Posted on: Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Fresno's not exactly fan-friendly
• Fresno State's Hill wants to play UH twice in '05
• Warriors are in for a dogfight
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
University of Hawai'i assistant football coach Mike Cavanaugh, who appears to have learned social grace from Shrek, often uses high-decibel instructions and insults to teach his offensive linemen.
Who knew such a method would be helpful in preparing the Warriors for Friday's nationally televised road game against Fresno State?
"We know Fresno has hostile fans, but they can't yell anything that we haven't heard before from our coach," said Uriah Moenoa, who has recovered from a hamstring injury and will start at center. "Our meeting room is Fresno. Nobody's safe. We get on each other all of the time. We hurt each other more than (Fresno fans) can hurt us."
It isn't for a lack of effort by Bulldog fans, who turn every home game into "The Jerry Springer Show." Bulldog hecklers have treated the visiting team's journey from the changing area to the playing field as a 372-step hazing.
The fans will line the path, known as the "Red Mile," and "they'll yell anything and everything at you," safety Leonard Peters said. "They'll get at your family. They don't even know you, but they'll do whatever it takes to get under your skin. Little kids, big kids, old men. Some can't even speak English and they're swearing at you in whatever language they're saying. They bark at you. They've got eight ways to say, 'You (stink).' "
Defensive tackle Lui Fuga, who can bench press 485 pounds, recalled when "two skinny dudes took off their shirts and called me out. I couldn't believe they had the nerve to call me out like that. I was like, 'Wow, these guys are either stupid or drunk.' It was a weird experience."
Moenoa said more than a few fans use profanity. "I laughed when a little kid was saying some R-rated stuff, right next to his dad," Moenoa said. "His dad was like, 'Yeah, son, way to go.' I was like, 'Holy smokes.' I think I'll take a couple of extra Bibles on this trip and hand it out to those guys."
Cornerback Abraham Elimimian said: "They've got a lot of little Slim Shadys. It can get pretty hostile. We did some things, too. We were laughing at them. I think that got them agitated."
During UH's comeback victory in 2002, Elimimian protested a pass-interference call by uprooting a pylon and tossing it.
"It might enhance the atmosphere if I have a repeat performance," Elimimian said.
Several Warriors find the heckling to be entertaining. "It's funny to hear people you don't know cracking stale jokes," offensive guard Brandon Eaton said. "I remember someone yelling: 'Eaton stop eatin'!' I thought that was pretty funny."
Peters, who was raised in Kahuku, recalled a fan yelling: "Hey, Peters, go back to Mexico."
Nick Rolovich, a former UH quarterback who is working as a student manager this semester, remembered when the Warriors practiced near a fraternity house in 2000. The language was more French than Greek.
"That was a pretty good time," Rolovich said. "If they take that much time yelling from a frat house, that shows how much they care. You have to laugh when they're going after your kicker."
It is no coincidence the Warriors never practiced again in Fresno. The Warriors, who depart today, will practice in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., tomorrow morning before traveling to Fresno.
The Warriors insist the best way to hush the crowd is to win, as they did in 2002.
That's better than Plan B. During warm-ups at SMU in 2001, a musician in the marching band began to heckle a female member of UH's travel party. After learning of the incident, Rolovich instructed wide receiver Ashley Lelie to run a practice down-and-out route, but not to catch the ball. Rolovich's pass sailed past Lelie and struck the musician. UH won, 38-31, in overtime.
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.
