A laugher is the best medicine

YOU know, at least that was one of the more entertaining blowout games we've seen in a long time.

Yes, it was a clear-the-benches game. It was a laughs-on-the-sidelines game. It was (eventually) one of those mismatches of ridiculous proportions. It was total and utter domination.

But this one had style.

There were wild plays, wacky ones. Balls bouncing off one guy, two. Bing, bang, boom, then gone the other way. It was like an NFL Films football follies video come to life.

Those poor Aggies.

Yes, there is definitely a notable difference -- a step up, if you will -- between the Sun Belt and Western Athletic conferences.

Just ask the three new members that stepped up.

There was Utah State, last night, playing as if it wasn't quite ready for the speed of the game. As if running forward into the line was a baffling proposition.

"Most of the calls Coach Glanville was giving us was pretty much on the money," Kila Kamakawiwo'ole, who should be All-WAC, would say.

"The game plan means nothing unless you hit like they hit," defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said.

And so Hawaii would stuff Utah State on a goal-line stand, when the Aggies decided to go for it on fourth down with a razzle-dazzle reverse.

That scenario was set up by an Aggies receiver making a great play on a deep bomb, ending it with an exclamation point of a tumbling somersault of a leap. He landed on the 3.

(Um, when Reggie Bush does it he goes OVER the goal line.)

"We imploded again," USU coach Brent Guy would say.

Even when it did something right, Utah State fell victim to the call of the wild.

It was always reminded that Hawaii was figuratively, if no longer literally, in another league.

A third-quarter touchdown was followed by more craziness when Hawaii's Ikaika Alama-Francis blocked the extra point. Lono Manners took it on the run, hurdled a guy and was gone. But not before an avalanche of black crushed the last remaining Aggie, about 70 yards down the field. Two points. What a highlight. Can't wait to watch it on the news.

Meanwhile -- a 28-point second quarter -- Hawaii was putting on a run-and-shoot show, at last.

"What a player No. 7 is over there," June Jones said, nodding at Davone Bess.

He was incredible, again.

Everything looked easy, last night.

"When we're at home, it's different," Jones would say.

It definitely is.

A lot has been made of how tough this year's Hawaii schedule is, and it is. But it's a forgiving one, too. Tough games against USC and Michigan State? Here comes Idaho. Boise State, then on the road at LaTech? Thank goodness for New Mexico State. Back-to-back losses against Fresno State and at Nevada?

Here comes another ex-Sun Belter, right on time.

Just what Hawaii needed.

Everybody played, all the guys got hugs. The band blasted a happy tune.

"It was a fun night to be out there," Jones said.

It was the kind of win that's good for the soul.