Fifteen Decembers ago, the University of Hawaii football team was a runaway winner with no place to go.

The Warriors’ 72-45 rout of Brigham Young, which entered 12-0 and ranked No. 4, did not result in a postseason berth in 2001. With the Oahu Bowl moving to Seattle and the Aloha Bowl eventually being de-certified following the 2000 doubleheader at Aloha Stadium, there was no 2001 bowl for the 9-3 Warriors.

“We were on such a high after the BYU game, putting up 70-plus,” said Chris Brown, who was UH’s starting middle linebacker. “We felt we deserved a bowl game that year.”

In the final minutes, the Warriors — and then the student section — chanted: “Cable in the dorms!”

While the UH dorms eventually added that amenity, a bigger wish was granted. The Hawaii Bowl was created the following year.

“It was nice to see they created that bowl because in 2001 we had a pretty good team,” said Craig Stutzmann, who was a starting slotback.

Nick Rolovich was largely responsible for the Hawaii Bowl’s creation, throwing for 543 yards and eight touchdowns against BYU. Now, as a first-year head coach, Rolovich is leading the Rainbow Warriors against Middle Tennessee in today’s Hawaii Bowl at Aloha Stadium. Kickoff is at 3 p.m.

Rolovich deflects any credit for his role in the Hawaii Bowl’s creation other than to say, “It would have been nice to play one more game with those guys. I’m grateful for the 12 games we did have. That was a special group of guys I’ll never forget.”

Three former teammates are on Rolovich’s coaching staff. Stutzmann is the quarterbacks coach and pass-game coordinator. Brian Smith, who was the center and Rolovich’s housemate, is the offensive coordinator. Abraham Elimimian, who was a starting cornerback, coaches the UH secondary.

Stutzmann, who played in the 1999 Oahu Bowl, said it is as fulfilling to coach in a bowl.

“As a coach, there’s so much more behind the scenes that you have to do,” Stutzmann said. “It’s rewarding to see the kids go through the bowl activities. They deserve it. They went through a lot this year. They made plays they had to make. It’s been a special year. Hopefully, we have one more game in us to get a win.”

After the Warriors received the bowl invitation, Rolovich gave each player commitment choices. Each pledged to the bowl.

“I don’t want us to make them be here,” Rolovich said. “I want them to find the love for the game and their teammates. That’s what they’re going to remember.”

That camaraderie is what Rolovich cherishes from that 2001 season. “There are too many good memories,” Rolovich said. Of this year’s team, he said, “I’m glad they’re going to get a good experience. … We’ll be ready to play.”