Just when things are going well for the University of Utah, who should show up in Rice Stadium but the Utes' old nemesis. We're talking about the University of Hawaii. Hawaii has Utah's number. How else do you explain six consecutive victories over the Utes?
Take last year's game. Please. The Rainbows, not exactly a powerhouse at the time, rolled over the Utes for 622 yards and a 52-26 victory in Honolulu. It was the 'Bows' only win in their last eight games of the season. They stumbled all season long, but against the Utes they looked like the San Francisco 49ers."They were not a great football team then," says Utah coach Ron McBride. "We should have been able to beat them."
Such is the nature of the Rainbow whammy on the Utes. "I don't know what it is," says McBride.
So here the Utes are again, buoyed by championship hopes and a 3-1 start, with representatives from the Copper and Aloha bowls in the press box, facing the Rainbows, who by the way are considerably better than they were a year ago.
Hawaii has been the surprise team of the Western Athletic Conference so far. Predicted to finish last in the WAC, the Rainbows have won all three of their games, knocking off Oregon and traditional league powers Air Force and BYU. They have survived two major road tests and taken the early lead in the WAC.
Despite their perfect record, which they've managed on the vacation-package schedule (two byes in the last three weeks), the Rainbows haven't convinced anyone yet that they're for real. They rank dead last in the WAC in total offense and scoring offense and next to last in pass offense. Yet they've won three games, all by four points or less, thanks to their kicking game, timely defense, big plays, turnovers and luck. To wit:
- Hawaii 24, Oregon 21. Oregon drove inside the Hawaii 20-yard line in the final minutes of the game only to fumble.
- Hawaii 6, Air Force 3. The Falcons missed three field goals and fumbled twice, once at the Hawaii goal line.
- Hawaii 36, BYU 32. The 'Bows blocked a punt to set up one touchdown, returned an interception for another touchdown, and then recovered a fumble that set the stage for a game-winning touchdown with 37 seconds left.
The team's biggest weapon so far has been kicker/punter Jason Elam, the WAC's all-time scoring leader. "Without him, we easily could be 0-3," says Coach Dick Wagner. "He has made that much of a difference." Elam leads the league in punting, with a 47-yard average, and field goals, with six, including a 56-yarder against BYU.
Elam has been just barely enough to compensate for an erratic run-and-shoot/option offense. The Rainbows have used three quarterbacks in three games, because of injuries. Junior Ivin Jasper is the starter, and last year's starter, senior Michael Carter, has been moved to slotback. However, Jasper reportedly has a shoulder injury and might be replaced in the lineup by Carter.
Jasper and Carter have completed just 13 of 31 passes for 305 yards and 3 touchdowns this season. They have rushed for a combined total of 238 yards and 3 touchdowns. The third quarterback is freshman Rodney Glover. Hawaii's leading rusher is fullback Travis Sims, with 305 yards.
The defense, normally the league's best, slipped to 106th nationally last season but has made a dramatic recovery this season. The Rainbows still give up the yards (391 per game), but not many points (a league-best 18.7 per game). The difference? The play of the front line - noseguard Maa Tanuvasa and tackle Taase Faumui - who were both slowed by injuries most of last season - and tackle Junior Tagoai. They have helped make Hawaii second in the nation in turnover margin this season.
"I've been really impressed with their defensive line," said Utah quarterback Frank Dolce after watching film earlier this week.
But perhaps the best addition to the defense is safety Bryan Addison, who, after sitting out two seasons with aacademic difficulties, leads the defense in tackles.
Since joining the WAC, the Rainbows have never won the league championship. They have finished second twice and third twice, but never first. Perhaps this finally will be the year they go all the way.