Hawai'i Bowl: Hawaii vs. Notre Dame

By J.J. PESAVENTO

December 24 * 8:00 PM * ESPN

Quarterback Jimmy Clausen will look to lead the Fighting Irish to their first bowl victory since 1994. Clausen has seen his numbers improve in 2008 after spending most of last season as a mugging victim at the hands of opposing defenses. With freshman sensation Michael Floyd out, his primary targets will be receivers Golden Tate, David Grimes and Kyle Rudolph. Notre Dame doesn't run the ball very well, but when they do look for Armando Allen to get the bulk of the carries. The defense has left something to be desired for much of the season even with standouts like linebacker Maurice Crum Jr. and safety David Bruton and that will hurt them against Hawaii. Hawaii got off to a mediocre 3-4 start in 2008, but quarterback Greg Alexander has been hot the last six games, leading the Warriors to a 4-2 finish. The Notre Dame defense will have to concern themselves with a number of receivers in Greg Salas, Michael Washington, Malcolm Lane and Aaron Bain. On the rare occasions Hawaii does run the ball, Dan Libre will get the call. However, if Kealoha Pilares is healthy, he will be a big factor, lining up at both receiver and running back. Senior defensive back Keao Monteilh, defensive lineman David Veikune and linebacker Solomon Elimimian will be the key players on the Hawaii defense.

Inside the Numbers – Pass, Run & Catch:

Hawaii Warriors (7-6, 5-3)

Pass: Greg Alexander – 1,634 yards, 12 TDs
Run: Daniel Libre – 431 yards, 6 TDs
Catch: Greg Salas – 50-755-3 TDs

Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-6)

Pass: Jimmy Clausen – 2,771 yards, 20 TDs
Run: Armando Allen – 576 yards, 3 TDs
Catch: Golden Tate – 52-903-7 TDs

Pac-10 Preview - Week Fourteen

By ANDREW GARDA - PAC-10 INSIDER

#24 Oregon at #16 Oregon State

The Civil War is rejoined for the 112th time, as the two rivals clash in Corvallis with a ton on the line. Regardless of circumstance both teams play for pride, but for the Oregon State Beavers there is more at stake than that – the Pac-10 Conference. It would be OSU’s first Rose Bowl appearance in 44 years.

The Beavers had a rough start to the season, dropping their first two contests, including a drubbing to their would be Rose Bowl opponent Penn State. But the team turned it around and has been on a tear. Much of their success has been due to the spectacular play of freshman running back Jacquizz Rodgers, who will not be available for this game. It will be a challenge to overcome his loss. His older brother, wide receiver James, was able to step in as a replacement tailback last week to the tune of 102 yards and a touchdown. Handing him the ball should be quarterback Lyle Moevao, who missed last week with a shoulder injury. James Rodgers was key in last season’s double overtime victory at Oregon.

The Ducks’ offense isn’t too shabby, with their two-headed backfield of Jeremiah Johnson and LeGarrette Blount Oregon. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli is coming off of the best game of his career, a 298-yard, two-touchdown performance versus the Arizona Wildcats.

Either offense is capable of putting up some points and it will be up to the defenses to step up. The team that is able to make plays on defense side of the ball will likely be on the winning side of this battle.

Notre Dame @ #5 USC

Once upon a time, this was one of THE biggest rivalries in college football. This is the 80th meeting between the two teams and while a long list of critical, hard-fought and exciting games can be compiled with Notre Dame struggling so badly and USC’s recent domination – the game has certainly lost some of its luster. Charlie Weiss’ team has had a rough season coming off a horrid loss to Syracuse at home last week.

Mark Sanchez, who threw for four touchdowns in last year’s meeting, is healthy and playing solid ball. The run game has been firing on all cylinders again, led by Stafon Johnson (115 yards and a pair of touchdowns last week). With USC it’s just as likely that CJ Gable or one of the other backs in the stable might break free for a big game.

