Posted on: Wednesday, October 13, 2004

Majoring in Miner history

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

Less celebrated than the series with Brigham Young and less volatile than meetings with Conference USA teams, the University of Hawai'i's football history with Texas-El Paso has sometimes been overlooked.

And, that's too bad considering that, next to Fresno State, who they have played 36 times, the Warriors have no more enduring opponent and few more successful series than the one they lead 18-12 against the Miners.

Before they add Saturday's 31st — and last-scheduled football chapter — we offer a trivia quiz covering glimpses of the 54 years that bridge their series. So grab your pencils:

1. In 1979, two of us UH football coaches went for an early-morning jog in El Paso and found ourselves across the U.S.-Mexico border without our ID. When it was time to come back, we had a difficult time persuading immigration authorities that we were really football coaches. Who are we?

2. I made my college debut at El Paso in 2000, completing 9 of 22 passes for 130 yards. Now, four years and 4,069 yards later, I'll be back Saturday for one last crack. Who am I?

3. We trailed UTEP 10-3 at halftime and were booed off the field at Aloha Stadium in 1983. When a sideline reporter asked me for a comment, I told the radio audience the unvarnished truth: "We weren't worth a (bleep)." Who am I?

4. We are both former Hawai'i high school quarterbacks and were the improbable heroes in UH's 31-6 victory at El Paso in 2002. Neither one of us is named Chang.

One of us, who had never thrown a pass in a college game, replaced Chang in the third quarter and led the Warriors to 17 points. The other called and executed a fake on fourth down from the Hawai'i 27 that went for a 70-yard pass to set up a score. Who are we?

5. I won more collegiate games at UH than any other coach, but one of my worst losses came in 1980. The Miners beat us 17-10 for their only win in a 25-game stretch over three seasons and then celebrated like it was the Super Bowl. Who am I?

6. I ran for 202 yards and a TD in 1979 to help UH win in El Paso, 27-12, and give the school its first road victory in six years. Who am I?

7. Things went so easy for us in a 41-21 win at UTEP in 1992 that I summed it up saying, "this is like a buffet: you know what you want, you just have to pick the right things." Who am I?

8. I was a graduate assistant coach at UH under Bob Wagner in 1991 and now I'm UTEP's offensive coordinator. Who am I?

Correct your paper. If you get six or more correct, you are a scholar-fan. Three or more means you have been paying attention. Anything less and maybe it is time to follow soccer.

Answers: 1. Dick Tomey and Dave Fagg. 2. Tim Chang. 3. Tomey. 4. Shawn Withy-Allen and Chad Kapanui. 5. Tomey. 6. Gary Allen. 7. Darrick Branch. 8. Eric Price.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.