1978 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1978
| team = Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Independent
| record = 6–5
| head_coach = Dick Tomey
| hc_year = 2nd
| off_coach =
| oc_year =
| off_scheme =
| def_coach = Bob Burt
| dc_year = 2nd
| def_scheme =
| captain =
| stadium = Aloha Stadium
}}
{{1978 NCAA Division I-A independents football records}}
The 1978 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team represented the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa as an independent during the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their second season under head coach Dick Tomey, the Rainbow Warriors compiled a 6–5 record.{{cite news|title=1978 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|accessdate=December 22, 2020|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/hawaii/1978-schedule.html}}{{cite web|title=2020 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Football Media Guide|publisher=University of Hawaii|year=2020|page=174|accessdate=December 22, 2020|url=https://hawaiiathletics.com/documents/2020/10/16/2020_Football_Media_Guide.pdf}}
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 9
| w/l = w
| opponent = New Mexico
| site_stadium = Aloha Stadium
| site_cityst = Halawa, HI
| score = 22–16
| attend = 40,701
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/honolulu-star-bulletin-bows-wac-lobos-2/157424855/|work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin|title=Bows WAC Lobos, 22–16|date=September 10, 1978|accessdate=October 19, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 16
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Nebraska
| opprank = 12
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Lincoln, NE
| score = 10–56
| attend = 75,615
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-injuries-dim-the-afte/157523581/|work=Omaha World-Herald|title=Injuries dim the afterglow of Huskers' impressive win|date=September 17, 1978|accessdate=October 20, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 30
| w/l = w
| opponent = Cal State Fullerton
| site_stadium = Aloha Stadium
| site_cityst = Halawa, HI
| score = 42–33
| attend = 36,618
| source = {{cite news|title=Hawaii Catches Fullerton Defenseless Again, 42-33|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times|location=Los Angeles, California|author=Pete Donovan|date=October 2, 1978|page=III-10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8804316/hawaii_catches_fullerton_defenseless/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 7, 2017}}{{Open access}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 7
| w/l = w
| opponent = San Jose State
| site_stadium = Aloha Stadium
| site_cityst = Halawa, HI
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 25–11
| attend = 36,049
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-peninsula-times-tribune-spartan-grid/157499685/|work=The Peninsula Times Tribune|title=Spartan grid coach Stiles: "We let a lot of people down"|date=October 9, 1978|accessdate=October 20, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 14
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = UNLV
| site_stadium = Las Vegas Silver Bowl
| site_cityst = Whitney, NV
| score = 20–30
| attend = 17,010
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/nevada-state-journal-unlv-30-hawaii-20/157639453/|work=Nevada State Journal|title=UNLV 30, Hawaii 20|date=October 15, 1978|accessdate=October 22, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 28
| w/l = l
| homecoming = y
| opponent = Pacific (CA)
| site_stadium = Aloha Stadium
| site_cityst = Halawa, HI
| score = 17–27
| attend = 36,867
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/honolulu-star-bulletin-uop-passes-up-uh/157501342/|work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin & Advertiser|title=UOP passes up UH homecoming|date=October 29, 1978|accessdate=October 20, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 4
| w/l = w
| opponent = UTEP
| site_stadium = Aloha Stadium
| site_cityst = Halawa, HI
| score = 35–13
| attend = 27,240
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/el-paso-times-hawaiis-second-half-surge/157427416/|work=The El Paso Times|title=Hawaii's second-half surge bests Miners|date=November 6, 1978|accessdate=October 19, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 11
| w/l = w
| opponent = New Mexico State
| site_stadium = Aloha Stadium
| site_cityst = Halawa, HI
| score = 35–20
| attend = 25,193
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/honolulu-star-advertiser-hawaii-35-new-m/72096831/|work=The Honolulu Star-Bulletin & Advertiser|title=Rainbows run wild, 35–20|date=November 12, 1978|accessdate=October 22, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 18
| w/l = w
| opponent = Wyoming
| site_stadium = Aloha Stadium
| site_cityst = Halawa, HI
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 27–22
| attend = 40,182
| source = {{cite news|title=Cowboys feel Jett lag|newspaper=The Honolulu Advertiser|author=Dick Fishback|date=November 19, 1978|page=J1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116013043/cowboys-feel-jett-lag/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 25
| w/l = l
| opponent = BYU
| site_stadium = Aloha Stadium
| site_cityst = Halawa, HI
| score = 13–31
| attend = 35,678
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-cougars-roar-back/157418762/|work=The Salt Lake Tribune|title=Cougars roar back to bounce Hawaii|date=November 27, 1978|accessdate=October 19, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 2
| w/l = l
| opponent = USC
| opprank = 3
| site_stadium = Aloha Stadium
| site_cityst = Halawa, HI
| score = 5–21
| attend = 48,767
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-hawaii-makes-usc-s/157639549/|work=The Los Angeles Times|title=Hawaii makes USC sweat before surrndering, 21–5|date=December 3, 1978|accessdate=October 22, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
}}