USC’s defense is dominant – arguably the best in college football. Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen, who has played well for stretches this season, will need to be mistake-free again against a USC defense that excels at bringing heat and forcing turnovers. Only able to muster 41 yards on the ground against the Orange, the Irish will struggle to have a balanced offense against USC.

Washington State @ Hawaii

With two wins under their belt, the Cougars can at least take solace in the fact that they end their season in the gorgeous state of Hawaii. Coming off a tight win over in-state rival Washington, could Washington State forge a short win streak to finish out their otherwise miserable season.

Junior quarterback Kevin Lopina has yet to throw a touchdown, but has no problem finding members of opposing teams (11 interceptions). He has to take care of the ball better and find a way to get it to talented receivers Brandon Gibson and Jeshua Anderson.

Hawaii quarterback Inoke Funaki has had a rough season himself, taking over for Colt Brennan with a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 6-12. While Wazzu doesn’t have much to play for, a seventh win for Hawaii could have bowl implications.

Photo Credit: Kirby Lee (USC)

Missouri is Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week

DALLAS (FWAA) - With their 36-28 win over Kansas, the Missouri Tigers (11-1) are the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week for games of the weekend of Nov. 24.
Chase Daniel completed 40-of-49 passes for 361 yards and three touchdowns as the Tigers won the Big 12's North Division.

With the win, the Tigers handed Kansas its first loss of the season and then earned the school's first No. 1 ranking since 1960.

"The best thing about tonight is the win," said Daniel. "The bottom line is, we got the win. I don't care what happens; I hope we are No. 1, but all of that stuff doesn't matter."

Other Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Bowl National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Nov. 24 included:

• Hawaii (11-0): Colt Brennan threw for 495 yards and five touchdown as the Warriors won their first outright WAC title with a 39-27 win over Boise State.

• West Virginia (10-1): Pat White rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass in the Mountaineers' 66-21 rout of Connecticut.

The FWAA has named a national team of the week since the 2002 season. This is the third season that the award has been sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Select members of the FWAA board of directors decide the weekly honor. Each Monday during the 2007 college football season, the FWAA has named the Tostitos Bowl National Team of the Week. This is the final selection for the 2007 season.

No. 11 Hawaii enjoying being the nation's only unbeaten team

By JAYMES SONG
AP Sports Writer

HONOLULU (AP) - Solomon Elimimian is savoring Hawaii's success - and it shows.

The leading tackler for the unbeaten and 11th-ranked Warriors is already wearing out his T-shirt that says, ``2007 Western Athletic Conference champions.''

When asked how long he had worn the green, wrinkled shirt, Elimimian said, ``like two days.'' It looked closer to two weeks, but Elimimian wasn't taking it off.

``It feels good to be WAC champs outright for the first time ever,'' said Elimimian, who was the WAC defensive player of the week Monday after making 14 tackles in Hawaii's 39-27 win over Boise State on Friday night.

With the victory, the Warriors (11-0, 8-0) denied the Broncos (10-2, 7-1) a sixth straight conference championship and remained the nation's only unbeaten team. Hawaii needs a victory over Washington (4-8) on Saturday to finish 12-0 and earn a BCS berth.

``It feels like a huge weight has been lifted off our shoulders and now there's all this energy and new life,'' said quarterback Colt Brennan, who threw for 495 yards and five touchdown passes and received offensive player of the week honors.

If the Warriors can get past the Huskies, the Sugar Bowl is their most likely postseason destination.

``What Boise State was able to do last year, Hawaii is on the cusp of doing that this year,'' WAC commissioner Karl Benson said. ``It demonstrates the strength at the top of the WAC.''

The Warriors moved up three spots to 12th in the latest Bowl Championship Series standings. That's where they'll need to finish, at minimum, on Sunday to secure an automatic bid to the BCS.

Benson said he's ``confident and convinced'' Hawaii would get an invitation to college football's biggest stage if it finishes undefeated. He said the Warriors were ``undervalued,'' in the polls earlier in the season when they faced several lackluster opponents, including two Division I-AA teams and the bottom of the WAC.

