It was hardly an easy Sunday morning for University of Hawaii football coach Nick Rolovich.

Rolovich said he met with the recruits who were concluding their official visits, attended a fundraiser breakfast, took care of a house problem, watched the end of an NFL telecast, and, oh, yeah, received the Rainbow Warriors’ invitation to the Dec. 24 Hawaii Bowl.

“It was a hectic day,” Rolovich said, “and it got better.”

Finalizing what had been speculated for more than a week, the Warriors will play in the postseason for the first time since the 2010 Hawaii Bowl. They face Middle Tennessee in the nationally televised game at Aloha Stadium.

Despite a 6-7 record, the Warriors qualified because there were not enough .500-or-better FBS teams to fill 80 bowl berths.

Rolovich, who was hired following the 2015 season, said he was appreciative of players who endured seven road trips and blowout losses to Michigan, San Diego State and Boise State.

“We could have lost them any time,” Rolovich said. “But they weren’t letting it happen. They weren’t going to let themselves be lost. You know the kids with the backpacks that have the tail on them they hold? They just didn’t want to run around the mall. They wanted to go in the same direction. That’s a credit to their character.”

Rolovich said the program’s turnaround occurred months before the opening kickoff in Australia.

“In that locker room,” Rolovich said, “there was a decision made they were not going to be looked at the same way. They wanted improvement. They wanted respect. They wanted to play for Hawaii. They wanted Hawaii to be proud of them. I think that was the beginning of the turnaround.”

Rolovich also said it was important the Warriors’ “H” logo would reappear for the Hawaii Bowl following a six-year hiatus.

“For a few years now, there’s been no ‘H’ in the postseason,” Rolovich said. “Now we know that Christmas Eve a lot of people will be watching Hawaii play football again. And I think that is a good sign for our program.”

The bowl invitation also triggers a one-year extension that will allow Rolovich to be under contract through the 2020 season. During initial negotiations last year, athletic director Dave Matlin was able to offer a four-year contract. The compromise was a fifth year would be added if the Warriors qualified for a bowl in 2016 or 2017.

Rolovich said the extra year provides “assurances” for recruits and their families.

“They want to know who their kids are going to be playing for,” Rolovich said. “It makes a big difference, especially when you have two (years) left or three left. It’s about consistency.”

At the team banquet a week ago, Rolovich said the goal is to win a bowl game and not just participate in one.

“I was worried our guys were so worried about getting to a bowl game that they might feel like they accomplished their goal,” Rolovich said. “I just think it’s so much more of a stronger statement to go out and play well and get a win against … a quality opponent. And this is another opportunity.”

The Warriors, who did not partake in team activities the past week, resume practicing this morning.