Hawai'i Game Notes | New Mexico Game Notes | VIDEO: Pre-Game Interviews

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HONOLULU–After a brief stint at Aloha Stadium for Homecoming, the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warrior football team is heading back out on the road for the next two weeks, beginning this week with key a Mountain West meeting with New Mexico in Albuquerque on Saturday, Oct. 17. For viewers on the mainland, the game will be available on ROOT Sports Southwest, with a simulcast in Hawai'i on Oceanic Pay-Per-View (Digital Ch. 255 and HD Ch. 1255) and Hawaiian Telcom Pay-Per-View (Ch. 969).
 
Saturday marks the 23rd meeting between the Rainbow Warriors and Lobos, with UH holding a strong 14-8 advantage, going 3-3 in Albuquerque.
 
Coming off a Homecoming loss to San Diego State, 28-14, UH now is seeking wins in five of the seven remaining contests to earn a winning season and bowl eligibility for the first time since 2010.

Game #7
Who: Hawai'i (2-4, 0-2 MW) at New Mexico (3-3, 1-1 MW)
When: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015
Time: 5:00 p.m. MT/1:00 p.m. HT
Where: Branch Field at University Stadium (39,224)
Television: Televised regionally on west coast on ROOT Sports SW and live locally in O'ahu and statewide on Oceanic Pay-Per-View (Digital Ch. 255 and HD Ch. 1255) and Hawaiian Telcom Pay-Per-View (Ch. 969), with Robert Kekaula (play-by-play) and Rich Miano (analyst).
Radio: ESPN 1420 AM will carry the game live with Bobby Curran (play-by-play) and John Veneri (analyst). Chris Hart and Gary Dickman host the "Countdown To Kickoff" beginning at 11:00 a.m. HT, and also the halftime show. Neighbor islands can listen live on KNUI on Maui, KHLO in Hilo, KKON in Kona, KTOH on Kaua'i, and KNWJ in Pago Pago, American Samoa. In addition, the game is available on satellite radio on XM 203 and Sirius 93.
Steaming Video: Live video at www.theMW.com
Audio Webcast: Live audio streaming on www.espn1420am.com
Live Stats: Live in-game stats will be provided by New Mexico
Series Information: 23rd meeting, UH leads 14-7. UNM has won the past five meetings in the series
 
Game Storylines: UH all-time record sits at 536-429-25 (.554) and and 89-155-3 (.366) away…UH leads the New Mexico series 14-8, but UNM has won the last five (5) meetings, dating back to 1993…During the course of the series, UH amassed a nine-game (9) win streak (1983-91) and another of four-game (4) run (1978-81) since the series began in 1964…When playing a team from the state of New Mexico, UH holds a 23-9-1 record, and are 6-3 when playing in New Mexico--including victories in the last three (3) trips…Now on their fourth road trip, UH's air mileage will exceed 29,000 miles after completing this trip…UH needs to win five (5) of the remaining seven (7) contests to avoid a fifth consecutive losing season--the last time UH has registered five consecutive losing seasons was 1994-98…Searching for production, UH's offense will face UNM's 66th-ranked passing defense and 98th-ranked rushing defense…UH was shut out 121-0 in the first three trips to the mainland, UH has never been shut out in four games in a single season…Over the past four seasons, UH is 1-20 on the road and 1-12 in Mountain West away games since 2011.

Series in Brief
Now in its 23rd edition, the history of the series has belonged largely to UH, which leads overall 14-8. Between 1983 and 1991, the Rainbow Warriors won nine (9) consecutive games against New Mexico, including a pair in Albuquerque. The Rainbow Warriors are 3-3 when playing UNM on the road.
 
Since breaking that streak, the Lobos have held the momentum, winning the past five meetings, dating back to 1993. The last meeting was the first time these programs met as members of the Mountain West Conference, with UNM coming out ahead, 35-23, in Honolulu in 2012.
 
The series began in 1964 in Honolulu with a 20-0 UNM win at old Honolulu Stadium. Across the next three meetings, the programs traded wins, with an average margin of victory of just seven (7) points. In 1978, UH took control, reeling off four (4) straight wins before UNM provided a one-year disruption in 1982.
 
Rainbow Warriors Enchanted in Facing New Mexico Squads
Through its history, UH has faced three teams from the "Land of Enchantment", in UNM, New Mexico-Highlands and a long-standing relationship with Western Athletic Conference foe New Mexico State. Against all New Mexico foes, UH holds a 23-9-1 record, and is 6-3 when playing in New Mexico, including victories in the last three trips.
 
A Comeback in the Works
The Rainbow Warriors open with a 2-4 record for the second straight year under Norm Chow, and in 2009 prior to 2014—finishing 4-9 (3-5 MW) last year, and 6-7 (3-5 WAC) in '09. The only other time in the last 20 years was in 2005, during which UH finished 5-7 (4-4 WAC).
 
Looking to move a step closer to .500 at 3-4, UH has been one-under four (4) times in the past 20 years—in 1994, '97, '05 and '08. In 2008, Greg McMackin's Warriors won three (3) of their final four (4) games to reach 7-6 and go to the Hawai'i Bowl, finishing 7-7 with a 5-3 WAC mark.
 
Tough Schedule Proven on the Field
Sometimes past performances for comparison can be a paper tiger, but UH's four (4) losses have come at the hands of opponents who are a combined 18-6 on the season, including No. 1/1 Ohio State at 6-0, quickly-rising No. 20 Boise State at 5-1, formerly top-25 Wisconsin at 4-2 and projected preseason leader and current MW West division leader San Diego State at 3-3 and 2-0 in MW play. Among those teams, BSU ranks 19th in total offense, followed by OSU (26th) and Wisconsin (67th), while in total defense BSU ranks 5th, ahead of UW (12th), OSU (19th) and SDSU (24th).
 
From Around the Block
Hawai'i coordinators Tom Mason (defensive) and Don Bailey (offensive) will see a familiar face on the opposite sideline on Saturday, as both coached alongside New Mexico defensive line coach Barry Sacks on the late Pokey Allen's staffs at both Portland State and later at Boise State.
 
At Boise State, Mason was defensive coordinator while Sacks was defensive line coach, and Mason took over as interim head coach when Allen began cancer treatments.
 
In addition, this is a return to a previous home for Hawai'i running backs coach Wayne Moses, who coached receivers at New Mexico in 1989.

Spotting a Few Eagles
Former junior college teammates will meet on the gridiron on Saturday, as Laney College alumnus and current Hawai'i cornerback Jamal Mayo will matchup with former Laney teammates Tevita Fonua (offensive line) and Chris Lee (defensive line). Mayo played two seasons on defense with Lee and one year opposite Fonua.