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Fresno State–Hawaii football rivalry
Fresno State Bulldogs
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
First meetingNovember 18, 1938
Fresno State, 15–13
Latest meetingNovember 5, 2022
Fresno State, 55–13
Next meetingNovember 2, 2024
Statistics
Meetings total55
All-time seriesFresno State leads, 30–24–1 [1]
Largest victoryFresno State, 70–14 (2004)
Longest win streakFresno State, 8 (1955–1966)
Current win streakFresno State, 1 (2022–present)
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Fresno State
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Hawaii
Locations of Fresno State and Hawaii

The Fresno State–Hawaii football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Fresno State Bulldogs and the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. [2] Also nicknamed the Battle for the Golden Screwdriver, it is Hawaii's most-played rivalry series. [3] The two teams have met 55 times, with Fresno State leading the all-time series 30–24–1 through the 2022 season. [1]

Game results

Fresno State victoriesHawaii victoriesTie games
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
1 November 18, 1938 Fresno, CA Fresno State 15–13
2 December 2, 1939 Honolulu, HI Fresno State 38–2
3 January 1, 1941 Honolulu, HI Fresno State 3–0
4 November 11, 1946 Fresno, CA Hawaii 7–2
5 December 6, 1947 Honolulu, HI Hawaii 27–13
6 December 2, 1949 Honolulu, HI Hawaii 41–14
7 October 6, 1950 Fresno, CA Fresno State 34–20
8 September 25, 1954 Fresno, CA Hawaii 25–20
9 November 26, 1955 Honolulu, HI Fresno State20–18
10 October 27, 1956 Fresno, CA Fresno State 39–20
11 November 22, 1957 Honolulu, HI Fresno State 31–8
12 November 27, 1959 Honolulu, HI Fresno State 22–13
13 September 24, 1960 Fresno, CA Fresno State 17–7
14 October 3, 1964 Fresno, CA Fresno State 28–0
15 November 27, 1965 Honolulu, HI Fresno State 7–3
16 September 17, 1966 Fresno, CA Fresno State 28–27
17 November 25, 1967 Honolulu, HI Hawaii 29–19
18 November 28, 1970 Honolulu, HI Hawaii 49–0
19 October 2, 1971 Honolulu, HI Fresno State 19–8
20 September 22, 1973 Fresno, CA Hawaii 13–10
21 November 23, 1974 Honolulu, HI Hawaii 21–7
22 October 6, 1984 Honolulu, HI Hawaii 27–15
23 October 24, 1985 Fresno, CATie24–24
24 November 15, 1986 Honolulu, HI Hawaii 24–13
25 October 17, 1992 Honolulu, HI Hawaii 47–45
26 November 13, 1993 Fresno, CA Fresno State 45–21
27 September 24, 1994 Fresno, CA Fresno State 31–16
28 November 4, 1995 Honolulu, HI Hawaii 42–37
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
29 September 28, 1996 Fresno, CA Fresno State 20–0
30 October 11, 1997 Honolulu, HI Hawaii 28–16
31 November 14, 1998 Fresno, CA Fresno State 51–12
32 November 13, 1999 Honolulu, HI Hawaii 31–242OT
33 November 4, 2000 Fresno, CA Fresno State 45–27
34 October 26, 2001 Honolulu, HI Hawaii 38–34
35 October 25, 2002 Fresno, CA Hawaii 31–21
36 October 11, 2003 Honolulu, HI Hawaii 55–28
37 October 12, 2004 Fresno, CA Fresno State 70–14
38 October 29, 2005 Honolulu, HI #22 Fresno State 27–13
39 October 14, 2006 Fresno, CA Hawaii 68–37
40 November 10, 2007 Honolulu, HI #16 Hawaii 37–30
41 October 4, 2008 Fresno, CA Hawaii 32–29OT
42 October 3, 2009 Honolulu, HI Fresno State 42–17
43 October 9, 2010 Fresno, CA Hawaii 49–27
44 November 19, 2011 Honolulu, HI Fresno State 24–21
45 November 10, 2012 Fresno, CA Fresno State 45–10
46 September 28, 2013 Honolulu, HI #25 Fresno State 42–37
47 November 29, 2014 Fresno, CA Fresno State 28–21
48 November 14, 2015 Honolulu, HI Fresno State 42–14
49 November 13, 2016 Fresno, CA Hawaii 14–13
50 November 11, 2017 Honolulu, HI Fresno State 31–21
51 October 27, 2018 Fresno, CA Fresno State 50–20
52 November 2, 2019 Honolulu, HI Fresno State 41–38
53 October 24, 2020 Fresno, CA Hawaii 34–19
54 October 2, 2021 Honolulu, HI Hawaii 27–24
55 November 5, 2022 Fresno, CA Fresno State 55–13
Series: Fresno State leads 30–24–1 [1]

