The Timmy Chang Chronicles Pt. 6: Hawaii says Aloha to the Mountain West

I had the privilege to speak with Omar Borja of Beyond the Stripes podcast, discussing the recent announcement that Hawaii has scheduled a home and home series with Sam Houston State as Sam Houston State recently moved to the FBS level as a member of Conference USA. The matchup will see Hawaii return to the familiar recruiting ground of Texas, a state where Hawaii most recently played in 2020 (against Houston in the 2020 New Mexico Bowl, moved to Houston, Texas because of COVID). The state of Texas and Texas Universities are no strangers to Hawaii. Obviously the last Texas vs Hawaii matchup was in 2020 with Hawaii owning a 2-0 record over the University of Houston (2003 Hawaii Bowl was the previous matchup which ended in a triple OT victory for Hawaii and a massive brawl at Aloha Stadium). Hawaii has also played Rice, UTEP, Texas, Texas A&M, SMU and TCU in previous seasons. Hawaii also currently has 15 players on roster from the state of Texas as well.

So what does this all mean? Well Sam Houston State is replacing BYU on Hawaii’s schedule as the Cougars saw the Warriors as cut casualties as they try and shape their schedule to go after a CFP spot once they move to the Big 12. Sam Houston State is a good but not daunting challenge for the Warriors and the return to Texas could be fruitful in the recruiting game. NIL and the transfer portal has flipped recruiting upside down and there could be a lot of talent left for grabs in the Lonestar State.

However to me, this is about something deeper. I have not been shy when it comes to both my distain of the Mountain West’s treatment of the Warriors and the University of Hawaii’s inability to make the Warrior brand bigger than it is. Hawaii is an internationally recognized brand that draws fans to any event it participates in. The Mountain West allows Hawaii to have in conference games on OC16 and not mainstream cable. Unacceptable. Hawaii for 6-7 games out of the season, has an independent time slot that is both beloved by sports fans and sports bettors. It is of my opinion that Hawaii has outgrown the Mountain West, the Mountain West doesn’t value Hawaii because it is a football only school and the path to on-field success and financial profit is to go independent. Perhaps Sam Houston State could be the start of something new?

There are three ways to secure an annual seven figure check in college football. Play a Power 5 school on the road, be a part of a Power 5 conference/ secure a P5 TV deal and/or play in a New Years Six Bowl Game. The Mountain West hasn’t sent a team to a NY6 Bowl game since 2014 (Boise State) while Boise State was essentially a yearly participant in the WAC (back when you had to go undefeated to have a chance). Fresno State had both Derek Carr and Davante Adams and still couldn’t get it done, just as another example. While TCU and Utah have moved to P5 conferences, Boise stays stagnant in the MW and Boise has been their best team since the conference realigned in 2012.

Hawaii already has long, storied histories with programs like Fresno State, UNLV, Army, Navy and Air Force. Include places that recruit Hawaii players heavily like Nevada, New Mexico State and the Pac-12 and a 13 game schedule gets way easier to make. Hawaii can also reach out to other independents Norte Dame, UConn and UMass along with familiar FCS programs Portland State, Idaho and UC Davis. Hawaii still has ties to the Mountain West and I’m sure teams want to keep a trip to Hawaii on their schedules. Going back to Texas, Hawaii has a big tie to the Big 12, a conference which has four Texas teams (not counting the outgoing Texas Longhorns). Houston, Texas Tech, TCU and Baylor which both won the Big 12 and has the Hawaii tie as Baylor’s HC Dave Aranda was Hawaii’s DC under Greg McMackin.

Quite frankly, Hawaii doesn’t benefit from the Mountain West anymore. Hawaii has something to offer that no one in the nation does. It’s hard to find solid programming for late nights on Saturday and I’m sure a bidding war would erupt for Hawaii’s services. College football is a better place when Hawaii is good, ask ESPN about ratings in 2007.