There has been raging controversy, compelling personalities and memorable games over the course of the 70-year-old University of Hawai'i and Fresno State football series, almost everything a rivalry should have but ...

Well, something to symbolize it.

Considering it is the most active (41 games) and closest-fought (20-20-1) series in UH history, it is not only about time but overdue that this gets some kind of hardware in recognition.

In the landscape of college football, where there are axes, buckets, cups and assorted other symbols to add fuel to rivalries, this is one that cries out for something as the Warriors and Bulldogs meet Saturday night at Aloha Stadium.

So much so that last year Fresno radio station KFIG commissioned a contest to design an appropriate trophy, the Golden Screwdriver, in recognition of the controversy that followed UH's 31-21 victory in 2002.

A fitting choice recalling when then-UH coach June Jones claimed several items, including a screwdriver, had been thrown at him from the stands. It was an account backed up by others and resulted in an official apology from Fresno State. Since then, the episode has taken on a life of its own and fans in Fresno embraced the contest.

FSU, however, not wanting to keep alive the screwdriver story or encourage a reputation for rowdy fans, refused to recognize the KFIG trophy. Fair enough since UH, too, has had its fan behavior incidents in the series.

But you figure there must be something — the Golden Plow? — that both schools could agree on to symbolize the rivalry. Or, something to recognize the hard-hitting nature of the series sponsored by Kaiser?

UH athletic director Jim Donovan said he is willing to bring up the subject with his opposite number, Thomas Boeh, when they meet this week. "I think it would be good to have something for the teams to play for," Donovan said.

Once upon a time the Warriors had trophies for players to hoist in the air after victories, and items to put in the trophy case. There was the Paniolo Trophy, sponsored by a local group with roots in the Cowboy State, to commemorate the series with Wyoming. There was the Gen. Laurence S. Kuter Trophy, honoring a former commander in chief of the Pacific Air Forces headquarters, for the series with Air Force. But those series ended when Wyoming and Air Force bolted for the Mountain West.

Of the teams UH regularly plays now, Fresno State, Boise State and San Jose State make the best candidates for hardware games. Fresno and Boise already have the Milk Can for their series. Time UH and Fresno State got around to something, too.