# I pit the University of Hawai'i football team..and Vili **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 27, 2003, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-university-of-hawaii-football-team-and-vili/221227 "2003-12-27T05:35:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Abbynormalguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Abbynormalguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abbynormalguy)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-university-of-hawaii-football-team-and-vili/221227/1 "2003-12-27T05:35:42Z")
First of all, yes, I am from the University of Houston, and no, I’m not sore about losing last night; I’ve seen my boys go through fire and water the last four years, and, having watched them go 0-11 two years prior, I was never prouder of my team than I was last night for making it to the bowl game, not to mention their outstanding performance. What I am ranting and raving about is the thug-like behaviour that the Rainbow Warriors exhibited towards the end of the game and climaxing in that brawl that half of America saw. Coach Art Briles is the first person to lay blame to his guys-- if they deserve blame. That post-game fight was not instigated by the Cougars (the _real_ UH, by the way). The brawl came about as the result of extreme unsportsman-like conduct on behalf of the fake UH team from Hawaii. Also, Hawaii has a history of starting fights, especially against Houston-based schools. Last year, they also got into a brawl with Rice University, which is a mere 15 minute’s drive away from the University of Houston. Their coach has been described as a “thug” by media outlets and sports commentators in the past, having similar incidents occur under his watch. Now, Vili…where do I begin? Let me count the ways which he is an absolute :wally !!! First of all, ESPN spent as much time showing Vili and his antics as they did the football game itself. Seriously, every chance they got, the cameramen zoomed in on Vili and whatever obnoxious yells he was making at the moment. All it was was this obnoxious fat man with face and body paint, dressed in a grass skirt and carrying a spear. BIG FUCKIN’ DEAL!!! If you’re looking for filler, look at the fans…they’re the reason the teams were so charged for all this. That’s another thing; there was hardly any coverage of the fans, unlike what you’d see in any other televised sporting event like this. Did you hear any mention of the Houston program whereby someone could donate $50 and a serviceman/woman would be able to get a ticket to the bowl game and get a commemorative shirt? Did you hear anything aobut the dozens of our fighting men (and I assume women as well) had the opportunity to get some Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanza/etc. cheer outside the base, especially when they are thousands of miles away from their family and loved ones? No. For that, I blame ESPN, but what the hell, they just want ratings, right? ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-university-of-hawaii-football-team-and-vili/221227/2 "2003-12-27T06:45:12Z")
Don’t hold back, tell us how you **really** feel about them losing… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-university-of-hawaii-football-team-and-vili/221227/3 "2003-12-27T07:22:01Z")
Vili? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-university-of-hawaii-football-team-and-vili/221227/4 "2003-12-27T14:23:03Z")
I was going to give you some shit, as I always kind of had a fondness for the Rainbow Brites (I think it has to do with them never really having a chance to be quite in the big leagues because of their remote location and big time zone difference), but I do seem to recall UC (Cincinnati) and Hawaii getting into a big post game brawl last season. One has to question if they (coaches, security, AD, etc) have control of their team. It’s certainly an embarassment for June Jones, who has done a lot for them, football skills-wise, but obviously needs to do a better job of reining in his players or not recruiting thugs. ---
**Author:** ![eli\_the\_fanatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ccd318/32.png) [@eli\_the\_fanatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eli_the_fanatic)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-university-of-hawaii-football-team-and-vili/221227/5 "2003-12-27T14:25:05Z")
\>half of America saw You greatly, greatly overestimate the public interest in “The Hawaii Bowl.” ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-university-of-hawaii-football-team-and-vili/221227/6 "2003-12-27T15:06:21Z")
