The University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors are in Sydney to play the University of California Golden Bears in the Sydney Cup at ANZ Stadium on Saturday 27th of August and this game is not an exhibition. The last USA football match played in Sydney was in 1999 when the Denver Broncos beat the San Diego Chargers 20-17 in a preseason game at the Olympic stadium which attracted more than 73,000 spectators.
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Australian punters, of course, have become routine sights on USA campuses thanks to the easy translation of Australian rules football to American special teams. This will mark the first game in Australia as well as the first game of the 2016 season.
Not to mention, Cal stole headlines with a late acquisition of a five-star recruit in wide receiver Demetris Robertson. Cal lost a lot of talent off of last year’s team, including 2016 NFL Draft No. 1 pick quarterback Jared Goff. Being able to gash Hawaii on the ground will be a huge difference maker in Cal’s hopes to start the season 1-0.
Nick Rolovich will make his debut as head coach for the Rainbow Warriors, who are coming off a 3-10 campaign in 2015.
Webb got into the act himself, rushing three yards off-tackle for another Cal touchdown and a 34-14 halftime lead.
Wide receiver Marcus Kemp leads the return of the squads’ top three pass catchers.
Hawaii was without three key players for unspecified disciplinary reasons. A Rainbow Warriors spokesman said just before the game began that safety Daniel Lewis Jr., linebacker Jerrol Garcia-Williams and tight end Metuisela Unga were not with the team Saturday.
Sonny Dykes, an architect of high-powered passing offenses, opens his fourth season as Bears coach.
Players posed at the Opera House in Sydney and snapped pics of former Cal running back Marshawn Lynch.
“I think that side is very well-coached”, Dykes said.
The Bears arrived Monday, held a practice, went to Bondi Beach and had Dykes tell, on the program’s website, of “trying to make sure our players get their body clocks reset” and “make sure they don’t take a nap”. “He (Rolovich) will get Hawaii going”.
Already making a statement against Hawaii, Cal snagged the season’s first onside recovery, first penalty, first interception and first touchdown – a mixed bag of things to brag about heading into week two.
“Both teams should look to put on a show for the fans Down Under”, Parkila said, “and the scoring should happen early and often”.
He plans to employ a 4-3 alignment, rather than the 4-3 the Rainbow Warriors used previous year. Muhammad, who is a member of the Golden Bears track and field team, averaged 6.7 yards per carry in 2015 as he rolled up a team-high 587 yards and one touchdown on 87 carries. Not Hawaii’s way on Saturday.
CALIFORNIA: The Golden Bears have another Mountain West Conference opponent – San Diego State. After a bye week, they’ll play the Aztecs at San Diego on September 10.
California finished in the middle of the Pac-12 North division last season, and know a season opening loss to Hawaii would derail their goals for the 2016 season.
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“Round 1” for the Rainbow Warriors will serve also as “Round 1” for the 4 1/2-month college football mayhem, set to end January 9 in Tampa, site of the College Football Playoff national championship game.