Overview

Fresno State and Hawaii first met in 1938 on the basis of the Pineapple Bowl (then not an NCAA-sanctioned bowl) being in Honolulu that year. Fresno was invited back for the 1941 Pineapple Bowl, which the Bulldogs won, 3–0. The rivalry went mostly unnoticed as Fresno State and Hawaii alternated winning streaks. It wasn't until 1992 under coach Bob Wagner that the rivalry took center stage as Fresno joined the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in 1992 after the Bulldogs departed the Big West. However, much of the games went without bravado, with each team winning from anywhere from five to 20 points.

In 1999, Hawaii head coach June Jones and Fresno State head coach Pat Hill first faced each other at Aloha Stadium. That matchup featured Dan Robinson and Billy Volek, a future NFL star. Hawaii took the 13–7 halftime lead, but Fresno State tied the game at 21, sending it to overtime. Trailing 24–21, Eric Hannum, who missed a 29-yard field goal and an extra point, made a chip shot field goal to send the game to a second overtime. Robinson connected with Craig Stutzmann, giving Hawaii a 31–24 lead. The Rainbows (as UH was known back then) then used one last stand to take over first place in the WAC and secured a berth in the 1999 Oahu Bowl.

In a 2002 interview with The Honolulu Advertiser, Hill stated: "Hawai'i is a great game, but I don't know [if] you can call it a rivalry. I don't know what the biggest rivalry is. I don't know if there are any rivalries in this conference [the WAC] yet." [4] Honolulu Star-Advertiser sports writer Ferd Lewis commented in 2010 that Fresno State was among "at best, merely flickering rivalries" for Hawaii against mainland teams. [5] Yet Lewis has also described the series as having "a knock-down, drag-out history and an attitude." [6] By 2014, both teams were in the Mountain West Conference and Hawaii struggled in conference play, in contrast to Fresno State winning the Mountain West Championship Game and contending for another appearance. [7]

Screwdriver incident

There have been various urban legends surrounding the two programs, among the most notable about a screwdriver being thrown towards June Jones after Hawaii's October 25, 2002, victory over Fresno State. [8] [9] [10] [11] Although Jones claimed that he saw a screwdriver being thrown over his head from the Fresno State student section and falling on the field, a Fresno State investigation did not produce any witnesses from security or field crews. [12] [13] On October 31, 2002, Fresno State athletic director Scott Johnson issued an apology to Hawaii fans that stated in part: "...we believe that a screwdriver was thrown by one of our fans at the University of Hawai'i team bench." [14]

That alleged incident inspired a "Golden Screwdriver" trophy being entered into a contest held by Fresno radio station KFIG "ESPN 940" to create a symbol of the Fresno State/Hawaii rivalry. Former Hawaii head coach Nick Rolovich expressed approval of such a trophy in 2016. [15] [16]

The fans

Both teams have notoriously committed violence or close to it in recent years, especially after the 1999 game. Fresno State has a tradition called the Red Mile, in which the visiting team must walk outside the locker room to a chorus of jeers and verbal abuse. It has been noted that the NCAA has repeatedly called for Fresno State to stop this tradition due to allegations of violence and racial slurs, which the administration has continually denied. During Hawaii road games, the Red Mile is more full than usual, and many Hawaii players have claimed the fans, which are mostly students, instigated violence in the past.

Hawaii fans have also been implicated as well; Fresno State and Hawaii fan fights are also present at Aloha Stadium, especially pre-game and post-game. Fresno State fans who walk by Hawaii tailgaters often don't make it into the stadium without getting into a fight. In fact, a 2007 report by KITV said that Hawaii fans had committed acts of abuse toward Fresno State fans, which UH Athletics has continually denied to this day. Fresno fans also told Boise State fans, Hawaii's next opponent in 2007, to not attend the game. Allegations ended up being false as Honolulu Advertiser photographers caught pictures of Boise State and Hawaii fans mingling and sharing food before the game.

Former Hawaii linebacker Solomon Elimimian, following the 2008 upset of Fresno State, claimed that 12-year old Fresno State fans were shouting curse words and racial slurs at players, which was vehemently denied by Fresno media and Fresno State's athletics department.

Notable games

1992: Hawaii and Fresno State meet for the first time as members of the Western Athletic Conference following the addition of the Bulldogs for 1992. Hawaii was victorious, 47–45.

1999: In one of the more memorable chapters of the rivalry, Hawaii defeated Fresno State, 31–24, in double overtime. This game propelled Hawaii to a share of the WAC title and gave UH a berth in the 1999 Oahu Bowl. The win followed a 51–12 loss the year before in Fresno.

