The Rainbow Warriors are on the road again, this time in Fort Collins to face off against the Colorado State Rams and a familiar face.
While at the University of Nevada as a wide receivers coach, Hawai‘i Head Coach Timmy Chang worked under now-Colorado State Head Coach Jay Norvell. The two remain close, with mutual respect running deep.
“We’ve texted back and forth for the past two weeks, continuously wishing each other luck,” Chang said. “He’s a mentor, a brother to me.”
Still, Chang is locked in on leading Hawai‘i (5-2, 2-1 Mountain West Conference) through Fort Collins and walking away with a win over his former coach and friend.
“I told him we’re gonna have a big hug, and then we’re gonna go to battle,” Chang said. “He’s gonna get that team right to go.”
Many players echoed Chang’s respect for Norvell and the Rams (2-4, 1-1 MWC), but make no mistake, they’re not backing down. Sophomore wide receiver Jackson Harris, in particular, is ready to make noise at Canvas Stadium.
“We can’t be complacent, we gotta get one percent better,” Harris said. “We got a tough one on the road here, big conference game. It’s a good day to get our legs back so we can handle business.”
Harris, who ranks second on the team with 358 receiving yards and three touchdowns, has emerged as a key playmaker during the team’s recent win streak. The Stanford transfer credits the team’s chemistry for the turnaround.
“We’ve gone back to the basics ever since Fresno State,” Harris said. “When everybody’s on the same page, it’s only the most successful.”
On the other side, Norvell had high praise for his former assistant. He believes Chang has finally found his guy under center and is preparing his team for Hawai‘i’s potent passing attack—which currently ranks 17th in the nation with 295 passing yards per game.
“It’s going to ask for a different preparation from our team, and so we have to be ready for that. We have to adjust,” Norvell said. “And we have to play the type of game that can beat Hawai‘i, which will be very important.”
The Rams have playmakers of their own. Graduate transfer Lemondre Joe, from Missouri State, leads the country with 11 pass breakups, three more than any other player in the FBS.
In the front seven, sophomore linebacker Owen Long has been a force. He leads the nation with 85 total tackles, 15 more than the next closest player, and also tops the country in tackles per game (14.2). Norvell named Long the youngest team captain before the season, and the linebacker has since been nominated for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year.
Offensively, the Rams are efficient on the ground with a three-headed monster in the backfield. Redshirt freshman Jalen Dupree leads the way with 76 carries for 406 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Sophomores Lloyd Avant (5.7 YPC) and Justin Marshall (7.7 YPC) round out the backfield, giving Colorado State depth and explosiveness.
Both teams are coming off wins and looking to build momentum. The Warriors are focused on extending their streak, and they know it won’t come easy.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Hawai‘i Time this Saturday at Colorado State.