The fateful final 2 minutes and 14 seconds of Hawaii’s 28-27 loss at New Mexico has folks talking about lack of execution.
Sure, of course. That’s everything in life, execution. Doesn’t matter how solid your plan is, how good your intentions. Specific to football, how well you practice. If you don’t do it in the game, in the clutch, you don’t reap the rewards.
Someone asked me if UH’s problem is execution, or if it’s coaching. My answer is both. But execution comes under coaching. Yeah, the coach isn’t out there missing field goals and blocks, dropping balls and making penalties. But he is charged with bringing in players who can execute — or failing that, ensuring they learn how to execute. And, he and his staff are supposed to start the ones who can best execute.
This isn’t the pros, where the coach is usually at the mercy of the talent the general manager provides for him. In college he gets to shop for the food with which he will make the meal. And, anticipating your possible response, there are chefs out there who do great things with hamburger — better than what some do with steak.
This is the fourth year for head coach Norm Chow. Almost everyone is his recruit. He’s had time to build a team of players who make each other better — as well as effective schemes for them to use.
UH (2-5) has lost four in a row, and the overall record under Chow is 10-34. These last two defeats, against San Diego State and New Mexico, came from teams with comparable talent to UH.
If we compare the rosters man-for-man, Hawaii and New Mexico are about the same. UH maybe even a little better. And that’s what it looked like most of the game Saturday, up to that final 2:14.
All three phases contributed as the Warriors made mistake after mistake. Penalties totaling 30 yards is just an example.
It’s not just the missed 22-yard field goal that would’ve iced the win. Blaming the kicker is kind of like blaming Steve Bartman for the Cubs playoff loss in 2003. Did it open the door? Yeah, but lots of bad things had to happen after. Lots of poor execution.
By the way, how do you end a game like that with timeouts left?
When you lose as much as Hawaii does, it builds upon itself — the opposite of how good teams find ways to win games. Turning that around takes leadership.
After the UH collapse, I watched Utah finish off Arizona State. The Utes were in a similar situation, up six points late, choosing to kick a field goal and take a two-score lead. But Utah is undefeated and making plays to finish off wins — executing — comes second-nature to Chow’s alma mater.
Hawaii is two losses away from guaranteeing a fifth straight losing season. I still think Chow should be let go if UH loses again Saturday at Nevada. Get a fresh start with the next home game.
The remaining schedule is full of teams UH could beat, if it stops finding ways to lose. Hope often comes with change, and we’ve seen how execution can improve dramatically with the presence of hope.
Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at Hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads.
