Game Day: UH vs UNLV

Stephen Tsai's gameday preview has breakdowns of the offense, defense and special teams of UH and UNLV.

Tsai has more notes and quotes.

"We just want to get (victory) No. 10," Moniz said. "That would be the reward for the hard work we've put in. A 10-win season hasn't been done too much. It's hard to come by at any level."

Moniz said that also would be a fitting present for the seniors.

Jaymes Song of the AP has a game preview.

The Warriors are still stinging from their 34-33 loss to the Rebels last year that started a six-game losing streak and dropped the program to the lowest point in years.

"It was the beginning of a downward spiral for us last season. We felt we should've won last year and didn't get it done," Hawaii receiver Greg Salas said. "This game means a lot to us."

Joe Ferrer of Ka Leo talks to some of the seniors about playing their final regular-season game.

"It's kinda sad it went by so fast," senior slot receiver Greg Salas said. "I wish I could stay here a little bit longer but my time here is done."

For senior safety Mana Silva, the Warrior program has taught him life lessons.

"It's been a real humbling experience for me," Silva said. "I've learned so much about myself. It helped me grow as a human being."

The Las Vegas Review-Journal has some game notes.

Ferd Lewis gives props to UNLV president Neal Smatresk.

It was Smatresk, we are told, who brought UH and the MWC together. It was Smatresk, vice chair of the MWC Board of Directors, who hosted the first face-to-face meeting between UH vice president Rockne Freitas and MWC commissioner Craig Thompson in Las Vegas and has talked up the benefits of such a union.

Lewis writes that UH's Hawaii Bowl opponent could be determined today.

The UCF Knights (9-3), the C-USA Eastern Division champions, play Southern Methodist (7-5), the Western Division titlist, in Orlando, Fla., with the winner going to the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 31 in Memphis, Tenn.

Barring an 11th-hour change, the plan is that if UCF loses, the Knights would then meet UH in the Hawaii Bowl. But if UCF wins, then the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (9-3), the Western runners-up, would represent C-USA against UH on Dec. 24.

Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal profiles Greg McMackin, focusing on how he took over the program after June Jones left.

"I was blessed to be put in that position, but my background there helped, knowing the culture and the people and liking the people here. It's beautiful here, but the people of Hawaii are the special thing about Hawaii."

Jaymes Song takes a look at UH's season.

Joe Ferrer talks to some of the players about being WAC champs.

Senior running back Alex Green said the team's hard work has paid off.

"Anything could happen," senior running back Alex Green said about their season. "That's why you gotta play hard throughout the year. Now we're sitting here (as) co-WAC champs. Who would have thought?"

Stephen Tsai profiles senior Joseph Malabuyoc.

He's been cut twice. Coaches can't pronounce his last name. Everybody thinks he's local. He's one of three internationally raised players. Adrian Thomas and Alex Dunnachie are from Down Under; Malabuyoc is from Up Over (Canada).

He pursued a dream of playing American football. That included playing on scout teams and sitting in the stands during home games.

"I'm not a quitter," he said.

And Ka Leo's Kiyomi Ueda has an article about the Warriors who are also parents.

Early-morning practices, afternoon meetings, classes during the day and games on the weekend … All of these and more are what it takes to be part of the Warrior football team.

But imagine handling these demands on top of raising one, two or even three children. This season, several Warriors are balancing their family lives with their football lives every day.