SALT LAKE CITY » Over the past few weeks, I’ve received many calls, emails and letters from University of Hawaii football fans who are upset about the team’s consistent losing, saying they want Norm Chow out as head coach.

Actually, it goes back to last year. In 2012 it was ridiculous, since it was his first go-round. But now, with the team at 0-8 and a winless season looking like a realistic possibility, the complaints carry some merit.

And the philosophy I’ve advocated of being patient because this is a long-term project took a big hit Saturday during and after UH’s 47-10 loss at Utah State.

It wasn’t as much because of what happened on the field — as bad as that was — as it was because of what Chow said after the game … and apparently, prior to it.

Here’s the thing: How can anyone continue to support him as UH football head coach if he won’t even do it for himself?

During the postgame question-and-answer, Chow, who is 67, said, "I’m too old for this. I’m way too old for this. I was having fun when I was an assistant. I don’t know about all this stuff."

Here’s the precise context: The question was about the difference between assistant and head coaching, from a reporter Chow knew from his time at BYU. It was asked a few minutes after perhaps the worst loss of the season.

We all like honesty, but that much of it in that setting is not good for the UH football program and its head coach.

Also, people who watched the national telecast of the game said the broadcasters related that Chow had said similar things to them earlier in the week.

Joyce Almeida, a UH fan from Waimanalo, is right on the mark when she says this is bad for recruiting.

"I heard first-hand the announcers talking about it during the game. … Who in the world would want to be a Rainbow Warrior when the coach has this attitude?" Almeida said in an email to me.

Chow said after last season, his first as a head coach, that he didn’t realize everything the job entailed. I’ve heard him twice recently say "if we’re still here" when referring to when the team starts winning again. It’s hard to tell sometimes when he’s joking and when he’s serious.

Athletic director Ben Jay said Chow "gave no indication" that he no longer wants to be UH head coach when they met after Saturday’s game, or at any time.

"Obviously he’s frustrated," Jay said. "We’re moving forward with him as our head football coach."

There have also been many times when Norm Chow has projected strength and confidence when he speaks, even after tough losses. He can still inspire, he can still teach.

That’s his job and no one said it was easy.

Admitting flaws and insecurities is often a virtue. But not very often for a high-profile football coach in the middle of a losing streak, in the middle of a bunch of microphones and tape recorders.

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Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783 or on Twitter as @dave_reardon.