UH eyes bowl berth as UMass readies to play spoiler
ASSOCIATED PRESS
UH’s Steven Lakalaka celebrated a touchdown against Fresno State during the first half in Fresno, Calif. on Saturday.
While the University of Hawaii is taking aim at securing a bowl, its opponent Saturday at Aloha Stadium, Massachusetts, feels like it is already in one.
The Minutemen, who are 2-9, arrived Sunday and “are treating this like a bowl game,” said Molly O’Mara, UMass Associate Director of Athletics for Communications and Public Relations.
The Minutemen played Saturday at Brigham Young University, losing 51-9 to the Cougars, and caught a Sunday morning flight to Honolulu, arriving about 2 p.m, just after UH.
The Rainbow Warriors (5-7) returned about noon Sunday from their road game at Fresno State.
“We’re out of school this week — there are no classes — and we were already at BYU, so it made sense to come out (early),” O’Mara said.
UMass’ regular travel roster of about 75 players will be augmented Tuesday when walk-ons and scout team players arrive, O’Mara said.
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The Minutemen, who are staying in Waikiki, are scheduled to visit Pearl Harbor today and have team activities mixed in around practices and study sessions. They will celebrate Thanksgiving at Pearl Harbor.
The Rainbow Warriors, who are a 9-point favorite on the Las Vegas betting lines, need a victory over UMass to be considered for a bowl opening if some of the 80 bowl slots remain unfilled.
44 responses to “UH eyes bowl berth as UMass readies to play spoiler”
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Why does Las Vegas always get dragged into the picture?
Because it is the 9th island.
So, U Mass is in Waikiki and going on tours and eating at luaus and watching hula dancers and eating at luaus and … the plan is falling into place.
They should be served all you can drink mai tais too. LOL
No one is suggesting that the entire team eat raw scallop sushi with local Hawaiian seaweed.
The low-ranking MW combined with the easy schedule fo the UH makes many wonder why Rollo is so grossly overpaid. This is not a legitimate bowl at all as we all know.
Can’t even get Rolo’s spelling correct. SMH
Easy schedule? We played two PAC 12 teams, two teams currently in the top 25 and another team just outside of the top 25 who was at one point ranked 19th in the nation.
Not to mention that Michigan could be playing for the National Championship.
Boise St, Michigan, and San Diego St are top 25 teams. Arizona and Cal are power 5 conference schools. Hawaii may have had the toughest schedule in the MWC.
If they make the bowl game, there’s no shame in that.
You totally clueless AllLies you don’t really work in Waikiki unless you walk Kuhio every night. The bowl is legitimate enough to bring in football teams and their fans to stay in Waikiki and spend money. It helps the economy but you can’t see past your nose to see the big picture.
Vegas odds provides the only somewhat benchmark quantified by a number available for games between unranked teams. Generally the odds makers are pretty good at it. Generally.
Because they provide the betting line.
With statistics of 5-7, what the toilet bowl?
it’s called the Mediocre Bowl.
mediocre..it is far less than that. Invented bowl with no purpose except money.
allie, now you finally get it. College football is about money.
Money that is spent in Waikiki but you don’t really work there do you?
It’s called a BANANA BOWL.
I hope UH doesn’t choke. They have to take care of business.
Yes another incidence of taking a team lightly? It’s happened twice before. Get the team ready to play.
If you check UMass’ record it looks bad but their only blowout loss was to BYU last week in Provo, a very difficult place to play. They’ve also played some good teams pretty tough. I hope UH fans don’t start thinking this is an easy game. We’re not that good, yet.
Agree; Vegas is listing UH as only nine point favorites at home…UMass is a lot better than their record.
They will choke. Every time they are favored to win, they give the other team the ALOHA spirit & let them win.
UH better take them seriously. Check their scores. Their record sucks, but they played Florida to 24-7, played Mississippi St. close, and have some other close losses to legit teams. This offense can score. Hopefully coming out for a week after being in Provo for a few days wears them down.
My wife wouldn’t like it if I was a Minuteman.
Still married?
