2008 Woodie Awards
Season lies in Broncos-Warriors matchup
Glendalyn Junio
Issue date: 11/21/07 Section: Sports
One game. An entire season's worth of anticipation. Come Friday evening, a sold-out Aloha Stadium and national ESPN2 audience will witness the No. 14 University of Hawai‘i Warriors (10-0, 7-0) take on the No. 17 Boise State Broncos (10-1, 7-0) in a battle for the Western Athletic Conference title.
At stake are an undefeated conference season and a probable BCS berth. A win for the Warriors would result in the program's first outright conference title.
"This is what it's all about," said UH defensive coordinator Greg McMackin. "This is why players play and coaches coach. ... All of (the players) have gone through all of these adversities to get to this situation so they can play for the championship, and I'm excited for them and really excited about this game."
Chosen by the WAC as the preseason favorite, the Warriors will be up against statistics that, in large, favor the visiting Broncos. Boise State has won or shared a piece of the WAC title in five consecutive seasons. The Broncos are 6-2 against Hawai‘i and have won six straight games in the series. UH has never beaten Boise State while playing in the same conference.
"We were hoping to get to this game and this situation all year, just like (Boise State was) all season," said UH head coach June Jones. "It's going to be a heck of a football game."
While Hawai‘i is riding a 14-game WAC winning streak, its last defeat came at the hands of Boise State on Sept. 23 of last year. One year and exactly two months later, Hawai‘i is looking to reverse the tide.
"This game is the WAC championship, and if we get by this one, then we have another championship game, so it's playoff time," Jones said. "Basically, you win or you're out."
Challenge number one for the Warriors is a Boise State offense that averages 42.8 points and 482 total offensive yards per game. Broncos senior running back Ian Johnson is to Boise State what Colt Brennan is to Hawai‘i. Johnson finished eighth in last year's Heisman voting, leading the Broncos to the nation's lone undefeated season at 13-0 and a Fiesta Bowl victory over perennial powerhouse Oklahoma. He currently leads the WAC with 15 touchdowns and averages 104.9 rushing yards per game.
At stake are an undefeated conference season and a probable BCS berth. A win for the Warriors would result in the program's first outright conference title.
"This is what it's all about," said UH defensive coordinator Greg McMackin. "This is why players play and coaches coach. ... All of (the players) have gone through all of these adversities to get to this situation so they can play for the championship, and I'm excited for them and really excited about this game."
Chosen by the WAC as the preseason favorite, the Warriors will be up against statistics that, in large, favor the visiting Broncos. Boise State has won or shared a piece of the WAC title in five consecutive seasons. The Broncos are 6-2 against Hawai‘i and have won six straight games in the series. UH has never beaten Boise State while playing in the same conference.
"We were hoping to get to this game and this situation all year, just like (Boise State was) all season," said UH head coach June Jones. "It's going to be a heck of a football game."
While Hawai‘i is riding a 14-game WAC winning streak, its last defeat came at the hands of Boise State on Sept. 23 of last year. One year and exactly two months later, Hawai‘i is looking to reverse the tide.
"This game is the WAC championship, and if we get by this one, then we have another championship game, so it's playoff time," Jones said. "Basically, you win or you're out."
Challenge number one for the Warriors is a Boise State offense that averages 42.8 points and 482 total offensive yards per game. Broncos senior running back Ian Johnson is to Boise State what Colt Brennan is to Hawai‘i. Johnson finished eighth in last year's Heisman voting, leading the Broncos to the nation's lone undefeated season at 13-0 and a Fiesta Bowl victory over perennial powerhouse Oklahoma. He currently leads the WAC with 15 touchdowns and averages 104.9 rushing yards per game.
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