2020 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team

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2020 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football
Hawaii Warriors logo.svg
New Mexico Bowl champions
New Mexico Bowl, W 28–14 vs. Houston
ConferenceMountain West Conference
2020 record5–4 (4–4 MW)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorG. J. Kinne (1st season)
Co-offensive coordinatorTony Hull (1st season)
Offensive schemeRun and gun
Defensive coordinatorVictor Santa Cruz (1st season)
Co-defensive coordinatorJacob Yoro (1st as coordinator, 4th overall season)
Base defenseDouble eagle flex (Desert Swarm)
Captains
Home stadiumAloha Stadium
(Capacity: 50,000)
Seasons
← 2019
2021 →
2020 Mountain West Conference football standings
  • v
  • t
 Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 24 San Jose State y$   7 – 0     7 – 1  
Boise State y   5 – 0     5 – 2  
Nevada   6 – 2     7 – 2  
San Diego State   4 – 2     4 – 4  
Hawaii   4 – 4     5 – 4  
Fresno State   3 – 3     3 – 3  
Air Force   2 – 2     3 – 3  
Wyoming   2 – 4     2 – 4  
New Mexico   2 – 5     2 – 5  
Colorado State   1 – 3     1 – 3  
Utah State   1 – 5     1 – 5  
UNLV   0 – 6     0 – 6  
Championship: San Jose State 34, Boise State 20
  • $ – Conference champion
  • y – Championship game participant
  • Note: Due to COVID-19, the Mountain West suspended the season, but later decided to begin play on October 24.[1]
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2020 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team represented the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Rainbow Warriors played their final home games at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu as members of the Mountain West Conference. They were led by first-year head coach Todd Graham.

On August 10, 2020, the Mountain West Conference suspended all fall sports competitions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] This decision was later reversed on September 24, with all 12 teams playing an eight-game, conference-only schedule starting on October 24.

The Rainbow Warriors ended their season with a winning record for the third year in a row, also claiming the New Mexico Bowl over Houston. Graham also became the first Hawaii coach since Bob Wagner in 1987 to win his debut; the last five had lost their debuts, all by 20 points or more.

Previous season[]

The Rainbow Warriors had their most successful season since 2010. They finished 10–5, 5–3 to finish tied for first in the West Division, claiming the division championship with a 14–11 win over San Diego State. They advanced to the Mountain West Championship, where they lost to Boise State, but won the Hawaii Bowl over archrival BYU, 38–34. This was Hawaii's first ten-win season since 2010, and just the seventh in program history. Nick Rolovich was also named Mountain West Coach of the Year, the fourth UH coach to receive that honor.

However, Rolovich abruptly resigned on January 13, 2020 to accept the head coaching position at Washington State.[3] Seven more assistants followed, including assistant head coach Mark Banker, offensive coordinator Brian Smith and quarterbacks coach Craig Stutzmann.[4]

After a week, Athletic Director David Matlin hired former Arizona State head coach Todd Graham as Rolovich's successor on January 21, 2020. He was officially introduced on January 22, 2020.[5]

Preseason[]

Award watch lists[]

Listed in the order that they were released

Award Player Position Year
Doak Walker Award[6] Miles Reed RB JR
Fred Biletnikoff Award[7] Jared Smart WR SR
Outland Trophy[8] Ilm Manning OL JR
Rimington Trophy[9] Taaga Tuulima C SR
Wuerffel Trophy[10] Hekili Keliliki RB JR
Burlsworth Trophy[11] Taaga Tuulima C SR

Mountain West media days[]

The Mountain West media days was initially set to be virtually held on the days of July 27–29, but were later postponed by the conference.[12]

Media poll[]

The preseason poll was released on July 21, 2020. Hawaii was initially picked to finish third in the West Division.[13] The divisions were later suspended for the 2020 season.

