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Sidelines Kalani Simpson |
Hawaii needs players
to pull off a miracle
THERE is a precedent.As every optimistic Hawaii fan knows, it is not entirely out of the realm of possibility for UH to make a startling 5-2 run and, somehow, qualify for its hometown Hawaii Bowl.
It happened last year.
And, if it's possible, it may have seemed even more unlikely last year. Remember? This year's team just doesn't seem to be that good. But that's minor.
There is no real strife, everybody's still upbeat. The coach still sounds like a pro.
Last year, now there was trouble. Last year UH was a team that was reeling. Chad Owens was suspended. Jeremiah Cockheran was hobbling. June Jones was tense (not intense; too tense).
Last year was meltdown city.
Last year UH was a team stumbling around the ring, ripe for somebody to throw the knockout punch. And guess what? Nobody would. Nobody did.
Remember? As bad as Hawaii was during its 2003 slump, opponents seemed to match it when it mattered most. There was Jack Bicknell and Louisiana Tech going with a cold kicker, 52 yards from yonder goal post, rather than with a hot back Hawaii hadn't stopped all day.
There was Fresno State, collapsing, playing what might have been its worst game in the last five years, and Hawaii romped.
There was Fitz Hill and San Jose State thinking they could get away without blocking Travis LaBoy (and then refusing to adjust, running the leave-LaBoy-unblocked play all day). They apparently hadn't bothered to think about the 2-minute drill, either, leaving them 6 inches from victory. And let's not forget the Western Athletic Conference even put an asterisk on those final few seconds by suspending its officiating crew.
Then Army arrived, just in time, conveniently riding one of the nation's longest losing streaks.
Dennis Franchione left, and Destiny ordered one of everything, and Alabama blew it by not turning to Sylvester Croom. And 'Bama's worst team in 50 years ended its season by watching a guy who wasn't even supposed to play -- Jason Whieldon -- have the game of his life.
Like a boxer who could stay in it long enough to shake the cobwebs, UH had found itself, and was punching again. Just throwing, "Rocky" movie-style.
You could almost hear the music.
It was incredible. Impossible. Out of chaos, a miracle. Nine wins.
So it can happen. We've seen it.
As Rob Schneider so famously said, "You can do it!"
Of course, last year, UH needed every break and got them all. Last year, UH was a talented team that underachieved, then finally found itself.
These guys might already be living up to their potential. Talent-wise, this just might be how good Hawaii is.
And opponents don't seem to be cooperating this season the way they did last year. The first game against Florida Atlantic -- in which Howard Schnellenberger made every move and No. 84 made every play -- was like an omen in that respect.
It looks tough. But then, we've seen bigger miracles. Last season comes to mind.