Rolovich will finish college career in Hula Bowl
Advertiser Staff
Hawai'i quarterback Nick Rolovich received and accepted an invitation to the Hula Bowl Maui after yesterday's game at Aloha Stadium.
Rolovich passed for 543 yards and eight touchdowns — both school records — in a 72-45 victory over previously unbeaten and nationally ranked Brigham Young.
"You guys made my day," Rolovich said while accepting the invitation from Hula Bowl officials. "I'll be there, for sure."
In his past three games, Rolovich passed for 1,548 yards with three consecutive 500-yard games and 20 touchdowns.
Rolovich joins four other Warriors in the Hula Bowl Maui, scheduled for Feb. 2 at War Memorial Stadium.
The others are safeties Nate Jackson and Jacob Espiau, receiver Craig Stutzmann and defensive end Joe Correia.
Assistant coach Mike Cavanaugh began the campaign to add one more: "It would be a bleeping injustice if (center Brian Smith) isn't in that game, too."
• Advertising blitz: The University of Hawai'i, the Western Athletic Conference and ESPN spent the week in heated discussion about the on-the-field advertising panels that ring the playing field at Aloha Stadium.
ESPN was upset that the ads were on the field for the Oct. 26 UH-Fresno State game on ESPN and didn't want them in place for yesterday's game shown on ESPN2. It claimed its contract with the WAC forbids so-called "soccer signage," according to UH and WAC officials.
UH maintained the signage agreement predated the WAC television contract and said it could not afford to pull the plastic A-frame ads.
• See you next year: BYU players said they already have an eye on next year's Sept. 7 rematch with the Warriors — in Provo, Utah.
"We'll be looking to that one," Reno Mahe, a BYU wide receiver said.
"I thought they weren't coming for a few more years but next year will be great," said Mahe, who will be a senior.
Said UH coach June Jones: "I'm sure BYU is looking forward to that one, that's for sure."
• Lelie's thinking about it: Junior receiver Ashley Lelie said after yesterday's game that he is still unsure about his future with the Warriors. For the last month, Lelie has contemplated early entry into the NFL Draft.
"I'm going to give it time," he said. "I want to listen to more advice and then see what happens. Now that the season is over, I can relax a little more and think about it."
Lelie is UH's all-time leading receiver with 3,341 yards, 32 touchdown receptions and 194 catches. He also established single-season records this year with 84 receptions, 1,713 yards and 19 touchdowns.
• He deserves a PAT on the back: Because of some excessive celebrations, redshirt freshman kicker Justin Ayat had some interesting PATs, including a 50-yarder after Craig Stutzmann's double unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after he punted the ball following a touchdown and continued his celebration by leaping into the stands.
"I don't mind," Ayat said. "It's understandable. It's the seniors' last game; they want to go out with a bang. I don't mind kicking the long ones.
"It was worth it, Stutz going into the stands. That's great."
• Drive, he said: UH receivers coach Ron Lee usually drives to Aloha Stadium on game days. But yesterday, hoping to avoid anticipated traffic, Lee wanted to ride the team bus from the Ilikai Hotel. But he ended up driving on his own. It seems that UH head coach June Jones is a bit superstitious.
"June said he wanted everybody to stay the same way," Lee said.
Lee ended up getting stuck in traffic, arriving at 9:30 a.m., almost an hour after the team buses.
• Nabors and friends: Jim Nabors sang the national anthem, which was followed by Reign's performance of God Bless America. Former UH running back Afatia Thompson is one of the members of the group.
