ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hawaii's Tim Chang, who tossed a pass over Fresno State's Claude Sanders last night in Fresno, Calif., was 36-for-61 for 462 yards, an interception and two TDs, which both came in the fourth quarter. The Warriors scored 22 unanswered points in the final period to beat the Bulldogs 31-21.
FRESNO, Calif. >> Hawaii's Tim Chang did something last night that Nick Rolovich did last year: quarterback the Warriors to a come-from-behind victory against Fresno State. He said Rolovich's presence helped him. Rolovich an inspiration
for Chang
By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com"Nick is such a great guy. When I saw him on the sideline and we were down, I had a big smile on my face and knew things were going to be all right," Chang said. "He gives me confidence every time I see him because he's such a great warrior. Guys like him and Eddie (former UH defensive back Klaneski, also in attendance), they really helped us with some great positive energy."
Rolovich said he's looking for a job. He's heard the rumors that the arena football team owned by John Elway might come calling for his services.
But last night he wanted to savor his former teammates' big win.
"That was incredible, the way they hung in there, held together and came back, it's the sign of a great team," Rolovich said.
The right move: Hawaii coach June Jones said he wasn't tempted to accept a roughing-the-kicker penalty against Fresno State and take a shot at a touchdown after Justin Ayat's third field goal, a 26-yarder, gave UH a 9-7 lead with three seconds left in the first half.
"I don't ever take points off the board early in the game," Jones said.
Celebration: In the locker room afterward, defensive line coach Vantz Singletary did his Vantz Dance as the players chanted, "Who Let the Dogs Out."
Singletary refers to his linemen as "The Dogs."
"They (Fresno State) talk about The Dog Pound, we wanted to let them know we were the original," he said. "We wanted to go out there and make a statement against that big offensive line."
Hawaii's defense allowed only two touchdowns, but the way Fresno State moved the ball in the first half, the Warriors seemed lucky to be leading 9-7 at the break.
But UH pressured FSU freshman quarterback Paul Pinegar into two interceptions and held the point of attack better in the fourth quarter.
Bowl bit: The Seattle Bowl asked WAC commissioner Karl Benson last week about the possibility of a team from the conference playing in that game.
The Mountain West and ACC are tied into the game, but other commitments might leave them short of bowl-eligible teams.
Expressing oneself: UH sophomore cornerback Abraham Elimimian was so enraged by the call on Marque Davis' touchdown catch at the back of the end zone that he pulled the pylon out of the turf and threw it.
Everyone thought he was tossed, too, when an official signaled that Elimimian was ejected from the game. Apparently, though, an appeal was successful and he remained in the game.
"I really wasn't trying to make SportsCenter," Elimimian said. "But I did want everyone to know that was a bad call. I thought I was out of the game, the ref said, 'You're gone.' But I guess they changed their mind."
Bringing the noise: The Fresno State crowd was tamer than two years ago, when at least one bottle was thrown at a Warriors player.
Still, some choice words were exchanged between Bulldogs fans and Hawaii players.
"The way I look at it, I guess we can tell them, 'OK, we still suck, but y'all must suck worse than us," defensive back Keith Bhonapha said.
Short yardage: Long snapper Tanuvasa Moe made one of the biggest hits of the night, finishing off punt returner Adam Jennings with a crushing tackle after Bhonapha made the initial hit on a third-quarter punt. ... FSU's Bryce McGill made a nice pop of his own, on Thero Mitchell on UH's first play from scrimmage. ... Hawaii head trainer Eric Okasaki reported no significant injuries. ... Ayat's 50-yard field goal tied for the second-longest of his career.
