LAS VEGAS » Head coach Norm Chow vowed to field an improved University of Hawaii football team this season.

"We’re going to be better," said Chow, who spoke at the Mountain West Conference’s Football Media Days on Wednesday. "We have to be better. We’re finally at a point where we have some leadership, some veteran players."

The Warriors were 4-20 in Chow’s first two seasons as UH head coach, including 1-11 in 2013.

"I’ve said it many times before: We’re disappointed about last year, but not embarrassed, because our guys played hard," Chow said. "Our mantra all offseason is to be able to finish."

Chow said the only pressure he feels is self-generated.

"I’ve been around too long to worry about pressure from other people," said Chow, who is in his 45th season of coaching. "No one puts more pressure on themselves than the coach himself. I feel the same way now. Every year is a challenge. I can’t worry about the outside stuff."

Defensive end Beau Yap, who is representing the Warriors at this event, supported Chow.

"He’s not the one playing, we are," Yap said. "He takes a lot of criticism. He said he’d rather take than give it to us. Chow and his staff put together the game plan. It’s a good one. We’re the ones who have to execute it. In the end, it’s all on us."

UH running back Joey Iosefa said: "I think he’s a great coach. He cares about the players. If we need anything, he gets it done."

UH starts training camp on Aug. 4.

The season opener is Aug. 30 against Washington at Aloha Stadium.

Spartans honor Leaf

For inspiration, San Jose State defensive tackle Travis Raciti looks to his left wrist.

"Team Leaf," Raciti said of the blue band that honors teammate Jared Leaf.

Leaf, a former Rainbow Warrior who transferred to SJSU last year, suffered second-degree burns on most of his upper body in an apartment fire in April. Leaf had awakened to see smoke coming from underneath his bedroom door. Leaf then raced through the fire to exit his third-floor apartment.

"When that incident happened, it was hard for us," said Raciti, who represented the Spartans at Wednesday’s MWC media event. "You could feel it in practice when we all found out. It was quiet. You could hear a pin drop. That’s 130 people out there."

Raciti said Leaf is recovering.

"He really can’t be outside because of the skin grafts," Raciti said. "I don’t know if he’ll be able to play this year. If his heart is still in it, he’s a strong enough man to be able to play football again some day."

Raciti and Leaf were friends growing up in the Bay Area. When it appeared Leaf was transferring after two years at UH, Raciti recalled, "I was really excited. We all embraced him. There was no adjustment for Jared. He was a Bay Area guy and he knew a lot of people in the area. Right when he came back, he was part of the family."

Leaf, who redshirted last year, was a No. 1 linebacker when he suffered the injuries.

"He’s always in my thoughts," Raciti said.

Rolo well known in Hawaii

Nevada head coach Brian Polian knew that assistant football coaches often are unrecognized. "Then you go to Hawaii with Rolo," Polian said of assistant coach Nick Rolovich, a former UH quarterback and offensive coordinator, and it’s a whole different level."

Polian said: "Recruiting in Hawaii with Rolo is like recruiting with Elvis."

Polian recalled joining Rolovich on a spam-musubi hunt.

"He’s got me in a 7-Eleven on Oahu … and we can’t even get out of there without him being stopped by three or four people," Polian said. "I mean, he’s like Elvis."

Polian was the point recruiter when Notre Dame signed Manti Te’o, a Punahou graduate.

"But then to go back with Rolo — and all these mom-and-pop places he knows, and all these people who love him — it was neat," Polian said.

Nevada quarterback Cody Fajardo said Rolovich also is beloved in Reno, Nev.

"Any problem I have, I go straight to his office," Fajardo said. "He’s one of the first guys I talk to, other than my dad. He’s always going to give you the truth, whether it hurts or it doesn’t."

Rolovich also is open to suggestions.

"I tried to convince him to get a slip-and-slide out at practice so we can practice our slides when we go down before taking any hits," Fajardo said.