Nevada the WAC rep in Hawaii Bowl
For the third time in seven years it appears Nevada will be the stand-in for the University of Hawaii in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl and could play the other UH — the University of Houston.
With the Warriors eliminated from bowl eligibility by a 41-20 loss to Brigham Young on Saturday night to finish 6-7, the Wolf Pack (7-5) are expected to be the Western Athletic Conference representative to the Dec. 24 bowl at Aloha Stadium.
The Wolf Pack also appeared in the 2005 and ’09 games.
"We aren’t going to a bowl game," UH head coach Greg McMackin said. "I feel bad for the players, the coaches and the fans, everybody with the program."
David Matlin, Hawaii Bowl executive director, declined comment Saturday night, saying several key issues had to be resolved before an announcement could be made. That announcement could come today.
Houston (12-1) fell out of Bowl Championship Series running and into the Conference USA pool, likely bumping Southern Methodist (7-5) out of the equation, when the Cougars were upset by Southern Mississippi (11-2) in the C-USA championship game.
Officials are believed to be waiting for the Liberty Bowl, which has the first pick of eligible C-USA teams, before announcing a Hawaii Bowl matchup.
Other possibilities could include SMU, Marshall (6-6) and Tulsa (8-4).
The WAC is contracted to send a representative to the Hawaii Bowl. But this year the WAC has just three bowl-eligible teams and has lined up Louisiana Tech (8-4) with the Poinsettia Bowl and Utah State (7-5) in the Humanitarian Bowl. The WAC has been trying, so far without success, to trade Nevada to another bowl.
A readers poll in the Reno Gazette-Journal ranked the Hawaii Bowl fourth among four bowls that Wolf Pack fans hoped to see their team go to with 9 percent of the votes.
Ostrowski not looking ahead yet
Hawaii slot receiver Miah Ostrowski probably won’t have much of a break with the end of football season.
Ostrowski, who doubles as a point guard with the UH basketball team, said he’ll probably meet with coach Gib Arnold after the Rainbow Warriors return from their current road trip. But hoops was fairly distant in his thoughts after Saturday’s loss.
"I’m not too worried about that right now," Ostrowski said. "I’m disappointed in this loss and really just worried about the seniors right now and how they’re feeling."
Ostrowski closed the season with seven receptions for 73 yards and caught a 23-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, the last score of senior quarterback Shane Austin’s career.
"Shane’s a playmaker," Ostrowski said. "He’s proven so many times he can come in and start playing. I’m going to miss him. I’m going to miss all the seniors."
Satele brothers exit together
UH defensive end Liko Satele was joined in the postgame senior ceremony by his older brother, former Warriors linebacker Brashton Satele.
Brashton Satele missed the entire 2009 season with a shoulder injury and his career ended prior to the 2010 season when he wasn’t granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. He began pursuing a professional career after the ruling and hadn’t participated in a senior night.
"I’m really happy Coach McMackin gave me a chance to close up a chapter in my life," Satele said. "I never really got that chance, and sharing it with my brother is good."
Satele, who spent some time with the New York Jets, is keeping in shape in hopes of getting a call in the offseason and may look into playing in Canada.
Paredes finishes seventh in tackles
UH senior linebacker Corey Paredes notched five tackles in his final game as a Warrior, raising his career total to 312.
He finished seventh in school history in tackles after notching 107 for the season, four behind Nate Jackson and Adam Leonard on the list.
"I know a lot of other guys are making tackles too, but I’m thankful for the type of coaching we got, able to get me in position," Paredes said. "Everyone doing their job on the field.
"It’s something nice to look back at your career, but definitely my tackles reflect our defense."
He was given partial credit on a tackle for loss against the Cougars.
Hafoka hurdles defenders
Spencer Hafoka’s only touch of the game drew "oohs" and "aahs" from the Aloha Stadium crowd.
The Kahuku alumnus ran for 18 yards on his only carry, but not before hurdling Hawaii defender John Hardy-Tuliau before eventually going down.
Six of the nine players who graduated from local high schools on the BYU roster played, including Kamehameha alumnus Travis Uale, who started at free safety and had two tackles.
Waialua graduate Graham Rowley had a tackle for loss and tight end Kaneakua Friel, another Kamehameha alumnus, had three catches for 17 yards.
Offensive lineman Walter Kahaialii (Kamehameha-Maui) and defensive lineman Simote Vea (Kahuku) also saw action.
Alumni members have some fun
UH had one of its best football alumni gatherings, as around 100 former Rainbows and Warriors convened at a pregame tailgate party.
"It was a good combined effort," said Na Koa (football booster club) board member Mike Perkins, a UH safety from 1973 to 1977. "Mike Carter and David Maeva used to have big tailgate parties, but we kind of combined forces this year. Playing BYU absolutely made it bigger."
The players lined up on the field before the game as the current team entered the field, beckoned by Chad Owens, one of the stars of the team that beat BYU 72-45 in 2001.
