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Today’s participants in the SoFi Hawaii Bowl — Hawaii and Louisiana Tech — have tried to find a balance between work and the Beach Boys’ mantra of fun, fun, fun. Read more

When the “office” is a Waikiki hotel with a postcard-perfect view of Diamond Head and the Pacific Ocean, life can be a beach.

Today’s participants in the SoFi Hawaii Bowl — Hawaii and Louisiana Tech — have tried to find a balance between work and the Beach Boys’ mantra of fun, fun, fun.

“We have 30 guys on our team who had never seen a beach before,” Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz said. “Next thing you know, they’re out there renting surfboards on Waikiki Beach. We have to make sure our focus is where we need to be when we step on the field.”

Of the 15 bowl practices allotted, UH coach Nick Rolovich used the early ones to give reps to redshirts and developing players. The coaches treated those practices as bonus training sessions.

But since Monday, the Rainbow Warriors have been in so-called “game-week” mode, honing schemes and tactics that will be used against the Bulldogs. Rolovich set the no-nonsense tone on Monday when he ordered the players to run sprints after a lackluster practice.

GAME DAY: HAWAII VS. LA TECH >> Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. Aloha Stadium

>> TV: ESPN

>> Radio: KKEA 1420-AM

>> Line: Pick ’em

Rolovich declared the bowl and this week’s signing period for recruits as the start of Phase II of the Warriors’ development.

“I think this bowl game is incredibly important going into this offseason,” Rolovich said. “I would say it’s always better when you win the last game. What’s that taste going to be in your mouth for (the next) nine months?”

This year was something of a roller-coaster ride. The Warriors entered with six new assistant coaches, a rebuilt offensive line, a vacancy at quarterback, and the implementation of more run-and-shoot schemes.

Cole McDonald shredded his perception as a run-first quarterback with a passing performance — 3,790 yards, 35 touchdowns and eight interceptions — that earned the best rating for a UH starter since Bryant Moniz in 2010. Moniz, who attended Thursday’s practice, praised McDonald’s leadership, work ethic and accuracy.

McDonald said he knew “people were doubting” whether he could operate the run-and-shoot.

“Like anyone, if you were doubted, you want to prove those guys wrong,” McDonald said. “More so, I wanted to prove to the team that I was that guy. That they can lean on me in times of need, and I can lean on them, and we can rally together to get wins.”

The Warriors won six of their first seven, lost the next four, then closed with consecutive victories to improve to 8-5, their first winning regular season in eight years.

Holtz acknowledged the Bulldogs have not replicated their recent offensive successes.

“And that’s going to be the challenge when we put the train back on the rails going forward because we have to be more efficient than we have been to win this game.”

But the Bulldogs’ defense has done well under coordinator Blake Baker, who counts Mack Brown, Will Muschamp and Duane Akina as influences. Baker was a linebacker on the Tulane team that beat UH in the inaugural Hawaii Bowl in 2002.

“It was a pretty cool experience,” Baker said.

This time, Baker is coaching one of the top pass rushers in NCAA history. Jaylon Ferguson needs 1.5 sacks to tie Terrell Suggs’ career record of 44.

“I would love for him to do that,” Holtz said. “Unfortunately, I know (the Warriors) don’t. That’s why we’re going to play the game. I have great respect for coach Rolovich, the program he’s built, the job he’s done, which has been incredible. … It’s got the makings, I think, to be a great football game.”