West
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 San Diego State 122 (19)
2 Nevada 100 (2)
3 Hawaii 74
4 Fresno State 73
5 San Jose State 43
6 UNLV 29
Mountain
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Boise State 125 (20)
2 Wyoming 90 (1)
3 Air Force 86
4 Utah State 60
5 Colorado State 59
6 New Mexico 21

Preseason All-Mountain West Team[]

The Rainbow Warriors only had one player selected to the preseason All–Mountain West Team.[14]

Offense
Ilm Manning – OL

Schedule[]

Hawaii had its first four games against Arizona, UCLA, Fordham and Oregon canceled before the start of the 2020 season. Each cancellation, related to the COVID-19 pandemic, was due to individual conferences attempting to reduce spread of the virus through travel restrictions.[15][16] Robert Morris later replaced Fordham on the schedule, announced on July 13, 2020.[17]

The entire season was suspended by the Mountain West Conference on August 10, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the decision was reversed on September 24, with the conference announcing each team would play an eight-game, conference-only schedule. The new schedule was released by the Mountain West on October 1, 2020. Hawaii played seven of their original conference opponents, with the only change being Wyoming replacing Air Force on the schedule. Hawaii Athletics also announced that home games would be held without fans, in accordance with government regulations.

The game scheduled for December 5 with San Jose State was moved to Aloha Stadium after new COVID-19 restrictions were released in Santa Clara County, where CEFCU Stadium is located. Hawaii played as the designated road team in their new all-white road uniforms, which debuted against Fresno State.

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
October 241:30 p.m.at Fresno State
SPEC HIW 34–19 0
October 303:45 p.m.at Wyoming
FS1L 7–31 6,232
November 76:00 p.m.New Mexico
SPEC HIW 39–33 0
November 1411:00 a.m.at San Diego State
SPEC HIL 10–34 0
November 216:00 p.m.Boise State
  • Aloha Stadium
  • Honolulu, HI
CBSSNL 32–40 0
November 286:00 p.m.Nevada
  • Aloha Stadium
  • Honolulu, HI
SPEC HIW 24–21 0
December 51:00 p.m.San Jose State
  • Aloha Stadium
  • Honolulu, HI (Dick Tomey Legacy Game)
SPEC HIL 24–35 0
December 126:00 p.m.UNLV
  • Aloha Stadium
  • Honolulu, HI (Island Showdown Game)
SPEC HIW 38–210
December 2410:30 a.m.vs. Houston*
ESPNW 28–14 2,060
  • *Non-conference game
  • All times are in Hawaii time

Roster[]

