FRESNO, Calif. >>> University of Hawaii football Nick Rolovich says he is all for the awarding of a Golden Screwdriver Trophy to the winner of the long-running UH-Fresno State series.
The Rainbow Warriors play Fresno State on Saturday at Bulldog Stadium in the 49th meeting between the two, UH’s most against any opponent.
“We’ve got to get that (trophy) going,” Rolovich said. “Heck, if we win I’d put that in the trophy case.”
The trophy was the result of a contest held by ESPN radio 940 in Fresno in which the station asked listeners to design something to symbolize the rivalry between the two schools.
It is in recognition of an alleged incident from the teams’ 2002 game in Fresno. In the aftermath of UH’s 31-21 victory, Hawaii’s first in Bulldog Stadium, head coach June Jones claimed several objects were thrown at the UH sideline and he said he found a screwdriver where he was standing.
Fresno State issued an apology at the time saying, “We believe that a screwdriver was thrown by one of our fans at the University of Hawaii team bench.”
The incident has been an object of controversy ever since, with many debating whether it actually happened.
When the station first sought to present the trophy Fresno State balked, saying it would not be recognized by the school. The radio station has displayed the trophy before UH-Fresno games at Bulldog Stadium.
Rolovich said, “That legend will grow and, pretty soon, it’ll be a mechanic jumped out from behind the goal post and was throwing screwdrivers at June like a ninja.”
UH has, in recent years, resumed trophy games with Wyoming (Paniolo Trophy), and Air Force (Laurence S. Kuter Trophy).
Rolovich came up with the Paradise Trophy for UH’s series with UNLV.
Fresno State has the Old Oil Can series with San Diego State, the Valley Trophy with San Jose State and Milk Can with Boise State.
Meanwhile, The Bulldogs’ interim head coach said he has given his team a warning about UH’s pregame ha’a.
Eric Kiesau said that while he respects it, he wants the Bulldogs to turn their backs on the ha’a Saturday.
Asked on his Wednesday radio show if he’d seen the ha’a, Kiesau said, “I have not. But I just spoke to the team about it today. And it kind of correlates to (the Rainbow Warriors’) passion and how hard they play. And that’s how their engines kind of drive them. And I tell you we’ll respect it, but when they start doing it, just turn your back and walk the other way ’cause that’s their deal and it is not about us.”
On the road the ’Bows have made a practice of performing their ha’a fronting the UH fan section.
