Fresno State Bulldogs vs. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors | Football | November 13, 1999 - WAC CHAMPS!!

A special mahalo to Terry for helping me get a copy of this game! Unfortunately, the 3rd quarter is missing, but everything else including all scoring plays and the postgame celebration is here. Enjoy!! #BRADDAHHOOD #HawaiiFB ***** The night belongs to dreamers, and last night was owned by the members of the University of Hawaii football team. In an astonishing turnaround, the Rainbow Warriors, who could not win a game last season, won the biggest game of this year, outlasting Fresno State 31-24 in double overtime to win a share of the Western Athletic Conference title and a berth in a postseason bowl. Dan Robinson’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Craig Stuzman proved to be the winning score. “We’re on top of the world,” UH wideout Dwight Carter said. “It feels like we just gave birth. There’s nothing like this. From 0-12 to first place — that’s the greatest feeling.” Defensive end Matt Paul said, “We believe in ourselves when nobody else believed. We played our asses off. We never gave up. We always believed.” “From the beginning,” outside linebacker Yaphet Warren said, “we always said: One team, one dream. Our dream came true.” The Rainbow Warriors, who improved to 7-3 overall and finished 5-2 in the WAC, are assured a berth in the Oahu Bowl on Christmas Day as part of an agreement with bowl officials for winning seven games. But if Fresno State (7-4 and 4-2) loses next week, the Rainbow Warriors would be eligible to play in the Las Vegas bowl. The WAC is required to send a champion to Las Vegas. In the UH Celebration, punctuated by sprayed Pepsi and group hugs, nothing mattered other than the message on the disrupted black caps: “WAC Champion.” “I guess all good things come to those who wait,” fifth-year offensive tackle Kaulana Noa said. “The wait is over.” Said slotback Channon Harris; “This was for the people of Hawaii. They suffered for so long. We won but this is their victory, too.” But the storybook almost turned into a horror tale as UH suffered from the 5:01 blues. Fresno State scored two touchdowns and unsuccessfully drove for a third in the final 5 minutes, one second of the fourth quarter to force overtime. Charles Smith’s 28-yard scoring pass from Billy Volek tied it at 21 with 2:26 to play. Uh won the coin toss and decided to play on defense first. In the overtime, each team starts a possession 25 yards from the goal line. After Fresno State’s Jeff Hanana kicked a field goal, UH drove to the 3. On fourth down, UH coach June Jones summoned Eric Hannum, who earlier missed an extra-point kick and field-goal attempt from 29 yards. But Hannum’s kick was true, setting up a second overtime period. “They stuck by me,” said Hanum, whose cheeks were stained with tears after the game. “I struggled the last couple of weeks, but the coaches and my teammates stuck by me. They got the ball down there and I made the kick. It was all them.” UH had the first possession of the second overtime, and Robinson’s 20-yard pass to Ashley Lelie at the end of a crossing pattern moved the ball to the 6. After a running play lost three yards, Robinson dropped back and found Stuzmann in the right corner of the end zone for a 31-24 lead. “It was the most unbelievable catch of my life,” Stuzmann said. “I felt it slipping, but I held on with all of my might. It’s my baby… my baby.” On Fresno State’s final possession, UH defensive end Joseph Correirra, playing with a broken hand and torn knee ligaments, knocked down a Volek pass and made a sack. “My leg was buckling all night,” Correira said. “But it didn’t buckle when I had to make a play.” Volek’s final two passes were incomplete, the last one triggering a wild celebration on the field. “We left everything on the field — blood, sweat, and tears,” said Warren, who recovered one of four Fresno State fumbles, two of which led to first-half touchdowns. “All we have left is our hearts.” Robinson, who threw three touchdown passes and scored on a one-yard run, credited Jones, who was hired last December. “There are two words for our success: June Jones,” said Robinson, who set UH’s single season record with 2,992 yards in total offense. Said Jones: “It’s a great feeling, but my happiness comes from my players. To see the love in their eyes, that’s why I got into coaching. That’s what means something to me. I’m very happy for them.”