Rainbows control
their own future

The key will be how well
they play against Minnesota in
their season-opener

By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

The physical part of a football team is easily measured.

Players weigh a certain amount, they lift a certain amount, they run at a certain speed. Through proper coaching techniques, they can improve in certain areas and mark their progress on charts and spread sheets.

But such is not the case when it comes to the mental phase of the game. And for the University of Hawaii football team, Hamlet's, "Ay, there's the rub" could prove prophetic. Remember, this is a team only a few months removed from a traumatic 2-10 season. The Rainbows' mental health is tenuous at best.

Granted, they are talking a big game. They know they are physically stronger and better prepared team than last August. But how Hawaii responds to adversity may be the biggest key.

"The edge will be to control the things we can control, and to continue to play throughout," UH head coach Fred vonAppen said at yesterday's Quarterback Club luncheon.

"In any football game, you're going to be aboard an emotional roller coaster. You're going to have ups and you're going to have downs. We've got to be able to concentrate throughout and play intensely throughout.

"We've got to be able to finish what we start. So how in tune we are mentally to dealing with the rigors of 60 minutes of football is a real key for us."

Hawaii opened last season with an emotional swell. The Rainbows had Boston College on the run for most of the game, only to lose late.

The following week, the Rainbows were so flat, they couldn't even beat lowly Ohio University at home. The next week, they were blown out 66-0 at Wyoming, and the course of the season was set.

VonAppen believes this team can avoid that mind set.

Hawaii is not just interested in holding its own with the Big Ten Minnesota Gophers. The Rainbows want to win.

"Ultimately, that close loss to Boston College last year didn't prove anything," vonAppen said. "You either play well enough to win or you don't. Simple as that.

"We were out there to win, not to play it close. We better play hard. We expect them to play hard. Now, are we going to play well? That's the next issue. Are we mentally tough enough?

"(UH offensive coordinator) Wally (English) eluded to that. Are we going to be shattered by the first crisis in the ballgame? Hope not. I don't think so. I really don't think so. But that can happen and you can kind of cave in from there."

Fifth-year player Johnny Macon believes it's up to the seniors to provide the leadership when things go bad; to keep everybody up. Last year, the Rainbows were in such a transition with a new coaching staff and a different offensive philosophy, they never got it together.

"We were a team with no identity," Macon said. "It takes awhile for everybody to get on the same page and we weren't ever able to do it. But there's a different feel with this team. The fellows know we're better prepared to handle the challenge."

Minnesota will certainly provide that.

Even though the Gophers are picked near the bottom of the Big Ten standings, they still have a team with quality athletes. Being at the bottom of the Big Ten is still higher than being at the bottom of the Western Athletic Conference. The Gophers are 13-point favorites and are riding the emotional wave of a new coaching staff filled with different ideas.

"Both of the games over the weekend were blowouts," vonAppen said of the collegiate openers won by Northwestern and Syracuse.

"A lot of that has to do with the abilities to deal with the mental aspects of the game.

"And that will be the big question mark for us. It's something we want to fine tune as we go down the homestretch this week."

Don Lindsey has tried to keep them focused as well.

Senior cornerback Al Hunter said after yesterday's practice that the defensive coordinator has reminded them to stay up no matter what.

"Coach said they might go down the field and score on the first drive, and then never score again," Hunter said. "So we're all reminding each other to not get too high if something good happens, and not get too low if something bad happens."