Final thoughts on Hawaii's 32-29 overtime victory on Saturday:
* Some view it as a mistake-marred (six Fresno State turnovers, a 90-yard Hawaii touchdown kickoff return, a blocked Bulldog field-goal attempt in closing seconds of regulation, two failed field-goal attempts in overtime) fiasco. I view it as an epic, a hard-hitting battle where the mistakes were due mainly to the excellence of the other team.
There can be disappointment in such a state of affairs. But no shame.
* The Bulldogs' 2-point conversion attempt in the second quarter was telling.
Lonyae Miller had rushed seven yards for the touchdown, cutting Hawaii's lead to 19-9. Bulldogs coach Pat Hill congratulated the offense, then hurried to a table behind the bench for a quick drink of water.
Suddenly, Hill realized something was amiss. Hawaii had too many players on the field. Penalty. Now, the Bulldogs were only about a yard from a two-point conversion.
As Hill said after the game, a two-pointer would make it 19-11 -- a one-score difference. He took the gamble. Miller swept right, and was stopped.
Now, the Bulldogs might have run off-tackle. They dominated the line of scrimmage on the 13-play, 79-yard drive. Eleven of 12 rushes went for two or more yards; twice, the Bulldogs prevailed on 4th-and-1 situations.
But the bottom line is this: Hill was right to gamble. Give me a swashbuckling coach every time.
* Nobody asks why Hawaii wasn't ahead 49-0 early in the fourth quarter. After all, when they weren't fumbling, the Bulldogs were throwing interceptions and blowing special-teams coverage, right?
Instead, it was 29-22, Hawaii, and the Bulldogs were about to start a 70-yard scoring drive that knotted the score.
Hawaii wasn't enjoying a blowout at halftime, and Bulldog Stadium wasn't three-quarters empty with 30 minutes of football to go, because Hill's post-game analysis was right: the Bulldogs faced every difficulty with courage.
Watching young athletes respond admirably under incredible pressure is more than thrilling. It's humbling.
* I followed (at a tactful distance) Hill as he left Bulldog Stadium after the game. It was bedlam, of course. The Warriors and their fans were understandably ecstatic. The Bulldogs were silent.
Hill seemed as alone as a man could be in the midst of a crowd. Slowly, with several escorts, he walked up the long ramp leading to the main gates. Fans, six or seven deep, lined the route.
Many were yelling at Hill.
Please, I said to myself, don't let them become vulgar.
They didn't. But they weren't sympathetic, either. Nobody called him "coach" or "Pat." It was always, "Hey, Hill!" Always deep, masculine voices. Their favorite topic was the Bulldogs' kicking game.
Hill never looked up (perhaps because of the ramp's steep grade), never looked to either side, never said a word.
Then something special happened. Hill made a sharp left, taking him along the stadium wall and toward the Duncan Athletic Building. It was darker here. He still hadn't said a word.
But these fans had something different to say to Hill.
"You played hard!"
"Get 'em next time!"
"Beat Idaho!"
And my favorite.
"Chin up!"
Not a deep, masculine voice among them.
Great analysis, George. I'd never want to be a college football coach, let alone a redshirt freshman kicker or a 5th year senior quarterback. Certainly not when your own 'fans' want your neck.
But they'll strap on the pads and get after it again against Idaho....for their own enjoyment...and our personal, selfish edification.
Good story. Its sad that a lost makes people turn on the team. Especially the so called "FANS". You know what support the team when they are down and they are up. GO DOGS!!!
Yea!Lets get pass what we should have done.
Lets go out and support our Bulldogs,because they work
hard all week to give us a good game on the week-end.
From another perspective, as a die-hard Hawaii fan for the past 30+ years last Saturday nights game was incredible. I don't mean because Hawaii won, but it was a great, great game. I told myself, near the end of the 3rd quarter when the Fresno offense looked pretty unstoppable, that even if we lose, this game is going to turn our season around. Both teams played hard until the final whistle, aside from winning every game (Wake up Dorothy!), what more could a true fan possibly want? A friend told me that some Fresno fans were calling for Pat Hill's job because of the loss. What a joke, Hill has been and still is one of the best coaches in the country, much less the WAC. His teams play hard, smash mouth football, no quarter asked, no quarter given if you beat them you've earned it. Period. Hey, the season ain't over yet, you guys need to beat Boise and this thing will be all knotted up again. What a great year this is turning out to be! Aloha to all. and . . . Go Warriors!
I agree with Kalani I have been a Hawaii fan since 98 when I moved here and I was in Aloha stadium for the overtime game in 99 that Hawaii won to get a share of the WAC title. One thing you know is that when Fresno ST. and Hawaii play there is going to be a GOOD football game going on. You guys keep your chinstraps tight and make it fight for the WAC title.
Momma always said, life is like a box of chocolate. You never know what you'll get once you take that first bite. Give Idaho hell bull dogs! Its not too late to fight for the WAC championship trophy. All the best!