In reflecting on Saturday’s 63-3 football loss to Michigan, Hawaii coach Nick Rolovich said: “That may be the best defense I’ve ever coached against.”
Rolovich, who has been involved in coaching since 2002, measured Michigan against Florida’s 2008 national-championship team.
“I would be much more afraid to play that Michigan team again than Florida, the ’08 team,” said Rolovich, who was a UH assistant coach when the Rainbow Warriors opened the 2008 season at Florida. The Gators “were good. They won the national title. But there wasn’t a weakness on the field (on Saturday in Michigan). Their coaches deserve credit. Their players deserve credit. That’s big-time college football right there.”
Because the Warriors were able to return Saturday night on a Hawaiian Airlines charter flight, Rolovich spent Sunday studying videos of the Michigan game and preparing for the upcoming home opener against Tennessee Martin at Aloha Stadium.
When asked about watching Saturday’s game live and then on video, Rolovich said: “It was like a knockout movie both times, from the sideline and the film.”
But Rolovich added: “I know they were better than us. I still don’t think they’re 60 points better than us. We didn’t execute at a real high level.”
On Saturday, Rolovich said Ikaika Woolsey, who only played in the first half, remains as the No. 1 quarterback. Yesterday, Rolovich reiterated that sentiment.
“I don’t understand why he wouldn’t be the guy,” Rolovich said.
Dru Brown, who transferred from College of San Mateo in July, has emerged as the No. 2 quarterback. Aaron Zwahlen, a second-year freshman who redshirted in 2015 after serving a church mission, is No. 3.
Brown played the entire second half on Saturday. Rolovich said Zwahlen has worked hard and is capable of running the offense, but “Dru kind of created some plays with his feet. … Some of our better offense was unscripted stuff.”
Brown led the Warriors with 49 rushing yards.
“I don’t know if we had Colt Brennan in there that makes any difference against that team,” Rolovich said.
The Warriors have meetings and conditioning drills today. They resume practicing on Tuesday.
