UH vs Washington State Wrap-Ups

HawaiiAthletics.com has a game summary of Hawaii's 24-10 victory over Washington State. It includes links to a box score and post-game notes and quotes. Here's one from Greg Alexander:

On earning the Hawai`i Bowl bid: “It feels good, especially with the way we started. We had to face two really tough teams at the beginning of the season, and we went through some adversity. We knew that a lot of the fans jumped ship early on, but we stayed together as a team. I have to credit the seniors. They really provided great leadership and I’m happy that we got that extra game for them.”

Congratulations again to the Warriors, fighting through all kinds of adversity to get to this point. As a sidenote, I'm not a cowboy, but I really want Virginia Hinshaw's hat.

Stephen Tsai's wrap-up of the game has some details of Coach Mack's post-game celebration.

In the party that was the UH locker room, surrounded by several defensive players singing, "We Are The Warriors," McMackin broke into a dance to celebrate the 24-10 victory over Washington State and accompanying berth in the Dec. 24 Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl.

"Great technique," left cornerback Jameel Dowling said.

Right cornerback Calvin Roberts added: "Man, I'd give him an '8.' It could use some improvement, but it was pretty good."

"Coach can dance — for an old man," defensive end John Fonoti marveled.

McMackin smiled, and said: "I think I hurt my knee."

As another sidenote, it would be awesome one day to hear the entire stadium sing the Warriors' victory song. Tsai's article also has links to photo galleries and video of Greg McMackin accepting the Hawaii Bowl bid.

Jason Kaneshiro has a game summary which includes some game stats, along with a wrap-up.

"I'm cherishing every moment down here and to know that I've got another month's work down here is definitely exciting for me," Hawaii senior linebacker Adam Leonard said.

Brian McInnis highlights the performance of receivers Greg Salas and Mike Washington. Here's an excerpt about Washington's Gatorade bath.

Later in the quarter, Washington was punished by Mattingly for making a 26-yard reception that brought the Warriors deep into WSU territory.

It turned out he didn't mind so much, despite getting tossed head-over-table.

"Oh yeah, it was refreshing. I got it in my face, my gloves, down on my legs, my body, my feet," Washington said with a grin. "I'm just humble and blessed that I didn't get hurt, 'cause it was kind of crazy."

Michael Tsai also writes about the performance of the receivers.

"Washington State did a nice job of disguising their coverages and making changes at halftime," said offensive coordinator Ron Lee. "This was a tough team because they showed a lot of different coverages, and that made it tough for us to read."

Tsai also has notes about Wazzu's Lesuma brothers, Dan Kelly and Greg Alexander.

Stacy Kaneshiro writes about Greg Alexander's performance.

"He's the reason our offense is in check right now," Salas said.

Alexander also scrambled out of jams long enough to find open receivers.

"Saved us," UH offensive coordinator Ron Lee said. "He made plays. He scrambled around and made the throws. He did all of that ad libbing. He does a lot on his own. He's big and he can see. He's got a strong arm. He played a heck of a game."

The Star-Bulletin has news and notes about Greg Alexander's INT-free streak coming to an end, the bizarre blocked field goal and eventual fumble by Washington State, UH finishing 2nd in the WAC, etc.

Nick Abramo has some quotes from Washington State's coaches and players.

"We couldn't control their quarterback," Washington State coach Paul Wulff said. "He scrambled out of trouble. We did some good things defensively. It's unfortunate we gave up some big plays and didn't have enough firepower on offense to counteract that."

The Spokesman Review has a game summary.

"I thought defensively we did some really good things," Wulff said in an interview on the Cougar Radio Network. "We gave up a couple big plays that hurt us and the quarterback scrambling in the first quarter picking up some key first downs was really the difference. And offensively we did some good things as well, but we just don't know how to do it consistently to put a good drive together."

Ferd Lewis has a column about the Alexander and the Warriors sealing the deal in a somewhat sloppy game.

"A win is a win," said Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl executive director David A. K. Matlin, who could have been the shivering spokesman for the 34,240 huddled under rain ponchos amid the Halawa rains.

Indeed, this one, the Warriors' seventh victory against five losses, was more notable for what it meant than the absence of artistry with which it was accomplished.

In a game littered with three field-goal misses — one of them blocked — and five sacks, the victory still delivers the Warriors to the Dec. 24 Hawai'i Bowl against a team to be named — probably Arizona State if the Sun Devils can finish with a victory over rival Arizona — and a third consecutive postseason.

And Dave Reardon has a Further Review column about how the Warriors held it together.

"What were we, 1-3?" You can't blame David Veikune for wanting to forget the beginning. "It was scary starting out that way. But leaders stepped up and helped turn around the team."

You got a sense that they wouldn't implode after the San Jose State loss, at home. Adam Leonard and Solomon Elimimian didn't set up a meeting for the next day, they held one right away. No one panicked then, and UH beat Fresno State. No one panicked after losing at Utah State, and now the Warriors have won three in a row and a week in Waikiki.

"They could've dispersed at any time," said coach Greg McMackin, now three-for-three in bowl appearances at UH (two as defensive coordinator).