Posted on: Monday, December 6, 2004

UH fans savor big football victory

By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer

As he watched Michigan State running back Jason Teague dart into the end zone Saturday night, putting the Spartans up by three touchdowns in the second quarter, University of Hawai'i football fan Ronald Kim felt sick.

The 27-year-old, who works at the Intermediate Court of Appeals while he studies for the Hawai'i State Bar exam, was attending his first UH football game in 14 years, and he couldn't believe that the Warriors were on the verge of bitterly disappointing their fans.

But true fans hang in, and Kim, who earned his juris doctorate from the William S. Richardson School of Law, was not about to give up on the Warriors, who pulled out a 41-38 victory in the fourth quarter.

"You know that they're so explosive, so it was just a matter of time," he said yesterday. "But it still didn't look good."

It was an improbable third straight victory for UH, which finished the regular season with a 7-5 record, earned a spot in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl and put some swagger back into their fans' steps after a roller-coaster season that included blowout losses to Boise State and Fresno State.

"It was one of the greatest comebacks I've ever seen," said Evan Roberts, a 26-year-old carpenter from Pauoa. "My feet got a lot of use because I was standing up cheering."

David Henry, a Michigan State fan from Milwaukee, Wis., was happy to see the Warriors win, despite his allegiances.

"I think it's awesome," said Henry. "It was good for Hawai'i."

Much of the praise for yesterday's comeback went to quarterback Tim Chang, who put forth a heroic effort Saturday, and Chad Owens, the senior wide receiver with sure hands and quick and shifty feet.

Chang threw four touchdown passes, all to Owens, and with his team trailing 31-27 early in the fourth quarter, he orchestrated a 12-play, 80-yard drive that ended with his 1-yard touchdown run to seal the win.

"It was unbelievable because I didn't go to any games until this one," said Shantel Ramelb, a 20-year-old UH junior majoring in business. "It was really nice to see them step up."

Reach Peter Boylan at 535-8110 or pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.