There were a few telling numbers from the University of Hawaii’s full-pads scrimmage at Cooke Field on Saturday. Norm Chow’s supposedly archaic 3-yards-and-a-cloud-of-rust offense employed 29 pass plays and 22 runs, for 57 percent. Last fall, while struggling to a 3-9 record in Chow’s first season at the Warriors helm, it was 56 percent: but more rushes (439) than passes (339).

When a team is losing, one of the first things questioned is the play-calling. Chow — not that long ago considered the best offensive coordinator in college football — was ripped week after week last fall for stubbornness, lack of imagination and being too conservative.

But by the end of the season, Chow proved he was open to doing things differently. One example was much more shotgun formation.

In the offseason, his choice for a new offensive coordinator also displayed a willingness to adapt. Picking up spread advocate Aaron Price is much more than a favor for an old friend, Price’s father, Mike.

The connection didn’t hurt, but the younger Price had to sell himself, arriving in Hawaii on his own dime one day to meet with Chow after some missed phone connections. That scored dedication points.

"I showed up at his office and said, ‘Let’s do this,’" Price said after Saturday’s scrimmage.

What "this" is remains undefined. The variety of schemes the Warriors have shown this spring indicates the offense is in the early stages of developing an identity.

"We’re trying to put in as many plays as we can and see what we’re good at. See what plays work best for our personnel. Then narrow it down and be excellent at those plays," quarterback Taylor Graham said.

Chow’s principle of chain-moving will remain in play, but he and Price haven’t determined the best ways to the first-down marker yet. So, for now, it’s a little bit of everything.

"We’re exposing them to a lot of different things, formations and plays. I’ve done most of the stuff (Chow has) done and he’s done most of the stuff I’ve done," said Price, who added that a shortage of numbers this spring dictates practice plans. "One day we might be down wideouts and we’ll be in some different formations. Some days a tight end and fullback and three receivers. We’ve got to make it work as we go. (In fall camp) we can get vertical a little bit with some speed. Right now it’s subject to what we’ve got in practice."

Said Chow: "The key is try to look like you’re doing a lot of different things and try to do the same, as far as assignments and that kind of thing."

Receiver Scott Harding said a third offensive coordinator in as many seasons isn’t confusing, but a plus. "We’re a lot more diverse this year. A lot of different formations, pistol, shotgun. Not necessarily new plays, but plays from last year coming out of new looks. We just want to make it easy for us, but to (defenses) it looks a lot different."

When asked who will call the plays in the fall, Chow said, "We’ll do it together."

It’s obvious who has final say, but that sounds pretty flexible.

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Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783.