2008 Hawaii Warriors Football Preview

2008 Hawaii Warriors season preview from Maddux Sports. Below you can find our official Hawaii Warriors football preview as well as the 2008 Hawaii Warriors Football Schedule. Get Free football predictions against the sportsbooks college football betting line.

Coach: Greg McKackin (1st year at Hawaii)
Team Name: Warriors
2007 Overall Record: 12-1
Returning Starters: 8

The Rainbow Warriors of Hawaii (12-1 overall, 8-0 WAC) finished first in the conference last season. Led by QB Colt Brennan, the Warriors posted an average of 43.4 PPG, which was first in the nation. After traveling to the Sugar Bowl, where they were humiliated by Georgia 41-10, Hawaii’s head coach June Jones was replaced by first-time coach Greg McMackin.

Senior QB Tyler Graunke (137 ATT, 90 COMP, 1,234 YDS, 10 TD, 6 INT) is ready to start. Yet, he may not due to the fact that there are some fine recruits and a good junior QB in the wings. With a new QB, fans should expect this team to run more. Three 1,000-plus yard receivers need to be replaced. The Warriors lost 44 touchdown receptions with the loss of pass catchers Davone Bess, Ryan Grice-Mullins, James Rivers and C.J. Hawthorne. The frontline is anchored by junior center and All-WAC player John Estes.

The defense held opponents to 25.5 PPG in 2007. Two All-WAC linebackers return—Adam Leonard and Solomon Elimimian. Elimimian had 141 tackles (68 solo) last season. Leonard notched four picks. This is a solid unit. The starting safeties return, while senior Ryan Mouton will anchor the CB squad. The frontline’s depth from last season will payoff in 2008 as senior DT Fale Laeli returns with a boatload of experience and senior David Veikune is back as the sack leader with seven.

This team can win seven, eight, nine or ten games. It all depends on how they handle the four tossups on their 2008 schedule. On September 13, the Warriors visit Oregon State for a swing game. They play Nevada on October 25 for another contest that’s too close to call. The final two games—on November 29 and December 6 versus Washington State and Cincinnati respectively—will determine this team’s post-season future.

McMackin served as the club’s defensive coordinator and did extremely well in that post. But this season, he needs to replace a total of 14 starters. That won’t be easy. Although the club was 12-1 overall last season, they’ll be hard pressed to notch the seven wins necessary to be qualify for the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. Still, seven-plus victories are possible.

Hawaii Warriors Football Schedule

Date	Opponent	Home/Away
Aug 30	Florida	Away
Sep 6	Weber State	Home
Sep 13	Oregon State	Away
Sep 27	San Jose State	Home
Oct 4	Fresno State	Away
Oct 11	Louisiana Tech	Home
Oct 17	Boise State	Away
Oct 25	Nevada	Home
Nov 1	Utah State	Away
Nov 8	New Mexico State	Away
Nov 22	Idaho	Home
Nov 29	Washington State	Home
Dec 6	Cincinnati	Home

 

For more info on the 2008 Hawaii Warriors football program, view the Warriors website or read up on the rest of the non BCS ncaa football teams below.