Game Day: UH vs Weber State

Here's a Chawan Cut Compilation of news from KITV, KGMB, KFVE and KHON. It includes game previews, interviews with coaches and players, stadium parking info, etc.



Stephen Tsai has a gameday preview, with breakdowns of the offense, defense and special teams of both UH and Weber State.

Jason Kaneshiro's gameday preview looks at the offense, defense and specialists of both teams, and highlights this key matchup:

Greg McMackin vs. Ron McBride
Not a whole lot of secrets between these two.

McMackin served as defensive coordinator at Utah in 1990 and '91, McBride's first two seasons as the Utes' head coach. They'll pace opposite sidelines tonight and the adjustments they make could dictate the course of the game.

"It's going to be kind of a chess match," Weber State quarterback Cameron Higgins said. "I think what we have to do to win is just by scheme and concepts."

Another key to the game, Ron McBride is keeping his players away from Waikiki.

"We'll stay on the North Shore, where it's quiet. I don't want any disturbance, I want everything quiet. I don't want them to have anywhere to go."

Here are game notes (which links to more detailed game notes) from the HawaiiAthletics.com website.

Fu-nahhh-ki! Fu-nahhh-ki! Fu-nahhh-ki! Inoke Funaki, who gets his first start as a Warrior tonight, talks to Stephen Tsai about his two-year mission in the Dominican Republic, learning Spanish, helping families, and coming back home.

"I know about the quarterbacks before me — my own coach Rolo (Nick Rolovich), and Timmy (Chang) and Colt and even Tyler (Graunke)," Funaki said. "They set high standards. There are big shoes to fill. I feel when they throw me out on the field, I'm not playing for me. I feel I'm playing for the guys around me, and for the state. That's motivation for me."

Ferd Lewis just had to go and bring up Portland State and Florida Atlantic. But for a good reason.

Both NCAA Division I-AA teams, now know as Football Championship Subdivision teams. Both lightly regarded if they were taken seriously at all. Both appearing early on the schedule in UH rebuilding years.

And, of course, both victorious.

So, one of the best things the Warriors can have going for them tonight against Weber State at Aloha Stadium is a sense of history. That and consistent quarterback play.

And Dave Reardon challenges the fans to show up at Aloha Stadium tonight.

Consider tonight a challenge, Hawaii football fans.

Not just for your team - although if the Warriors do not arrive at this game fully prepared to play, they will leave Aloha Stadium 0-2 and red-faced.

For you, the fans, this is an opportunity to shed the long-standing label of fickle bandwagon jumpers.

UPDATE: Garret of UH Warrior Quotes finds this article from the Deseret News about Hawaii players on the Weber State team excited to play UH.

Weber State receiver Cody Nakamura, a native Hawaiian, always dreamed of playing college football at Aloha Stadium, the home of the Hawaii Warriors.

His dreams didn't come true when the University of Hawaii ignored him during his high school playing career. But he will get a chance to play at Aloha Stadium — as will eight other Hawaiians on Weber State's roster— when the Wildcats face the Warriors tonight.

"I'm pretty excited about it," Nakamura said. "I really want to win. I'm going over there for business. I'm not going over there for a little party or anything like that, a vacation. I really want to beat on them a little bit."