Bulldogs still smarting from loss to Boise State
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
As Fresno State football coach Pat Hill descended the airplane stairs and stepped onto the tarmac yesterday afternoon, it began to rain, dampening his wrinkle-free red jacket.
But even though a bad week wouldn't be getting better soon, Hill remained optimistic.
"Will the weather be like this for the game?" Hill asked a reporter, referring to tomorrow afternoon's nationally televised meeting between the 18th-ranked Bulldogs and host Hawai'i at Aloha Stadium. "I hope so. I love this weather."
Last Friday in Fresno, the Bulldogs lost to Boise State, ending their chase for a berth in the Bowl Championship Series.
For two months, they were national darlings, featured on ESPN and the cover of Sports Illustrated, the image of the triumphant underdog. After the loss — their first in seven games this season — they were the picture of despair.
"This has been a difficult week," Hill said. "They've worked hard, but you never know where you are. The game is all mental. We have to make sure we're mentally focused on this game. This will be a difficult game."
Hill has tried to keep the Bulldogs on a regular schedule. They had full-contact practices Monday and Tuesday, then practiced yesterday morning before boarding a charter flight on Aloha Airlines. Mike Chow, brother of Southern California offensive coordinator Norm Chow, was the pilot.
"It was fine," Hill said of the 5 1/2 hour flight.
There were 120 players, coaches, administrators , staff and supporters on the 124-seat airplane.
Hill said the Bulldogs are focusing on winning the Western Athletic Conference title. They are 2-1 in league play, trailing Rice (3-0) and Louisiana Tech (3-1). UH is 3-2, with its final three WAC games at Aloha Stadium.
"Our priority has never changed," Hill said. "Our goal at the start of the season was to win a WAC championship. We still have a lot of goals we want to attain. Last week was a temporary setback. Hopefully, we can get it going again this week."
• Punt freeze: UH punt returner Clifton Herbert endorsed the so-called "halo rule," in which a returner is allowed at least 2 yards of space to field a punt.
The rule gained attention when Fresno State's Kendall Edwards floored Boise State punt returner Tim Gilligan while the ball was still in the air. Gilligan was hospitalized briefly with neck spasms. It was the second time this year Edwards violated the halo rule and punished the returner, and this time it resulted in a one-game suspension.
"There needs to be a rule like that," Herbert said. "This isn't the XFL. Nobody's trying to get hurt."
Even Sean Butts, who is UH's point man in chasing the opposing punt returner, said the rule is fair. A 5-yard penalty is assessed for encroaching the halo; it's a 15-yard penalty for hitting a returner while the ball is in the air.
"Five yards for the halo penalty is good because sometimes you get pushed into a person," Butts said.
Butts said it is often difficult for a defender, running at full speed, to give a returner adequate space. "Sometimes you can't look up (for the ball) if you have a man on you," he said. "You have to have good judgment, especially when Mat (McBriar) is punting. You don't know where the ball is."
NOTES: Alternate parking sites for the game will be provided at Kam Drive-In, Radford High School and Leeward Community College.
At Kam, it's $3 per vehicle with free shuttle. At Radford, it's $2 per vehicle with no shuttle. At Leeward, parking is free with a $2 round trip shuttle. Shuttle service runs from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