But last week's win, ``really validated how good Hawaii is,'' he said.

Warriors coach June Jones said it's difficult to go undefeated on any level and noted the success of his team over the past two years. Hawaii finished 11-3 last year and has won 21 of 22.

``The three losses last year were by 18 points. That says a lot. The kids are believing in each other,'' he said.

The No. 12 ranking is the best in school history for Hawaii. The Warriors' 12-game winning streak is the longest in the nation and goes back to their victory over Arizona State in the Hawaii Bowl.

Source: ncaafootball.com; Photo Credit: Collegiate Images

Brennan-Led Hawaii Wins WAC Title

By JAYMES SONG
AP Sports Writer

HONOLULU (AP) - Unbeaten. Record-breaking. Western Athletic Conference champion. Maybe BCS bound. All apply to Colt Brennan and Hawaii. The Warriors' prolific passer threw five touchdowns to break the major college career record as No. 14 Hawaii beat No. 17 Boise State 39-27 Friday night to win its first outright WAC title.

Brennan finished 40-of-53 for 495 yards for the Warriors (11-0, 8-0), who set a school record with 12 straight wins and denied the Broncos (10-2, 7-1) a sixth straight conference championship.

``He was the best college football player in America last year and he still is this year,'' Warriors coach June Jones said. ``If he plays good next week and we win it, he should win the Heisman Trophy.''

The WAC heavyweights traded scores and the lead until Brennan erupted for three TD tosses in the third quarter to give the Warriors their largest lead, 39-27, heading into the final quarter.

``When your rolling like that against a Boise State team, you know things are good,'' Brennan said. ``We knew right then and there, we were in good shape.''

The quick-striking Warriors, who have won 21 of its last 22 games and lead the nation in scoring, ran out the clock with their rare running game to seal the win as the crowd chanted, ``BCS! BCS!''

Hawaii entered 15th in the Bowl Championship Series standings, needing to finish 12th or higher to secure an automatic bid to the BCS. A weak schedule has kept the Warriors from moving up the rankings, but a convincing win over last season's BCS busters should help them make a final push. A Sugar Bowl bid could be in the Warriors' future if they can complete a perfect season next week at home against Washington.

With the final seconds ticking off the clock, players and thousands of fans spilled onto the field and celebrated the Warriors' biggest win in school history.

Hawaii's Davone Bess had a school-record 14 catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns. Jason Rivers had 12 catches for 123 yards and a touchdown while C.J. Hawthorne added five receptions for 111 yards and a TD.

But it was Brennan's night.

``It's the best feeling I've ever had. I'm speechless,'' said Brennan, who withdrew from the NFL draft to return for one more season.

Brennan has passed for 126 TDs in his three-year career at Hawaii, which beat Boise State for the first time in seven tries. Brennan broke the record, throwing his 122nd, in the first quarter.

His 6-yard TD pass to Grice-Mullen surpassed the mark set by former Brigham Young Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer in 1991. With the pass, Brennan also broke Detmer's record for most touchdowns responsible for with 136.

The sellout, green-clad, ti-leaf waving crowd at Aloha Stadium roared as Brennan was congratulated by teammates and officials removed the record-breaking ball. The touchdown pass tied the game at 7.

Brennan quickly added to his new record. His 123rd TD pass came on a 23-yard toss to Bess in the second quarter to give the Warriors a 19-13 lead. Brennan also had 1-yard scoring run.

Bess and Brennan also connected on a 22-yard scoring play early in the third quarter. It was their 39th scoring hookup, tying the NCAA record held by Louisiana Tech's Tim Rattay and Troy Edwards.

Brennan's fourth TD toss of the game, and 125th in his career, was a 7-yarder to Rivers that gave the Warriors a 32-27 lead. No. 5 was a 38-yarder to C.J. Hawthorne with 26 seconds left in the third quarter.

