In the aftermath of Saturday’s 69-24 loss to Nevada, Hawaii head coach Norm Chow added up the contributions and awarded leadership titles to quarterback Sean Schroeder and cornerback Mike Edwards.
Chow, in consultation with some members of the team’s leadership council, named Schroeder and Edwards as co-captains for the rest of the season. They join defensive end Paipai Falemalu and receiver Miah Ostrowski, who were selected co-captains in training camp following a vote by teammates.
"They deserve it," Chow said.
Edwards and Schroeder are juniors. Edwards, who played at Tennessee as a freshman in 2010, transferred from a junior college in 2011. Schroeder, a Duke graduate, moved to Hawaii in June, was admitted into UH’s graduate school and then won the starting quarterback job after the third practice of training camp.
"It’s definitely quite an honor," Schroeder said. "I’m not going to take it lightly. I’m going to keep trying to improve and lead this team."
Schroeder was admittedly surprised UH would add captains during the season. But he said he has tried "to take a vocal leadership role since I’ve been here. I don’t think anything will change now that I have a so-called title."
Edwards played most of the 2011 season with torn ligaments in his left shoulder. He underwent surgery in January, and was restricted from contact drills during spring training. But Chow, who was hired in December 2011, told Edwards to offer guidance to the younger cornerbacks.
"I took that with a lot of pride," Edwards said. "I ran with it. I’ve done everything they’ve asked me to do. I want to help out the next guy, be accountable and take advantage of this opportunity."
The announcements were made following the Warriors’ one-hour practice on Sunday.
Return to Provo not a homecoming for Chow
Chow will be returning to Provo, Utah, where he worked 27 years as a Brigham Young coordinator and coach, when the Warriors play in a nationally televised game on Friday. But he said this will not be a homecoming.
"It actually means nothing," Chow said. "It’s been enough time. The (athletic director), the head coach, the other coaches are not there anymore."
Chow said he was on the opposing sideline against BYU as the offensive coordinator for Southern California, UCLA and Utah.
Although he was not named as successor after LaVell Edwards retired as BYU’s head coach, Chow said he harbors no bitterness.
"People want to make something about it," Chow said. Leaving BYU "helped me get to where I wanted to go. I wanted the shot in the NFL. I wanted the chance to experience big-time football. If I stayed (at BYU), I never would have gone to USC. I never would have gone to the NFL. And I never would have come home (to Hawaii)."
After leaving BYU, Chow was at North Carolina State, where he coached future Pro Bowl quarterback Philip Rivers, then went to USC, where he coached Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart.
He spent three years in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans.
Chow raised his family in Provo.
"I have four children," Chow said. "They all went to the same elementary school. They all went to the same junior (high school) and the same high school. When that was done, it was time to move on. I wanted to go to the East. I wanted to coach elsewhere besides BYU, and I got the chance. I wanted to experience those things."
