GameDay: Hawaii vs New Mexico State

Air wars! Homecoming! Only game in a 28-day span!

Stephen Tsai's preview has offensive, defensive and special teams breakdowns and probable starting lineups. Here's an excerpt about Malcolm Lane returning kicks:

The unpredictable Dennis Mc-Knight, who co-coordinates kick returns, has this prediction: "I don't think guys will kick (Lane) the ball the rest of the year. I wouldn't kick it to him. I would kick it to somebody else." With seven returns in seven games, Lane does not meet the minimum of 1.2 per game to earn a listing in the NCAA statistics. Lane has two returns for touchdowns, and he is averaging 46.0 yards per runback — 9.9 more than the credited NCAA leader, Fresno State's A.J. Jefferson. On the five returns Lane did not take to the house, UH's average drive started on its 39.

Here's an interesting and related excerpt from this preview by Teddy Feinberg of the Las Cruces Sun-News.

NMSU will have to iron out some wrinkles if they hope to give the Warriors a fight. The Aggies' special teams have been rocky, particularly on kickoff coverage. Idaho returned two kickoffs deep into NMSU territory last week, one which set up a touchdown. The Aggies can not afford to put the Warriors on a short field or the touchdowns will quickly pile up.

"Yeah, that was not good," Mumme said of the team's kicking performance following the Idaho game. "We're kind of pulling our hair out in terms of finding out how to do it right. We'll go back to the drawing board there."

Very interesting.

Dave Reardon's preview has lineups, stats, breakdowns, and this key matchup:

No need to worry about New Mexico State's running game, right?

Wrong.

"First down they run 50 percent of the time. Second down they run 50 percent of the time," Hawaii defensive coordinator Greg McMackin said. "They keep you off balance."

Especially with star receiver Chris Williams out, the Aggies will mix in the run often to keep pressure off quarterback Chase Holbrook.

Tonny Glynn has emerged as one of the better running backs in the WAC. Last week against Idaho he rushed for 88 yards on 11 carries and scored two touchdowns as the Aggies won 45-31.

"They're running the ball and they've run well against everybody so far," UH coach June Jones said. "We have to limit their big plays. They make a lot of big plays."

Here's a preview from the AP's Jaymes Song, with more love from NMSU coach Hal Mumme:

``Maybe around the country we're not given credit for being 7-0, but I think that will change if we don't look ahead, play hard every play and ... keep winning,'' Hawaii coach June Jones said.

Aggies coach Hal Mumme said the Warriors don't get the recognition they deserve. He said Jones shouldn't be faulted for Hawaii's schedule that features two Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) teams.

``It's not his fault nobody wants to go to Hawaii to play,'' Mumme said. ``I think they ought to be a lot higher than they are and Colt Brennan should be in the Heisman Trophy race.''

Mumme said Brennan's interceptions shouldn't affect his Heisman chances, as some have suggested.

``How many teams throw 75 times a game? That's like three games for most people. If somebody threw four picks in three games, nobody would say a word,'' Mumme said. ``The bottom line is he's got his team 7-0 and how many other quarterbacks in the nation can say that?''

Stephen Tsai has an article pointing out some of the similarities between the teams.

"The facilities are a lot better," Holbrook said. "The locker room was redone. We've got new meeting rooms. We just got a JumboTron. Coach (Mumme) said if we start winning, it'll only improve."

Wait a minute, is today opposite day? Sorry, here's the correct excerpt:

One of the football opponents has a productive passing offense, is led by coaches with pro-football experience, has a student band that will play during tonight's homecoming game, and has earned a reputation for performing a pre-game haka.

The other team is Hawai'i.

New Mexico State and UH are mirror images in style and goals, although they are in different stages of development.

Because of injuries, NMSU hasn't exploded like some had expected this year, but they're oh so close. It'll be a great game tonight, and with Chase Holbrook back, a great test for the UH defense. GO WARRIORS!!!!