2020 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
RB 0 Dae Dae Hunter Fr
WR 3 Melquise Stovall Redshirt.svg Sr
RB 4 Miles Reed (C) Redshirt.svg Jr
WR 6 Zion Bowens Redshirt.svg Jr
RB 7 Calvin Turner Sr
WR 8 Rico Bussey Redshirt.svg Sr
WR 9 Jonah Panoke Redshirt.svg Fr
WR 10 Quin Bright Fr
QB 11 Justin Uahinui Redshirt.svg Jr
QB 12 Chevan Cordeiro (C) Redshirt.svg So
QB 13 Jake Farrell Fr
WR 14 James Phillips Redshirt.svg So
QB 16 Armani Edden Redshirt.svg Jr
QB 18 Boone Abbott Redshirt.svg Fr
QB 19 Kamaliʻi Akina Sr
WR 23 Jared Smart Sr
RB 27 Koali Nishigaya Fr
WR 28 Aaron Cephus Redshirt.svg Sr
WR 31 Jaden Allen Redshirt.svg Fr
RB 35 Hekili Keliiliki Redshirt.svg Jr
RB 36 Kenneth Fitzgerald Jr
RB 38 Keliam Brunn Redshirt.svg So
OL 40 Sergio Muasau Fr
OL 52 Solo Vaipulu Jr
OL 53 Ramsey Aviu Redshirt.svg Jr
OL 58 Joey Nuʻuanu-Kuhiʻiki Redshirt.svg Sr
OL 61 Eliki Tanuvasa Redshirt.svg So
OL 63 Taaga Tuulima Redshirt.svg Sr
OL 64 Kauka Umiamaka Redshirt.svg Fr
OL 65 Elias Wong Redshirt.svg Jr
OL 68 Ra Elkington Redshirt.svg Jr
OL 70 Arasi Mose Redshirt.svg Fr
OL 71 Micah Vanterpool Redshirt.svg Jr
OL 72 Kohl Levao Injured Redshirt.svg Sr
OL 74 Gene Pryor Redshirt.svg Sr
OL 75 Ilm Manning Jr
OL 76 Michael Eletise Redshirt.svg Sr
OL 77 Alesania Sunia Redshirt.svg Sr
OL 78 Ernest Moore Redshirt.svg Sr
OL 79 Micah Soliai Howlett Fr
WR 80 Mekel Ealy Redshirt.svg Fr
WR 81 Grey Ihu Redshirt.svg Jr
WR 82 Dayton Toney Fr
WR 83 Kahale Huddleston Redshirt.svg So
WR 84 Nick Mardner Redshirt.svg So
WR 85 Lincoln Victor So
WR 86 Riley Wilson Fr
WR 87 Kaleb Maresh So
WR 87 Dior Scott Jr
WR 88 Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala Fr
OL 89 Caden Hilborn Redshirt.svg Fr
WR 89 Kilohana Haasenritter (Opt-out) Fr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
LB 1 Penei Pavihi Redshirt.svg Jr
LB 2 Jeremiah Pritchard Redshirt.svg Sr
DB 5 Khoury Bethley (C) Jr
DB 8 Eugene Ford Injured (C) Sr
DL 10 Mark Blocker II Redshirt.svg Fr
DB 11 Sterlin Ortiz Jr
DB 13 Jalen Perdue Jr
LB 15 Paul Scott Redshirt.svg Jr
DB 16 Logan Taylor Jr
LB 17 Isaiah Tufaga Redshirt.svg So
DB 18 Cortez Davis Sr
DB 19 Quentin Frazier Sr
DB 20 Cameron Lockridge So
DB 21 Michael Washington Redshirt.svg Fr
DB 24 Kai Kaneshiro Redshirt.svg So
DB 25 Travon Killins Redshirt.svg Fr
DB 26 Leonard Lee Redshirt.svg Jr
DB 28 Nalu Emerson Redshirt.svg Fr
DB 29 Donovan Dalton Redshirt.svg Jr
DL 30 Kamuela Borden Redshirt.svg So
DB 31 Tiger Peterson Redshirt.svg Fr
DB 33 Steven Fiso So
DB 34 James Green III Redshirt.svg So
DB 37 Alakaʻi Mashima Redshirt.svg Jr
DB 39 Kalamaku Kuewa Redshirt.svg So
DL 42 Jonah Kahahawai-Welch Redshirt.svg So
DL 43 Mason Vega Sr
LB 45 Payton Awaya Redshirt.svg Sr
LB 46 Tauivi Ho Ching Sr
DB 47 Noa Kamana Redshirt.svg Jr
DL 48 Derek Thomas Sr
DB 49 Asher Pilanca Fr
DL 50 Justus Tavai Redshirt.svg Jr
DL 51 Makai Manuwai Redshirt.svg Sr
DL 52 Ezra Evaimalo Fr
LB 53 Darius Muasau So
DL 54 Kalani Kamakawiwoʻole Redshirt.svg Fr
DL 55 Blessman Taʻala Redshirt.svg Jr
DL 57 Samson Siilata Redshirt.svg Fr
LB 58 Kila Kamakawiwoʻole Redshirt.svg Fr
DL 59 Andrew Choi Redshirt.svg So
DL 71 Stephan Bernal-Wendt Redshirt.svg Jr
DL 73 Johnny Morrison Jr
DL 90 John Tuitupou Sr
DL 91 Gabriel Iniguez Jr. Fr
DL 92 DJuan Matthews Sr
DL 93 Mason Mataafa Redshirt.svg Jr
DL 94 Alema Kapoi Jr
DL 95 Doug Russell Redshirt.svg Jr
DL 95 Kemon Smith Jr
DL 96 Maurice Taʻala Fr
LB 97 Zach Ritner Redshirt.svg So
DL 98 Foi Shaw Redshirt.svg So
DL 99 Jonah Laulu Redshirt.svg So
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
PK 1 Matthew Shipley Fr
P 12 Stan Gaudion Redshirt.svg Sr
PK 30 Kaʻeo Rezentes Fr
LS 44 Wyatt Tucker Redshirt.svg Jr
PK, P 69 Ben Falck So
PK, P 96 Adam Stack Redshirt.svg Jr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Support staff

