Full Court Press
ANY hopes of a bowl bid bit the big one last night after Hawaii lost to Boise State 28-21 before a homecoming crowd of 40,600 at rainy Aloha Stadium. Warriors watch bowl hopes die
True, the Warriors' hopes were long on dreams and short on reality thanks to the departure of the Aloha and Oahu bowls, but this seven-point defeat sealed the deal regardless of what Hawaii does the rest of the way.
Hawaii will likely finish fourth in the WAC behind Louisiana Tech, Boise State and Fresno State. If Louisiana Tech closes out the season with a win over Tulsa in two weeks, the Bulldogs receive an automatic bid from either the Silicon Valley Classic or Humanitarian Bowl, or an at-large spot in their area of the country.
Should that happen, it's likely Boise State will be in the Humanitarian and Fresno State in the Silicon Valley, and Hawaii will be on the outside looking in.
"This is a tough loss for us," UH coach June Jones said. "We just didn't make enough plays. A win here could have guaranteed us at least a tie for second and a chance at a bowl. We'll just have to wait and see how things play themselves out."
Hawaii still has a shot at a 9-3 season, equaling the number of wins Jones managed in the magical run of 1999. But unlike that unforgettable finish, there isn't a local bowl waiting at the end of the rainbow.
"And that's really a shame," former Aloha Bowl chief executive officer Lenny Klompus said. "If those two postseason games are still being played here, Hawaii has a chance to showcase itself on national television on Christmas Day."
The Warriors still have that opportunity in a nationally televised broadcast with BYU on Dec. 8. But regardless of what happens there, Hawaii will be home for the holidays.
Going hard until the end: Unlike other WAC teams that withered and died in the fourth quarter, Boise State mounted a comeback similar to what the Broncos managed a month ago in their upset of then-No. 8 Fresno State.
"Our kids are used to games like this one," Boise State head coach Dan Hawkins said. "Unfortunately, we lost a heartbreaker to Louisiana Tech at home last week. But we came back and did a great job in this game. Even when Hawaii came back to take the lead, we still believed we hand a chance to win."
What proved to be the difference was the tight end play Hawkins drew up late in the game. On Boise State's winning drive, Broncos quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie completed a huge 18-yard pass to tight end Rocky Atkinson to set up the that won the game.
"We drew it up on the sideline," Hawkins said. "We didn't have it in the game plan. We were just trying to get off the right hash."
Big crowd, bigger disappointment: There's something about large crowds that brings out the worst in the Warriors. Most of last night's gathering of 40,000-plus went home disappointed. It was the best crowd of the season, not unlike last year when an announced sellout crowd of 50,000 went home in shock after the season-opening loss to Portland State.
Hawaii also had 50,000 in the house for its opener in 1999 with Southern California. That night, Jones and Co. lost by 55 points. Later that year, another large crowd of nearly 45,000 came to see Hawaii lose to Washington State. It's a trend Jones would like to break -- and soon.
Paul Arnett has been covering sports
for the Star-Bulletin since 1990.
Email Paul: parnett@starbulletin.com.