UH Previews from the Others

Darrell Moody of the Nevada Appeal has a 2008 UH preview.

McMackin’s forte is defense, and Hawaii should be strong on the side of the ball again. A year ago, Hawaii ranked 34th nationally and second in the WAC.
The unit returns five starters and 10 players who saw significant action — defensive tackle Fale Laeli (6-1, 290), defensive linemen Keala Watson (6-3, 300), Dave Veikune (6-3, 250) and John Fonoti (6-3, 250), linebackers Adam Leonard (6-0, 235), Blaze Soares (6-1, 240) and Solomon Elimimian (6-0, 225), the WAC Preseason Player of the Year, and defensive backs Keao Monteilh (5-11, 195), Desmond Thomas (6-3, 175) and cornerback Ryan Mouton (5-10, 180),
Veikune led the team in sacks with seven, while Fonotti recorded three sacks and forced two fumbles. Elimimian had 141 tackles and Leonard 105 plus four interceptions, and they are arguably the best 1-2 punch in the conference if not the entire West Coast.

Moody also profiles Adam Leonard.

Hawaii’s defense was much-improved under McMackin, finishing the season No. 2 in scoring defense (25.5), No. 1 in third-down conversions (29.8 percent), No. 1 in pass defense (111.3 efficiency) and No. 2 in rushing defense.
“I feel more pressure,” said Leonard, who battled through off-season surgery on a torn meniscus. “The defense got a lot more attention (last year), and people expect us to play at a high level. Coach McMackin is a big defensive guy, and that guarantees us more attention. You can even see it now.”

OBNUG, a Boise State fan blog, has a UH preview entitled "Hawaii preview: live in the past, it's better there." Is that so? Here's an excerpt:

Could Hawaii be the least convincing defending conference champion of all-time?
We have yet to find a single person who thinks that the Warriors will repeat as WAC champs. Not even Trev Alberts in his prime would touch this team. The Warriors simply have too much turnover in key places to be in the conversation for the WAC championship. When the Broncos lose a lot of players, they have the depth to reload and be right back at the top of the conference next year. When Hawaii loses a lot of players, McMackin drowns his sorrows in Fanta and thinks happy thoughts.

When UH finally destroys Boise on the Smurf Turf this year, it'll be so sweet, Mack won't need no Fanta!