HONOLULU — Now that the University of Hawaii football season is over, the meeting many fans have been waiting for is scheduled to take place this week.
The purpose of that meeting — between head coach Norm Chow and athletic director Ben Jay — is to evaluate Chow’s performance this season and the state of the program overall. And ostensibly pending the outcome of that evaluation, a decision will be made whether Chow will continue to serve as head coach next season.
Of course, current ticket revenue and finances will play a big part in that decision, and if it is decided that Chow should be replaced, then the issue of how to pay for his reported $750,000 buyout also must be addressed.
But first things first — evaluating Chow’s performance this season: Obviously, the 4-9 record is disappointing on the surface. There were a couple of home losses — 17-16 to Washington in the season opener, and 26-18 to Nevada on Homecoming night — in which the Rainbow Warriors jumped out to 10-0 leads, only to let those leads slip away. And there were a couple of road losses — 21-12 at Colorado and 28-21 at Fresno State — where UH shut out the opponent in the second half, but the offense could not make up halftime deficits of 15 and 28 points, respectively.
But unlike last year, when the Rainbow Warriors were literally one play away from beating UNLV, San Diego State and Wyoming, there were no such last-second heartbreakers this season. In fact, this time it was Hawaii that snatched victory (37-35) from the jaws of another UNLV defeat.
Taken as a whole, the 4-9 record and 3-5 mark in the Mountain West Conference is right about where most people expected UH to be at season’s end. Pessimists had predicted 3-10 or 2-11, and optimists had hoped for 5-8 or 6-7, but looking at the schedule realistically game by game, the Rainbow Warriors basically won the games they should have, and lost the ones they were expected to.
But the word that constantly comes up in evaluations is “direction,” as in, “What direction is the program headed toward?”
Using that perspective, which would be the preferred one, the last three games deserve closer scrutiny and are a better indication of the program’s current state than the first 10, in which Hawaii went 2-8.
The Rainbow Warriors’ offense struggled throughout much of the season, but showed significant improvement in the final three weeks, thanks in large part to the return of running back Joey Iosefa from injury and suspension. More importantly, the team obviously bonded and gained confidence, building positive momentum that could carry over into next season.
That, as much as anything else, is why Chow and his staff deserve one more year to try to turn things around. The program finally seems to have gained significant positive traction on and off the field, so to put the team through a complete overhaul now seems untimely.
Even many fans who complained about frustrating losses and a “boring offense” through the first 10 games, suddenly have softened their stance in the past three weeks and have shown admiration and appreciation for the Rainbow Warriors’ fighting spirit. Even Chow’s biggest detractors must admit: His team did not quit.
As for next season, the schedule is again daunting with road games at Ohio State and Wisconsin in September and perhaps Nevada and Boise in October and/or November. But UH also could play Fresno State, San Diego State and San Jose State at home, along with maybe Air Force.
Home games against Colorado, UC Davis and Louisiana-Monroe definitely appear to be winnable, as would potential conference road games at UNLV and New Mexico.
Given that schedule, plus five projected returning starters on offense and six on defense, plus key returnees who missed this season like receivers Vasquez Haynes and Devan Stubblefield and defensive lineman Kory Rasmussen and quarterbacks Max Wittek and Beau Reilly, plus 18 recruits who already have made verbal commitments … there is legitimate hope for a 7-6 regular season or better, bowl bid included. In other words, a three-game, year-over-year improvement like the one the Rainbow Warriors just achieved.
It is enough to pique the interest of fans who re-attached themselves to the 2014 team this past month, and enough to warrant giving Chow and his staff an opportunity to complete the rebuilding process they started almost three years ago.
Hawaii inaugurated a new governor on Monday, and will give him a full four years before deciding whether he will stay on the job.
It should do the same for the state’s only college football head coach.