UH vs. FSU 'a huge game'

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

•	WHAT: WAC football, Hawai'i (5-2, 4-1) at Fresno State (4-4, 2-1) KICKOFF: 3 p.m. today TV/RADIO: Live on ESPN2/Live on 1420 AM

The game will be televised live by ESPN2 at 3 p.m.

"It's a huge game," UH linebacker Chris Brown said.

UH is 5-2 overall and 4-1 in the Western Athletic Conference; FSU is 4-4 and 2-1. Boise State (6-1, 3-0) already has defeated both teams, and it is widely predicted that the loser of today's game will be out of the running for the WAC title.

Neither team has much aloha for the other in what has become a heated annual meeting. The teams have traded home-field victories since 1995.

UH coach June Jones has praised the Bulldogs' reputed rowdy fans, then kept his team from practicing in Fresno. The Warriors spent Wednesday night in Ontario, Calif., practiced at Chaffey College yesterday and then arrived here last night.

"The way Boise is playing right now, we don't know who can stop them," UH offensive lineman Vince Manuwai said. "We're focusing on our season, and hoping we don't get another loss."

But the Bulldogs are a difficult obstacle, especially at home. In coach Pat Hill's six seasons at FSU, the Bulldogs are 27-4 at home. They are 10-3-1 against UH at Bulldog Stadium. The Warriors have not won in Fresno since 1973.

Last week, the Bulldogs suffered a one-sided loss to Boise State on national television. Hill compared the outcome "to losing your whole cotton crop. It was that kind of a deal."

The Bulldogs have lost three projected starters to injuries, including All-WAC wideout Bernard Berrian.

But Hill implored his team, which expected to contend for a top-25 ranking, to battle through this slump. This week, the Bulldogs resumed full-contact drills for the first time in a month. He had eased up on the hitting in practice to reduce the risk of injuries.

"You can either fight or fly," Hill said of the Bulldogs' situation, "and we have a bunch of fighters on this team."

The Bulldogs should get a battle against the Warriors.

"I kind of think of Fresno and Hawai'i as the two bad-boy teams," Brown said. "We're the teams with the tough guys. It's going to be a fight. No matter if it's for standings or not, it's going to be an awesome battle because both teams are hungry and aggressive. No matter what, it's going to be a good game between us. I love the competition and the environment. They're trying to kick our ass and we're trying to kick theirs. That's football. That's a rivalry."