Hawai'i Game Notes | UNLV Game Notes | VIDEO: Pre-Game Interviews |

HONOLULU – Taking the road for the first time under new leadership since 2011, the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warrior football team returns to the "Silver State", headed to Las Vegas for Saturday's matchup with UNLV at Sam Boyd Stadium. For viewers in Hawai'i, the game will be broadcasted on Oceanic Pay-Per-View (Digital Ch. 255 and HD Ch. 1255) and Hawaiian Telcom Pay-Per-View (Ch. 969).
 
This is the sixth and final road trip for UH this season, and the return flight will push the mileage total over 40,000 for the 2015 season. When UH lands back in Honolulu, they will have traveled the equivalent of just over 1 ^3/5 of the earth's circumference.

Saturday marks the 25th meeting between the Rainbow Warriors and Rebels, with UH leading the series 15-9 overall. holding a 7-5 record in Las Vegas. However, unlike when UH controlled the series in the 1980s, the home squad has claimed eight of the last 10 meetings.
 
Looking to shake off a tough home loss to Air Force, UH will look to finish strong under the leadership of recently appointed interim head coach Chris Naeole. With four games remaining, the Rainbow Warriors have the opportunity to produce the best record since the 2011 campaign.
 
Game #10
Who: Hawai'i (2-7, 0-5 MW) at UNLV (2-6, 1-3 MW)
When: Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015
Time: 3:00 p.m. PT/1 p.m. HT
Where: Sam Boyd Stadium (35,500)
Television: Televised 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 for those outside of the Hawaiian Islands at www.theMW.com
Audio Webcast: Live audio streaming on www.espn1420am.com
Live Stats: Live in-game stats will be provided by UNLV
Series Information: 25th meeting, UH controls the series lead, 15-9 

Game Storylines: For the first time since 2011, the Rainbow Warriors will take the field without the guidance of Norm Chow, who was relieved of coaching duties after Saturday's loss to Air Force…Former consensus All-American and 12-year NFL lineman Chris Naeole was named interim head coach and will lead the team in his first game in the role…The home team has earned the win in eight of the last 10 series meetings…Hawai'i program record sits at 536-432-25 (.552) and 89-157-3 (.363) on the road…The Rainbow Warriors have dropped 23 of the last 24 road contests, dating back to 2011 and are 4-25 in conference play since joining the Mountain West…Despite the offensive struggles, there is an opportunity to match-up well against the Rebels' defense, which ranks 112th in total defense (455.5 YPG), 107th in passing defense (265.8 passing YPG), and 96th in rush defense (189.8 YPG)…How will the UH defense will bounce back from allowing the fourth-most rushing yards in program history, allowing Air Force's triple option to rush for 497 yards…Over the past three games, freshman receiver Dylan Collie has caught 15 passes for 179 yards receiving…After being held to 32 yards rushing the past two games, the Rainbow Warriors look to re-establish the ground game and balance the offense vs. UNLV…A mystery if fans will see significant changes to style of play or player personnel under the new leadership.

Series in Brief
A relatively young, but very active series for the Rainbow Warriors, who meet the Rebels for the 25th time, dating back to 1969. UH holds a 15-9 overall record and has gone 7-5 in Las Vegas.
 
The home team has come out victorious in eight of the last 10 meetings. Although UH dominated the series throughout the 1980s and early 90s, there has been no clear advantage since the Rainbow Warriors' seven-game win streak ended in 1997.
 
In that last meeting, in 2014 at Aloha Stadium, the Rainbow Warriors overcame a UNLV rally thanks to last-second heroics of a Marcus Kemp hail-mary touchdown reception on the pass from Ikaika Woolsey. After doubling-up on excessive celebration penalties, UNLV forced to kick after their go-ahead score from their own 10-yard line. Taking over at the UNLV 42, Woolsey set up the 37-35 win with a first down pass to Donnie King for 22 yards, leaving only :01 on the clock to make the play. The win set off a three-game home win streak for the Rainbow Warriors, extending into 2015.
 
The Ninth Island
A popular destination and relocation site for residents of Hawai'i, Las Vegas is often referred to as the "ninth island". As cited in the Maui News, there are around 90,000 former Hawai'i residents living in Las Vegas, and over 250,000 from the islands travel there each year. Concentrated in Clark Country, the population of non-Hispanic Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders in Nevada has more than doubled in the last decade.
 
Non-Winning Seasons
With the loss to Air Force, UH will post its fifth consecutive non-winning season and sixth in the last seven seasons. The last time UH posted five straight non-winning seasons was from 1994-98. Hawai'i's last winning season occurred in 2010 (10-4). The only other stretch in which UH went five seasons without a winning season was 1936-40.

Finishing on a High Note
While the Rainbow Warriors are mathematically eliminated from the opportunity for a winning season, four games remain to send the seniors out with the best record for the program since 2011 (6-7).
 
Three of the four remaining games are at home (Fresno State, San Jose State, UL-Monroe) and is the only stretch of the season during which UH is not alternating home and away.
 
The Rainbow Warriors hold a 2-7 record for the second consecutive season, also previously in 2000, when UH ended at 3-9, and in 1996, closing out 2-10.
 
The last time UH was 6-7 was 2011; Greg McMackin's squad dropped 4-of-5 closing games, and in 2009 UH won 4-of-5 final games to end 6-7.