Sports Watch
WHO would have thought that the Hawaii Rainbows would beat San Jose State despite giving up 34 points in the fourth quarter? Nothing impossible
for ImprobaBowsAnd that they could sweep all three games on the road this season after losing 24 in a row away from home the previous seven years?
Improbable you say?
Well, this has certainly been an improbable season under first-year head coach June Jones.
So expect the unexpected, expect the improbable.
The most unexpected, the most improbable ending to this fairy-tale season would see the Rainbows going from worst to first in the Western Athletic Conference and topping it off with a postseason bowl appearance.
It could all happen if they continue their remarkable run by beating Fresno State in their WAC finale Saturday night at Aloha Stadium.
A victory for the Rainbows would also clinch a bowl bid - most likely the Oahu Bowl on Christmas Day - and give them a share of the WAC championship with a 5-2 record.
Beating Fresno State would give UH the head-to-head tiebreaker and bragging rights over the Bulldogs even if FSU finishes with a victory over San Jose State the following week.
Texas Christian and Rice - who beat beat Hawaii - also only have two losses and could share title honors.
All that WAC title-figuring scenario is moot if the Rainbows don't beat the Bulldogs. , who can win the whole thing outright.
So, go 'Bows.
ACTUALLY, a victory this Saturday would be a trifecta for the Rainbows. It would not only ensure a bowl bid and a share of the conference title, it would also earn Jones more votes as college football's coach of the year.
What he has done is not lost on the nation's eyes, including ABC analyst Terry Bowden:
"If June Jones isn't a coach-of-the-year candidate, then there's something wrong with college football," he said.
Meanwhile, what can you say about UH's 62-41 free-for-all over San Jose State?
The fourth quarter was a game in itself.
The Spartans out-touchdowned the Rainbows, 5 to 4, and surely set a record for onside kicks with five in the final quarter.
But, no, San Jose State's 41 points didn't set a record for the most points by an opponent in a UH victory. Although it surely must have given Rainbow defensive coordinator Greg McMackin heartburn.
The Rainbows once gave up more points in beating Fresno State, 47-45, in 1992.
AS for the 62-point explosion, triggered by quarterback Dan Robinson, it was the most points scored by the Rainbows since 1989 when they hit the 60-mark three times, including a record 67 against a Division-I opponent - Utah.
Robinson threw for 371 yards and four touchdowns in setting a UH single-season passing record with 2,801 yards, eclipsing the mark of 2,752 set by that BYU beater, Garrett Gabriel.
Yes, folks, this is the same Dan Robinson who was berated by an irate spectator the week before.
It only shows what he can do given decent protection by his offensive line.
There were so many touchdowns scored in the victory at Spartan Stadium that my head hurt keeping track of them.
But Craig Stutzman's 26-yard scoring run after catching a Robinson pass in the fourth quarter deserved a highlight reel of its own.
Seven would-be tacklers had a shot at Stutz in his elusive run to the goal-line.