The last time the University of Hawaii offensive line was this young, Norm Chow was on the other side of the field at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

UH also started two freshmen, two sophomores and a junior against USC in the second game of the season on Sept. 13, 2003. Chow was the Trojans offensive coordinator and Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush and Co. handed Hawaii a 61-32 pounding.

Though USC dominated the game, the young Hawaii front of Jeremy Inferrera, Samson Satele, Derek Fa‘avi, Uriah Moenoa and Brandon Eaton did a better than decent job against USC’s vaunted “Wild Bunch” defensive front four.

The Trojans didn’t get to quarterback Timmy Chang for a sack until nearly midway through the third quarter, and totaled just two QB drops for the afternoon. UH had a lot of problems that day, but Mike Cavanaugh’s big puppies were not among them. Most of them remained starters and helped Hawaii go 17-10 in 2003 and 2004.

This Saturday, Chow enters his first game as UH’s head coach at the same venue against the same opponent. And again, much of the Warriors’ hope to at least be competitive rests on a green O-line.

They are, from left to right, Blake Muir, Kapua Sai, Ben Clarke, Dave Lefotu and Sean Shigematsu.

Muir and Clarke are freshmen and Sai is a transfer junior who didn’t play much at Utah. Lefotu started seven games for UH last year and Shigematsu started two before a season-ending injury. They’re both sophomores.

New is nothing new for the Warriors up front on offense. Change has been a constant the past several years. And despite what that 2003 quintet managed against USC, this is the position group where you need continuity and experience the most.

Every year has been one of transition for the Hawaii offensive line since the 2007 Sugar Bowl team lost three senior starters. There are a couple of key differences this time, though.

First, hope for the future. While the lack of experience of this five is alarming, at least it’s because they’re young — and not because they’ve been languishing as backups for several seasons. It’s one thing to have fifth-year seniors starting for the first time and another to have true freshmen, like Clarke.

Second, change in scheme. We all know the O-line is always important. But with UH shifting from the run-and-shoot to a more conventional offense, there won’t be the same kind of every-play pressure for the linemen to protect the quarterback. Plus there’s a tight end to help out.

As Chow aims for balance and ball control to keep USC’s offense off the field, the Warriors won’t have to worry nearly every play about a minor slip-up leading to a sack. They will have more opportunities to take the fight to their foes, across the line of scrimmage, on running plays.

“Changing the mind-set, to being more run-oriented than they have been in the past. … Mentally a lot more aggressive,” said Chow, who started two years on the offensive line at guard for Utah. “I think they enjoy the going forward instead of dropping back all the time. Can we hold up? We’ll see.”

Fortunately for O-line coach Chris Wiesehan and his baby-faced big boys, the Trojans defensive front is also inexperienced. With the departure of All-America end Nick Perry and two other starters, some say it’s the closest thing to a weak spot on AP’s preseason No. 1 team.

Maybe Hawaii can hold its own on the offensive line against the Trojans on Saturday like that other novice group did in 2003.

A lot of other things would also have to go right for UH to pull off an incredible upset, but either way it would be a confidence builder for the season — and seasons — ahead.

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Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783.