Warriors should rack up another 10-win season

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Columnist

Of course, some would say UH got what it paid for in 1998 — an 0-12 finish and a share of the NCAA record for futility.

Now, after two nine-win and a 10-victory season in the past four years, it isn't just winning seasons that fans are expecting.

Against a lineup that includes Southern California and Alabama plus the usual Western Athletic Conference suspects, there are hopes of a double-figure win column and bowl game expectations, examples of just how much the standards have changed in Manoa.

Where, in the three years prior to Jones' arrival, UH won a total of five games, this season the crystal ball says the Warriors should — quarterback Tim Chang's health willing — have that many by Columbus Day and be well on their way to the first back-to-back double-digit winning seasons in school history.

Appalachian State (W 1-0)

Appalachian State? When athletic director Herman Frazier said he was talking to "ASU" about a game, a lot of people thought he meant Arizona State.

Oh, well, all you should need to know about this one is that UH is 17-1 against non-Division I-A teams since 1977 and the Mountaineers are I-AA.

• UH 38, ASU 17.

At Southern California (L 1-1)

After losing at Auburn and sputtering against Brigham Young, the Trojans will be looking to put it all together and lay a dirty licking on somebody.

But UH makes a game of it.

• USC 27, UH 17.

At Nevada-Las Vegas (W 2-1)

The Warriors have their work cut out for them no matter what happens the week before.

Should UH somehow beat USC, it will find it hard to get up for a bottom half Mountain West Conference team. And, if they lose to the Trojans, the Warriors face the task of rebounding in a short week of practice.

It won't be easy, but it can be done.

• UH 28, UNLV 27.

Rice (W 3-1)

When UH finally knocked off the Owls last year on the fourth try, there was some sentiment around Rice that the Warriors happened to be more lucky than good.

This time, UH leaves no doubt:

• UH 37, Rice 21.

At Tulsa (W 4-1)

Tulsa head coaches come and go — mostly go — but there has been no more hospitable place on the road in the WAC for the Warriors to play than the home of the Golden Hurricane.

Steve Kragthorpe, the third coach in five years, becomes the latest to lay out the welcome mat at Skelly Stadium.

• UH 34, Tulsa 20.

Fresno State (W 5-1)

If the Bulldogs have much left after games with Tennessee, Oregon State, Oklahoma and Colorado State — all but OSU on the road — beware.

But they won't.

• UH 31, FSU 24.

At Louisiana Tech (L 5-2)

With two of the most prolific passing offenses in the nation — UH averages 52 passes a game and Tech 44 — this game could last almost as long as the flights it takes for the Warriors to get to Ruston, La.

Last team with the ball wins and that means:

• LTU 47, UH 42.

Texas-El Paso (W 6-2)

There's nothing like returning home from the longest road trip of the year to a date with the Miners to make a team feel good again.

And the Miners oblige in a major way.

• UH 48, UTEP 17.

At San Jose State (W 7-2)

If there is a "trap door" game lurking late in the 2003 schedule, this is it.

The Spartans traditionally play UH tough and, after three years of coming to Aloha Stadium, they get the Warriors in the aging band box that is Spartan Stadium.

• UH 35, SJSU 33.

At Nevada (L 7-3)

There are reasons UH has never played six road games in the same season before and even with an open date before this one, the Warriors make a pledge never to do it again if they can help it.

• Nevada 27, UH 23.

Army (W 8-3)

America's Team comes calling but it is Hawai'i's Team that has the most weapons.

• UH 43, Army 20.

Alabama (W 9-3)

You know somewhere out there Mike Price will be raising a tall cold one in the Warriors' honor after Hawai'i springs the upset and rolls the Tide.

• UH 28, UA 24.

Boise State (W 10-3)

What do you do for an encore after beating

Alabama?

How about winning a share of the WAC title during ESPN's Championship Week?

• UH 28, Boise State 21.

Hawai'i Bowl (L 10-4)

They say that the team that gets the most excited about its trip to the bowl game usually wins in the postseason.

In that case, who among the available Conference USA candidates could be happier to be in Hawai'i in December than a team from Hattiesburg, Miss.?

• Southern Mississippi 36, UH 31.