BYU vs Hawaii Football: Cougars Bring "Winter Time" to Aloha Stadium

Honolulu, HI—At kickoff, the temperature will be 83 degrees.

During game breaks, ESPN2 (7:30 p.m. ET) will show the obligatory footage of Waikiki Beach basking in all its glory—enough surf and sunshine to make you book a vacation.

But on the field, when the University of Hawaii football team comes out to play Brigham Young, it will be "Winter Time at Aloha Stadium."

In the rebirth of a rivalry that's 81 years old and nine years in hibernation, BYU has won 19 of the 27 contests between the former Western Athletic Conference schools, though nothing can erase Hawaii's penchant for the dramatic and unexpected win at home.

In 1989, Hawaii broke a 10-game losing streak to BYU with a 56-14 shellacking, which led to never-before-seen bedlam at Aloha Stadium.

A year later, the Warriors proved it was no fluke when Ty Detmer and company were embarrassed by Hawaii on the day Detmer received the Heisman Trophy. The No. 4 Cougars lost that one, 59-28, as the Warriors' Jeff Sydner struck a Heisman pose after scoring a touchdown.

"I don't think (the players) understand the passion that the people (in Hawaii) have for this rivalry," Hawaii offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich said. "It's going to be great for them to see it, it really is. Because it really opens your eyes, you feel it, it's a feel you get from the people and there's excitement around. Especially with something to play for.

"A meaningful game at the end of the season at Aloha Stadium, it's a great place. Winter time at Aloha Stadium...We're hoping one more time."

The last time BYU came to Hawaii in 2001 was the ganddaddy of them all.

Undefeated at 12-0 and ranked No. 8 in the country, the Cougars came to the islands and ran into a Warriors buzzsaw quarterbacked by Rolovich. Now in charge of calling offensive plays, Rolovich torched the Cougars' defense for eight touchdowns and 543 passing yards that day, in a 72-45 win, that set a school record for points.

"I get too much credit for an eight-touchdown game," Rolovich said. "That game was a total team effort. Seven turnovers, two special teams touchdowns, on offense we played great; but it was about the love for each other and playing for each other that really I think created that game."

At 6-6, Hawaii needs a win to become bowl eligible, and play in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Dec. 24. BYU (8-3) has already accepted an invitation to play in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 30 in Dallas.

A repeat performance of the 2001 game is all the Warriors want for Christmas.

Rolovich's message to the team was it would take another great team effort to beat BYU, with all three phases contributing.

"On top of this being a game to get us into a bowl game, it doesn't really get bigger than this," Hawaii senior defensive tackle Vaughn Meatoga said. "The fact that these guys are the same guys that I watched Coach Rolo play back in the day...I was a big Rolo fan, and to see what he did to them back in the day, there's big history between us and it fuels the fire, definitely.

"You want to step up to this kind of stage, and the stage is set for ESPN and our bowl game bid. Everything's set, and my year's riding on this game. So it's big for us."

Hawaii senior safety Richard Torres added, "This is what you dream of as a kid: Last game of the season, a game that counts, make it or break it. You win you got to play another game, you lose, season's over.

"It don't matter what the records are in a rivalry game, anything can happen. It's just who wants it more.

"We know that this game is how we're going to be remembered. We can either come out, play great, and be remembered as a team that turned it around. Or we can go out there and just fold and then just be remembered as a losing team. We know what's at stake. It's exciting that we can turn this season around with just one game."

Game Notes

Hawaii ranks 10th nationally in passing offense (311.0).

Brigham Young ranks 19th nationally in passing defense (190.5).

This will be the seventh game in the series played on national television, including the last two (In 2002 Brigham Young won 35-32 at home).

Next season, the teams will meet again on Sept. 29, in Provo, Utah.

Kevin Riley is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand.