Full Court Press
YOU'VE read the headlines, heard the sound bites, surfed the Web. What was once a team trying to find itself is suddenly over its identity crisis thanks in large part to a guy named Nick. Hawaii hits refresh button
in time for ’DogsTrue, he'll never be on the cover of Sports Illustrated as fellow senior quarterback David Carr or be the hometown hero as closest competitor Tim Chang. But what Nick Rolovich has done is fill the leadership role that went missing from the marquee after 1999 stars Dan Robinson and Jeff Ulbrich left the island stage.
Hawaii head coach June Jones never felt anyone stepped up last year to right the 3-9 ship. Chang may have that certain something needed in the huddle, but it's not often a true freshman becomes a leader overnight. Instead of assuming the throne this season, Chang found a spot on the sidelines next to Jones after spraining his wrist in the costly loss to Rice.
Chang doesn't bounce back from injuries as quickly as the rough-and-ready Robinson. What was once only a day-to-day sprain stretched into a three-week opportunity Rolovich refused to let pass him by. He and the defense have a sense of timing usually reserved for the great comedians and ballroom dancers.
The result is a three-game league winning streak that hadn't been accomplished by the Warriors in nearly a decade. Entering this Friday's Western Athletic Conference game with No. 18 Fresno State, Hawaii has an outside shot of sharing the league title for the second time in three years.
The Bulldogs come to town in a deflated mood after the Broncos of Boise State stunned them at home last Friday in a nationally televised broadcast. Suddenly, Fresno State head coach Pat Hill goes from a BCS bid to just trying to stay alive in the league chase. Lose to the Warriors in this Friday's 4 p.m. game and the nation's Cinderella just last week won't have anyone looking for the slipper anytime soon.
Hawaii's players were excited Fresno State lost, but it's not the Bulldogs they have to worry about. Instead, it's Rice and Louisiana Tech, two teams not among the six remaining opponents for Hawaii. The Warriors have already lost to the Owls and don't play this breed of Bulldogs for two seasons.
That means Jones has to rely on someone else to make sure those two programs have at least two WAC losses by season's end. Otherwise, the Warriors are likely to finish too far back in the pack to be considered for the conference's two postseason bowls.
Had the Aloha and Oahu venues survived, a .500 finish the rest of the way would have been good enough to receive a holiday invitation. Despite a solid 4-2 start, Hawaii has to win all three conference meetings and take at least two of three from nonleague foes Air Force, No. 16 Brigham Young and Miami -- no, not Florida, just Ohio -- to get a shot at postseason.
THE QUESTION NOW is who under center gives the Warriors the best opportunity to run the table -- Chang or Rolovich? Or is a rejuvenated defensive unit the real key to pending success? Jones will likely have both answered on Friday vs. Fresno.
This is a dangerous team, maybe the best unit the Warriors will face this season. To beat the Bulldogs will require a complete game on both sides of the ball. A month ago, this was a blowout. But thanks to Rolovich and Co., the Warriors are in the house.
Paul Arnett has been covering sports
for the Star-Bulletin since 1990.
Email Paul: parnett@starbulletin.com.