Hawaii News Archive - Starbulletin.com

UH hopes to come out fighting against Irish

POSTED: Tuesday, December 23, 2008

The waiting is almost over.

The Hawaii football team has been counting down to Christmas Eve since Notre Dame was announced as the Warriors' opponent in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.

Who: Notre Dame (6-6) at Hawaii (7-6)

When: 3 p.m. tomorrow TV: ESPN

Radio: KKEA 1420-Am

Line: Notre Dame by 11/2

Now just a few inexorable hours separate the Warriors from their shot at playing one of college football's iconic programs.

“;The more you think about it the slower it comes,”; Hawaii safety Keao Monteilh said.

While the Warriors and Fighting Irish have enjoyed the trappings of bowl week, the surrounding festivities will soon fade into the background at Aloha Stadium.

“;It's been well organized, our guys have handled everything really well, so now it's right down to game time,”; Hawaii head coach Greg McMackin said yesterday after the Warriors' final full practice of the season.

The following is a look at the matchup for the third all-time meeting between Hawaii and Notre Dame:

When Hawaii has the ball: The Hawaii Bowl offers the Hawaii offense a shot at redemption.

The Warriors were rolling along in the regular-season finale against Cincinnati until an interception return and a safety contributed to the Bearcats' fourth-quarter comeback.

Hawaii quarterback Greg Alexander completed 65 percent of his passes and threw 12 touchdown passes after taking control of the offense in late October.

He's thrown just two interceptions in that span.

The Fighting Irish have also taken note of Alexander's ability to make plays on the ground.

“;He doesn't force a lot of balls,”; Notre Dame linebacker Maurice Crum said. “;If it's not open he'll pull it down and get what he can get.”;

The break allowed the Warriors to return to full strength with the return of sophomore running back/slotback Kealoha Pilares, who was slowed by leg and foot injuries throughout the second half of the season.

The Hawaii offensive line and running backs will need to give Alexander time to get into rhythm with a receiver corps led by Mike Washington and Greg Salas.

The Fighting Irish feature a 3-4 base defense, but will shift into four-man fronts.

“;They give you a lot of different looks,”; UH offensive coordinator Ron Lee said. “;They've got some great athletes and they come after the quarterback.”;

When Notre Dame has the ball: Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen - the nation's most heralded freshmen last year - got off to a strong start as a sophomore, throwing 18 touchdown passes against nine interceptions in the Fighting Irish's first eight games.

But Weis said Clausen and the offense were “;out of synch”; over the final third of the regular season, when he accounted for only two touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Although the miscues are reflected in Clausen's stats, Weis said he watched film with the receivers to iron out errors in the routes that contributed to the incompletions and interceptions.

McMackin expects Notre Dame to mix up their alignments, from spreading the field with three receivers to going with double tight ends.

Sophomore Golden Tate leads Notre Dame with 903 yards and seven touchdowns. Michael Floyd's 702 yards and seven TDs are Notre Dame freshman records and he's expected to return after missing the last two games with a knee injury.

A year after giving up an NCAA-record 58 sacks in 2007, the Fighting Irish have surrendered only 20 this season.

The Hawaii defense has dropped opposing quarterbacks 34 times, and will try to force Clausen into bad throws.

“;The thing they do best is rush the passer,”; Weis said. “;That plays into the type of player (McMackin's) got, he's got a lot of fast guys and lets them run to the ball. ... It starts with the pressure up front.”;

Special teams: Hawaii special teams coach Ikaika Malloe faced Notre Dame twice as a player at Washington, with the Huskies losing both times.

Getting that first win could hinge on preventing the Irish from pulling off big plays in the kicking game.

That task includes containing Notre Dame's kickoff return duo of receiver Golden Tate and running back Armando Allen.

“;The last time we saw a guy like (Tate) was at Florida and Brandon James,”; Malloe said, referencing the Gator burner who scored on a punt return against UH in the season opener. “;That's the type of talent we're dealing with. If he breaks free, he's gone. We have to be on point on our fundamentals.”;

Hawaii counters with Malcolm Lane, who ranks 11th nationally in kickoff returns. The UH return unit will collide with a Notre Dame coverage unit that limited returners to an NCAA-best 16.17 yards per attempt.

