There were officially six punts when the Hawaii and Brigham Young football teams met in the regular-season finale in 2001.
The most memorable punt was the one omitted from the statistics.
“People bring it up all the time,” said UH quarterbacks coach Craig Stutzmann, a former Warriors slotback who celebrated his touchdown catch in the 72-45 win by punting the football into the Aloha Stadium stands. “And I don’t mind that they bring it up.”
This Saturday at Aloha Stadium, the teams renew a rivalry that has been on hiatus since 2012. There have been noteworthy moments in the 29-game series. But the 2001 game was significant for launching the career of Chad Owens (the former walk-on scored on punt and kickoff returns), cementing the folk-hero legacy of Nick Rolovich (eight touchdown passes) and leading to the creation of the Hawaii Bowl. But in a pre-social-media era, Stutzmann’s punt was trending on the coconut wireless.
What appeared to be a spontaneous act actually was partially conceived in 1989, when Stutzmann banged pots and pans in the living room each time the Rainbow Warriors scored in a Garrett Gabriel-led victory over BYU. After that game, Stutzmann recalled, “I forced my dad to go outside, and we played catch. It was one of those moments when you envisioned yourself playing for the University of Hawaii.”
That passion continued when he attended Saint Louis School. On Nov. 21, 1997, the eve of the Oahu Prep Bowl, Stutzmann made an oral commitment to play for the Warriors in 1998.
Stutzmann recalled his best friend asking: “Are you sure you want to do this? There are other offers.”
Stutzmann responded: “I’m a local boy at heart, and I’m going to play at the University of Hawaii, and I’m going to help turn this thing around.”
The Warriors went 0-12 in 1998, and head coach Fred vonAppen was fired the following week. Under new head coach June Jones, the Warriors won nine games in 1999, including the Oahu Bowl. Stutzmann asked if he could serve as host to recruits during official visits. All 14 of the players Stutzmann hosted ended up committing to UH.
“I wanted to show the local kids the importance of staying home,” Stutzmann said.
He also harbored another goal. “Ever since I was a kid, I knew if I had an opportunity to play BYU and I was at the University of Hawaii, I wanted to do something special,” Stutzmann said.
With no bowl tie-in for the Warriors in 2001, the BYU game would be Stutzmann’s final one as a collegian. Stutzmann said he told his teammates: “I’m going to do something pretty crazy here, but it’s going to be worth it.”
Leading 45-24 in the third quarter, the Warriors gained possession when linebacker Robert Grant forced a fumble and defensive tackle Lance Samuseva recovered the ball at the BYU 18.
The Warriors drove to the 5. After breaking the huddle, Rolovich indicated to Stutzmann to be ready.
“I was aware that a lot of people had scored, (but) he hadn’t,” Rolovich said. “I remember saying, if I see even the smallest window, I’m going to put it on him on this flat route.”
Stutzmann said: “I run a little flat route, and he sticks it on me. I just kind of dip the shoulder, and I get in. I knew what I was going to do when I signed with the University of Hawaii, when I committed there the night before the Prep Bowl of my senior year. I knew if we ever got the opportunity to play BYU and I score a touchdown to give us a big lead, I’m going to punt the ball into the stands. I promised myself, and I made right on my promise. I wouldn’t take it back for the world. Everybody has those moments in sports they’ll remember for the rest of their lives. That’s mine.”
