Football

On this date in 1995, Hawaii tried its level best to not blame a 24-10 loss to New Mexico on officiating. Matthew Harding tackled New Mexico punter Coby Mansell in the end zone and Robby Blakeney scooped it up for a huge momentum shift with 10 minutes to play. The excitement was short-lived for the road team, though, as officials said Mansell tried to throw a shovel pass rather than fumble and the result of the play was an incomplete […]

On this date in 1985, the Hawaii football team got its first win of the season even though it appeared neither team wanted the victory. Both teams lost four fumbles in front of a homecoming crowd of 14,433 and the Rainbows improved to 1-3-1. Wyoming dropped to 1-5. Hawaii committed two turnovers in the last 11 minutes and the Cowboys matched them with a pair in the final 7:48 and added a critical roughing-the-kicker penalty. Hawaii coach Dick Tomey was […]

On this date in the dark days of 1996, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin tried to point out the positives. The newspaper ran a bog headline proclaiming ‘Bows Score!’ after an ugly 56-8 loss at San Diego State. Hawaii hadn’t won on the continent in 15 straight games and lost to the Aztecs seven straight times. Hawaii’s lone cause for celebration came when Russell Grant scored from 19 yards out in the second quarter.

For a moment on this date in 1942, Melvin Abreu earned a lot of buddies. Abreu, a freshman who went by the name ‘buddy,’ booted an extra point with less than two minutes left to lead Hawaii over the Hawaiian Pines 7-6 in a benefit game for servicemen. Johnny Naumu scored the tying touchdown from five yards out with just over 120 seconds remaining. Abreu dropped back to kick the extra point and just managed to maneuver a wounded duck […]

On this date in 1948, Richard Mamiya became the first UH quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards in a 55-0 win over the Redlands. Mamiya started the game in relief of starting quarterback Sol Kaulukukui, coach Tommy Kaulukukui‘s brother, who injured his shoulder earlier against Michigan State. Sol Kaulukukui still managed to kick all seven extra points for the Rainbows. Mamiya, who was also a star on the basketball team, was credited with 302 yards on 31 attempts […]

On this date in 1959, Tennyson Lum finally gave in to Hawaii football coach Hank Vasconcellos‘ offer to join the team. Fresh off a stellar season at Iolani, Lum decided to help the local college after it won two out of three games on the continent but faced a tough task against the College of the Pacific in the Shrine Game. Vasconcellos said that Lum was dead even with fellow freshman Larry DeRego at left halfback. “DeRego is more familiar […]

On this date in 1961, field position didn’t matter much to the Hawaii football team. Former Punahou track and field star John Dow Williams scored twice from 63 yards out in the first half and Leilehua product Larry DeRego scored from the same distance in the fourth as Hawaii beat the Leeward Aliis 32-18 before fewer than 1,000 fans. DeRego and nine other Rainbows were booted off the team a month later because they were not taking enough classes to […]

Running back Albert Holmes didn’t have his best day on this date in 1973, but his effort was good enough to lead Hawaii to a 16-9 win over Cal State LA. Holmes, who set UH’s single-season rushing record with 1,146 the previous year, ran for an even 100 yards and scored two touchdowns to help the Rainbows come back from a 9-3 deficit at halftime against the underdog Diablos. Holmes went on the play a couple of games in the […]