Houston sure has had bad luck in sports, ya know? Who can forget the Oiler’s 38 - 3 halftime lead over Buffalo? The ice bowl. We was robbed! Drew made that catch! Astros, 1986, losing the pennant to the Mets. The Mets!? Phi Slamma Jama. Well, at least Akeem (Hakeem) had the last laugh. What with the Rockets winning 2 NBA titles in a row, the first one against that hated Jamaican. Remember the Gamblers? I do! How about the WHL Aeros of the 70s? Now, _there_ was a championship team! My sports heart is constatnly torn between Houston and Denver. You could say I grew up in both places, more or less. So, I feel your pain. I just wish the NCAA sanctioned Cougars of the Andre Ware era had gone undefeated that year. To see the #1 team not play in a bowl would’ve been wild. Fights in sports are stupid, but should be expected\* and someone (refs, stadium security, NCAA,) should have a plan to deal with it. \*a bunch of young men, hyped on adrenelin (if not 'roids), extremely competitive by nature, and having pride (or other emotions) in their (or their team’s) accomplishments and image… Sounds like a recipe for possible violence to me. ---
**Author:** ![Siegfried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Siegfried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siegfried)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-university-of-hawaii-football-team-and-vili/221227/7 "2003-12-27T15:59:25Z")
University of Houston student checking in. I watched part of the Hawaii Bowl, but I turned it off about halftime to attend a party. So, I didn’t see the fight. I have, however, heard a lot about it and seen the footage of it on the news. So, what exactly happened to start this off? The local news had nothing to say about that (as usual for Houston news stations), but they did say that the Hawaii athletic director was looking into the incident. All I know is that a couple Houston players took off their helmets and started swinging at the Hawaii players. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-university-of-hawaii-football-team-and-vili/221227/8 "2003-12-27T16:53:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NoClueBoy \* > \*\*How about the WHL Aeros of the 70s? Now, _there_ was a championship team! \*\* Well, it was the WHA, not the WHL. The Aeros won the Avco Cup in 1974 and 1975. Their bid for a 3-peat was denied by the Winnipeg Jets in 1976. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-university-of-hawaii-football-team-and-vili/221227/9 "2003-12-27T17:25:24Z")
Yeah, I always get [the old WHL](http://www.geocities.com/texliebmann/hockey/west/old_whl.htm) mixed up with [the old WHA.](http://www.geocities.com/Pipeline/5206/) I used to go to the games just to see the Howe family whoop up on those lesser species of men known as their competition. 🙂 The leagues currently calling themselves WHL and CHL aren’t very much better than school gym roller blade hockey, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-university-of-hawaii-football-team-and-vili/221227/10 "2003-12-27T17:35:47Z")
btw, just for fun… September 27th, 1978, an exhibition game between an NHL and a WHA team was played. What relatively modern NHL event makes that 1978 game significant? I’ll answer tomorrow if no one can get it. But, this IS the Dope. Someone will know. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-university-of-hawaii-football-team-and-vili/221227/11 "2003-12-27T17:38:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Siegfried \* > \*\* > So, what exactly happened to start this off? The local news had nothing to say about that (as usual for Houston news stations), but they did say that the Hawaii athletic director was looking into the incident. All I know is that a couple Houston players took off their helmets and started swinging at the Hawaii players. \*\* From the AP Wire: > [@](#): > > Players were swinging helmets, throwing punches and kicks. No major injuries were reported. > > “You don’t want a game to end like that, but emotions are so high like that when people lose, they’re going to want to fight,” said Hawaii’s Kelvin Millhouse, who intercepted two passes. “They were talking with us, messing with us the whole game. I don’t think they liked us. I don’t think we liked them very much either.” > > Coaches and police broke up the brawl after several minutes, and Houston was escorted to its locker room. > > “The referees let it get out of control during the game by not taking control of some of the taunting and some of the things that were going on,” Hawaii coach June Jones said. “I told them in the middle of the third quarter, `If you don’t get control of this game we’ve got a problem.”’ And, again from AP, a follow up article (which includes some quotes from the UC game I mentioned above): > [@](#): > > Houston associate athletic director Chris Burkhalter said “the general consensus by the people in Houston and the people in Hawaii is that both teams are at fault.” > > “Emotions were running high, it was a triple-overtime game and I’m sure people were jawing back and forth – it just got out of hand,” he said. “It’s just a shame it ended that way because up to that point, we were treated very, very well throughout the whole time we were there. We had a great time.” > > Shortly after Hawaii stopped Houston on fourth down in the third OT, nearly 200 players poured onto the field and several scuffles broke out in the sea of black and white jerseys. > > After the game, Hawaii coach June Jones said the referees let the game “get out of control” by allowing too much taunting. > > The brawl was similar to one that broke out a year ago at Aloha Stadium between Hawaii and Cincinnati, also a Conference USA school. > > Players from both teams charged onto the field and had to be separated by police after scuffling for about five minutes following the Warriors’ 20-19 comeback victory over the Bearcats on Nov. 24, 2002. > > A day after the game, Cincinnati athletic director Bob Goin denounced Hawaii officials for creating what he described as an unsafe atmosphere during the game. > > “In my 40-year career, it’s the worst game management that I have ever seen,” he told The Associated Press. “It was terrible, and the University of Hawaii needs to clean it up.” > > Goin said Cincinnati fans, cheerleaders, coaches and players were harassed and threatened the entire game by Hawaii fans in the stands and on the sideline. > > “My wife was in the stands, and I feared for her,” he said. “Who’s in control? It was sad and disappointing.” > > Burkhalter voiced similar concerns Friday. > > “I know my wife, and the people she was with, were pretty scared for themselves because the Hawaii fans were throwing stuff at them and pouring beer on them,” he said. “They were very fearful of, I wouldn’t say their lives, but being hurt.” > > Fans above the tunnel leading to Houston’s locker room also posed a problem, Burkhalter said. > > “Right above our locker room, they had fans throwing stuff at our players, too,” he said. “I don’t know what, water bottles or trash, but they had to get police for that, too.” > > Hawaii officials declined to comment about stadium security. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-university-of-hawaii-football-team-and-vili/221227/12 "2003-12-27T17:51:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NoClueBoy \* > \*\*The leagues currently calling themselves WHL and CHL aren’t very much better than school gym roller blade hockey, IMHO. \*\* Hey!!! I am a part owner and I work for the Austin Ice Bats of the CHL. However, you are right about the quality of the hockey (there is a reason that these guys are not in the NHL). ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-university-of-hawaii-football-team-and-vili/221227/13 "2003-12-27T17:58:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NoClueBoy \* > **September 27th, 1978, an exhibition game between an NHL and a WHA team was played. What relatively modern NHL event makes that 1978 game significant?** I just found the answer. Very good question and it is not something that I would have guessed correctly. My first thought was that it was maybe Wayne Gretzkys’ first game against NHL competition. I am assuming that you don’t mean the game between the Hartford Whalers and New York islanders that happend on 9/27/78… ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-university-of-hawaii-football-team-and-vili/221227/14 "2003-12-27T18:06:39Z")
**adam** , you got it! It’s the other game. Shall we let others in on it, or give some more a chance? I live in OKC now. Can’t stand the Blazers. Everybody else here loves them, tho. I have a friend involved in your league. In Wichita. ---
**Author:** ![Siegfried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Siegfried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siegfried)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-university-of-hawaii-football-team-and-vili/221227/15 "2003-12-27T18:34:57Z")
Thanks, **ShibbOleth**. So… it’s the referees’ fault for not putting a damper on the taunting that the players were engaged in? That doesn’t sound fair. The coaches and players should also get a fair share of that blame. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-university-of-hawaii-football-team-and-vili/221227/16 "2003-12-28T07:52:47Z")
How ironic that fights break out at _Aloha_ Stadium… I can’t say it was clear who started the fight. It’s not like baseball, where there are clearly a couple players who start things up by glaring or yelling. There was a field full of guys. The game had just ended, and they could have been gathering to shake hands. But instead they were shouting and pushing. Some Hawaii guy chased a Houston guy. A Houston guy swung his helmet at a bunch of Hawaii guys. Coaches and players pushed players apart. It had started by the time the cameras were on it, and you couldn’t tell who had provoked who. I don’t even really care who started it. If Hawaii did, then they’re a bunch of idiots for chosing to leave a horrible impression on their national audience. You’d think that as seldom as they get one, they’d be on their best behavior. If it was Houston’s fault, then what terrible guests and