  • Kody Cooke (Tulsa)
    Strength & Conditioning Coach/Assistant Head Coach
  • Trent Figg (William Jewell)
    Chief of Staff
  • Matt Passwaters (New Mexico State)
    Graduate Assistant (Offensive Line)
  • PJ Minaya (Pacific)
    Graduate Assistant (Quarterbacks)
  • Koa Kaai (Oregon)
    Graduate Assistant (Defensive Line)
  • Tyler Clifton (Hendrix)
    Graduate Assistant (Defense/Special Teams)
  • Ryan Matviko (Mercyhurst)
    Offensive Quality Control
  • Landon Keopple (Tulsa)
    Offensive Quality Control
  • Kim McCloud (Hawaiʻi)
    Defensive Quality Control
  • Colin Shaffer
    Video Coordinator
  • Josh Omura
    Director of On-Campus Recruiting
  • Chandler Enegren
    Recruiting & Operations Assistant
  • Myles Gota
    Volunteer Administrative Assistant
  • Al Ginoza
    Head Equipment Manager
  • Brandon Devie
    Football Equipment Manager
  • Brian Wong
    Football Athletic Trainer
  • Courtney Tsumoto
    Academic Advisor
  • Derek Inouchi
    Media Relations Director/Football Contact
  • Neal Iwamoto
    Asst. Media Relations Director/Football Contact
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster
Last update: November 17, 2020

Depth chart[]

† Final Depth Chart

Game summaries[]

at Fresno State[]

See also: 2020 Fresno State Bulldogs football team and Fresno State–Hawaii football rivalry
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at Fresno State Bulldogs
1 2 34Total
Rainbow Warriors 7 10 71034
Bulldogs 7 6 3319

at Bulldog Stadium, Fresno, CA

at Wyoming[]

See also: 2020 Wyoming Cowboys football team and Hawaii–Wyoming football rivalry
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at Wyoming Cowboys
1 2 34Total
Rainbow Warriors 0 7 007
Cowboys 10 0 71431

at War Memorial Stadium, Laramie, WY

New Mexico[]

See also: 2020 New Mexico Lobos football team
New Mexico Lobos at Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
1 2 34Total
Lobos 17 3 7633
Rainbow Warriors 7 7 141139

at Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, HI

at San Diego State[]

See also: 2020 San Diego State Aztecs football team
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at San Diego State Aztecs
1 2 34Total
Rainbow Warriors 0 0 3710
Aztecs 14 14 0634

at Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, CA

Boise State[]

See also: 2020 Boise State Broncos football team
Boise State Broncos at Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
1 2 34Total
Broncos 3 16 21040
Rainbow Warriors 3 0 141532

at Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, HI

Nevada[]

See also: 2020 Nevada Wolf Pack football team
Nevada Wolf Pack at Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
1 2 34Total
Wolf Pack 0 7 01421
Rainbow Warriors 0 10 7724

at Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, HI

at San Jose State[]

See also: 2020 San Jose State Spartans football team
San Jose State Spartans at Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
1 2 34Total
Spartans 21 0 7735
Rainbow Warriors 0 10 7724

at Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, HI

UNLV[]

See also: 2020 UNLV Rebels football team
UNLV Rebels at Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
1 2 34Total
Rebels 0 7 14021
Rainbow Warriors 7 14 14338

at Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, HI

Houston – New Mexico Bowl[]

