Tony Tuioti talked about UH's 1-point loss to Notre Dame in 1997

About how he tried to block Notre Dame's FG attempt at the end of the 1997 game against Notre Dame, Tony Tuioti said:
"I didn't even need to look. I was thinking if I hear the fans scream then I know he didn't make it. If it's quiet, then I know what happened. The next thing you know we see all those guys running on the field." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Cengia's kick sailed through with 5 seconds left, lifting the Fighting Irish to a 23-22 comeback win over the then-Rainbow Warriors at Aloha Stadium."

Tuioti said that the impact of playing Notre Dame didn't really hit:
"until you start hearing that fight song. You see the gold domes run out and then the fight song kicks in right before you're ready to run out of the tunnel and it feels like you're getting ready for a big-time game." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Both of Hawaii's meetings with Notre Dame were decided in the final minutes, with the Fighting Irish escaping with a 48-42 win in 1991 and again six years later."

About their loss in 1997 to Notre Dame, Tuioti said:
"It was emotional -- it went up and down for us. It felt something like the Cincinnati game. It was a game you knew you should have won, but it just slipped out of your hands and got away from you." (HSB)

About Notre Dame's comeback, Tuioti said:
"Being a defensive guy you kind of kick yourself a little bit because your mind-set is always to finish the game and we didn't make the plays at the end." (HSB)

About how they lost 19 straight until JJ and Mac turned UH around in 1999, Tuioti's senior season, Tuioti said:
"Coach Mack and Coach Jones came in and completely changed the culture of the program. Coach Mack is continuing that success this year. The culture and the attitude is still here and our kids are excited for this game." (HSB)