ungracious losers they were. If they both contributed to it, then shame on them both. I just wish they hadn’t let their masculinity overshadow a great football game. Both teams kinda sucked, but the frequent scoring and triple overtimes made it an event. Timmy’s got an incredible arm, and Hawaii’s defense couldn’t stop Houston\*. But all you really remember is the fight. What a waste of a bowl appearance and a national audience. As for the Hawaii fans, I have no idea how potentially harmful they are. I’ve never seen them play in person. But I have been to many other college and professional sporting events, and the behavior mentioned in the article doesn’t sound too different from what you experience at others stadiums. Being pelted with beer or threated ain’t fun, but it doesn’t sound unusually harsh or personal. Go to any game where there are fanatics, and you’ll experience the same thing. There doesn’t even have to be an intense rivalry between the teams. By the way, it seems the University of Houston was founded in 1927. The University of Hawaii was founded in 1907. I think it’s clear who the real UH is. 😉 [sub]\* Or a herd of nearsighted grandmothers. But that’s another rant. \*\* \*\* Let’s hear it for the WAC Defensive Player of the Year, a Hawaii player who managed to make himself academically ineligible for the game. He and another dumbass couldn’t pass TWO classes. Glad to see you’re looking out for the team, champs.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-university-of-hawaii-football-team-and-vili/221227/17 "2003-12-28T08:06:23Z")
I typically get my sports from the newspaper so I didn’t watch it but there does appear to be a lot more fights in the last few years then before. It’s embarassing. I don’t know why though. And our fans appear to be pretty embarassing too. Just a few weeks ago they were booing our own q-back. F’meh! Also we’re no longer the Rainbow Warriors. We’re just the Warriors now. How sadly generic. You want to see Hawaii at its best you go watch our Wahine volleyball. Smart, generous and enthusiastic crowds that show up in droves. Athletes with not only loads of talent but classy about it all and generally good in the classroom too. If only football players and fans could be half as nice Aloha stadium would be an awesome place to be any week of the season. ---
**Author:** ![Stoneburg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-university-of-hawaii-football-team-and-vili/221227/18 "2003-12-28T08:17:18Z")
Are you teeling me that the (American) footbal team you support lost to… Hawaii? BWAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAH!! ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-university-of-hawaii-football-team-and-vili/221227/19 "2003-12-28T09:20:38Z")
“Wahine volleyball”?? Oh, man, I can’t wait for the console version. /drool ---
**Author:** ![Siegfried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Siegfried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siegfried)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-university-of-hawaii-football-team-and-vili/221227/20 "2003-12-28T15:09:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AudreyK \* > By the way, it seems the University of Houston was founded in 1927. The University of Hawaii was founded in 1907. I think it’s clear who the real UH is. 😉 Well, if you want to get technical, the University of Houston was founded in 1927 as Houston Junior College, an institution of higher learning controlled by Houston I.S.D. The University of Houston didn’t exist as such until 1934. And, we didn’t even have a permanent campus until 1939. The University of Hawaii didn’t exist as such until 1920. On the other hand, the University of Houston main campus has close to 34,000 students enrolled there. The Manoa campus of the University of Hawaii has about 18,700 students enrolled there. The University of Houston system has 54,000 students spread over four universities and two multi-institution teaching centers compared to University of Hawaii’s 48,000 students over three universities and eight community colleges. The State of Hawaii has a population of 1,225,000 people compared to the City of Houston’s population of 1,955,000 people. So what does all this mean? We’re bigger than them. Plus, www.uh.edu goes to the University of Houston. I think it’s clear who the real UH is. 😉 Here’s some notes and disclaimers about the above post. First, it’s really just a joke. While the information contained therein is accurate to the best of my knowledge and a significant amount of time on Google, I am not supplying it as fuel for a debate. Second, I could not care less about a UH vs. UH rivalry. Third, opal is the birthstone of October, the month my dad and sister were born in. Fourth, I’m not wearing any pants at the moment. And it feels great. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-university-of-hawaii-football-team-and-vili/221227.md?page=2)