Boise State officially says good-bye to the WAC this summer, leaving behind rivalries, mismatches, and a whole lot of memories. For the next week or so, OBNUG will be bidding adieu to each and every WAC team. Today: Hawaii.
The Boise State - Hawaii rivalry was filled with shootouts (when Hawaii was good) and blowouts (when Hawaii was bad). No team had quite the ability to send Bronco Nation into hysterics the week before the game and then submissively fall behind by three scores once the real game started. Hawaii will be missed ... for a year ... and then it's back to the status quo, I'd imagine.
Join me after the jump for a trip down memory lane with the Warriors, and feel free to share your favorite Hawaii WAC memory in the comments.
Record against Boise State in WAC play
1-9
The one win came against the Taylor Tharp Broncos of 2007, so it's really more like three-quarters of a win. The Warriors played Boise State close the two years before that, but the rest of the series has been rather lopsided. You can blame Inoke Funaki.
Most memorable game
Boise State 69, Hawaii 3 (2004)
Pictures > Words
Hawaii QB Timmy Chang entered the 2004 game poised to break Ty Detmer's NCAA passing yards record. Instead, he broke the all-time NCAA interception record. Whoops! Hawaii allowed 69 unanswered points to the Broncos, which is never a good thing, and they let Jared Zabransky run for 100 yards and four scores, including an 85-yard jaunt that Z will be happy to tell you about any time you want.
Sappy 80's song to play them off
REO Speedwagon, "Can't Fight This Feeling"
Person I will miss the most
Colt Brennan
The Hawaii quarterback was one of the most hated players in Boise State's WAC history. He was overrated (can you imagine if Graham Watson had been around back then?), he never won the big game (especially the 2008 Sugar Bowl), he dyed the Hawaiian islands into his hair (or had reverse Rasheed Wallace syndrome, I'm not sure). He was the anti-Colin Kaepernick as a football player, but the two QBs were the exact same person as public enemies to Bronco fans.
Favorite memory
Orlando Scandrick's two blocked kick returns in 2005
I was following this game via text message update on my phone, so you can imagine my confusion when Boise State was scoring points when Hawaii should have been scoring points. The first Scandrick return came on a blocked field goal in the fourth quarter. The second return came on a blocked extra point that would have tied the game. Two blocked kick returns in one game? That kind of thing just doesn't happen. Except to June Jones-coached teams.
Runner-up: Greg McMackin and his infatuation with Diet Coke
When Boise State will see the Warriors again
2012
After playing out the string with Karl Benson's Lost Boys this year, Hawaii will be back on the schedule in 2012 - joining the Mountain West in football only. Losing to Boise State nine times every 10 years completes them, I guess.
Your turn
What is your favorite memory of Hawaii? Share your thoughts in the comments.