FRESNO, Calif. — To symbolize the rivalry between the University of Hawai'i and Fresno State, a San Joaquin Valley radio station asked its listeners to design and deliver a trophy to go to the winner of the football game between the two schools.

It is to be called the "Golden Screwdriver" KFIG said in recognition of the controversy that has followed UH's 31-21 victory over the Bulldogs in 2002.

After that game, Hawai'i's first win at Bulldog Stadium, then-UH coach June Jones said several objects were thrown at the UH sideline and he found a screwdriver near where he was standing. His account was corroborated by others.

It remains a mystery where the screwdriver came from but Fresno State issued an apology at the time saying, "we believe that a screwdriver was thrown by one of our fans at the University of Hawai'i team bench."

Since then, the episode has taken on a life of its own, coming to symbolize the series between the two schools who do not have a rivalry trophy. KFIG said it received several "trophy" candidates yesterday awarding tailgate party passes to the contributors.

But FSU athletic department spokesman Steve Weakland yesterday said the contest "is not recognized by the school ... there will be no presentation."

For a time, before the break-up of the old Western Athletic Conference, UH had two trophy games.

The Warriors and Wyoming played for the Paniolo Trophy, which was tied to a group of Hawai'i and Wyoming folks with roots in the two states.

UH and Air Force played for the General Laurence S. Kuter Trophy.

General Kuter was the commander in chief of the Pacific Air Forces headquartered at Hickam in the 1950s.

But since 1997 and the split of the WAC, UH has been without a trophy game.

SELLOUT IN FRESNO

Despite a forecasts for rain at times today, Fresno State said it projects a sellout of 41,031-seat Bulldog Stadium for the game.

Weakland said, "As of noon Friday, all of the student tickets were sold and a little over 1,000 tickets remain. A sellout is projected."

The largest crowd to see UH play in Fresno was 42,160 in 2000.

NOT SO WELCOMING

A desk clerk at the hotel where UH is quartered in Fresno greeted an arriving guest from Hawai'i with this welcoming:

"How was your flight?

And, are you ready to lose to the Bulldogs?"

GOLF FANS CAN SCORE

A golf shop in Fresno is running a promotion whereby if the Bulldogs score 40 points or more, customers will receive 20 percent off purchases the next day.

BASEBALL BUMP

Fresno State baseball coach Mike Batesole has received a raise to a $160,008 per year after taking the Bulldogs to the College World Series title, The Fresno Bee reported.

The raise from what had been a $127,000 salary is believed to make Batesole the highest paid baseball coach in the WAC.

Women's basketball coach Adrian Wiggins' salary jumps from $115,000 to $145,008, the paper reported.