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To answer the biggest question heading into this University of Hawaii football season up front: Yes, the Rainbow Warriors will be improved over 2012.
But to put it into perspective, their schedule will be, too.
Gone are nonconference twinkies Lamar and South Alabama and bruising Brigham Young from a schedule ranked 106th (out of 120) for degree of difficulty by the NCAA. In their places here come nationally ranked Oregon State and a double dose of the option from Navy and Army. Meanwhile, perennial power Southern California and its embattled coach, Lane Kiffin, are back to kick it off.
So, for the first time in UH history, the Rainbow Warriors will open with back-to-back nationally ranked opponents (No. 24 USC and No. 25 Oregon State) and, for just the second time in 22 years, they will go without a lower subdivision foe.
Throw in three wide-ranging November road games — Logan, Utah; Annapolis, Md.; and Laramie, Wyo. — and the combination prompted coach Norm Chow to observe at the Mountain West Conference media day, “You know, they fire coaches. (Well), they ought to fire whoever made that schedule.”
While he can remove an offensive coordinator, Chow can’t do much about the schedule and will still have to play what he’s dealt.
Bottom line: A more competitive team, but a 4-8 finish.
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