Brennan entered the game holding 24 other NCAA records, including the single-season record for TD passes of 58, which he set last year.

The Warriors took a 19-17 lead into the locker room. Brennan was 20-of-27 for 241 yards and two TDs in the half.

The Broncos' Ian Johnson also had a big first half, rushing for 75 yards and two TDs, including a 50-yarder that gave the Broncos a 7-0 lead. However, Johnson was held to just 11 yards and no scores in the second half.

Taylor Tharp was 22-of-36 for 231 yards for Boise State, which is now 52-4 in the WAC since joining the conference in 2001. They had won 17 straight WAC games, with their last loss coming in 2005 at Fresno State.

Boise State was 19th in the BCS standings and hoping to break into the big games for a second straight year. The team that wowed the college football world with its dramatic Fiesta Bowl victory last season will go back to playing in second-tier bowl games this year.

Boise State took a 27-26 lead midway through the third quarter on a 36-yard field goal by Kyle Brotzman, setup by Dallas Dobbs' interception.

The Broncos cut the Warriors lead to 26-24, on a 6-yard play-action pass from Tharp to Richie Brockel on fourth-and-1.

Hawaii quarterback Brennan returns to practice in wake of concussion

HONOLULU (AP) - After sitting out two days of practice following a concussion, Colt Brennan returned to the field Wednesday to take a few snaps, with Hawaii coach June Jones saying the quarterback has been cleared to play Friday at Nevada.

Doctors and trainers have determined Brennan is fine following the injury Saturday in a 37-30 victory over Fresno State, Jones said.

``If the game was today, I would say he would play,'' Jones said following practice.

Brennan took five snaps against the scout team.

He needs just one more touchdown pass to reach 122 and break the NCAA career record set by Brigham Young's Ty Detmer in 1991.

No. 13 Hawaii, 9-0 for the first time since 1925, will try to hold on to its perfect record when it faces unranked Nevada (5-4).

Brennan throws 6 TDs as No. 16 Hawaii beats New Mexico State 50-13

By JAYMES SONG
AP Sports Writer

HONOLULU (AP) - Colt Brennan is doing his part to keep Hawaii perfect.

The senior threw for 425 yards and six touchdowns as No. 16 Hawaii remained undefeated with a 50-13 victory over New Mexico State on Saturday night.

The six TD passes gave Brennan 119 for his career, two shy of tying the record held by Brigham Young's Ty Detmer, who played from 1988-91.

Brennan passed former Hawaii quarterback Timmy Chang for second on the list. He entered the game in fifth place and quickly passed Florida's Danny Wuerffel (114) and Louisiana Tech's Tim Rattay (115).

The Warriors (8-0, 5-0 Western Athletic Conference) have won 18 of their last 19 games, a school-record 12 straight conference games and matched the best start since 1973, when Hawaii was an NCAA Division II team called the Rainbows.

Ryan Grice-Mullen had 13 receptions for a career-high 195 yards and three TDs, including an 11-yard score that gave the Warriors a 36-13 lead and moved Brennan past Chang on the career list.

Brennan, who was 29-for-46, was intercepted on the game's opening play by a lunging Davon House, then hit his next 10 passes in the quarter for 140 yards and two TDs.

The second scoring pass, a 20-yard rainbow to Grice-Mullen, put Hawaii up 13-0. Grice-Mullen also caught a short pass and sprinted untouched along the Aggies' sideline for a 42-yard score to give the Warriors a 23-0 lead.

Paul Young kicked a 34-yard field goal for New Mexico State just before halftime and also booted a 41-yarder to open the second half. But the Aggies (4-5, 1-3) would get no closer.

Davone Bess added seven catches for 112 yards and two touchdowns for Hawaii. His 12-yard TD catch in the fourth tied a school record with 38 career scores.

Jason Rivers extended his streak of receptions to 45 games, which leads the nation, on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Brennan that gave Hawaii a 6-0 lead. Dan Kelly's missed extra point was his first of the season. He also missed another in the third quarter.

