The University of Hawaii football team would do well to take a deep inhale before Thursday’s season opener against Colorado.
The Rainbow Warriors won’t have another chance to catch their collective breath until Thanksgiving weekend.
Hawaii’s 2015 debut against the Buffaloes begins a stretch of 13 weeks without a bye. The first month of the season is particularly breathtaking with three road trips against a series of nationally ranked killer B’s — Buckeyes, Badgers and Broncos.
“It’s obviously there,” UH senior offensive lineman Ben Clarke said of the challenges ahead. “We know it’s pretty crazy, no byes. It’ll be hard, but like the coaches preach and what we talk about all the time is ‘next game.’ That’s all we have to worry about. So all we’re concentrating on now is Colorado.”
The Rainbow Warriors take their tunnel vision approach into the program’s sixth straight season opener against a Pac-12 opponent. Colorado makes its second visit to Aloha Stadium in that span and UH’s last opening night win came at the Buffaloes’ expense in 2011.
What follows is a run of three road trips in a four-week stretch starting with a matchup with consensus No. 1 and defending national champion Ohio State in the Buckeyes’ home opener.
After a home game against FCS member UC Davis, UH makes a U turn back to the Midwest to face No. 20 Wisconsin.
“That’s an amazing opportunity to get to play those teams,” Clarke said of the Big Ten mini-tour.
The Mountain West Conference added to the Rainbows’ degree of difficulty by scheduling a visit to No. 23 Boise State in their league opener the week following the Wisconsin game.
A return home doesn’t provide much of a let-up with a visit by San Diego State, the heavy favorite to win MWC’s West Division.
The Rainbows play three of their next four on the road then close with three straight home games, capping the regular season with a home date against Louisiana Monroe on Nov. 28.
“The concern is the lack of a bye week. Bye weeks always give you a chance to recharge,” UH head coach Norm Chow said.
“Everybody gets it, it’s hard, it’s difficult, but we’re looking forward to it. You come to play the best and we want to do that.”
Chow said the coaches eased back on full-speed hitting in camp to reduce the wear on the players heading into the season and the challenges this fall provided a push during summer preparations.
“(Strength coach Gary) Beemer had us on a really good program to get us ready endurance wise for this,” linebacker Simon Poti said. “It’s a grind. … So overall this summer when we were all conditioning, working out, that was on our minds and definitely something to look forward to.”