That would be better than the current 15 plus seconds you give now.
UMass may not be a push-over, they were only behind 5 points at the half before they got blown out in the second half. The Hawaii Bowl might need UH to keep from going bankrupt.
They’re a push-over. UH loses, it’s not because UM was a spoiler but UH stunk
Regardless of the nay sayers, I’d look it it this way. Being in a bowl game can only help the future of this program. It’s a start compared to the Norm Chow days. It could/may help in future recruiting, it’s hopefully improves team moral. It helps to set team goals etc. It’ll certainly be great for the seniors, who in my opinion, paid their dues the past 3-4 years. So let’s support them and hope for the best, why, because it’ll only help them. It certainly wouldn’t hurt them given what the team was like before Rolo.
Hoppy makes some good points about the Warriors going to the Aloha Bowl and the benefits it can bring to the team. The Warrior Football Team has improved greatly since the “Chow” days, but it seems to me that they’ve regressed since their great road win over Air Force. Although they did just beat Fresno, they barely won over a Fresno team that is winless in the Mountain West and has had only one win all season. Personally, I’d rather see them go to the Aloha Bowl when they truly have a winning record and they are a stronger team. But if they do go this year, I certainly will be rooting for them.
Just wondering, if UH makes a bowl game is there an incentive in Rolo’s contract that would pay him a bonus? Also, how many of us tax payers are willing to foot the bill to give bonus money to someone who won’t even have a winning record?
It’s bonus money for increasing football revenues and making more money, think of it that way. Not every venture in private business makes money either but individuals who make contributions even in money losing projects are eligible for bonuses because good organizations look at the larger picture, not just single events.
At least with the new coaching staff, we are discussing a bowl game. What were fans discussing the last 4 years other than time to fire the coach?
Good points, all of you. A little negative, but understandable. We’re all kind of hungover from the losing seasons since Jones’ departure. But let’s not lose sight that we are starting to WIN these days! Let Rolo give the team the slaps they deserve, we are their SUPPORT. Those players get very little in return for getting their azzes kicked and only a few will play beyond UH. I know 6-6 bowl is kind of bogus but it will help recruiting. I’m going to the bowl (and have been to just about every game since 1985) because I know the game gets tougher when morale is low. And empty seats don’t make the team play harder.
The value of the bowl is that you get 15 practice days. Thats like having an extra spring training period where you can coach up your young players.
Agree with Hoppy, Akkman, and Keolu. Hoppy nails it: “[A bowl game] will certainly be great for the seniors, who in my opinion, paid their dues the past 3-4 years.” A bowl game is for the fans and for the bucks, as Oxtail01 points out, but as Hoppy reminds us, the bottom line is the players. It’s a reward for student athletes who have labored long and hard for the honor and privilege to represent the people of Hawaii. The seniors, more than anyone else, deserve this gift for sticking with a program that has seen some very rough times. As many here are cautioning, we can’t take UMass lightly. In terms of stake, this will be the toughest game of the season. It’ll come down to which team makes the least mental errors. Stay sharp, Warriors, and geev um!
Toilet bowl, whatever. It’s a bowl game. You get extra practices, national tv, good for recruiting. It would give the team a chance to get to 7-7. Plus, if we don’t go, then they pick someone else.
Also, what about the years before the Hawaii Bowl when we had a good team and didn’t go bowling? Fans may whine, but I doubt the players will if they get a chance to go, especially the seniors.
Please National TV. You know how that goes.
A 6 win, 7 loss season does not deserve a bowl game unless it’s the Toilet Bowl.
To many bowl games that they can’t fill with teams with winning records. They should cut back on bowls.
That’s the root of the problem. There should only be enough bowls for the conference champions and the BIG 6 games. A bowl should be a REWARD for winning your conference, not for going 6-6.
O.K., by a show of hands, who will not attend the Aloha Bowl if UH is selected???I rest my case. All the way then.
I will attend even if Hawaii is not in the bowl. I have to purchased my tickets before the season even starts or I lose my seat location & I got pretty good seats.