The wait is almost over

June Jones will unveil his Warriors tonight against the Bears

STORY SUMMARY »

Colt Brennan got to yesterday's walk-through a few minutes late. As he strolled by his teammates, they all began to clap -- a polite, golf-type clap.

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Talk about a mixed message. It was mocking, brotherly and appreciative, all rolled into one steady round of applause.

Brennan, confused at first, looked around trying to figure out who the fuss was for. When he realized it was him, he did the only thing he could do and began clapping himself.

Like the rest of Hawaii, the Warriors love their star quarterback. But they certainly know how to keep him grounded.

Tonight they all let it fly, as No. 23 UH begins what could be a historic season with Division I-AA Northern Colorado at 6:05 p.m. in front of a crowd expected to top 35,000. The point spread is 60, but coach June Jones and the players haven't been thinking about that this week.

"They had a rough year last year, so you have to think they've got a lot to prove and are really trying to come out here and make a statement," Brennan said. "You don't know what kind of team is going to walk out here. ... If you just don't take them serious enough and a couple of things bounce their way and before you know it you find yourself in a real tough ballgame."

Jones hopes to get experience for new players he can count on as the season goes along.

"I want them to come out of this game with a lot of confidence, like Davone (Bess) has, like Colt has," Jones said.

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June Jones said he doesn't like the odds.

Northern Colorado at Hawaii Kickoff: 6:05 p.m. TV: PPV, Dig. 255 Radio: 1420-AM The line: Hawaii by 60

"We're one out of three on these," said the Hawaii coach, citing the Warriors' previous season openers against I-AA teams.

UH's record is actually 3-2 in openers against them in Jones' eight years leading the Warriors.

And Northern Colorado is no Portland State or Florida Atlantic, the two schools that knocked off Hawaii in those situations. Also, the Warriors were not ranked 23rd in the nation heading into the 2000 and 2004 seasons.

By almost any method of measuring, this game is a huge mismatch and the bookmakers like Hawaii by 60.

Here are some things to watch for after the Warriors unveil their new Hawaiian chant to start the game.

When Hawaii has the ball: Most of the skill position players return from the nation's most productive attack of a year ago, including quarterback Colt Brennan. Brennan begins his Heisman campaign with a prolific receiving corps going up against a very raw secondary missing its most experienced player, cornerback Aaron Henderson. C.J. Hawthorne, the only new starter among the four UH receivers, is a converted cornerback. He opened more games in the secondary last year (five) than did the combined UNC defensive backfield starters for tonight (three).

The Warriors unveil a new offensive line tonight, with left guard Hercules Satele and center John Estes (right guard last year) the only returning starters. Keith AhSoon, Larry Sauafea and Keoni Steinhoff (left tackle, right guard and right tackle) are the newcomers. Estes, who missed much of fall camp with an elbow sprain, is the key. UH needs him in the middle for play-calling and dependable shotgun snaps.

At running back, UH relies on three players tonight: junior David Farmer and newcomers Kealoha Pilares and Leon Wright-Jackson. Farmer is an excellent blocker, while Pilares and Wright-Jackson are known for exciting running.

The strength of the Bears defense is the linebackers, but starter Asa Matthews is out due to academics. Left tackle Vinny Pallone anchors the front line.

When Northern Colorado has the ball: The Bears ran a short passing game last year with tall quarterback Dominic Breazeale, but have also been working with an option attack favored by new offensive coordinator Dennis Darnell.

"We run a lot of different offenses. I've learned a lot of different checks. I think we'll get to trying a little bit of everything," Breazeale said. "The challenge (going against UH's defense) is mostly their speed on the field and they're very physical. The biggest challenge is to match up with their speed."

UH defensive tackle Mike Lafaele said the Warriors respect the Bears, who average right around 300 pounds across the offensive front.

"They look like big, tough guys," Lafaele said. "I know it will be a tough game for us. Their front line is a bunch of big guys."

Receiver Andy Birkel is expected to be a weapon for the Bears after missing a year with injury. He will present a size mismatch for UH's short cornerbacks, but defensive coordinator Greg McMackin's system is designed not to leave the corners stranded in one-on-one coverage.

Brad Kalilimoku replaces Blaze Soares (hamstring) at strongside linebacker. UNC running back Jeff Vaden is out with an injury, also.

Special teams: With kickoffs moved back to the 30-yard line, the right leg of UH's Dan Kelly becomes a more valuable weapon, and return men Jason Rivers and Ryan Mouton are more dangerous. Jones is also allowing the shifty Davone Bess to return punts this game.

"Once they see those guys run the ball, I think they'll say, 'We're not going to kick it to them again,'" Jones said.

But Jones is wary, since UNC coach Scott Downing is a special teams expert who coordinated the kicking game at Nebraska.

"You're never really ready for onside kicks, pooch kicks and reverses," Jones said. "You can prepare all you want, but you have to have poise to deal with it in the game."

The Warriors are ready to break in new punter Tim Grasso after four years of Kurt Milne. There is reason to question whether Grasso will make his debut tonight or next week at Louisiana Tech.

KEY MATCHUP

Hawaii passing vs. Northern Colorado pass defense

For Northern Colorado to have a chance tonight, the Bears must do what no one has since the first half of last year's opener, at Alabama: stop the Hawaii offense. Other than the 17-point output at Tuscaloosa, the Warriors never scored fewer than 32 points and were in the 60s four times, thanks mostly to a four-receiver passing attack that led the nation.

Downing tries to counter this with a novice secondary. He knows his team can't stop the run-and-shoot, only try to slow it.

"We have to make Hawaii earn everything. We can't let them go down the field in huge chunks and we have to make open field tackles," Downing said. "We want to live to play another down."

There's no reason to think Brennan won't throw tonight for at least the nation's-best 72.6 percent of last season and several touchdowns. He was sharp all last month in practice.

"We're just dying to go see a new defense," Brennan said. "(The UH) defense has gotten to work on us every day and they've gotten smarter, so now we're just dying to see a defense that doesn't get to see us every day."