt," Lindsey said. "And I thought overall that we did a solid job against Boston College.

"And this is with a bunch of guys who had little or no Division I experience at the start of the season. They have worked hard to overcome their shortfalls, and have helped keep us in every game but one."

Lindsey also is bothered by the way the NCAA keeps statistics. In his mind, everything is slanted toward the offense.

"If a punt or field goal is blocked for a touchdown, the points go against the defense," Lindsey said. "If somebody returns a fumble or an interception back for a touchdown, the points go against the defense.

"If the offense fumbles on their own 5 and the other team scores, it goes against the defense. That's why I think - for the most part - statistics are for losers.

"There's only one stat that counts, and that's wins and losses. We're only 1-3 right now, but believe me, we have improved on defense, and with the right attitude, we're going to try to get even better."

Teams: Hawaii Rainbows at FresnoState Bulldogs
When: Saturday, 4:07 p.m. Hawaii Time, Bulldog Stadium.
Weekend update: Utah whipped Fresno State, 45-17, in Salt Lake City.
Facts & figures: The Bulldogs couldn't stop Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala, the former St.Louis star from Hawaii, who ran for 169 yards. Utah's Juan Johnson tied a school record with four rushing touchdowns and quarterback Mike Fouts completed 18 of 23 passes for 214 yards and two scores.