Chow Time: Warriors’ Football Begins New Era

UH football team performs the Ha’a before the start of its Maui practice. The new era under coach Norm Chow begins today when UH plays No. 1 USC at 1:30 p.m. File photo by Rodney S. Yap.

By Rodney S. Yap

The University of Hawai’i Warrior football team begins the Norm Chow era by opening the 2012 season against No. 1 Southern California, today, Sept. 1 in Los Angeles, Calif. Kick-off for the nationally-televised game is 4:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m. Hawaii time) at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

Chow will make his head coaching debut against the Trojans (0-0), who are also ranked No. 3 in the preseason USA Today Coaches poll. The veteran coach spent four seasons as USC’s offensive coordinator from 2001-04, where he won two national championships (2004 title was later vacated) and coached two Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks (Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart).

The Warriors (0-0) have opened their season against USC three previous times (1999, 2005, 2010), all at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. The last time UH travelled to the Coliseum was in 2003. USC has won all seven meetings in the series.

The teams last met in the 2010 season-opener with the Trojans prevailing 49-36, at Aloha Stadium. Despite the 13-point loss, the Warriors out-gained USC in total offense (588-524). USC quarterback Matt Barkley set a school record with five touchdown passes in that game.

Game 1

Who: Hawai’i (0-0) vs. #1/#3 USC (0-0)

When: Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012

Time: 4:30 p.m. PT / 1:30 p.m. HST

Where: Los Angeles, CA; Los Angeles Coliseum (93,607)

Television: Live nationally on FOX Sports with Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Charles Davis (analyst), and Julie Alexandria (sidelines). FOX Desportes will also carry the game live.

National Radio: ESPN Radio will broadcast the game nationally with Rich Cellini (play-by-play), John Mackovic (analyst), and Brett McMurphy (sidelines).

Local Radio: ESPN 1420 AM will carry the game live with Bobby Curran (play-by-play) and John Veneri (analyst). Don Robbs, Chris Hart and Gary Dickman host the “Countdown To Kickoff” beginning at 12:00 p.m. HT, and also the halftime show. Neighbor islands can listen live on KNUI (AM900) on Maui, KHLO in Hilo, KKON in Kona.

Audio Webcast: Live audio streaming on espn1420am.com

Live Stats: Live in-game stats are available at usctrojans.com

Series Information: USC leads 7-0.

Warrior Storylines

Hawai’i is 58-32-5 (.637) all-time in season openers…UH has opened the season on the road six times since turning Division I in 1974 and owns a 2-4 record…UH has opened its season against USC three previous times (1999, 2005, and 2010)…UH’s Norm Chow will make his head coaching debut against USC, where he spent four seasons as offensive coordinator (2001-04)…UH is 29-51 all-time vs. current members of the Pac-12 conference, including an 0-7 mark against USC…UH has played at least one Pac-12 opponent each year since 2005, with a 1-2 record in road games…UH has played the No. 1-ranked team twice in school history, including a loss to USC in 2005 in Honolulu…UH is 1-8 all-time against BCS conference teams on the road…The expected sellout crowd of 93,607 will be the largest crowd UH has played before in school history…UH begins its inaugural season in the Mountain West after 33 years in the Western Athletic Conference.