As losses mount, Rolovich becomes more appealing

The old saying is that there’s no one more popular than the second-string quarterback.

But the visiting team’s offensive coordinator? That’s a new one.

There’s no question that Nick Rolovich is the people’s choice for the next University of Hawaii football head coach, whenever the time might come for a replacement.

Of course, the people’s choice isn’t always the power-brokers’ choice, and he doesn’t always get the job. And the job isn’t even open … yet. But after Saturday, and another loss for the Rainbow Warriors — and at the hands of Rolovich’s current team — that time is one game closer.

This was just one game, but a big one in the big picture.

Nevada’s 26-18 win over UH at Aloha Stadium provided nothing to diminish Rolovich’s unannounced candidacy, except perhaps an unimpressive first half by his team’s offense. That was more than erased by Nevada’s nearly total domination of the second half.

After the former UH quarterback and offensive coordinator stood and sang the alma mater a few yards behind the Hawaii team following the homecoming game, Rolovich expressed respect for the UH coaches and players.

"Those kids play hard," he said, referring to the Rainbow Warriors. "They play like warriors and they’re playing for Coach (Norm) Chow. He’s got them playing hard. He’s been through some very tough things and his team never gives up. They made me proud. They never gave up and kept fighting back.

"There’s nothing else to say."

That last part pre-empted the inevitable next question, the one that with every additional loss is asked by more and more people who care about the Hawaii program.

The way Rolovich handles situations like this makes you think he might be ready for the public relations part of being the face of a program. The way his offense adjusted after halftime — as it has most of the season — makes you think he’s got the X’s and O’s part down, too.

But there’s always a question as to if an assistant can be a head coach, until he does it.

"I believe he is ready to be a head coach," Nevada head coach Brian Polian said. "But we’re not talking about jobs that aren’t open."

When first asked about Rolovich after the game, Polian smiled and made a joke comparing Rolovich’s popularity in Hawaii to that of Elvis Presley.

"Tell him get opening," a UH fan told me as I was waiting to talk to Rolovich.

There is no opening, at least not yet. But it’s the 20-touchdowns-in-three-games gorilla in the room. It was the barstool and water cooler talk all last week, and will continue to be.

So many UH fans believe they have seen enough, and the numbers don’t lie. Hawaii is now 6-26 overall and 2-17 in the Mountain West under Chow in three years, including 2-6 and 1-2 with five games left this season.

A decision could be made on Norm Chow’s future as head coach before the end of the season, but we will still have to wait and see, for at least a few more games. Beating Utah State at home next Saturday looks like an improbability, but not an impossibility.

And this should be remembered, too: What Nevada did in the second half on offense was basically what Hawaii aspires to do, and when things are going perfectly is able to do: Move the ball efficiently down the field in small chunks. It had as much or more to do with Cody Fajardo as it did with Nick Rolovich.

As for Nevada’s offensive adjustments at the break?

"Nothing fancy, great communication," Rolovich said. "The staff believes in the kids and they believe in us. These guys just work hard. Everyone has suggestions, but that’s the difference, the building of relationships and trust."

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads.