UH picked to place 5th

Both the coaches and media picked the Warriors to place 5th in the WAC this year.

The University of Hawai‘i was picked fifth in the preseason Western Athletic Conference Media and Coaches' polls, which were announced at the conference’s Football Media Preview at the Hilton Salt Lake City Airport.

The Warriors received 36 votes in the coaches' poll and 275 votes in the media poll. Boise State was the preseason favorite in both polls.

Last season, UH was picked fourth in both preseason polls but finished in a three-way tie for second place with a 5-3 league mark. Overall, the Warriors posted a 7-7 record and secured their third-consecutive bowl appearance with a trip to the Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl.

Jason Kaneshiro has some notes from the first day.

Toward the end of WAC commissioner Karl Benson’s session with reporters this morning at the WAC Football Preview, Fresno State head coach Pat Hill raised the question of possibly moving kickoff times for games in Hawaii earlier in the day to give visiting team a chance to return to the mainland that night and save on expenses.Hill said leaving the night of the game could save between $12,000 and $15,000. San Jose State coach Dick Tomey also said leaving the night of the game would help the California schools, which are facing deep budget cuts.Benson said setting the game times is up to Hawaii. The game times for this season have been set, but Hill said he’d look at pursuing an earlier start for future trips.

>> Benson touted the stability of the WAC over the last five years, and anticipates having the same lineup for the next five years with no plans for expansion.

Stephen Tsai has some notes, and a picture of the Cyborg Gazelle, Colin Kaepernick.