SAN JOSE, Calif. >> Some will say you’d be getting ahead of yourself.
But who cares?
It’s OK, you’re allowed to do it. It’s not that silly, not that far-fetched.
I’ll even help you … let’s take a look at the University of Hawaii football team’s updated prospects of winning enough games to hit the magic number of seven total for the season and gain entry to the Hawaii Bowl.
It may even be necessary, right? Especially for those of us who tend to put off our Christmas shopping. We need to know if we have to get it all done before Dec. 24 because for the first time since 2010 we will be busy watching UH at Aloha Stadium.
With Saturday’s fairly convincing 34-17 win at San Jose State (that’s right AT — first road win in two years), Hawaii is 3-3 overall and 2-0 in the Mountain West Conference. The Rainbow Warriors staff and players like to call those first four games, three of which were losses, “preseason.” But they all count when it comes to calculating bowl-game eligibility.
They’re thinking only of UNLV, the next team up — or at least that’s what they’re supposed to be only thinking about.
The Rebels (2-4, 1-1) come off a 26-7 loss at San Diego State. If the Rainbow Warriors beat UNLV and the three other teams remaining on their schedule under .500 (New Mexico, Fresno State and UMass) they’re bowl eligible.
The tough games are at Air Force and San Diego State (both 4-1) and at home against Boise State (5-0).
Nevada and San Jose State were not great opponents. But they were what UH needed to gain confidence to start the conference season. Now it’s plausible — not just possible — that Hawaii can make a bowl game.
The Mountain West Conference championship game? Well, if the Warriors keep the momentum going, that Nov. 5 game at San Diego State looms large.
For that to be considered a real possibility, Hawaii will have to continue to improve at taking care of the football and taking it away from the opponents.
The three interceptions Saturday at San Jose State was a good start.
“Their secondary they held it down,” Spartans wide receiver Justin Holmes said. “They had their interceptions — that was huge for them. They won the turnover battle.”
In 2010, the last time UH had a winning season, its defense was among the nation’s leaders with 23 intercepted passes in 14 games. It has seven in six games this year.
Hawaii intercepted just three passes all season last year. The improvement comes from confidence due to improved communication and togetherness, players and coaches said.
“Off the field we’ve been doing a lot of things to build chemistry,” senior safety Trayvon Henderson said. “We go to each other’s houses and play Madden, or if we have the same classes we help each other with studying, regular stuff.”
Defensive backs coach Abraham Elimimian said he’s proud of how the unit has come together.
“It’s about technique, and we say you win the game before it starts, at practice,” Elimimian said. “They responded.
“And it extends to the whole team,” said Elimimian, who started at cornerback on four UH teams with winning records. “The teams that are closest are the ones who win.”
Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at Hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads.
