Post-Game Notes
Hawai‘i at No. 1 USC
Sept. 1, 2012
UH is now 0-3 all-time against the No. 1-ranked team in the country with two of those losses vs. USC. UH lost its 2005 season-opener to No. 1 USC, 63-17, in Honolulu. UH’s other loss against a top-ranked team came in 1971 vs. Nebraska (45-3).
UH dropped to 10-35 all-time record against nationally ranked teams, 3-14 against the Top 10 and 1-13 against ranked teams on the road.
UH dropped to 1-9 all-time against BCS conference teams on the road.
UH remains winless in eight meetings against USC.
The teams are scheduled to meet again next season (Aug. 31 in Honolulu).
UH made its 59th all-time appearances on national television and now is 17-40-2 record in those games.
UH’s Norm Chow made his head coaching debut against USC, where he spent four seasons as offensive coordinator (2001-04).
Chow is the fourth straight UH head coach to drop his debut. Prior to Chow were Greg McMackin (2008, at Florida 56-10), June Jones (1999, USC 62-7) and Fred vonAppen (1996, Boston College 24-21). Bob Wagner was the last head coach to win his first game (1987, Cal State Fullerton 44-0).
UH’s 35-point halftime deficit was its largest since a 49-0 halftime score at Fresno State in 2004.
Duke transfer Sean Schroeder made his debut as Warrior quarterback and completed 24-of-39 passes for 208 yards, one touchdown and a pair of interceptions
Schroeder threw his first career touchdown pass and Scott Harding hauled in his first career touchdown reception following an 18-yard connection on UH’s opening drive of the third quarter.
Sophomore defensive end Beau Yap recorded the team’s lone sack of the day and his second career sack with a takedown of Max Wittek in the fourth quarter.
Marquis Lee’s 100-yard kickoff return in the third quarter was the first return for touchdown by a UH opponent since Notre Dame’s Armando Allen 96-yard return in the 2008 Hawai‘i Bowl.
The 39-point loss was UH’s largest margin of defeat since a 41-point home loss to Wisconsin (51-10) in the 2009 season finale. It was the largest margin of defeat in a season-opener since a 56-10 loss at Florida in 2008.
The sellout crowd of 93,607 was the largest crowd UH has ever played before. The previous record was 92,138 during the 2006 season opener against Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
Thirteen players earned their first starts as Warriors: quarterback Sean Schroeder, receiver Chris Gant, tight end Craig Cofer, left tackle Blake Muir, left tackle Kapua Sai, center Ben Clarke, tight end Ryan Hall, defensive end Beau Yap, nose tackle Moses Samia, defensive tackle Siasau Matagiese, linebacker TJ Taimatuia, cornerback Tony Grimes and safety Bubba Poueu-Luna.
Sophomore Scott Harding also made his fist career start at punter in place of a suspended Alex Dunnachie. Harding averaged 37.1 yards on seven punts, including a 50-yarder.
Redshirt freshman Will Gregory got the bulk of carries at running back and finished with 48 yards on 11 attempts in his first game as a Warrior.
Hawai‘i dropped to 58-33-5 (.630) all-time in season openers.
UH has opened the season on the road seven times since turning Division I in 1974 and now owns a 2-5 record.
UH dropped to 29-53 all-time vs. current members of the Pac-12 conference.
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