UH vs Cincinnati Wrap-Ups

HawaiiAthletics.com has a game summary with links to a box score and post-game notes and quotes. Here's a quote from Greg McMackin:

“I’m proud of our seniors and I’m proud of the way they came out in the second half. I’m proud of the way the defense came out in the second half. Like I said, they gave up only three first downs. So I’m proud of things, but we lost so that’s the pits and disappointment. But we can play in front of our Hawaii crowd for one more ball game and do a better job. We have to play better and finish better.”

And here's a quote from Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly:

“First of all, my hat’s off to Greg McMackin and the Hawai`i football team. They played hard, they played physical. We played Oklahoma and I’ll tell you, this football team in Hawai`i hits you as hard if not harder. In the second half, they took it to us. The forced fumbles, made plays when they needed to and we, obviously, were behind them. We had to make plays defensively and we did. We made some plays, as we did all year, and found a way in the end to ‘eek’ out a hard fought victory. ”

Stephen Tsai's wrap-up is titled, "This one hurts".

"We gave them the game," quarterback Greg Alexander said of the Warriors' 29-24 loss to 13th-ranked Cincinnati last night at Aloha Stadium. "We (bleepin') gave away the game."

"We beat ourselves at the end," Lane said. "We got too conservative. That's what hurts so much. We had the game won. It was right there in our pocket, and then we threw it away. We did everything wrong we could have done."

"I give a lot of credit to Cincinnati. It wasn't meant to be. They're No. 13 in the nation for a reason."

The article includes links to photos and a video by Leila Wai, who interviews Keala Watson and Ryan Mouton after the game:


Jason Kaneshiro has a game summary, which includes stats, and a wrap-up.

"You have to give them credit -- they made plays at the end," Hawaii coach Greg McMackin said.

"I don't know if we gave it away or they took it away. ... They're a tough football team and that's what great teams do. We're a good football team, but not good enough to finish. Hopefully we'll learn something from this and be able to play better about the bowl game."

The Sports Network has a game summary.

Bill Koch of the Cincinnati Enquirer has a wrap-up and some game notes.

Michael Tsai highlights the great play of the defense.

Brian McInnis talks to some of the seniors.

Michael Tsai and Kalani Takase have some news and notes, including praise for Greg Alexander by Nick Rolovich and Malcolm Lane.

The Star-Bulletin has some game notes.

Kalani Takase and Billy Hull have quotes from Cincinnati players and coaches.

Dave Reardon's Further Review column highlights how the game slipped away from UH.

Ferd Lewis illustrates just how heartbreaking the loss was, and discusses contributing factors:

If the game finally slipped through the Warriors' fingers at the end, some of the seeds of defeat were sprinkled throughout.

A team that is bidding to lead the 119-school major college division is quarterback sacks surrendered five more last night for a total of 49 in 13 games.

A team also in the running to be the most penalized in its division was assessed 11 more (for 109 yards, including four personal fouls) last night. That's 114 for 1,028 yards for the season.

Last night all that — and more — caught up with the Warriors.

And Ferd writes that Notre Dame is interested in the Hawaii Bowl.

The University of Notre Dame is believed to be strongly considering an appearance in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl against the University of Hawai'i football team on Dec. 24.

"It's a definite possibility," David Matlin, executive director of the Hawai'i Bowl, said yesterday. "It's something we're working very hard at. We've had conversations."

A decision could come tomorrow.

"They're somebody we'd very much like to have, but there are other bowls also vying for them." Matlin said.

Notre Dame has not said what criteria it will use in making its choice. But the Irish are heavily recruiting Punahou School linebacker Manti Te'o and a week's worth of visibility here sure wouldn't hurt.

Other at-large possibilities for the Hawai'i Bowl include Western Michigan (9-3), San Jose State (6-6), Louisiana Tech (7-5), North Carolina State (6-6), Arkansas State (6-6), Florida Atlantic (6-6) and Louisiana Lafayette (6-6).