Officially, the University of Hawai'i's homecoming game won't be until Nov. 7, when Utah State comes to visit.

But when you have been away for three games and 36 days like the Warriors, Saturday's game with Fresno State pretty much amounts to one, too.

An overdue one.

Not since 1964, when they packed a season's worth of road games in one trip, have the Warriors been away so long between home games. Never have they traveled more miles between home games.

In the interim the Warriors have already traveled more than 14,000 miles, which is more than seven NFL teams will each do the entire season (preseason and regular season combined) this year.

At least five Warriors are a year older since the last time they played in Halawa. And some of the coaches look like they are.

Let's put it this way: when UH left, Bryant Moniz was the third string quarterback. Three games later, when they finally step onto the turf at Aloha Stadium again, he will be the starter. Offensive play-calling responsibilities have been passed, too.

The Warriors have called four cities home in as many states. They have spent more time in airline seats than ones on the Manoa campus. They have visited about as many time zones as end zones which is good for frequent-flier miles but not so good for bowl eligibility.

The Rainbow Wahine volleyball team will have played 11 home matches — or 55 percent of their home regular season schedule — between the football team's home appearances. It only seems like head coach Dave Shoji was at 900 career victories when UH left and now needs just three to hit the 1,000 milestone.

When UH departed, the Warriors were favorites-to-be in a road game against a Pac-10 team. As they return, they are 10-point underdogs to a Western Athletic Conference opponent.

When UH left Idaho was, well, Idaho meaning pretty much an after thought in WAC football. Now the Vandals are 4-1, sharing the conference lead in the standings and halfway to a bowl game. Which, come to think of it, is a lot closer than either team on the field Saturday, whose combined victories total three.

Saturday's game has been designated a "green-out" event not just for fans to wear green, you suspect, but possibly to remind the Warriors what the school colors look like again.

When your last victory was in Seattle seemingly ages ago and you have subsequently lost close in Las Vegas and by a bunch in Louisiana, perhaps never has Aloha Stadium looked better or more welcoming. Which is what homecoming is about this week.