GEE, Guv. You missed a great game: Ben missed a great
way to start the yearHawaii 17, Minnesota 3.
You'd have to go back to 1988 for a more satisfying season-opening victory for the University of Hawaii football Rainbows at Aloha Stadium. That's when the 'Bows upset the Iowa Hawkeyes, 27-24, on a game-winning field goal by Jason Elam.
Any victory over a Big Ten team is noteworthy, even if the this year's Gophers might finish 11th in the mathematically challenged conference.
But Saturday's upset was a particular shocker because the Rainbows were coming off a 2-10 season and nobody was expecting much from them.
And the Gophers -- especially their new coach, Glen Mason, and quarterback, Cory Sauter -- didn't know what hit them. Mason must have muttered to himself, "We're not in Kansas anymore."
What hit them was a swarming defense that could be called the "Tropical Swarm" if they keep it up.
"That's what we expect. We swarm on defense, everybody get around the ball, ball gets loose, one of us should get it," said strong safety Chris Shinnick.
"That's what swarming's all about. When you get 11 crazy guys after the ball, things happen like that. That's the beauty of our defense."
Linebacker Rinda Brooks had crashed into Sauter trying to hand off. Shinnick picked up the loose ball at the 2-yard line and cruised into the end zone to put the 'Bows up, 14-3, early in the fourth quarter.
By then, the Rainbows were already smelling an upset, thanks to their new-look, 3-4 defense that takes advantage of the number of talented linebackers on the team.
JOINING the swarm was defensive back Eddie Klaneski, who again was at his ball-hawking best that earned him All-WAC first team honors last year.
Klaneski picked off a Sauter pass with an over-the-head catch in the end zone to stop one Gopher scoring threat. He also recovered a fumble. And he turned in the game's play of the day by returning a blocked field goal 78 yards.
He actually returned it 96 yards for a touchdown. But it was nullified because of an illegal block by Al Hunter, who was trailing Klaneski on the play. Still, you couldn't really fault Hunter. He had blocked the field goal attempt in the first place.
I don't know if you're still not on speaking terms with coach Fred vonAppen. But maybe at least you could congratulate his defensive coordinator, Don Lindsey. His defensive schemes worked to perfection.
Sadly lacking last year, the Rainbow defense came up with six sacks, six hurries of Sauter and forced the Gophers to go three plays-and-out seven times. And they converted only two of 16 third-down situations.
Helping to keep Minnesota in a hole was Chad Shrout, who boomed eight punts for a 47.4-yard average. More important, he pinned the Gophers inside their 20 five times, twice on the 9-yard line.
"He's a weapon," according to vonAppen. And a perfect complement to the new-found defense.
AS for the offense, it was obvious that quarterback Tim Carey was a bit rusty from not having played appreciably since his Stanford days two years ago. Still, he had a nice touch on his passes.
Now only if the 'Bows can come up with a couple of deep receivers. Wesley Morris showed flashes, especially after a one-handed grab for 10 yards that set up the first touchdown. Also, freshman Charles Tharp had fans on the edges of their seats every time he touched the ball.
All in all, a great opening victory over a Big Ten team, no matter who it is.
By the way, Guv. How did the speech go on Maui?