ON THIS DATE IN 1973: Albert Holmes still has it

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 CFL and is currently 10th on Hawaii’s career list with 1,941 yards and fourth on the single-season list behind only Alex Green, Travis Sims and Diocemy Saint Juste. He also played for Hawaii in the World Football League after being drafted in the 23rd round before being released and joining the Toronto Argonauts in 1975.

Hawaii finished the season 9-2 with a victory over Utah with Holmes rushing for 127 yards in his final collegiate contest. The sterling record was all that much more impressive when quarterback Casey Ortez quit the team after being accused of shaving points. UH began the season with an improbable upset of Washington in front of 52,000 spectators.

Holmes stuggled with a hip pointer but led the team with 811 rushing yards in 1973, followed by Regis Grice with 612. Holmes and Grice later went into the restaurant business together.