HADLEY, Mass. >>
Hawaii quarterback Dru Brown’s magic number is 245.
“I’ve been waiting since the bowl game,” Brown said of the numbers of days between the Rainbow Warriors’ appearance in the Dec. 24 Hawaii Bowl and today’s season opener against Massachusetts. “Having seasons is good, but this is my passion. I love playing football. I love everything that goes into it. I’ve been anticipating this for a while. It’s exciting it’s finally here.”
Most openers are considered to be blind dates. This meeting between UH, a football member of the Mountain West Conference, and independent UMass, is a second date. The teams faced each other in their 2016 regular-season finale at Aloha Stadium in November.
“I expect them to have a chip on their shoulders,” UH middle linebacker Jahlani Tavai said of the Warriors’ 46-40 comeback victory. “They still have that taste of defeat from last year. … We can’t really live in the past right now. They have a great offense, (and) last year they capitalized on all our mistakes. This year, we have to make sure we communicate and correct all those mistakes we had last year and play Warrior football.”
UMass linebacker Steve Casali said: “It seems like yesterday we were out in Hawaii playing. It’s crazy how fast time flies. Hawaii is a physical team, a great team, and we’ve got to bring it. It’s going to be a great game.”
UMass coach Mark Whipple said he hopes the Minutemen benefit from opening at 17,000-seat McGuirk Alumni Stadium. Student turnout might be hindered because the commuter school does not begin fall classes until Sept. 5.
“We’ll find out,” Whipple said. “I’ve been to Hawaii. It’s a beautiful place, but I’d rather play (the game) here.”
Both teams enter with experienced offenses and new defensive leadership. Brown is UH’s first undisputed returning No. 1 quarterback since Bryant Moniz in 2011. Adam Breneman, who is considered one of the nation’s best tight ends, is UMass’ only every-down senior starter on offense. (Fullback Malik Lee is used in certain personnel groups.)
Defensive coordinator Ed Pinkham reunites with Whipple after directing a defense that contributed to Western Michigan’s 13-0 regular season in 2016. Whipple and Pinkham were on the same New Hampshire staff in the 1980s.
UH defensive coordinator Legi Suiaunoa was promoted from defensive line coach after Kevin Lempa resigned in February to work at Michigan.
The Warriors arrived in New England on Wednesday afternoon, and conducted their final preseason practice on Thursday at American International College. They finalized details during Friday’s walk-through session.
“I think our guys are ready to play,” said head coach Nick Rolovich, whose staff emphasized third-down situations, ball security and discipline in preseason practices. “But there is a level of uncertainty because this is the first game.”
Tavai said: “The first game of the year always sets the tone. Coming into the first game you don’t know what to expect until you strap it up.”
