Sidelines
Hawaii served a large
stack of pancakesWHAT'S it like to be blocked? If you've felt it you'll never forget it. It's helplessness, you can't get away. You want to get away, but he's got you. You fight and claw and scratch, but in the end, there's nothing you can do.
There's nothing you can do.
That's what it's like to be blocked.
If you're a Hawaii fan, it's a lot like watching last night's game at Boise State.
Hawaii's defense got blocked last night. Every defender did. Hawaii's blitz -- the hammer with which it bludgeons opponents -- was rendered meaningless. Moot. Taken away. It was always picked up. On runs, everyone was always picked up. Everyone was always sealed off.
The tackles, who had played so brilliantly against an overmatched Southern Methodist team, always found someone between them and the ball.
The ends were tied up. Linebackers couldn't shake loose in time. And then it was too late. The ball was already away, and complete. Or another Bronco was up the gut or around the corner.
There was nothing Hawaii could do.
And then it was 21-3, and then 31-10, and then it was over.
And then there were 58 points on the board.
So what does this mean, now?
Well, sometimes you just get blocked. Everybody does. But this is not the team we thought, not yet. There was another level of football on display in Bronco Stadium, and Hawaii isn't there yet. Not by a long shot.
No, the season isn't over. And UH will bounce back and run the score up on somebody and probably even end up with enough wins to play in its hometown Hawaii Bowl. There will be lots of confetti on the field before the year is through and a few overcelebration penalties to boot. Don't worry.
But this game was big. Believe the hype. This was for first place in the WAC.
And Hawaii is not ready for first place in the WAC. Not now. Not yet.
We saw what it takes, and we saw Hawaii's answer.
Boise State adjusted too quickly, was that much better, was just too good.
Shocked? I was. I am. I thought this defense was real. I thought those two tackles, this defense, could will out a win. A win here, now, would have taken this program another step.
UH isn't this bad -- a bad day is a bad day, and on days like these everything goes wrong. But there is a lot to be said for making a play when you need to make one, for winning when you need to win.
Hawaii couldn't. Hawaii didn't.
UH could never get off those blocks.
Now Nevada comes to town, and now Nevada is no pushover. This is suddenly a big game. We'll see how UH stacks up against the Nevada level of WAC competition. We'll see if UH can get better as the season goes on.
Forget the Top 25 talk, the BCS opponents, joining the Pac-10.
Boise State is too good.
Hawaii has to beat Nevada.
Hawaii has to get off blocks.
UH could have taken a huge step yesterday. It looked like it had the team to do so.
But no, not yet.
This is what it's like to be blocked.
Kalani Simpson can be reached at ksimpson@starbulletin.com