The Irish have blocked three punts, and deflected three others.

Key matchup

Hawaii DE David Veikune vs. N.D. OT Sam Young

Facing Young represents one of the biggest challenges Veikune has had this season.

How big? Try 6-foot-8, 330-pounds big.

“;He's a big man and moves his feet well,”; UH defensive line coach Dave Aranda said. “;He has a great reach, a good punch and very athletic. David is very aware of what he's going against.”;

Young has started the last 37 games for the Irish, anchoring a line in which 6-foot-4, 302-pound center Dan Wenger is considered the small one.

“;The Buffalo Bills I thought had the biggest line in the game,”; UH head coach Greg McMackin said, “;but I'm not so sure.”;

Veikune has been the most dynamic member of the Warrior defensive front with 16 tackles for loss and a team-high nine sacks.

“;You just have to use speed,”; Veikune said. “;They have great athletes, big boys ... and you have to use your technique.”;

How they compare

Other key Statistics

Hawaii	Category	Notre Dame
6.2	Rushing first downs/game	7.0
10.6	Passing first downs/game	9.9
1.6	First downs by penalty/game	2.0
15-252	Interceptions-return yards	13-210
40.1	Punting avg.	39.2
114-1,028	Penalties-yards	65-589
28-14	Fumbles-lost	21-11
36%	Third-down conversion rate	35%
46%	Fourth-down conversion rate	34%

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

Rushing

	A	Yds	Avg	TD
Armando Allen, ND	130	576	4.4	3
James Aldridge, ND	90	357	4.0	3
Daniel Libre, UH	98	431	4.4	6
Kealoha Pilares, UH	54	281	5.2	5

Passing

	A	C	I	Yds	TD
Jimmy Clausen, ND	414	246	17	2,771	20
Evan Sharpley, ND	3	1	0	6	0
Greg Alexander, UH	206	131	4	1,634	12
Inoke Funaki, UH	168	95	12	1,119	6

Receiving

	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD
Golden Tate, ND	52	903	17.4	7
Armando Allen, ND	48	296	6.2	1
Mike Washington, UH	56	693	12.4	5
Greg Salas, UH	50	755	15.1	3

Tackles

	S	A	Tot	FL/S
Kyle McCarthy, ND	58	45	103	3.5/0
David Bruton, ND	57	36	93	1.5/0
Maurice Crum, ND	31	32	63	4.5/2
Brian Smith, ND	32	21	53	4/2
Solomon Elimimian, UH	59	53	112	9.5/3
Adam Leonard, UH	43	38	81	7.5/2
David Veikune, UH	46	25	71	16/9
Jameel Dowling, UH	45	21	66	2.5/1.5

NOTRE DAME

6-6

PROBABLE STARTERS

Offense
X	23	Golden Tate	5-11	188	So.
LT	77	Michael Turkovich	6-6	301	Sr.
LG	55	Eric Olsen	6-4	303	Jr.
C	51	Dan Wenger	6-3	287	Jr.
RG	59	Chris Stewart	6-5	339	Jr.
RT	74	Sam Young	6-8	310	Jr.
TE	9	Kyle Rudolph	6-6	252	Fr.
Z	11	David Grimes	5-10	175	Sr.
QB	7	Jimmy Clausen	6-3	210	So.
FB	44	Asaph Schwapp	6-0	261	Sr.
HB	5	Armando Allen	5-10	190	So.
Defense
DE	94	Justin Brown	6-3	261	Sr.
NT	95	Ian Williams	6-2	300	So.
DE	96	Pat Kuntz	6-3	283	Sr.
SAM	22	Harrison Smith	6-2	206	So.
MIKE	58	Brian Smith	6-3	233	So.
JACK	40	Maurice Crum	6-0	235	Sr.
WILL	56	Kerry Neal	6-2	245	So.
LCB	8	Raeshon McNeil	6-0	187	Jr.
FS	27	David Bruton	6-2	205	Sr.
SS	28	Kyle McCarthy	6-1	200	Sr.
RCB	20	Terrail Lambert	5-11	195	Sr.
Specialists
PK	14	Brandon Walker	6-3	188	So.
KO	39	Ryan Burkhart	5-11	188	Jr.
P	43	Eric Maust	6-2	177	Jr.
H	43	Eric Maust	6-2	177	Jr.
LS	39	Kevin Brooks	6-2	240	Sr.
KR	5	Armando Allen	5-10	190	So.
	23	Golden Tate	5-11	188	So.
PR	23	Golden Tate	5-11	188	So.

