As part of today’s homecoming festivities, the University of Hawaii football team will toast its past with an on-field celebration of the 2007 Warriors’ recent induction into the school’s Circle of Honor.
But it is the recent past — last week’s 28-21 road loss to Army, UH’s first setback of the season — that will serve as inspiration for the Rainbow Warriors entering today’s nonconference game against Duquesne at Aloha Stadium.
Duquesne is an FCS member that spreads the equivalent of 45 scholarships among its roster. After losing the opener to UMass, the Dukes have won three in a row.
“UMass was their big game,” UH slotback John Ursua said. “This is their next and final big game before they play conference games. They have all the reasons to come in here and want to beat (an FBS) team. I think we’re so hungry from that loss (to Army) we’re not overlooking anybody. We’re all hungry for that win again.”
HAWAII VS. DUQUESNE
>> Kickoff: 6 p.m. Aloha Stadium
>> TV: Spectrum PPV
>> Radio: KKEA 1420-AM
>> Line: No line
Duquesne has 13 players who transferred from FBS programs, including starting quarterback Daniel Parr (Florida Atlantic) and leading tackler Brett Zanotto (Maryland). In every practice last year, Parr faced UH defensive coordinator Corey Batoon, who was FAU’s co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach.
“He’s got great arm strength,” Batoon said of Parr.
Duquesne is a member of the Northeast Conference, whose schools are 0-12 against FBS opponents. The Warriors have won 15 in a row against FCS teams dating to 2001. But that loss to Portland State in 2000 was the UH debut of quarterback Nick Rolovich, now the Warriors’ head coach.
UH linebackers coach Mark Banker said he received a cautionary reminder from former UH head coach Bob Wagner. The Warriors had played a physically demanding game on the road, then lost the next week in a game they were heavily favored to win.
Wagner “was giving that as a word to the wise making sure these guys are getting rested, they’re hydrating, they’re eating properly, and getting their sleep at night,” Banker said.
Banker recalled being Oregon State’s defensive coordinator as he prepared for highly ranked USC.
“We beat them,” Banker said. “We had one player who was as good as their top 10 players. But on that day, we played harder and smarter and fought to the bitter end and won that game. It could happen at any time. We don’t have any room for error. We could go out and play our best game on Saturday. It’s the only opportunity we have.”
UH quarterback Cole McDonald also is wary of Duquesne.
“I feel these are the types of teams that creep up on you, especially with how overlooked they are,” McDonald said. “I think they’re going to take this as an opportunity in a big stadium in Hawaii and try to make a statement. We have to go out there and play our game.”
Slotback Cedric Byrd said: “It doesn’t matter the opponent. We could be playing the Jets or the Giants, and we’ll come out and play the exact way we would against any opponent. Once you get that taste of a loss, you never want to have that again. When you come back from a loss, you want to come back 10 times harder. You have that loss on your mind.”
J.R. Hensley, the starting left guard and co-captain, said the Warriors’ sole focus this week has been on Duquesne.
“They’re a good football team,” Hensley said. “We need to come out there and play our hearts out.”
