By Lee Cataluna
Advertiser Columnist

The University of Hawai'i football team may have won on the scoreboard Saturday night, but to many people the Warriors lost — and lost shamefully.

The benches cleared, punches were thrown. A few fans threw cups and plastic bottles at University of Cincinnati players as they left the field. Police had to shoot pepper spray at the frenzied bottle-throwers to get them to stop. Worst of all, in post-game, post-beef interviews, no one from UH apologized. No one condemned the behavior. In fact, they sounded rather proud of themselves.

Hawai'i offensive lineman Uriah Moenoa's post-game quote was picked up by The Associated Press and spread wide: "We got a chance to get a lot of licks in," he said. "They lost the game, and they lost the fight."

When asked about the possibility of UH meeting Cincinnati again this year at the Hawai'i Bowl, Moenoa is quoted as saying, "I would love that. We can just skip the game and go straight to the fight."

Coach June Jones downplayed the behavior of his players and their fans. "It was unfortunate that it happened," Jones told reporters the night of the game, "but we scored one more point than they did, so that's all I care about at this point."

Wait a minute. Aren't there countless parents and coaches spending countless hours trying to teach kids the golden rule of sportsmanship, that it doesn't matter if you win or lose, it's that you get to the locker room at the end of the game without committing any felony assaults?

A large part of being a University of Hawai'i athlete is serving as a role model for Hawai'i kids. That may not be formally written on any athletic department literature, but it is just a fact that when you wear the Warrior jersey, kids look up to you. Let me tell you, when UH athletes visit schools on literacy day or what have you, all the kids swarm around them while the business leaders, politicians and journalists stand alone.

How sad that parents and coaches now have to do damage control to the little Warrior fans. "Don't act like them. That wasn't right."

OK, maybe there were questionable calls by the referees and a late hit to an already-injured Tim Chang. Perhaps there were taunts and hits on the field from the opposing team. But what happened to good sportsmanship? Doesn't that matter on the college level? Or is it something we only want from 8-year-olds wielding bats?

The American Youth Soccer Organization makes the parents of their players sign a pledge that says, in part: I will honor the game ... No matter what others may do, I will show respect for all involved in the game, including coaches, players, opponents, opposing fans and referees. I understand that officials, coaches and players make mistakes. If the referee makes a 'questionable' call, I will continue to respect the individual and be silent!"

The players and fans who threw fists and bottles Saturday night dishonored the game.

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com.