Posted at 1:40 p.m., Tuesday, January 30, 2007
UH football picked No. 36 by CollegeFootballNews.com
Advertiser Staff
The University of Hawai'i football team garnered a No. 36 preseason national ranking by CollegeFootballNews.com for the upcoming season.Some of the reasons the publication gave the Warriors (11-3 in 2006) their ranking are:
"Why to get excited: Colt Brennan isn't going to be playing for the Detroit Lions this year, or the Houston Texans, or the Oakland Raiders, or any other NFL team. He's going to be a Heisman front-runner and should assault the record books with his top three wide receivers returning. Davone Bess, Jason Rivers, and Ryan Grice-Mullins might be the nation's best trio and should go ballistic. Seven players are back on the defensive back eight."
"Why to be grouchy: Three starters are gone off the offensive line, but the big hole is left by 254-pound RB Nate Ilaoa, who was a pounding runner and a fantastic receiver. Defensive ends Melila Purcell and Ikaika Alama-Francis will be missed, as will offensive tackles Tala Esera and Dane Uperesa."
"The number one thing to work on is: Penalties. The Warriors were 112th in the nation committing 7.36 sins per game. The secondary could stand to be much tighter after giving up 242 yards per game, but that was because teams bombed away to try to keep up in shootouts. A few more third down defensive stops could mean the difference between a battle and a blowout considering the offense will put up points in bunches."
"Biggest offensive loss: RB Nate Ilaoa"
"Biggest defensive loss: DE Melila Purcell"
Other WAC teams:
Boise State was ranked No. 37, Nevada No. 71, San Jose State No. 76, Fresno State No. 81, New Mexico State No. 104, Louisiana Tech No. 111, Idaho No. 113, and Utah State No. 117.
