Sports Watch
So all one can say about the University of Hawaii's 20-0 loss at Fresno State Saturday night was thank heavens the Bulldogs lost four fumbles or otherwise it would have been at least 42-0. Let's not even mention that their kicker missed three field goals, two from point-blank range.
But even Rainbow fans, diehard or otherwise, are entitled to ask a few questions.
For instance:
When will the Rainbows stop flunking their WAC road tests and finally win one away from Aloha Stadium?
Heck, when will they ever score - even a field goal - away from home again?
When's the last time they were shut out twice in one season? (1966, if you must know).
When's the last time they were shut out on the road three times in one season? (Thirty-two years ago, if you must really know).
If former coach Bob Wagner was booed for being very predictable in his offense, will UH's new offensive coordinator Guy Benjamin be booed as well for doing the same in the Fresno State game? In a word, UH's play-calling at Fresno State was bo-ring.
When will Benjamin turn to the second page of the playbook of the West Coast offense? We're now past the stage of throwing two-yard, lateral passes on third-and-eight situations.
Why is it that the primary receiver is the safety valve, someone swinging out from the left side of the backfield?
Does UH have a 15- to 18-yard pass downfield in its playbook? At least on third-and-long situations?
WHY did the Rainbows run out the clock just before the half with first-and-10 on Fresno State's 41?
Why didn't coach Fred vonAppen, who must have known better, yank an ineffective Glenn Freitas at least by the fourth quarter of the game?
Why wasn't Johnny Macon playing quarterback? He ran for two touchdowns and passed for two more in last year's 42-37 victory over Fresno State.
Will we ever see Josh Skinner again this season? Or even next year?
Why did the Rainbows stubbornly try to establish the run when it was obvious they couldn't?
Why is poor Carlton Oswalt subjected to trying to kick field goals when they keep getting blocked?
Why wasn't Eric Hannum punting away from the Bulldogs' Brian Roberson instead of kicking straight to him? Especially after Roberson returned one 62 yards for a touchdown that iced the game.
Why are all his punts being blocked, or close to being blocked?
Why is Hannum punting?
When will the special teams stop giving up points?
How come Al Hunter, who played so aggressively against Boston College, suddenly revert to his 1995 form, playing 10 yards back of the man he's guarding? Even on a third-and-two situation?
WILL free safety Eddie Klaneski, who set a school record with 23 tackles against the Bulldogs, be this year's version of Clint Kuboyama, who led the team in tackles last season, also as a free safety?
Why is it that Rainbow free safeties are making all these tackles and not some linebacker?
Enough questions already. The UH coaching staff has enough problems.
The sad thing is that Fresno State was probably the last and best chance for the Rainbows to win a WAC game on the road this season. There are two more away games - at San Diego State and Air Force, and both aren't very winnable.
The only other question is - can the Rainbows bounce back this Saturday at home against the Colorado State Rams, who must also be licking some psychological wounds after losing to Nebraska, 65-9, last week?
The answer? Not if UH plays the way it did against Fresno.