As a history enthusiast, Todd Graham is well versed in the football rivalry between Hawaii and Boise State.

As the first-year head coach of the Rainbow Warriors, Graham is focused solely on today’s meeting between the Mountain West teams at Aloha Stadium.

“Other years don’t matter,” Graham said. “Obviously, you have to have respect and reverence for someone that’s earned it. … We’re playing, hands down, the best team in the league, the one that’s set the standard in this league. … But right now, it’s about us. You’re wasting your time focusing on anything else until we get things right and we’re a disciplined football team. I’m telling you, we’re not far off.”

In practices this week, the UH coaches have reiterated the season’s theme: cut down on turnovers, penalties and self-inflicted mistakes.

This season, opponents parlayed nine UH turnovers into 44 points. Last week, the Warriors forced San Diego State into zero or negative yards on 45.3% of the plays. But the Warriors lost fumbles at their 10 and 13 that were redeemed for 10 points, threw a pick-six, and whiffed four times each on touchdown dashes of 51 and 62 yards.

“That’s the worst thing we’re doing now — on special teams and offense — is we’re turning the ball over,” Graham said. “If we go out and take care of the ball and we have 100% ball security, we have a chance to win every game we’re in. … Secondly, it’s stupid penalties and negative plays. If we eliminate that — and we can, that’s what discipline is — that was the whole deal this week. We’re focusing on us.”

Without spring practice and a regular training camp, the UH coaches have had to extend evaluations and adjustments into the season. For last week’s game, defensive end Penei Pavihi moved back to middle linebacker and hybrid back Khoury Bethley went to bandit safety. The Warriors, who are thin in the secondary because of injuries and other circumstances, are rotating Cortez Davis, Cameron Lockridge and Michael Washington at the two corner spots.

“I think you have to adapt,” Graham said. “We’re trying to get the best people we have on the field. Sometimes you have to be adaptive.”

Graham said the Warriors are embracing a culture of selflessness and determination, a motto written in stone. TTH — “tougher than hell” — is inscribed on a rock the Warriors bring to games.

“I know what our identity is,” Graham said. “It’s the culture we’re trying to develop.”

Boise State has established a reputation as one of college football’s elite. They have the NCAA’s third-best winning percentage (.730), and are 142-17 in conference games since 2000. The Broncos have won eight in a row against the Warriors.

Injuries and pandemic-related circumstances have impacted the Broncos this fall. Two weeks ago, 14 players were held out of a game because of infection or contact tracing. Starting quarterback Hank Bachmeier told Boise reporters he had missed two games because of a positive test result. Bachmeier, who returned to action against Colorado State nine days ago, is expected to start in today’s nationally televised game.