From their days as college football teammates and housemates, University of Hawaii head coach Nick Rolovich and offensive coordinator Brian Smith learned that a third-down failure was a fourth-down opportunity.

Although they have different vantage points during games — Rolovich is on the field, Smith is in the coaches’ booth — both share a let’s-roll enthusiasm when the Rainbow Warriors face fourth-and-short situations.

“When I say ‘Go for it,’ he’d better call (an offensive play),” Rolovich said.

Smith also anticipates which personnel group to summon in those situations.

Both acknowledge the influence of June Jones, who was the head coach when Rolovich was a UH quarterback and Smith was the center.

“Playing for June, we didn’t care if we were on the (UH) 1-yard line and backed up,” Rolovich said. “We believed we were going to score. People can throw all the stats they want at you. But when we have belief in our guys, a little bit of that comes out.”

This season, the Warriors have converted on five of seven fourth-down plays. They gained a first down on Steven Lakalaka’s 13-yard run on fourth-and-1 from the UH 29 against Tennessee Martin. And quarterback Dru Brown dashed 62 yards on a keeper in another fourth-and-1 situation against San Jose State last week.

The Warriors also extended a drive when San Jose was penalized on fourth down for trying to mimic UH’s cadence, an unsportsmanlike act intended to trick the Warriors into a false start.

Against Nevada, Rolovich adjusted the strategy when right tackle RJ Hollis insisted the Warriors could run effectively. Rolovich said he gauges tacit feedback in fourth-down situations.

“The biggest thing that pushes you over the edge (to a decision) as a coach is when you look into your players’ eyes and they’re like, ‘Let’s go for it,’” Rolovich said. “Being observant and seeing that is critical. If they have their head down and don’t believe they’re going to get it, we’ll just punt it.”

In many ways, Rolovich has maintained the approach used when he played in the Arena Football League. On the shorter field, Rolovich said, “you have to go for it. There are very few field goals.”

Rolovich has invited former players to participate in festivities for today’s homecoming game against UNLV. Kickoff is at 6:05 p.m.

“For us, in this time period in this program,” Rolovich said, “getting the alumni, especially the football alumni, back around these guys sends a great message. And (the players will) be there some day, too. And they’ll look back on their time here and think, ‘Those were some great years.’”