Team: Hawaii

Nickname: Warriors

Location: Honolulu

Conference: Western Athletic

Coach: Greg McMackin (2nd season, 7-7 at Hawaii; 31-21-1 career)

Last season: 5-3, 7-7

Last Bowl: 2008 Hawaii

The 2008 campaign should be considered a success simply because McMackin took over for long-time coach June Jones and lost stars like Colt Brennan, Jason Rivers and Davone Bess.

Hawaii's schedule shapes up nicely with home games against Fresno State, Boise State, Navy and Wisconsin. The team's offense should get back on track with a starter solidified at QB, but the defense has suffered a ton of losses that will prevent a WAC title run.

The season is a success if ... Hawaii can reach another bowl game. Though they got torched at home against Notre Dame last year, it will be another sign of progress is McMackin's bunch can put together a winning season.

The season is a failure if ... The Warrior defense can't recover from its many losses. Only two starters return, with the entire defensive line and secondary using up eligibility. Hawaii had only three starters return in 2004 and gave up 38.4 ppg.

Impact Player: QB Greg Alexander, senior. After biding his time in a three-QB race, he started seven games and threw for 1,895 yards, 14 TDs and five INTs while running for three more TDs.

Fun Fact: The school's board of regents eliminated football in 1961, but a new athletic director brought the program back the following season.