The Night Before Game Day: UH vs Colorado

Tons of articles! Tons!

Dave Reardon takes a look at what makes this UH-Colorado game different than last year's.

Circumstances are different than when CU won 31-13 in last year’s meeting. The Warriors were coming off a road game at Army the week prior. The Buffs’ coach was Dan Hawkins. Yes, an embattled Dan Hawkins who eventually got his walking papers. But the same Dan Hawkins that Hawaii never beat at Boise State.

A year later, Hawkins is gone. Hawaii’s young coordinators are a year wiser — Nick Rolovich’s charges won’t go 1-for-5 trying to score touchdowns from the red zone this time; Dave Aranda’s will be better conditioned and positioned not to be stampeded in the second half.

John Henderson of The Denver Post looks at a key matchup.

Tonight, Moniz goes against senior Travis Sandersfeld, a converted safety starting his first game at cornerback, and Greg Henderson, a true freshman whose last game was with Norco High in Corona, Calif.

Tom Kensler of the Denver Post profiles Colorado coach Jon Embree.

Ryan Thorburn of The Daily Camera writes about Embree as well.

Embree has made no secret of the game plan: Lot's of Rodney Stewart, and as little as possible of Bryant Moniz (the Warriors' quarterback and a dark horse Heisman Trophy candidate).

"I have expectations in that we are going to hit you in the mouth. I have expectations that we are going to compete. I have expectations that the other teams are going to have to beat us," Embree said. "We are not going out there to lose. Those are my expectations."

Thorburn profiles CU assistant coach Brian Cabral, and previews the game.

Tyler Hansen will once again be handing the ball off to the tailbacks and also transitioning from Dan Hawkins' anemic spread attack to a more traditional pro-style offense.

The AP's Jaymes Song has a preview.

Only five players on this year's squad experienced Colorado's last road victory, including senior guard Ryan Miller.

"It's humongous. I don't care what anybody says," Miller said about getting a road win. "This is where we've got to start. ... We're going to play football. We're not going to enjoy the islands of aloha."

You WILL enjoy the islands of aloha, dammit!

CUBuffs.com highlights CU guard Sione Tau's uncle, Vili the Warrior.

Stephen Tsai writes that Andrew Fauumu will start at right guard.

Offensive line coach Gordy Shaw said Faaumu will be in the opening lineup for Saturday's game against Colorado, and that Winchester-Makainai will enter in UH's second or third offensive series.

Tsai writes that the placekicking job will be handled by two kickers.

"The competition was too close to eliminate one guy," said Dick Tomey, who coordinates UH's special teams. "We're going to play both of them."

I believe all the articles that follow are part of the Star Advertiser's 2012 UH Football Preview, titled "Armed Forces".

The chief of staff - Reardon on Greg McMackin

Well Armed - Tsai on Bryant Moniz

Target acquisition essential to QB position - Tsai on the QBs

Shigematsu’s height helps his show of force - Tsai on Sean Shigematsu

Running backs help provide ground support - Tsai on Sterling Jackson, Joey Iosefa and John Lister

Returning to Hawaii was Pollard’s mission - Tsai on Royce Pollard

Tuipulotu’s return key to homeland defense - Jason Kaneshiro on Kaniela Tuipulotu

Senior Torres has been A study in preparation - Kaneshiro on Richard Torres

Linebacker Paredes is dependable, accountable - Kaneshiro on Corey Paredes

UH will be on most opponent’s radar as it makes its final run in the WAC - Ferd Lewis on UH and the WAC