Bowl invite nears

LOGAN, Utah » Thanks to yesterday’s 45-7 blowout of Utah State, the University of Hawaii can lock up its earliest Sheraton Hawaii Bowl invitation with a victory over Idaho this Saturday.

The earliest previous invite to the Warriors went out Nov. 2, 2002, the first year of the game. UH was 10-3 in the regular season that year.

Yesterday’s win over the Aggies gave UH a 6-2 record (4-0 WAC), leaving the Warriors one game from bowl eligibility, which they can secure with a homecoming win at Aloha Stadium.

Hawaii Bowl officials said they will attend the game.

"The Warriors are proving to be one of the most exciting teams in college football this season," said David A.K. Matlin, executive director of the bowl. "Daryl Garvin (associate executive director) and myself plan to be at the UH-Idaho game in an official capacity representing the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. We look forward to watching Coach (Greg) McMackin and the Warriors compete for bowl eligibility."

"We have a chance to do it (get the bid) during our homecoming, which is a big opportunity," said defensive lineman Kaniela Tuipulotu.

UH could have received a Hawaii Bowl bid Oct. 27 in the 2007 season, but with the Warriors undefeated at 8-0 and chasing a Bowl Championship Series berth, the Hawaii Bowl held off. UH had to win eight games to be bowl eligible in 2007 because two of them were against Division I-AA opponents and only one may be counted toward bowl eligibility.

"We really want to get that seventh win (for bowl eligibility) as soon as possible," McMackin said. "Last year we didn’t get it and I felt so bad about that. So we want to get it as early as we can. That’s one of our goals. And we want to win as many as we can."

Circus grab for Salas

Senior slotback Greg Salas said his one-handed touchdown reception in the fourth quarter yesterday wasn’t even in his top five of career grabs.

The 18-yard reception that drew a buzz even from the partisan Aggies crowd and produced a reception line of handshakes from UH teammates "wasn’t that far up there (among his best)," Salas said. "I’ve done better in practice."

"He did better in our living room," said his brother Danny, who was in the stands.

"Yeah, I used to do it at home with the football, break things and get in trouble," Greg said.

The catch made up for a rare drop in the third quarter.

"I thought I had it (in the third quarter), but it slipped right through my hands," Salas said. "I hope that (touchdown) made up for it. Coach Mack said it did, so, then, I guess it did."

Salas, who had nine receptions for 158 yards, has caught a pass in 35 consecutive games dating to his sophomore season. And, after being held without a score in his first three games this year, Salas has eight TDs in the last five games.

Graves makes play

When David Graves signed with UH as a quarterback in February, who knew that his first points scored for the Warriors would come on a fumble recovery on special teams?

"Not me," Graves said. "I really didn’t think that’s where my first touchdown would be."

But as a fourth-string quarterback and a freshman, "I just wanted to do whatever I could to help the team, and the coaches said they’d try me on special teams."

So, when Utah State punter Peter Caldwell fumbled after a hit by John Hardy-Tuliau, Graves instinctively grabbed it and ran the 6 yards for the score that began UH’s decisive 17-point third quarter.

"We had a block on, we were rushing and when John Hardy tackled him it (the ball) popped right into my stomach," Graves said. "It was perfect. My only thought was: ‘end zone!’"

Graves had a touchdown pass against Charleston Southern, but this was his first visit to the end zone.

"I call him my utility guy," McMackin said.

Henry injures knee

Punt returner Ryan Henry suffered a knee injury and his status will be evaluated upon the team’s return to Honolulu today.

Offensive lineman Brett Leonard will also have a knee examined at home.

UH seeks attention

After the victory over Utah State, UH sports information officials sent out an e-mail to poll voters seeking support for the team.

UH received eight votes in the Associated Press media poll last week and nine in the USA Today coaches’ poll.

Olsen gets recognized

Prior to the game USU unveiled a larger-than-life bronze statue of its most celebrated alum, the late NFL Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen.

Olsen, who was a two-way performer for the Aggies from 1959 to 1961 and winner of the Outland Trophy in 1961, died in March. The statue is 25 percent larger than Olsen, who stood 6 feet, 4 inches, and shows him in full uniform holding a helmet under his arms.

—Ferd Lewis / flewis@staradvertiser.com