DO you know the way to San Jose? Spartans might
be Rainbows’
last hopeApparently, the Hawaii football Rainbows don't. Historically, they haven't found a way to beat San Jose State with any regularity.
They've never beaten the Spartans in San Jose, salvaging a 35-35 tie there in 1991.
And they've been no match for San Jose State since it became a member of the Western Athletic Conference. The Spartans have owned the Rainbows since then, winning 38-17 in 1996 and 38-14 last year.
So you have to wonder how the winless Rainbows will fare against the Spartans Saturday night at Aloha Stadium.
The Spartans can do something the Rainbows can't -- score.
They beat Stanford and lit up the scoreboard for 43 points in a loss to Brigham Young. A questionable holding penalty deprived them of a go-ahead TD against the Cougars.
The showing against BYU didn't go unnoticed by Hawaii coach Fred vonAppen.
"Anybody who can score 43 points against BYU is a real deal," said vonAppen, who was duly impressed.
Actually, it should be an intriguing game, although it won't feature an immovable object against an irresistible force.
NOT only are the Rainbows last of the 112 NCAA Division I teams in scoring offense, they're also last in the WAC and 99th in the nation in rushing offense.
Well, meet the Spartans, who have the WAC's worst run defense -- 110th of 112 teams in the nation -- allowing 267 yards per game.
Obviously, something's got to give in this one.
"We're probably two very similar teams going at it," Spartan coach Dave Baldwin said. "The team that will tackle the best will win."
For his Spartans it'll mean tackling at the line of scrimmage because of UH's run-oriented offense. That is, unless quarterback Dan Robinson is healthy enough to attempt 57 passes again.
For the 'Bows it'll mean tackling in the secondary because San Jose State likes to throw the football, especially to wide receiver Oliver Newell. He burned UH with eight catches for 194 yards and three touchdowns last year.
If Newell catches three TD passes again Saturday, that should be more than enough, considering the Rainbows haven't scored more than three times in a game in going 0-8 this season.
Realistically, this could be the Rainbows' last chance for victory. They go to Fresno State next week and wind up the season at home against Northwestern and Michigan.
It wasn't always this hopeless for the Rainbows, even against San Jose State.
THE 'Bows have beaten the Spartans seven times -- all here -- with the last coming in 1988, a 36-27 victory that allowed UH to finish at 9-3.
They're really kindred spirits when you think about it. Moreso now that they're among the West Coast orphans abandoned by the WAC defectors.
The Spartans first played the Rainbows here in 1936 at the old Honolulu Stadium. They came back again the next two years.
They were scheduled to return here for a game on December 16, 1941. But you know what happened at Pearl Harbor. What other school can claim that they had a game called off because of a war?
San Jose State didn't play Hawaii again until 1956, and only because Rainbow coach Hank Vasconcellos decided to schedule his alma mater.
The rivalry flourished in the 1950s and, after a 20-year hiatus, again in the 1970s. The tie in 1991 was the last time they met until San Jose State joined the WAC.
With the football future uncertain for both schools, this is a renewal of a beautiful friendship.