They were listed as the designated "home" team in yesterday's Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl, but in the absence of hometown University of Hawai'i, SMU players said they felt like the genuine one.

"Most of the fans seemed like they liked us," said nose guard Torian Pittman. "It was like a second home to us."

Said Pittman, "If they (UH) had been here, it wouldn't have been that way, but it would have been a bigger crowd."

The crowd was announced as 20,217 with a reported 32,650 ticket distributed.

Mustangs were focused: With this being SMU's first bowl appearance in 25 years, Mustangs coaches said they were unsure how their players would react to the trip and all that surrounded it.

"It was interesting watching this team practice this week because these kids have never been to a bowl game," said SMU assistant Jeff Reinhold , a former Hawai'i assistant.

"So, we were a little unsure about what we were going to get on the field. And, then there are so many distractions. But give the kids credit, they were so focused when we got here and when it came time to work."

Klemm enjoying second career: Former Hawai'i offensive lineman Adrian Klemm completed his first season as the Mustangs offensive line coach and said he'd like to make a career of it.

"I was thinking about trying to get on at UH but June told me, 'Come on down here and help us,' " said Klemm, who earned three Super Bowl rings with the Patriots. "I wanted to test it out so I volunteered a little last year."

This season he became a full-time coach and said, "I love it. My dad's been a career coach and this is what I want to do."

NOTES

The 45-10 rout by SMU was the largest margin of victory in a Hawai'i Bowl; the previous record was set last year when Notre Dame beat Hawai'i , 49-21 ... SMU running back Shawnbrey McNeal's three rushing TDs ties him with three others for most in Hawai'i Bowl history ... It was Nevada's fifth consecutive bowl appearance and fourth straight loss in a bowl game. The Wolf Pack's last postseason win came in the 2005 Hawai'i Bowl — a 49-48 overtime win over Central Florida ... The officiating crew was from the Mountain West Conference ... With SMU's victory, Conference USA is 3-3 all-time in the Hawai'i Bowl. The Western Athletic Conference is 4-4.