Warriors, Bulldogs have payback on their minds
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
The college football rivalry between Hawai'i and Fresno State is defined by two images.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
In 1999 at Aloha Stadium, with fans screaming until their voices became a rasp, the Warriors won in double overtime, seizing a share of the Western Athletic Conference title.
Senior quarterback Nick Rolovich, right, will get his fourth consecutive start of the season today against 18th-ranked Fresno State, while Tim Chang, left, is sidelined with a sprained right wrist.
"It was real tough," FSU wideout Bernard Berrian said. "It was a long plane ride home, too. You have to think about it the whole time home."
A rematch in the Islands, Berrian said, "that's big-time motivation."
Last year at Bulldog Stadium, with fans woofing taunts apparently created from each Warriors' biography, the Bulldogs won in a runaway.
"It was one of the worst places I've ever been to," UH middle linebacker Chris Brown said. "They have that place called 'The Dog Pound' (where fans) eat you alive. They know everything about you. Just walking into the stadium, with the crowd barking, it gets to you mentally."
The Bulldogs "were whupping on us, and we had to take it," UH slotback Channon Harris said. "There's nothing you can do but try to get them back later."
30 Montana 12
FRESNO STATE (6-1) 24 at Colorado 22
Well, "later" is today, with the teams meeting in a nationally televised game at Aloha Stadium. Kickoff is at 4 p.m.
•
HAWAI'I (4-2)
20 at Nevada 28
24 Rice 27
38 at SMU, 2OT 31
66 UTEP 7
36 at Tulsa 15
Oct. 26 Fresno St., 4 p.m.
Nov. 3 San Jose St., 6 p.m.
Nov. 10 Boise St., 6 p.m.
Nov. 17 Miami (Ohio), 6 p.m.
Nov. 24 Air Force, 6 p.m.
Dec. 8 BYU, 11 a.m.
44 Oregon St. 24
32 at Wisconsin 20
37 at Tulsa 18
38 Louisiana Tech 28
25 at Colorado St., OT 22
30 Boise St. 35
Oct. 26 at Hawai'i, 4 p.m.
Nov. 3 Rice, 2 p.m.
Nov. 10 at SMU, 10 a.m.
Nov. 17 at Nevada, 10 a.m.
Nov. 24 San Jose St., 2 p.m.
Dec. 1 Utah St., 10 a.m.
"This is Round 3," Harris said. "It'll be like Ali-Frazier, the 'Thrilla in Manila.' "
Last week against Boise State, the Bulldogs (6-1, 2-0 in WAC) suffered what coach Pat Hill described as a "devastating" loss, which apparently ousted them from contention for a berth in the lucrative Bowl Championship Series.
The Warriors have won three in a row, all with senior quarterback Nick Rolovich starting in place of Tim Chang, who has a sprained right wrist.
"This is our BCS game," UH defensive end Joe Correia said. "It's going to be a battle. They'll make plays, we'll make plays. It's going to come down to who makes the most plays."
Hill said the previous two meetings have created a rivalry between the teams.
"I think it's a great rivalry," Hill said. "There's no love lost between the two, and that's what makes good rivalries ... I think it's very good to have a rivalry. I like it. I think it's a great game. I think these two teams get after each other very hard. I don't think there are any ill feelings. I think you have two teams competing very hard against each other. I think that's good for football."
Both sides will be without key starters. "But that's the way football is," Hill said. "Sometimes you have players in, sometimes you don't. You have to play with the 11 you've got."
He also said the afternoon start should not be a factor. The game was moved from Saturday night to accommodate ESPN.
"I don't care if we play at 2 in the morning or 6," Hill said. "It really doesn't make any difference. It's for TV, and we need TV exposure, so we've got to do it. I don't think we can say no to TV. We need exposure (for) both schools (and) our conference."
