Hawai'i Bowl pleased to get UH
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
After several weeks of white-knuckle, stomach-turning moments, University of Hawai'i athletic director Herman Frazier accepted a bid to the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl, to be played Dec. 24 against Alabama-Birmingham.
"I'm just so happy for this team and this coaching staff," he said. "I figure it's fitting they get to play one more game on Christmas Eve."
Hawai'i Bowl director Jim Donovan called it "one of the great moments in University of Hawai'i football history."
"The last three games, going 3-0, and two wins against Big Ten teams, I can't tell you how pleased I am," Donovan added. "I gotta tell you, I had a couple of heart attacks the past couple of weeks."
It will be a reunion of sorts for Frazier, who was the AD at UAB before coming to Hawai'i.
"I've been quiet about it all this time," Frazier said. "I'm the athletic director at the University of Hawai'i, that's the team I'll be rooting for."
Hawai'i Spartans watch from sidelines
Former Michigan State players Dick Kenney, an Iolani grad who played from 1964 to 1966, Bob Apisa of Farrington (1965-67), and Punahou's Kale Ane (1972-74) were present on the Spartans' sideline.
"I'm cheering for both teams," said Ane, the coach for Punahou's varsity football team. "I'm disappointed Michigan State lost, but Hawai'i was the better team tonight. They played outstanding."
Other former Spartans from Hawai'i include Iolani's Larry Cundiff (1957-59) and Roger Lopes (1961-63), Farrington's William Kaai (1955), Kamehameha's Carter Kamana (1981-84), Punahou's Arnold Morgado (1972) and Charlie Wedemeyer (1966, '68), and Saint Louis' Jim Nicholson (1970, '72) and Douglas Won (1972).
Teams lose players because of ejections
Hawai'i sophomore offensive lineman Jeremy Inferrera and Michigan State sophomore defensive end Clifton Ryan were ejected at the 7:53 mark in the second quarter for excessive fouls committed during a Hawai'i extra-point attempt.
Officials from Western Athletic Conference
Last night's officiating crew were all from the Western Athletic Conference.
MSU was assessed 16 penalties for 119 yards, including a holding penalty that nullified a 75-yard rushing touchdown by Michigan State in the second quarter and an illegal block call that negated a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by the Spartans in the fourth quarter.
Hawai'i had 5 penalties for 35 yards, including a holding call that nullified a Michael Brewster touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Michigan State 2-2 at Aloha Stadium
Michigan State is 2-2 playing at the Aloha Stadium. The Spartans made two appearances in the Aloha Bowl, losing to No. 21 Washington in 1997 and defeating No. 25 Hawai'i in 1989.
MSU's last regular season appearance was in 1947, and according to MSU's press release Hawai'i was in its second season in the NCAA and Hawai'i's game program sold for 25 cents.
Hawai'i picked up its first win against MSU, and is 1-3 against Michigan State, also losing to the Spartans in 1948 at Macklin Field in East Lansing, Mich.
UH finally breaks through on ESPN
Hawai'i picked up its first win in a game televised by ESPN networks this season.
Hawai'i lost to Boise State on ESPN2 and Fresno State on ESPN, and the game against UTEP was televised regionally on ESPN Plus.
Last night's game was televised nationally on ESPN2.
Hawai'i's losing effort against Rice was also broadcast regionally on Sportswest.
NOTES
Special guests: Western Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson flew in for the game, and former University of Hawai'i President Evan Dobelle was on Hawai'i's sideline.
Birthday celebration: Sophomore defensive lineman Ikaika-Alama Francis celebrated his 20th birthday yesterday. He finished with three tackles.
Many happy returns: Senior slotback Chad Owens became UH's career leader in punt returns, totalling 924 yards. He had 906 entering the game, and added 18 last night. Owens passes Jeff Sydner (1989-91), who had 920 yards.
Perfect in black: The Warriors are 13-3 when playing in their all-black uniforms, including a 5-0 record at home in this season.
Sound of music: Willie K. sang the National Anthem and Hawai'i Pono'i, and the UH band provided the halftime entertainment, performing "California Dreamin',", "On Broadway," and "La Suerte De Los Tontos."
East Lansing next year: The UH-MSU series continues in September 2005 with the Warriors going to East Lansing, Mich. The third and final game of the contracted series brings the Spartans back to Aloha Stadium in 2007, an MSU spokesman said.
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.
