ALOHA, IRISH

So the Fighting Irish and Hawaii have a Christmas Eve date in the Hawaii Bowl.

Chances are they won't bill it as "The Battle of the Last Two Schools to Get Waxed in the Sugar Bowl". Or, "Come See the Teams That Allowed the Most Sacks in 2007 and 2008". And that's not all that the Irish and Rainbows have in common. Both have six losses. Both have trouble running the ball. Hawaii is 107th nationally in rushing; their leading rusher, Daniel Libre, averages less than 36 yards per game. Notre Dame ranks 98th in rushing, with Armando Allen averaging 48 yards per game.

Both teams are rather low on quality wins. Hawaii beat two 7-5 WAC foes, Nevada and Fresno State. Notre Dame's highest quality win was against 8-4 Navy. Common opponent? None. 

The Warriors, as noted, allowed a nation's worst 49 sacks this season in 13 games (the Irish set the NCAA record last season, allowing 58 sacks in 12 games). Hawaii is also last in the nation in punt returns, and so the absence of Mike Anello (cracked bone in his leg) won't be as deleterious to the Irish.

The Warriors are yet another Irish foe whose quarterback is not the same one who started most of the season. Inoke Funaki was the starter for most of the season but now Greg Alexander, who last year was playing at Santa Rosa Junior College, has been the starter the past five games (Alexander was also the sacrificial lamb for UH's season-opening 56-10 loss at Florida).

Charlie Weis has to love this matchup, and of the five potential bowl sites that a 6-6 at-large Notre Dame could have concievably found themselves, none is more inviting, more, um, pacific, than this Pacific paradise. It's an ideal passing climate, and Jimmy Clausen and his receivers should thrive, especially if Michael Floyd is back in time.