Monday, September 16, 1996
Other mainland parents waited outside, wiping tears from their eyes, as they tried to figure out ways to comfort their sons before they left Laramie, Wyo., for the Denver International Airport.
It was a somber setting for family members who traveled near and far to see the worst beating administered to a Hawaii team in 20 years.
"What can you say to these folks?" Rainbows defensive coordinator Don Lindsey asked before boarding the bus. "Football has been as much a part of their lives as their children's.
"I don't know what to tell them. In all my years of coaching, I have never been a part of something like this. It hurts deep down in your gut to see these kids put forth so much effort and get so little in return."
The challenge this week will be for the UH coaching staff to overcome all the in-house fighting and focus on the problem at hand - can this team win a football game this season?
One of Hawaii's better opportunities would appear to be this Saturday at Aloha Stadium against Division I newcomer Boise State. Not to say it's going to be easy, because an 0-3 start says otherwise. But if nothing else, this team seems to have perseverance and pride.
"You have to love them because they never quit," UH head coach Fred vonAppen said.
There was little anyone could do in the 66-0 rout by Wyoming. Five turnovers, another blocked punt for a touchdown and an inability to understand the West Coast offense left the Rainbows reeling.
There also was plenty of confusion in the defensive secondary as the Rainbows tried to mix zone and man coverages. UH secondary coach Trent Miles said, "Blame this one on me. If they were confused it was because I didn't put them in the proper coverages."
Moments after the team buses left on the first leg of the journey home, Wyoming head coach Joe Tiller and his wife headed toward their car, feeling secure about the first 3-0 start in his six years as Wyoming's head coach.
"Hawaii has to renew its commitment to the football program," Tiller said. "Just because you hire new coaches and put in a new system, doesn't mean success will naturally follow. I feel for those coaches. I told them they were simply overmatched."
You won't get any argument from vonAppen as he tries to prepare his team for Boise State. After watching the films of the weekend debacle, vonAppen jokingly said yesterday that he wanted to burn them.
"Hopefully, we learned something from them as coaches," vonAppen said. "I'll say one thing for our guys, they're resilient. I feel like we'll bounce back emotionally, but how long can it last?"
Backup linebacker Paulo Kamakeeaina chipped a bone in his shoulder and could be out anywhere from four to six weeks.
The playing status of wide receiver Gerald Lacey (hip pointer), quarterback Glenn Freitas (shoulder) and defensive lineman Brian Chapman (knee) won't be known until later in the week.
"We missed all three of those guys this weekend," vonAppen said. "We needed Glenn's leadership on the field, Gerald on the kickoff returns and Brian up front so we could put some pressure on their quarterback."
Running back Carlos Shaw played for the first time this season after missing the first two games with a badly sprained ankle. Tony Thomas also returned to the lineup after missing last week with a shoulder problem.
Thomas carried the ball two times for four yards, while Shaw managed 20 yards on four carries.
Last week, the Rainbows were No. 14 nationally in pass defense and No. 42 in total defense, but after giving up more than 500 yards to Wyoming this weekend, Hawaii dropped out of sight on both fronts.
Punter Eric Hannum and kick returner Steve Laulu fell out of the top 50 in their respective categories as well.