RENO, Nev. >> In the after-mourn of Saturday’s 30-20 football loss, University of Hawaii slotback Dylan Collie struggled with his emotions.

Every UH defeat — there are six in eight games, including five in a row — increases the temperature of the proverbial hot seat occupied by coach Norm Chow.

"It kills me," Collie said. "I love that man. The opportunity he’s given me to play college football, he deserves a break. There isn’t a single person in that locker room that’s not accountable for what we do. He obviously takes the heat and … I love that man with everything I’ve got. He’s a huge reason I came here, and I’m going to continue to fight for him, just as everybody else does."

Collie was at Brigham Young for a year before going on a two-year church mission. After serving, Collie requested — and received — permission to contact UH officials last year. Collie’s father, Scott, played for the Cougars when Chow was BYU’s receivers coach. Collie joined the Warriors in January.

"The man has succeeded," Collie said, referring to Chow’s coaching career at BYU, USC, North Carolina State, Utah, UCLA and the Tennessee Titans. "It hasn’t been the best run in Hawaii, but the man has national championships (at BYU and USC) and the man has Heisman trophies, and people need to respect that. And people need to understand he’s going to continue to fight, and he’s not going to give up. He may be a veteran in his age, but he absolutely loves us and cares for us."

Collie acknowledged that Chow has his vocal detractors on social media.

"You get these bloggers and you get these people on Facebook that absolutely want to wring the man," Collie said. "But the type of football player I’ve become because of coach Chow, and the amount of accountability I’m willing to take upon myself, and what I’m supposed to do as an individual in my position, it’s far more than what any other coach can teach me."

Defensive coordinator Tom Mason turned down other offers to join the Warriors this year. Mason was promoted to interim head coach after June Jones resigned at SMU last year.

"I feel for Norm," Mason said. "He’s doing everything right in my opinion. I’ve been around a lot of football. Shoot, he’s doing things the right way. It just ain’t happening for us right now. Hopefully, it’ll turn and come around for us."