Despite being coach of one of nine winless FBS teams this season, Norm Chow maintains UH’s problems are "fixable."
"We just can’t keep making the mistakes we’re making," Chow said. "I like the attitude. I like how hard we work. I like everything about our kids. I really do."
In Saturday’s 37-27 loss to San Jose State, the Rainbow Warriors were intercepted three times and lost a fumble on their opening drive of the second half. Not even the replay official — on two occasions — could reverse the Warriors’ misfortune.
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The Warriors are 112th nationally in turnover margin, with 11 takeaways offset by 17 turnovers.
"We talked about (the mistakes) after the game," Chow said. "We’ll keep fighting. We’ll keep working. It would be too easy to give up. That’s not who we are."
There still is no clarity to the quarterback position. Taylor Graham, who started the first three games, missed his second consecutive game because of a subluxation of his left (non-throwing) shoulder. Graham was cleared to practice last week. But against San Jose State, Graham was in the UH coaches’ booth, assisting quarterbacks coach Jordan Wynn.
Unlike last week, when Chow said Graham would start if healthy, there were no such declarations on Sunday.
"We’ll see how he is this week," Chow said.
Quarterbacks Ikaika Woolsey and Sean Schroeder were in the Warriors’ opening lineup. Schroeder was aligned as a receiver; Woolsey was the quarterback. Woolsey rushed for no gain on UH’s first play.
"We were hoping to be on the left hashmark," Chow said. "We were on the right. It kind of bogs things down with what we wanted to do."
Schroeder was 18-for-50 for 342 yards and three touchdowns. He was intercepted three times and sacked twice.
"He did some good things," Chow said of Schroeder, "and some crazy things, as well."
No matter who starts, Woolsey is expected to have an expanded role against UNLV this Saturday. Against SJSU, Woolsey’s lone completion (in three throws) covered 44 yards. He rushed three times for 18 yards. Chow praised Woolsey for being an "active" player.
Chow said wideout Keith Kirkwood, who suffered a concussion, is questionable for the UNLV game. Kirkwood’s CT scan result was favorable.
"The concussion protocol will be tough," Chow said.
Players diagnosed with a concussion must pass a baseline test, then be withheld from contact drills for two days before receiving clearance. The Warriors depart Thursday afternoon for Las Vegas.
The Warriors used only two running backs against San Jose State — Steven Lakalaka and Diocemy Saint Juste. Joey Iosefa is recovering from foot surgery, Faga Wily still has symptoms from a concussion and Marcus Langkilde has a shoulder problem.