Its time to meet the Wisconsin football teams opponents for 2009. Today concludes the 12-day series that previewed all of the Badgers opponents for the 2009 season, as part of the Countdown to Kickoff. To wrap things up, we'll take a look at Hawaii, Wisconsin's final regular season opponent. The Badgers travel to Honolulu on Dec. 5.
Hawaii Warriors
2008 overall record: 7-7
Western Athletic Conference record: 5-3
2008 post-season: Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, 49-21 loss to Notre Dame
All-time series vs. Wisconsin: Wisconsin leads 4-1
In Honolulu: Wisconsin leads 3-1
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Last time out: Wisconsin won 41-24 in Honolulu in 2005
What they did in 2008:
Last season was the first for head coach Greg McMackin at Hawaii. It was one of the most successful coaching debuts in school history as he was just the second coach to take his team to a bowl game in his first year and the teams seven wins were the second-most by a new coach.
The Warriors started the season just 1-3, but got back to .500 with a pair of wins, including the programs first-ever win over a ranked opponent on the road, a 32-29 win at No. 22 Fresno State. After losing two of its next three, Hawaii ran off three wins in a row. The season ended however with another pair of losses, including a 49-21 loss to Notre Dame in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.
Player to watch on offense: John Estes, center
Senior center John Estes has been placed on the watch lists of several prestige awards, including the Rimington Award (best college center) and the Lombardi Award (best college lineman). This is the third year in a row that Estes has been named to the Rimington Award Watch List. A preseason All-WAC selection, Estes has started 41-straight games since his freshman season. He was named first-team All-WAC in 2007 and 2008.
Player to watch on defense: John Fonoti, linebacker
Hawaii loses a number of players from its defense of a year ago. Its four leading tacklers, top two in tackles for loss and sacks and top two in interceptions are all gone. Senior linebacker John Fonoti emerges as one of the teams top returning defenders. He finished fifth on the team with 62 tackles and third in tackles for loss and sacks with 9.5 and 3.5, respectively. Fonoti was second on the team with seven quarterback hurries and was tops on the team, fifth in the WAC, with three fumble recoveries.
Hawaii head coach Greg McMackin
Head coach Greg McMackin is now in his second season at the helm of the Warriors. Last year he guided them to a second-place finish in the WAC and a bowl game appearance. McMackin had served as the teams defensive coordinator in 1999 and again in 2007. The 1999 team improved from 109th nationally in total defense to 35th and went from zero wins to nine, the best turnaround in NCAA history. In 2007, Hawaii went 12-0 and had the 34th-best defense in the country.
McMackin has been in the coaching ranks since 1968. In that time, he has been with Arizona, Idaho, San Jose State, Stanford, Navy, Utah, Miami (Fla.) and Texas Tech. Professionally, McMackin has been the defensive coordinator of the NFLs Seattle Seahawks and assistant coach of the Denver Gold of the United States Football League.
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Wisconsin Football Single-Game Tickets On Sale Now
Be part of the tradition and excitement of Wisconsin football at Camp Randall Stadium this season. Single-game tickets are currently on sale for the following games:
Sept. 5 Northern Illinois 6PM
Sept. 12 Fresno State 11AM
Sept. 19 Wofford 11 AM
Oct. 31 Purdue TBA (**on sale Monday, Aug. 10)
groupCode=GS&linkID=wisc&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode="> --> Order your tickets here.
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Countdown to kickoff (Sept. 5)
- sportid=111&storyid=18552"> --> Day 30 (with links to days 100-31) - 2009 Football season preview: Indiana
- sportid=111&storyid=18561"> --> Day 29 - 2009 Football season preview: Michigan
- sportid=111&storyid=18569"> --> Day 28 - 2009 Football season preview: Northwestern
