For three finger-crossing months in the summer of 2014, the University of Hawaii football team was on hold.
Quarterback Max Wittek, who had secured a scholarship release from USC, told UH coach Norm Chow the Rainbow Warriors were his top choice. And then … silence.
Chow was admittedly concerned. “The rumors we heard were Texas and Louisville,” Chow said of Wittek’s potential destinations.
Chow then called his close friend, Steve Clarkson, a quarterback guru who had worked with Wittek. Clarkson’s advice: “Let him figure it out.”
“I tried to take everything into account,” said Wittek, who would have a season of eligibility remaining after redshirting in 2014 as part of the NCAA’s transfer rules. “I really wanted to make sure it was the right decision. At certain times, it took a couple days of trying not to talk to anyone, and just thinking about it to myself.”
Wittek also huddled with family members, close friends, and coaches, like Clarkson. Wittek recalled his senior year at Mater Dei High when he was recruited by Chow, who was UCLA’s offensive coordinator at the time. “He was always straightforward with me,” Wittek said.
Wittek then notified Chow he would enroll at UH for the 2014 fall semester.
“I don’t know if it came down to one single ‘aha’ moment,” Wittek said. “It was really a feel thing from when I decided to leave USC. … I kept coming back to Coach Chow feeling right for me. And that’s what did it for me at the end of the day.”
Other schools could offer Wittek something UH could not — a scholarship for the 2014 season. The Warriors had used their allotment of 25 scholarships for newcomers.
“It’s not ideal,” Wittek said of joining as a walk-on. “But how often do you get your ideal situation? I’m very fortunate enough to where it wasn’t a huge financial problem. It’s not the easiest thing in the world to pay for Division I college. I was fortunate enough to have the means to be able to do something like that.”
UH also did not assure Wittek the starting job in 2015.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Wittek said.
In last year’s practices, Wittek dazzled as the scout quarterback who led an offense simulating the Warriors’ upcoming opponent. After two weeks of spring training in August, he received the majority of first-team reps. Following spring training, he was named the No. 1 quarterback and, in voting by teammates, was selected as a co-captain. Wittek and left tackle Ben Clarke represented the Warriors at this past week’s Mountain West Conference media days in Las Vegas.
It was during group interviews that Chow likened Wittek to 2002 Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer, whom he coached at USC. Chow had used the same comparison with Taylor Graham, an Ohio State transfer who completed his UH career in December.
When Graham signed in January 2012, Chow said, “I thought we had our quarterback position solved for a couple years.”
Graham’s UH stint was hindered by inconsistency and injuries. When it appeared Graham had found his rhythm in his only start last year, he suffered a season-ending injury for the second year in a row. “Things happen,” Chow said. “That’s why I said you have to stay healthy.”
In a league with unsettled quarterback situations at nine of the 12 programs, Wittek provides hope. He was named to the MWC preseason team.
“He’s mature, he’s a leader, he’s a gym rat,” Chow said. “He’s everything you could possibly want in a quarterback. We’ll see how it goes.”
