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While the offense will provide plenty of fireworks, the defense will more than do its part to keep games exciting needing to start from near-scratch replacing seven starters and four first-team All-WAC performers from a D that gave up points and yards in bunches last year. All this, plus Chang's all but assured shot at becoming the NCAA's all-time passing leader, should make Hawaii one of the must-see teams in college football with a high-scoring, high-flying, last-team-with-the-ball-wins, games. It should also put Hawaii in a position to have one of its most successful seasons ever as there isn't a defense in the WAC capable of slowing down the attack.
The Schedule: Even with all the great players on offense, a WAC title season will be tough to come by with road games at Boise State and Fresno State. There are the usual non-bowl bowl games at the end of the year as Northwestern and Michigan State are coming to Honolulu for the fun and sun. The Warriors might need one of those to play another home game in the Hawaii Bowl.
Best Offensive Player: Senior QB Timmy Chang. Chang will throw a ton of interceptions, he'll get benched, he'll be booed, he'll be cheered, he'll look like one of the hottest quarterbacks in the country, and he'll throw the mind-boggling bad pass that makes the coaching staff cringe. In the end, he'll finish this season as the NCAA's all-time leading passer blowing the doors off Ty Detmer's record of 15,031 yards.
Best Defensive Player: Senior CB Abraham Elimimian. He isn't just a strong cover corner, he's a surprisingly good tackler for a player of his size with 175 career stops and eight tackles for loss. He also has seven interceptions and 23 broken up passes.
Key player to a successful season: Despite the doom and gloom predicted for the defense, it should turn out fine in time. In the pass-happy WAC, the key is the play of the secondary. With teams staying away from star CB Abraham Elimimian, sophomore Kenny Patton will get picked on. If he has a big season, so will the Warrior defense.
The season will be a success if ... Hawaii wins the WAC. It isn't every year a team has this much experience and firepower. The time is now to take the next step up.
Key game: Oct. 30 at Boise State. If you want to be the champion, you have to beat the champion. Boise State is in reloading mode but should still be potent. Hawaii needs this win before it can focus on Fresno State a few weeks later.
2003 Fun Stats:
- Passing touchdowns: Hawaii 42 - Opponents 17
- Sacks: Hawaii 46 - Opponents 26
- Turnovers: Hawaii 37 - Opponents 29
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