By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

Let's see now, the University of Hawai'i football team out-gains an opponent on the ground and, for the third consecutive game, does not commit a turnover.

If you've followed the Warriors for any length of time in head coach June Jones' tenure, this qualifies as man-bites-dog stuff.

What's next, Jones and Joe Moore, arm in arm, humming the theme song from "Hawai'i Five-0" at a post-game tailgate party?

Somewhat obscured in the relief of the Warriors winning a game, 44-16 over Tulsa Saturday, is one of the contributing elements to it: UH has played one fourth of its season without giving up so much as an interception or a fumble. Meanwhile, its defense has made off with six.

To understand just how remarkable this first part is, note that at the same point last year UH had coughed up 12 turnovers, a figure only slightly above its average in Jones' stay. Consider that until this season began the Warriors had gone 34 consecutive games — 2 1/2 seasons — committing at least one turnover every time out. Or, that in Jones' time, 65 games entering 2004, UH managed just two games, total (both against Tulsa), without a turnover.

One of the explanations was that when you put the ball in the air as many times as the Warriors are wont to do — and we're talking 50-plus times a game on average — stuff happens.

You don't need the National Transportation Safety Board to tell you that, as the old coaches' saying goes, when you put the ball in the air three things can happen — and two of them are bad. So, as a passing team, turnovers are something we've learned to live with. Fumbles, too, for the scant opportunity anybody had had to carry the ball until Saturday night.

So, it is interesting to note today that, after 208 offensive plays, UH is one of just two teams among the 117 in NCAA Division I-A without a turnover so far this season. Doubly so, when that other team is Purdue, which also is inclined to launch a few passes.

Where the Warriors are concerned, there is undoubtedly some luck involved. In the season opener against Florida Atlantic, a linebacker had a pass in his hands and dropped it. Same deal against Tulsa on Saturday. But, for the most part, it is the care with which the Warriors are throwing and handling the ball that is keeping them without a turnover and away from being 0-3.

Witness running back West Keli'ikipi's commitment to ball security in the first quarter Saturday. Sensing an impending collision, he carefully transferred the ball from his right side to the left, snugly tucked it away and then proceeded to reconstruct an opponent's features with a straight arm to the chin strap while picking up more yardage.

Call it the in-your-face approach to turnover management.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.