FORT COLLINS, Colo. » Entering this city’s limits, a green-and-white sign boasts: "ELEV 4,984 FT."
This weekend’s visitors — members of the University of Hawaii football team — hope that two noteworthy numbers will disappear into Colorado’s thin air.
The Rainbow Warriors enter Saturday’s meeting against Colorado State with 16 consecutive road losses, the longest current streak among FBS teams.
They also have lost 19 times in a row in nationally televised games. Today’s game will be shown on ESPNU starting at 2 p.m.
The Warriors have had animated practices this week. They spent Thursday night in Los Angeles, arrived in Fort Collins on Friday afternoon, and had a modified practice that evening at Hughes Stadium. Friday’s session was conducted after sundown, parroting the conditions for today’s game, which kicks off at 5 p.m. locally.
In last week’s 35-14 loss to Utah State, UH quarterback Ikaika Woolsey had his best statistical performance, throwing for 356 yards and a touchdown. He completed his first nine passes, including all eight in the first quarter.
"I’m feeling a little more comfortable," said Woolsey, a sophomore. "The bigger picture is we’re not winning. Whatever I’m doing, I have to do a lot better. I have to focus on those little things and continue to fight hard for my teammates. I’ll never give up on this team."
The Warriors have struggled in the second half of the past three games, scoring one touchdown and just 11 points. Against Utah State, the Warriors committed 10 offensive penalties, including seven false starts. That led to 16 plays in which the Warriors needed to go at least 11 yards for a first down. Of the Warriors’ 123 full drives this season, only nine eclipsed at least four minutes and six were at least 75 yards.
The Warriors should receive a boost from running back Joey Iosefa, who completed a three-game suspension this past week.
The Warriors’ otherwise steady defense has been hurt by big plays. This season, they have allowed nine scoring passes of 30-plus yards and three touchdowns run of 20-plus yards.
In all, the Warriors have relinquished 12 rushes of at least 20 yards and 22 pass completions of 25 or more yards.
Utah State had scoring passes of 70, 39 and 44 yards last week. Ne’Quan Phillips, the Warriors’ best corner, was the cover defender on three Utah State touchdown passes.
"It was one of the worst games of my career," Phillips said. "I have to fix it. It was nothing on the coaches and what they called. It was on me. Me and my technique."
Teammates and coaches rallied in support of Phillips. "They try to keep me up and give me love," Phillips said.
Phillips and freshman corner Nick Nelson will take turns covering CSU wideout Rashard Higgins, the nation’s leader in receiving (142.2 yards per game) and touchdown catches (13).
Garrett Grayson has recovered from a broken collarbone to complete 67 percent of his passes this season. He said he knew he was ready during the opener against Colorado.
"Obviously, quarterbacks don’t get hit in practice," Grayson said. "It took until that first time I really got nailed in a game that I realized, ‘OK, I’m good to go. I don’t need to worry about this collarbone.’ And that’s when I really started focusing in and stopped worrying."
