Warriors picked last in division

LAS VEGAS » The odds were announced in this gambling city, and key members of the University of Hawaii football team promptly placed their chips on their shoulders.

"We understand, given our wins and losses from last year, being placed where we’re at," quarterback Taylor Graham said of the media poll predicting the Rainbow Warriors would finish sixth — last — in the Mountain West Conference’s West Division this coming season. "We’re going to embrace the underdog role. We definitely have a chip on our shoulder. We have a lot to prove. We’re looking forward to that."

The Warriors were 3-9 in 2012, Norm Chow’s first season as UH head coach. The MWC expanded to 12 teams this year, creating two six-team divisions.

Media members who cover the league voted in the poll. The results were announced at the three-day MWC Media Preview, which runs through this afternoon.

Of UH’s predicted finish, Chow said: "Why would I be surprised by that? Those polls don’t matter one whit. Media guys don’t know how to coach, anyway. Now we have a chip on our shoulders. We have to turn that into a positive."

Graham said: "I don’t want to say I’m surprised. They’re other people’s opinions. I have my own. I’ll keep them to myself and let the play do the talking."

Graham and defensive tackle Siasau "Saui" Matagiese represented the Warriors at the event. They spent more than six hours in television and print interviews detailing why they believe this year’s Warriors are dramatically improved.

"It’s the dedication and sacrifice everyone is making," Matagiese said. "You see everyone taking care of each other. You really see this team turning into a family."

Matagiese said it was admittedly a struggle for players recruited for a previous system to adjust to the new offensive and defensive schemes.

"It was bound to happen," Matagiese said. "It was how we responded. We said: ‘These coaches are here for our (UH) careers. Either you buy in or you walk away.’ We had a few who walked away. Other than that, the majority bought in. We trust Coach Chow. We know he believes in us."

Chow said a key was hiring Gary Beemer as the team’s first full-time strength/conditioning coach in four years.

"Our guys are in shape," Chow said. "We can concentrate on schemes and not our physical conditioning to get us through games. The guys have bought into Gary, and worked hard."

Beemer has been in charge of the offseason conditioning program. He has sprinkled beach workouts and tug-of-war contests into the training routine.

"With Coach Beemer coming in and making the strength system so difficult, I think we came together through the struggle and through the pain of the offseason," Graham said. "We had to come together to encourage each other. You can see it. Guys are getting stronger."

Matagiese said last season was a lesson he did not want to repeat.

"It was rough," he said. "I’m a poor loser. I hate losing. It takes me a while to get over losing."

Graham, who redshirted last season after transferring from Ohio State, said, "3-9 is painful, especially when you’re sitting on the sideline. … Traditionally, the second year of a new staff is always the better year."

Graham said there are no cliques on the team. The players often get together for barbecues or outings to Sandy Beach.

"We’re one of the most diverse teams," Matagiese said. "We have African-Americans. We have Asians. We have Polynesians. We have guys from Chicago and from Florida. For all of us to pull together, it really shows we care about each other."