5-O with Fresno

“It just seems that whenever Hawaii and Fresno get together, there’s always a little extra juice.”

~Head Coach Nick Rolovich

And why is that?  Perhaps it’s because of the time when KITV sports anchor Robert Kekaula called Fresno the “armpit of America,” or the time a Fresno State fan allegedly threw a screwdriver at June Jones?  Or maybe the time the Bulldogs were accused of trashing their chartered plane during their flight to the islands, or when Fresno fans were reported to have told Boise State fans not to attend Hawaii games because of  potential violence?  Or maybe the time when the Bulldogs were staying on the north shore and the police escort expected to ease the traffic (the game was on a Friday) never showed up at the hotel?  Or when the team buses finally made it to Aloha Stadium the lot attendant tried to charge them for parking?  Or maybe the time Hawaii players claimed that 12-year old kids were yelling curse words and racial slurs at them while walking the “Red Mile?”

It’s like the hype leading to a Conor McGregor fight.

On Saturday night, Hawaii and Fresno State will meet for the 50th time, the most the Warriors have played against any opponent.  The record is almost dead even with the Bulldogs holding a slight advantage, leading the series 26-22-1.  Besides all the off-field drama, the fierce rivalry has provided us with many “wow” moments on the field, like this hit on Colt Brennan in 2007…

And Greg Salas smashing a defensive back in 2010.

Oh…and some memorable games!

November 13, 1999 – Quarterback Dan Robinson hit Craig Stutzmann for a touchdown in the second overtime period and Hawaii would hold on for a breathtaking 31-24 victory over the Bulldogs.  The victory would give the Warriors a share of the WAC conference championship and a berth in the 1999 Oahu Bowl.  First year head coach June Jones would lead the Warriors to a 9-4 record, capping off an amazing “worst-to-first” campaign, as the program went winless at 0-12 the previous year.  It still remains the biggest single season turnaround in NCAA history.

October 26, 2001 – This was the first of six meetings where one of the teams would be nationally ranked, but the game itself ranks as one of Hawaii’s best.  Trailing 27-16 in the fourth quarter, now head coach Nick Rolovich would lead the Warriors to a thrilling comeback over the 18th ranked Bulldogs.  After the inspirational Nate Jackson caused a David Carr fumble, Rolo would hit Ashley Lelie with the game winning 14-yard touchdown with 13 seconds left, as Hawaii upset Fresno State 38-34.

October 25, 2002 – Coach June Jones called the 31-21 victory the biggest win for him in his four seasons with the program and it was the first time Hawaii won in Fresno since 1973.  Trailing 21-9 with 14 minutes remaining, record-setting QB Timmy Chang led the Warriors to a dramatic rally, capping it off with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Britton Komine on 4th down for the go-ahead score; however, this game may best be remembered for another throw. The screwdriver throw.  Jones claimed that Fresno State fans threw objects toward the UH sideline, including a screwdriver that barely missed his head while he was exiting the stadium.  Although Fresno State issued an apology at the time saying, “we believe that a screwdriver was thrown by one of our fans at the University of Hawaii team bench,” many people claim that the story is an urban legend.  The media still has fun with it, suggesting that the schools create a rivalry trophy called the “golden screwdriver,” and Rolo is completely down with that idea.  How can this intense rivalry not have a trophy yet?

Hawaii Coach @NickRolovich wants Golden Screwdriver trophy awarded to winner of Fresno State game: https://t.co/1aNC3y1RG2 pic.twitter.com/y7qDUlxMcL

— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) November 18, 2016

October 4, 2008 – Hawaii gets its first ever road victory over a ranked opponent, upsetting the 22nd ranked Bulldogs 32-29 in OT.  Fresno State, who was three touchdown favorites entering the contest, came back from a six turnover, 17-point deficit to force the game into overtime, but Dan “Iceman” Kelly’s 33-yard field goal proved to be the game winner.

In that game, Ryan Mouton would make ESPN’s top 10 with this electrifying 90-yard kickoff return.

But what made this victory even more sweet was that Hawaii overcame possibly the worst call in history.  After missing a game winning 40-yard field goal wide left, the infamous “phantom running into the kicker penalty” gave Fresno State kicker Kevin Goessling  another chance to win the game; however, athletic justice would prevail, and Goessling would also miss the second kick, this time wide right.

September 28, 2013 – With now Oakland Raiders star QB Derek Carr leading the 25th ranked Bulldogs to a 42-3 lead with 6:11 remaining in the third quarter, Hawaii scored 34 unanswered points with a chance to win on its final possession.  Although losing 42-37 and falling a touchdown short of the greatest comeback in NCAA football history (the largest college football comeback to date belongs to Michigan State, as the Spartans rallied from 35 points down to stun Northwestern, 41-38 in 2006), the Warriors’ never-say-die attitude provided a thrilling second half of football.

November 13, 2016 – Trailing 13-7 with 3:33 remaining, Hawaii went on an impressive 74-yard drive, scoring a touchdown with 59 seconds left to take the lead 14-13.  Fresno State would fight back and had a chance to steal the victory with a game winning field goal, but Viane Moala blocked the 43-yarder, keeping Hawaii’s postseason hopes alive.

November 1, 20117 – ???  With a 4-1 conference record (6-3 overall), Fresno State is sitting atop the West Division.  After finishing last season with a 1-11 record, the Bulldogs were picked to finish last in the conference, but have turned it around under the leadership of first year head coach Jeff Tedford.  The Rainbow Warriors must win their remaining three games to become bowl eligible and although they hold a slight 14-13 advantage in contests against FSU at Aloha Stadium, the Bulldogs have won the last four played here.  That streak will end on Saturday!  Let’s see Hawaii celebrate this 50th anniversary with something golden…the Golden Screwdriver.

Game #10
Who: Hawai’i (3-6, 1-5 MW) vs. Fresno State (6-3, 4-1 MW)
When: Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017
Time: 6:00 p.m. HT
Where: Honolulu, O’ahu
Stadium: Hawaiian Tel FCU Field at Aloha Stadium (50,000)
Television: Spectrum Sports PPV (Spectrum Ch. 255/HD 1255 and Hawaiian Telcom Ch. 969) with Robert Kekaula (play-by-play), Rich Miano (analyst), and Scott Robbs (sidelines).
Radio: ESPN 1420 AM will carry the game live with Bobby Curran (play-by-play), John Veneri (analyst), and Mark Veneri (sidelines). Chris Hart and Gary Dickman host the “Countdown To Kickoff” beginning at 4:00 p.m. HT, and also the halftime show. Neighbor islands can listen live on KNUI on Maui, KPUA on the Big Island, KTOH on Kaua’i, and KNWJ in Pago Pago, American Samoa.
Video Streaming: The game will be distributed outside the state of Hawai’i via the Mountain West Network and through the MW’s digital media partner Stadium on www.WatchStadium.com.
Audio Streaming: ESPN1420am.com/Sideline Hawaii app
Live Stats: HawaiiAthletics.com
Series Information: Fresno State leads, 26-22-1.

#goldenscrewdriver #beatthebulldogs

#defendpriderock #livealoha #playwarrior