When it comes to the actual rivalry, most Brigham Young football players don’t view it the same way it is seen here in Hawaii.
For the nine Cougars with local ties, however, it might be even more meaningful.
BYU and Hawaii will meet at Aloha Stadium for the first time since UH ended BYU’s drive for an undefeated season, hammering the Cougars 72-45 in 2001.
It was one of the few Warriors football home games BYU sophomore defensive end Graham Rowley attended. If the Cougars were in town, Rowley, a 2010 Waialua High School grad, and his family were there.
"That’s the only time we would go to a UH game because both of my parents went to BYU and were big BYU fans," Rowley said. "The rivalry doesn’t seem as intense on this side but ever since I found out we had scheduled this game, I have been super excited."
Starting free safety Travis Uale will play at Aloha Stadium for the first time since winning the 2004 high school state championship his senior year at Kamehameha.
PARADISE IN PROVO
Nine players on the BYU roster have local ties
» Ian Dulan (Kamehameha-Hawaii ’06) 6-1, 270, Sr., DL
» Kaneakua Friel (Kamehameha ’07) 6-5, 244, So., TE
» Jray Galeai (Kahuku ’09) 6-0, 196, So., DB
» Spencer Hafoka (Kahuku ’05) 6-0, 201, Sr., WR
» Walter Kahaiali‘i (Kamehameha-Maui ’06) 6-3, 325, Jr., OL
» Aveni Leung-Wai (Aiea ’05) 6-1, 227, Sr., LB
» Graham Rowley (Waialua ’10) 6-4, 280, So., DE
» Travis Uale (Kamehameha ’05) 6-2, 199, Sr., DB
» Simote Vea (Kahuku ’05) 5-11, 270, Sr., DL
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The Warriors won their first state title with a 28-7 victory over a Leilehua team quarterbacked by current UH senior Bryant Moniz.
Uale picked off Moniz once in the game and was looking forward to trying to do it again on Saturday.
"It’s sad to hear of his injury, especially knowing it’s his senior year," said Uale, who served a two-year mission in Monterrey, Mexico.
Hawaii used both David Graves and Shane Austin at quarterback in a 35-23 win over Tulane last Saturday. UH coach Greg McMackin confirmed on Monday that Graves is the Warriors’ No. 1 quarterback.
Uale, one of four team captains, said they’ve prepared for both players, but are focused more on their own assignments.
"I think we’re just making sure we’re focused on what types of plays they run and how we’re going to cover different routes," he said. "I know I’ll need to be able to cover the deep routes and also when I’m called upon to come up and defend the short ones as well."
Uale has played the most of the nine BYU players from Hawaii. He’s started all 11 games at safety and is tied for first on the team with three interceptions. He’s also fourth with 46 tackles, including a season-high nine in a 17-16 loss to Texas.
BYU (8-3), which has already committed to play in the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 30, has won seven of eight since a 54-10 blowout loss at home against Utah on Sept. 17.
"We’ve been on a roll since then," Rowley said. "I don’t even remember (the Utah game). I don’t like to talk about it with anybody."
Rowley has started in three of 11 games this year, making 14 tackles and recording 11⁄2 sacks.
Defensive lineman Simote Vea (Kahuku ’05) and offensive lineman Walter Kahaiali‘i (Kamehameha-Maui ’06) have also played in every game.
The Cougars have also gotten contributions from tight end Kaneakua Friel (Kamehameha ’07), defensive back Jray Galeai (Kahuku ’09), receiver Spencer Hafoka (Kahuku ’05) and linebacker Aveni Leung-Wai (Aiea ’05).
BYU is coming off a bye last weekend, giving itself two weeks to prepare for Hawaii.
"I think it was a good opportunity for us to get our bodies rested so we’re able to come out and play our best game of the season," Uale said. "I think (since the Utah game), coach (Bronco) Mendenhall has done a good job of making us pad up and hit each other and not forget about the physical part of football.
"We’ve gotten better every week and I’m excited to see how we do in our last game of the year."
Kickoff at Aloha Stadium is set for 2:30 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
