This is what we were told to expect ... sort of.

Defense playing with ferocious passion and experience, bailing out the offense when needed. Offense running more than in the past. Moving the chains, controlling the clock and the ball. Breaking even or better on special teams.

That was Hawaii in the first half last night, and that's what the formula had to be if this edition of the Warriors was going to grind out some wins.

But then the second half, and turnover after turnover, adding up to six—five after the break. And an ugly new wrinkle, 115 yards in penalties. The result was predictable, a San Jose State victory.

The surprise was that it wasn't by a wider margin than 20-17. The Spartans didn't score more because of a tremendous effort by the UH defense.

And, once again, as it has in every close game the Warriors have lost in the past three years, special teams were a huge factor. Last night the decisive points came from Jared Strubeck, a kicker who wasn't allowed to try a 36-yarder on fourth and long in the first half and then made the tying and winning points from 50 and 47 yards in the fourth quarter.

Sounds like something Dan Kelly would've done last year.

It shouldn't have come down to that, you say, when Hawaii outgains San Jose State 356 yards to 237. Nobody wins with six turnovers. That's where you'd be wrong, since UH did exactly that last year at Idaho. And at San Jose State, it won despite giving it away five times.

“;We did it last year, but we were getting turnovers, also,”; coach Greg McMackin said. “;We're going to lead the world in turnovers—that's what we have to improve on.”;

The last time the Warriors were 1-3 to start the season was 2005, after falling 44-41 at home to Boise State, another game UH should've won but did not because of its own mistakes (including a lot on special teams). That team ended up 5-7, losing close ones because it did not yet know how to win. That young group learned, and you know the rest.

Tyler Graunke, Solomon Elimimian, Adam Leonard and many others on this team were all there, so they know it's not the end of the world.

But regardless of how well the defense plays at Fresno State next week, another performance like this from the offense will result in something like the 70-14 hurting the Bulldogs put on the Warriors in 2004.

It's my job to point that out, but the coaches and players can't even think it. Their first task is to not allow the team to fall apart from within; that can happen when one part has to try to carry another part and is unsuccessful.

Leonard and Elimimian got a start on the bonding right after the game.

“;No pointing fingers. Unless you played a perfect game, don't dare look at anyone else's performance,”; the captains told the team. “;We've all got to evaluate ourselves.”;