At 3 a.m. on Thanksgiving, University of Hawaii football coach Norm Chow was buying poi balls for his family at Kamehameha Bakery.
The early-morning activity was not unusual for Chow, who noted, "I don’t get much sleep during the season."
There have been several pillow-punching nights this year for Chow, who is seeking to avoid matching a dubious record when his Rainbow Warriors play Army today in the regular-season finale at Aloha Stadium. Entering with an 0-11 record, the Warriors could become the second winless UH team since the program began playing an all-collegiate schedule in 1966.
No matter the outcome, Chow is all but guaranteed to return for the third season of a five-year contract. There are no discussions about a buyout on the $550,000-a-year contract. Athletic director Ben Jay told Na Koa, the football program’s booster club, he supports Chow.
Chow has said his only focus is on "working hard every day."
It was distinctly different for Fred vonAppen, who was fired two days after the 0-12 season in 1998. The decision to ax vonAppen, at the end of his third year as UH coach, actually had been made at least a week earlier. Earning the nickname "Hurricane Fred," vonAppen could not survive public outbursts against athletic director Hugh Yoshida and Gov. Ben Cayetano, much less an 18-game losing streak. By the end — fittingly on Nov. 30, the last day of hurricane season — his staff had long since stopped recruiting.
"In ’98, when we were 0-6 or 0-7, it was kind of like, ‘Let’s get this over with and just kind of go through the motions,’" said UH assistant coach Tony Tuioti, who was a junior defensive tackle on that 0-12 team. "There was really no hope there would be anything but change."
A departure also was imminent for Chow’s predecessor, Greg McMackin, in 2011. More so than the records — one winning season in four years following the Sugar Bowl season — McMackin could not escape his price tag: $1.1 million a year. He was encouraged to resign an hour after the team’s awards banquet ended. Negotiations took place in a meeting room 50 yards from the banquet room.
Chow, meanwhile, has remained in good standing with the administration.
The Warriors also have had recent success in recruiting, securing commitments from prospects across the state and several time zones. Defensive backs from Virginia Beach and Maryland recently made oral commitments. Larry "Tui" Tuileta, quarterback of state champion Punahou, will be playing football and volleyball for UH in 2014.
"We were in position to win more games this year than we did in ’98," Tuioti said. "We have a lot more talent than we did in ’98."
This season, five games have been decided by seven points or fewer. Eight opponents are bowl eligible, and two others need to win today to meet the minimum victory requirement.
Without looking at the record, quarterback Sean Schroeder said, "you wouldn’t know we’re 0-11. It’s kind of weird that way. It’s a testament to going out every day and giving it our all. At the end of the day, you can hold your head up knowing you gave your all."
To be sure, the Warriors’ problems began long before the season-opening kickoff against USC. In the spring several key players transferred, including Blake Muir, who started 12 games at left tackle in 2012, and wideout Trevor Davis.
The school placed Will Gregory, the leading rusher in 2012, on probation because of a dormitory incident. After he was caught on dorm property four times — each a violation of his probation — he was expelled from school.
Aaron Price, a former UTEP offensive coordinator, was hired as the play-caller in the spring. On the first day of training camp in August, it was announced he was no longer with the program. While UH provided few details, people familiar with the situation said Price had missed or was late for several meetings, many that he had called, and was not a comfortable fit. Rather than litigate, UH decided to pay out the remainder of his contract. UH did not fill that paid position.
Every assistant coach at UH is on a one-year contract. The staff has been under scrutiny — first when the offense struggled early, and lately after the defense allowed 59 points and 793 yards to Wyoming last week. Defensive coordinator Thom Kaumeyer acknowledged the hot seat is part of a coach’s standard office decor.
"Nobody wants it to be oh-for," Kaumeyer said. "(Fans) want things turned around right away, and sometimes it can get turned around right away. Unfortunately, it’s going to take us a little bit. When we do, it’s going to be a lasting type of turnaround. I don’t think it’s going to be one season winning and then next you lose."
Kaumeyer added, "Sometimes when things aren’t going well, people try to knee-jerk it and say, ‘Hey, we need to make changes.’ Sometimes you need to make changes for the right reasons. But to change just to say you need to change, sometimes, I think, can hurt your program more than it can help."
Slotback Scott Harding said no changes are needed.
"I don’t think so," said Harding, who is the primary punter and punt returner and is tied for the team lead in receptions. "Compared to last year, we’ve produced a lot better this year. We’re obviously a better team. The record doesn’t show that, but you’d have to be stupid not to see we’re a better overall team. We haven’t gotten that win yet, but that can be a number of things, whether it’s a better conference this year or better opposition."
