Hawaii-Fresno State rivalry deserves a fitting prize

Last year the Air Force Academy resurrected, from the dust deep in one of its trophy cases, the Gen. Laurence S. Kuter Trophy that goes to the winner of the Hawaii-Air Force football game.

This summer the Paniolo Preservation Society donated a $3,600 replica of the statue of legendary paniolo Ikua Purdy roping a bull that will replace the long-lost original Paniolo Trophy and go to the winner of the Nov. 23 UH-Wyoming game.

But as UH and Fresno State prepare to tee it up Saturday in a series that marks its 75th anniversary, there will be no hardware at stake.

No shiny farm implement to commemorate the years triumphantly hoisted by the victors. No polished cup to be paraded in front of the crowd and cameras.

And that’s too bad because not only is this UH’s longest active football series, it is one of the closest either team has going. Over 45 meetings, the Bulldogs lead 23-21-1.

It is a series that has seemingly had everything: shocking upsets, championship showdowns, compelling overtime drama, colorful characters and raging controversy. And even some poignant moments such as Bulldog coach Pat Hill’s stirring win-one-for-the-little guys speech in the UH locker room during the ‘Bows’ BCS-bound season of 2007. Right after his linebacker had leveled Colt Brennan.

With all that history and passion, you’d like to think they could have come up with something rivalry worthy by now, perhaps an item symbolic of the shared agricultural roots. Or, something along the lines of the "Golden Screwdriver" that Fresno radio station KFIG produced several years ago in recognition of the controversy that followed UH’s 31-21 victory at Bulldog Stadium in 2002.

The debate still rages over whether a screwdriver was thrown at head coach June Jones from the stands or whether it is the stuff of urban legend. Which is precisely why "Golden Screwdriver" is such an apt symbol for this rivalry.

The Fresno State administration, of course, is loathe to embrace the trophy, a screwdriver painted gold, plunged into a patch of artificial turf and mounted on a wooden stand. But, so far, neither school has proposed an alternative. That’s disappointing because there’s a lot about this rivalry that should be honored and perpetuated. Making it a trophy game adds something to the renewals.

Witness last week when Bulldog players celebrated around the Milk Can, the seven-year-old symbol of their series with Boise State, contributed by dairies from both places.

To be sure, the resumption of the UH-Wyoming series after a 15-year hiatus will be enhanced by the paniolo trophy, a replica of the life-size statue standing in Kamuela. It will not only honor the bonds between the two far-flung states but celebrate Purdy, the first Hawaii native to win a world title at the Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days and be elected to the National Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame.

One of these days the ‘Bows are going to beat Fresno again and having a trophy to hoist would make it all that sweeter.

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Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.