Hawaii in ‘a good place’ for opener

With the game plans implemented and all the plays rehearsed, offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich was asked where the Hawaii football team was at the moment.

Rolovich rubbed his beard and said: "1337 Lower Campus Road."

Then, he added: "I think we’re in a good place. I feel we’ve come together, especially the last two weeks. Like it or not, the game is coming."

The Warriors open their final football season as Western Athletic Conference members today against Colorado, which is in its inaugural season in what is now the Pac-12. Kickoff is at 4:15 p.m. Aloha Stadium.

The Buffaloes have a first-year head coach (Jon Embree) who was an accomplished CU player. He has said he hopes to establish the physical running game the Buffaloes used in their glory days, mixing in pro sets and a little bit of the West Coast offense.

This version of the Warriors was constructed by Greg McMackin, who is starting his fourth season as head coach. Six players are holdovers from the June Jones tenure, but only backup safety Kenny Estes played a game in 2007, Jones’ last season at UH.

The Warriors have nine new starters — five offensive linemen, three receivers and a running back. At left wideout, Allen Sampson, a converted slotback, replaces Darius Bright, who is suspended for today’s game.

"There are a lot of guys whom we’ll see what they’re made of when the lights come on, and what this offensive unit is made of," Rolovich said. "I appreciate their hard work. There’s no laziness. There’s a desire to do well. … There’s no questioning the scheme. Now they have to make plays."

The Warriors have tinkered with their defense. They will be using essentially three defensive tackles, with Zach Masch opening at left end. John Hardy-Tuliau, a nickelback last season, is now the free safety. The cornerbacks are Tank Hopkins, who missed the 2010 season because of a pelvic injury, and Mike Edwards, who played eight games as a Tennessee freshman in 2009 before being dismissed from the team.

"I’m a little nervous, but I’m excited," Edwards said. "This is big for me to play again. I have no more words. It’s time. It’s time to play ball."

Linebacker Corey Paredes said: "We’ve been waiting for this for a long time. It seemed like the summer would take forever. Now Saturday is here. We can’t wait to play."