Schedule

DATE	OPP.	RESULT
Sept. 6	San Diego State	W, 21-13
Sept. 13	Michigan	W, 35-17
Sept. 20	at Michigan State	L, 23-7
Sept. 27	Purdue	W, 38-21
Oct. 4	Stanford	W, 28-21
Oct. 11	North Carolina State	L, 29-24
Oct. 25	at Washington	W, 33-7
Nov. 1	Pittsburgh	L, 36-33 4OT
Nov. 8	at Boston College	L, 17-0
Nov. 15	Navy	W, 27-21
Nov. 22	Syracuse	L, 24-23
Nov. 29	USC	L, 38-3

Tomorrow Hawaii

HAWAII

7-6

PROBABLE STARTERS

Offense
Z	89	Malcolm Lane	6-1	180	Jr.
H	5	Mike Washington	5-9	170	Sr.
LT	77	Aaron Kia	6-5	290	Jr.
LG	62	Keith AhSoon	6-1	315	Sr.
C	55	John Estes	6-2	295	Jr.
RG	51	Lafu Tuioti-Mariner	6-0	300	Sr.
RT	78	Keoni Steinhoff	6-3	295	Sr.
Y	85	Aaron Bain	5-8	190	Sr.
X	1	Greg Salas	6-2	200	So.
QB	12	Greg Alexander	6-3	230	Jr.
RB	48	David Farmer	6-2	245	Sr.
Defense
DE	94	David Veikune	6-3	265	Sr.
DT	93	Keala Watson	6-3	320	Sr.
DT	99	Josh Leonard	6-3	305	Sr.
DE	58	John Fonoti	6-2	255	Jr.
STUB	44	Adam Leonard	6-0	235	Sr.
MLB	17	Solomon Elimimian	6-0	225	Sr.
BUCK	13	Brashton Satele	6-1	255	Jr.
CB	3	Jameel Dowling	6-3	200	Sr.
FS	2	Ryan Mouton	5-10	175	Sr.
SS	35	Keao Monteilh	5-11	200	Sr.
CB	23	Calvin Roberts	5-11	175	Sr.
Specialists
K	86	Dan Kelly	6-3	225	Sr.
P	49	Tim Grasso	5-11	210	Sr.
KR	89	Malcolm Lane	6-1	180	Jr.
PR	85	Aaron Bain	5-8	190	Sr.
LS	57	Jake Ingram	6-4	235	Sr.
H	49	Tim Grasso	5-11	210	Sr.

Schedule

DATE	OPP.	RESULT
Aug. 30	at Florida	L, 56-10
Sept. 6	Weber State	W, 36-17
Sept. 13	at Oregon State	L, 45-7
Sept. 27	San Jose State	L, 20-17
Oct. 4	at Fresno State	W, 32-29 OT
Oct. 11	Louisiana Tech	W, 24-14
Oct. 17	at Boise State	L, 27-7
Oct. 25	Nevada	W, 38-31
Nov. 1	at Utah State	L, 30-14
Nov. 8	at New Mexico State	W, 42-30
Nov. 22	Idaho	W, 49-17
Nov. 29	Washington State	W, 24-10
Dec. 6	Cincinnati	L, 29-24

Tomorrow Notre Dame