2001: In the first of six meetings between the two schools in which one of the teams is ranked, future NFL number one draft pick David Carr committed two costly turnovers, leading to 14 Warrior points. Fresno State blew a 27–16 fourth quarter lead, which began with Hawaii quarterback and future head coach Nick Rolovich throwing a 22-yard touchdown pass to Channon Harris with an ensuing two-point conversion by Thero Mitchell. Carr then fumbled a snap on the Hawaii 3-yard line, which led to an 8-play, 96-yard drive in which Hawaii took the lead on Ashley Lelie's second touchdown of the night. Carr then sealed the #18 Bulldogs' fate with a fumble caused by Nate Jackson, leading to the winning Lelie score with thirteen seconds left in a 38–34 upset. Fresno State went on to finish in third place, while Hawaii finished runner-up in the WAC.

2008: Hawaii opened the season 1–3 in the post-Colt Brennan era and then traveled to Fresno, ranked #22 at the time, as the clear underdog. Hawaii blew a 26–9 lead and then eventually were tied 29–29 in the fourth quarter. But the Warriors blocked a late field goal, forcing the second overtime game in the series. Fresno State kicker Kevin Goessling missed a 40-yard field goal on the opening possession, but got a second chance thanks to a running into the kicker penalty. Goessling then missed the ensuing kick and Hawaii kicker Dan Kelly made his attempt upsetting Fresno State 32–29. It was the second time Hawaii upset a ranked Fresno State, and the first ever win versus a ranked opponent on the road.

2021: In an eerily similar storyline to the 2001 game, Fresno State blew a 24–10 lead after Jake Haener committed two turnovers in the final three possessions, leading to 17 unanswered Hawaii points. It also featured freshman quarterback Brayden Schager throwing two touchdown passes, one to tight end Caeleb Phillips, the other to Calvin Turner, to tie the game with 7:05 remaining. Haener was then strip-sacked by Khoury Bethley, leading to the eventual game-winning field goal by Matthew Shipley. Georgia transfer Hugh Nelson then sealed the Bulldogs' fate with an interception inside the five-yard line, propelling Hawaii to a 27–24 upset, marking the third time the Rainbow Warriors had beaten a ranked Fresno State team.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Winsipedia – Fresno State Bulldogs vs. Hawaii Warriors football series history". Winsipedia.
  2. ^ Tsai, Stephen (November 19, 2016). "Rolovich recognizes, relishes rivlary with Fresno State". Honolulu Star Advertiser. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  3. ^ Warszawski, Marek (November 9, 2017). "Fresno State & Hawaii: 50 years of football, screwdrivers and ... 'odd' elbows?". The Fresno Bee. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  4. ^ Lewis, Ferd (October 24, 2002). "Hill downplays UH-Fresno rivalry". The Honolulu Advertiser. Archived from the original on December 24, 2002. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  5. ^ Lewis, Ferd (July 31, 2010). "Wouldn't it be nice if UH had a real rivalry?". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  6. ^ Lewis, Ferd (October 8, 2010). "It would be nice if Hawaii could keep playing Fresno State". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  7. ^ Lewis, Ferd (November 29, 2014). "It's been a while since UH, Fresno played for anything". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  8. ^ Tsai, Stephen (October 9, 2003). "UH vs. Fresno spawns trash talk". The Honolulu Advertiser. Archived from the original on October 22, 2003. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  9. ^ Lewis, Ferd (August 20, 2010). "Fresno State's screwdriver hit the target this time". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  10. ^ White, David (November 12, 2004). "'Good' rivalry, bad attitudes". The Fresno Bee. Archived from the original on December 9, 2004. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  11. ^ Forde, Pat (November 13, 2004). "Valley pride runs deep in Fresno". ESPN. Archived from the original on March 8, 2005. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  12. ^ Warszawski, Marek (October 31, 2002). "'Dogs fans threw tool at him, coach alleges". The Fresno Bee. Archived from the original on November 2, 2002. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  13. ^ Warszawski, Marek (November 1, 2002). "Fresno State issues apology". The Fresno Bee. Archived from the original on November 3, 2002. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  14. ^ Tsai, Stephen (November 1, 2002). "Fresno State A.D. offers apology". The Honolulu Advertiser. Archived from the original on December 19, 2002. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  15. ^ Lewis, Ferd (November 17, 2016). "Rolovich wants Golden Screwdriver awarded to winner of UH-Fresno State game". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  16. ^ Cooper, Sam (November 17, 2016). "Hawaii's Nick Rolovich wants 'Golden Screwdriver' trophy added to Fresno State series". Dr. Saturday. Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
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