Tension turns ugly
after end of gameHawaii and Houston players
engage in a brawl after
the triple-overtime contest
This was one replay Hawaii didn't want. Especially on national television.
Last year, the Warriors' home victory over Cincinnati ended with a brawl similar to the one at the end of yesterday's 54-48 triple-overtime win against Houston in the Hawaii Bowl.
There appeared to be no injuries, but dozens of players from both teams continued to fight for several minutes despite the efforts of coaches, some players and police and security officers to break it up. Even fans got involved.
Officials from both teams said they would investigate to prevent future occurrences.
"There's no excuse," Hawaii athletic director Herman Frazier said. "We've got to be able to control it. There's no place for this in collegiate sports. I've got to go back and look at the film and try to find out what happened."
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Hawaii and Houston players fought on the field after yesterday's Hawaii Bowl despite the efforts of coaches, other players and police officers to break it up.
While players and coaches said both teams got along well during the days before the game in Waikiki, tension began during pregame warmups as players began jawing at each other.
"It's unfortunate that it had to end that way," Hawaii senior cornerback Kelvin Millhouse said. "I know emotions were flaring in the game and there was a lot of taunting going on, but it's sad to see it end like that."
Hawaii coach June Jones said game officials let things escalate.
"My opinion is the referees let it get out of control during the game by not taking control of some of the taunting and some of the other things that were going on," Jones said.
Jones said he did not expect the good relationship between the two programs -- Hawaii practices at Houston's campus when on the road -- to be damaged.
Houston coach Art Briles was seen embracing Frazier after the press conference and said he was sorry for the way it ended.
"We're going to look at the tapes, evaluate it and go from there," Briles said. "We're going to see what got it going and who kept it going. It's certainly not anything we plan on having. It's one of those things."
Most of the Hawaii players involved in the fighting were backup players who did not see much game action.
"That was just stupid," senior safety David Gilmore said. "At the end of the game, I'm too tired to fight. I'm looking for their quarterback, trying to tell him good game."
Said Houston receiver Brandon Middleton: "There was a lot of emotion, a lot of tension."
RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
