HAWAII BOWL
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Arizona State coach Dirk Koetter, right, was congratulated by Arizona coach Mike Stoops on Saturday.
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Koetter ready for finale as ASU coach
He has already been fired, so he has nothing to lose in the Hawaii Bowl
If you're dead coach walking, it might as well be at Arizona State.
Your last meal is mahi mahi and umbrella drinks.
First, Bruce Snyder got a trip to Hawaii as part of his severance package. He was fired in 2000, and his last game as Sun Devils' coach was a 31-17 loss to Boston College in the final Aloha Bowl.
HAWAII BOWL HISTORY
Dec. 25, 2002 - Tulane 36, Hawaii 28
Dec. 25, 2003 - Hawaii 54, Houston 48 (3 OT)
Dec. 24, 2004 - Hawaii 59, UAB 40
Dec. 24, 2005 - Nevada 49, UCF 48 (OT)
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Now, his replacement, Dirk Koetter, is getting the same treatment.
Arizona State (7-5) accepted an invitation yesterday to the Dec. 24 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl against No. 24 Hawaii (10-2). Koetter was fired Sunday, but he will lead the Sun Devils into a game one more time, at Aloha Stadium on Christmas Eve.
"I know Coach Dirk Koetter will have his team ready to play and they will be exciting to watch," UH athletic director Herman Frazier said. "I personally spoke to Dirk today and he told me he was looking forward to bringing his team to Honolulu."
The Hawaii Bowl was to receive the sixth choice of eligible teams from the Pac-10. UCLA (6-5) was considered a prime candidate, but the Emerald Bowl had priority and chose the Bruins yesterday, leaving the Hawaii Bowl with Arizona State.
UH qualified for the game and accepted an invitation after its Nov. 4 victory at New Mexico State. The Warriors will make their fourth Hawaii Bowl appearance in the five-year history of the game.
Arizona State will also be making its fourth bowl appearance in the last five years.
Frazier was a track and field All-American and NCAA champion at Arizona State. He also worked in the ASU athletic department 23 years, where he served as associate athletic director.
ASU junior offensive tackle Brandon Rodd is an Aiea graduate, and he received honorable mention on the All-Pac-10 team. His availability for the Hawaii Bowl is uncertain, as he tore an MCL in a 24-12 loss to UCLA on Nov. 18.
Freshman offensive lineman Shaun Lauvao, a Farrington graduate, saw significant action in the Sun Devils' 28-14 win against Arizona last week.
Hawaii and Arizona State have played each other six times, with the Sun Devils winning five times.
After he was fired Sunday, Koetter agreed to coach in whatever bowl game ASU ended up in.
"I think it would be foolish if myself and the coaches didn't finish out what we started," he said. "We owe that to the players. If we don't coach the bowl game, who is? I don't know if (athletic director) Lisa (Love) is gonna coach it. After (Saturday) and a huge win over Arizona, I would love another shot at coaching this team. This team has laid it on the line for me, and I'd be glad to go with them to a football game one more time."
Koetter has a 40-33 record in six seasons after arriving from Boise State to replace Snyder. He went 4-2 against rival Arizona.