See also: 2020 Houston Cougars football team and 2020 New Mexico Bowl
New Mexico Bowl: Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at Houston Cougars
1 2 34Total
Rainbow Warriors 14 7 7028
Cougars 0 0 14014

at Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas

Statistics HAW HOU
First downs 11 20
Plays–yards 57–267 81–307
Rushes–yards 34–131 38–58
Passing yards 136 249
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–23–0 21–43–3
Time of possession 26:56 33:04
Team Category Player Statistics
Hawaii Passing Chevan Cordeiro 15/23, 136 yards, 3 TD
Rushing Calvin Turner 12 carries, 60 yards
Receiving Calvin Turner 4 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD
Houston Passing Clayton Tune 20/38, 216 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT
Rushing Mulbah Car 15 carries, 47 yards
Receiving Nathaniel Dell 6 receptions, 112 yards, 1 TD

Source: [45]

References[]

  1. ^ "WE'RE BACK". twitter.com/MountainWest. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
  2. ^ "Mountain West Postpones 2020 Fall Sports". TheMW.com. August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  3. ^ "Nick Rolovich resigns; heads to Washington State". Bleacher Report. January 22, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  4. ^ "More assistants join Rolovich at Washington State". The Spokesman-Review. January 22, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  5. ^ "Ex-ASU coach Todd Graham hired by Hawaii". CBS Sports. January 22, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  6. ^ Taylor, John. "2019 finalist Chuba Hubbard, 2018 finalist Travis Etienne two of the 76 Doak Walker Award watch listers". NBC Sports. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  7. ^ "2020 Biletnifkoff Award Watch List". Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Manning Selected To Outland Trophy Watch List". University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Tuulima Selected To Rimington Trophy Watch List". University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Watch List 2020". Wuerffel Trophy. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Tuulima Selected As Burlsworth Trophy Nominee". University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  12. ^ "Mountain West Postpones 2020 Football Virtual Media Days". Mountain West Conference. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  13. ^ "Boise State, San Diego State Picked to Win 2020 Mountain West Football Divisional Titles". Mountain West Conference. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  14. ^ "2020 Mountain West Football Preseason All-Conference Team". Mountain West Conference. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  15. ^ "Fordham game in Hawaii canceled due to virus". ESPN. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  16. ^ Bromberg, Nick. "Pac-12 follows Big Ten's lead and won't play non-conference games in 2020". Yahoo News. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  17. ^ "Robert Morris replaces Fordham on Hawaii schedule". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  18. ^ "Football vs Fresno State on 10/24/20 - Box Score". University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  19. ^ "2020 G1 Fresno State" (PDF). University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  20. ^ "Rainbow Warriors Roll Past Fresno State In 2020 Opener". University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  21. ^ "Football vs. Wyoming on 10/30/20 - Box Score". University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  22. ^ "2020 G2 Wyoming" (PDF). University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  23. ^ "Rainbow Warriors Drop Road Contest At Wyoming". University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  24. ^ "Football vs New Mexico on 11/7/20 - Box Score". University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  25. ^ "2020 G3 New Mexico" (PDF). University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  26. ^ "Rainbow Warriors Defeat New Mexico In Home Opener". University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
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  29. ^ "Rainbow Warriors Fall To SDSU On The Road". University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
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  31. ^ "2020 G5 Boise State" (PDF). University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
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  35. ^ "Warriors Hand Wolf Pack First Loss In 24-21 Victory". University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  36. ^ "Football vs San Jose State on 12/5/2020 - Box Score". University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  37. ^ "2020 G7 San Jose State" (PDF). University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  38. ^ "Rainbow Warriors Fall To Spartans At Home, 35-24". University of Hawaii at Athletics. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  39. ^ "Football vs UNLV on 12/12/2020 - Box Score". University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  40. ^ "2020 G8 UNLV" (PDF). University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  41. ^ "Rainbow Warriors Conclude The Year With A 38-21 Win Over UNLV". University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  42. ^ "Football vs Houston on 12/24/2020 - Box Score". University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  43. ^ "2020 G9 New Mexico Bowl" (PDF). University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  44. ^ "Hawai'i Claims New Mexico Bowl With Win Over Houston". University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  45. ^ "2020 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Football Schedule". Hawaii Athletic Department. January 22, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
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