Hawaii football: Rainbow Warriors roll with thunder

As it turned out, Tuesday morning’s Hawaii football practice was closed not just to the media.

Mother Nature closed it to the Rainbow Warriors themselves.

“A bit of a midstream adjustment at practice, because of the lightning. So, we did some walkthrough. We’ll get some work in this afternoon. Had to adjust today,” said coach Nick Rolovich, who decided previously that this week’s practices (usually open Tuesday and Wednesday) would be closed to local media.

“We were not allowed to go out there (on the practice field),” he said. “I got a new lightning app, so now I know when there’s lightning around us. But naw, it was good. Good little changeup for our guys. We’ll go in the afternoon … we’ll probably go in the afternoon tomorrow to stay on schedule. But this team, you go back to the way they travel, you go back to the way they’ve had to adjust to all types of stuff all year. It wasn’t that big of a deal. They’re just happy breakfast is ready.”

#HawaiiFB’s winning score of 21-7 at UNLV last weekend was more typical of a low-scoring San Diego State football game.

Does coach Nick Rolovich expect something in that range this weekend against the Aztecs? pic.twitter.com/Ym1ikUyQTI

— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) November 19, 2019

Quarterback Cole McDonald, who rallied the Rainbow Warriors from off the bench in Saturday’s 21-7 win at UNLV to attain bowl eligibility, was unmoved by the morning’s events.

“No (surprise), you just adapt to whatever’s thrown at you,” McDonald said. “If we can’t work on the field, we’re just going to go on the field and get our mental game up. And that’s what we did today. Getting in practice later today and get some good work out on the field. Just taking advantage of everything, whether it’s a thunderstorm thrown at us, we’re just going to adapt and keep moving forward.”

Cole McDonald on what the last couple weeks have been like swapping #HawaiiFB quarterback roles with Chevan Cordeiro (McDonald played the role of off-the-bench hero at UNLV).

Coach Nick Rolovich did not say Tuesday which player will start Saturday vs. San Diego State. pic.twitter.com/0CL9gKZ0QH

— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) November 19, 2019

Saturday’s all-important home game between UH (7-4, 4-3 Mountain West) and San Diego State (8-2, 5-2) will decide the MWC West Division winner and the division’s representative to the MWC championship game.

Rolovich offered only a quick “no” as to which quarterback — McDonald or Chevan Cordeiro, who started the last two games — will start against Aztecs.