Fresno game went from
fun to frighteningDespite welcoming Fresno State's notoriously inhospitable atmosphere in the week leading into Hawaii's 31-21 win, June Jones complained yesterday at his weekly news conference that Friday's game should have been ended early by game officials due to unsafe conditions.
"They should have called the game and penalized the other team," Jones said. "Which would have ended the game, we wouldn't have had to run that last play if they had done that. But that's the way it goes."
Jones called the game "fun," and has often said that he relishes winning in hostile environments. But he said that things went too far in the game's final minutes.
"It was a little scary at the end, when a screwdriver stuck in the ground (from) right over the top of our heads. That type of thing. Beer bottles coming out of the end zone, I mean that's pretty scary," Jones said.
Still, Jones enjoyed himself very much.
"It was a really, really exciting game," he said.
"Just from the level of the win, I thought it was probably the biggest win the program's had since I've been here. Just because it was on the road and it's difficult to beat good teams on the road. That's the first time that we've kind of did some things to hang in there and win.
"And that said a lot."
Big in several ways: While Friday's win at Fresno State did a lot for UH on the field, in the standings and in the locker room, Jones foresees other dividends as well.
"I hope it increases our attendance, I hope it increases our pay-per-view," he said. "I mean, the dollar amount that that game does for us is huge. I mean, it changes the last six games. And we can have a very intimidating home crowd in games where we need them to be. And this is one (Saturday vs. San Jose State) where we need them to be there."
Told you so: While many see a new man in quarterback Tim Chang following the sophomore's 36 of 61, 462-yard, two touchdown performance that earned him WAC offensive player of the week, Jones insists that he saw this coming all along.
"I think the last four games he's kind of done that," Jones said. But I think visually you guys saw more of it this week. And being able to do it in that final two- to three-minute drive gives everybody confidence.
"And I saw that in him his first day (when) he was in a scrimmage ... I saw what you guys saw."
Chang said his improved play is due to better confidence and execution of the run-and-shoot offense.
"It's been clearer to me," he said. "So maybe, as long as I can stay focused and make my reads downfield, I don't think there should be a problem. I really don't think anybody could stop us right now."
Short yardage: Jones stayed on the mainland a few days longer than the team to attend the World Series. ... San Jose State had four sacks Saturday in a 45-8 loss to Boise State, its season high. The Spartans rank second nationally in takeaways and interceptions. ... Jones on the Spartans: "They're a better team than their record." ... Tulsa corner Darrell Wimberly and Rice special teams player Adam Herrin joined Chang as WAC players of the week. Wimberly had two interceptions to help Tulsa snap a 17-game losing streak with a 20-0 win over Texas-El Paso. Herrin blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown as Rice beat SMU.
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