We’re in the midst of March Madness. The Rainbows and Wahine possess winning records on the diamonds. Spring training’s in full bloom and the NBA playoffs and the Masters are on the horizon.

But when I’m out and about, whether it be at a party, the supermarket or a restaurant, sports fans want to discuss just one topic. No, good guess. But it’s not where Peyton Manning’s going to end up.

That’s a hot item nationwide, but here in the islands everyone wants to talk about the University of Hawaii’s new football coach, Norm Chow. Even nearly three months after he was hired, Chow Time is all the time.

When people ask me what I think of him as a football coach, my reply is, "Great. He’s undefeated."

Ask me again in two or three years for the real answer, after he’s had a chance to get a couple of recruiting classes in the fold. After he’s fully installed his system and imprinted his culture. After he’s attached what is hopefully a first-class stamp on the program, on the field and off.

For this first year, Chow actually has two tough acts to follow. June Jones and Greg McMackin took their first UH teams to bowl games, and were a combined 16-11 in their 1999 and 2008 debuts.

I’m optimistic for Chow, and I want to see UH’s first Hawaii-grown head coach since the 1970s succeed — especially since he had to wait so long for this job. But the fact remains that this is Chow’s first job as an intercollegiate varsity head coach.

The 2012 schedule has some games that look like gimme wins and some that look like nearly guaranteed losses. At this point 6-6 doesn’t look unattainable, but no one should feel disappointed by a four- or five-win season from a program in the midst of rebuilding.

WE GET a close look at how Chow will go about his business as spring practice gets under way Tuesday.

Perhaps more of you fans will get to see the spring sessions; Chow’s schedule puts the Warriors through their paces in the late afternoon rather than in the a.m. His two predecessors, Jones and McMackin, were morning guys.

So, now, if you hear new stories about receivers dragging the ball machine to the practice field by moonlight, we’re talking about someone who is REALLY early for practice.

My advice to UH football fans is to get to as many of the spring workouts as you can, since Chow has said he plans for the summer and fall practices to be closed to the general public.

That guy lined up next to the offensive tackle? He’s called the tight end. UH has used one only three seasons since 1986. The filling of that position — as well as that of a second starting running back — will be a major spring story line.

One of the best things about a new coaching staff is that it looks at the holdover players with fresh eyes. They might notice a previously unmined gem, someone who could help the team but was overlooked for whatever reason.

It’s been a busy three months.

The new coach put together a staff. He recruited his first class. He successfully negotiated the rubber-chicken circuit, including some goofy thing last week with state legislators dressed up like players.

Now, starting Tuesday, we get to watch Norm Chow in action as a football coach.

And we will have a lot more to talk about.

Reach Star-Advertiser sports columnist Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com, his "Quick Reads" blog at staradvertiser.com and twitter.com/dave_reardon.