Kelly had previously converted 50 straight, breaking Jason Elam's school record of 46.

The Aggies used a no-huddle offense all game, but was stymied by the Warriors' blitzing defense. New Mexico State threatened to score in the first quarter, but Adam Leonard intercepted a pass at the Hawaii 16.

Hawaii's defense also held the Aggies on fourth-and-4 from the Hawaii 7 late in the game.

Holbrook had success moving New Mexico State but the offense sputtered in the red zone. He was 37-for-52 for 328 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions.

Holbrook's lone touchdown was a 19-yard pass to Wes Neiman in the third quarter.

Derek Dubois led the Aggies with eight catches for 106 yards in a game that featured about 1,000 yards of offense.

SOURCE: NCAAFOOTBALL; PHOTO CREDIT: COLLEGIATE IMAGES

CFI’S MID-MAJOR TOP 5

BY NEIL BISMAN
THE MID-MAJOR INSIDER

1. Hawaii (5-0, 2-0 WAC): The Warriors may be sporting an unblemished record and are currently ranked in the Top 25 but the jury is still out as to whether they will be this year’s Mid-Major Cinderella. The early slate has been rather weak but they are beating the competition thrown at them handedly, save for a wild 45-44 win at Louisiana Tech. The schedule is somewhat back-loaded as they close out at home against Boise State and the ever-improving Washington Huskies. If Hawaii is able to ride quarterback Colt Brennan’s arm to an undefeated record, then they should be able to crash the BCS party.
Next Game: Oct. 7th vs. Utah State

2. Boise State (3-1, 0-0 WAC): The early season offensive slump appears to be behind the Broncos and it could not come at a better time as they open up the conference slate this Sunday night against New Mexico State. While the win last week over Southern Mississippi doesn’t look as strong now with the Golden Eagles falling to Rice earlier this week, Boise State appears poised to make another run at a conference championship. This team must be careful not to look ahead to their season-ending showdown with Hawaii because if they play the football that they are capable of, the w inner of that contest will be crowned the champion of the WAC.
Next Game: Oct. 7th vs. New Mexico State

3. UCF (3-1, 1-0 Conference USA): As Kevin Smith goes, so go the UCF Knights. The sensational running back continues to pile up big numbers, having run for a career-high 223 yards in last weeks romp of Louisiana-Lafayette. UCF has a huge test coming up on October 13 when they travel to Tampa to take on South Florida and must avoid looking ahead. East Carolina is on the schedule for this week and please do not be fooled by their 2-3 record. The winner here is in first place in the Eastern Division.
Next Game: Oct. 6th at East Carolina

4. BYU (3-2, 2-0 Mountain West): The 3-2 record the Cougars are currently sporting may not look all that impressive until you look at not only whom they have played, but where they have played. Three of the first five games have taken place away from LaVell Edwards Stadium, with a fourth road game coming this Saturday against UNLV. Sophomore quarterback Max Hall has put up some pretty impressive numbers and should continue to get better as the season progresses. He showed a lot of poise in the early season losses to UCLA and Tulsa and the question must be asked, would the results have been different had those games taken place in November instead of September?
Next Game: Oct. 6th at UNLV

5. TCU (3-2, 1-1 Mountain West): The team that some pegged as this year’s “Boise State,” got off to a 1-2 start and shattered any dreams they may have had of a BCS berth. Couple that with the undisclosed illness suffered by defensive end Tommy Blake and a season that once looked so promising continues to look bleak. Fear not though Horned Frog faithful, the team can make some big waves over the next two weeks with road trips to Wyoming and Stanford. A win in those two games and the program is right back on track. A loss in one or both contests though and it might be time to start thinking about Horned Frogs basketball, whose future doesn’t look much brighter.
Next Game: Oct 6th at Wyoming

Just missed the cut: Tulsa, Southern Miss, Navy, Air Force, Ball State