Tony Thomas and the rest of Hawaii's running backs couldn't be corraled against a not-so-great UNLV defense.

All around the Rainbows defensive coordinator, fans and players were relishing in the final seconds of Hawaii's 38-28 victory over Nevada-Las Vegas.

Instead of joining in the celebration of a rare win, Lindsey sought the cover of darkness provided by the concrete passage ways found in the deep recesses of Aloha Stadium.

"We beat UNLV, big deal," an obviously agitated and slightly disheveled Lindsey said as he hurried to the nearest exit.

The veteran coach looked as though he had just escaped a flash flood. His hair was plastered - Brylcreem style - to the sides and top of his head.

He was wired on Adrenalin - the kind that comes from giving a blistering halftime speech no one in the Rainbows' locker room will ever forget - and was in no mood for any postgame hoopla.

University of Hawaii defensive linemen Brian Chapman (53) and Ben Bright chase down UNLVquarterback Jon Denton during Saturday's game at Aloha Stadium.

"Because I know myself very well, I don't want to put a damper on somebody else. I wasn't happy after the game. I wasn't happy during the game.

"I'm not good at faking stuff. In fact, I'm the kind of guy who doesn't want to fake. I want you to get me as I am. Because I'm not good at that, the best thing for me not to pull you down, is to get my not-joyful-self out."

Lindsey was back yesterday with remote control in hand, his intensity still at a fever-pitch. He was finding every major defensive mistake made against UNLV, something he plans to show at this afternoon's film session.

He won't name names, but he explained how today's team review will work.

"If you've got him man and he runs 4.2 and you run five-flat, and he beats you, that's my fault," Lindsey said. "I asked you to cover him man-to-man and you're not capable.

"But sometimes I've got to ask you to cover him because I need these other guys to do something over here to stop something else. And if they hit him against you, that's football. That lies with me and making that decision.

"But when I make the decision for you to cover him, and you can, and you don't, I'll have your ass. I'm going to put it on the frying pan. That's the way it works."

UH head coach Fred vonAppen is not averse to this tough-love approach the assistants plan to use the rest of the way. Now that Hawaii is two-thirds into the 1996 season, excuses and apologies won't be accepted.

Blaise Austin gazes in wild wonder about the joy
UH had found ... a win.

"What's substandard right now is our performance and our assignments. Now again, if we just want to say we beat UNLV, well, that doesn't get it for me.

"If we're going to move this program on, this defense on, then somewhere along the line you have to stand up for your performance."

The Air Force Academy is an excellent example of what discipline and execution can mean in a football game. The Falcons are coming off an upset win at Notre Dame, and are only a touchdown away from being 6-0.

They're still in the Pacific Division chase, despite a three-point loss at Wyoming. You can bet Air Force head coach Fisher DeBerry won't let his team stumble against Hawaii Saturday afternoon at Falcon Stadium.

"We're 2-6 and facing an opponent who just beat a top-ranked team on the road," vonAppen said. "They're an extremely difficult opponent to prepare for.

"If Notre Dame had trouble preparing for them in three days, so will we. We had a lot of extraneous bravado after a win over UNLV, which should have been expected.

"That's when we will turn the corner, when we go out and expect to win. We're at a point in the season where we're going to be a little less patient with the growth process. We should have played a complete game against UNLV, instead of half of a game."

But what a half. The 28 points were the most scored in the second half for UH this season. They also generated 294 yards over the final 30 minutes, while yielding only 123. Still, it wasn't good enough in the eyes of the coaches.

UNLV coach Jeff Horton congratulates UH coach Fred vonAppen.

"Our recent road trips have been real ax murder jobs," vonAppen said. "We'll once again endeavor to get on the road with focus and try to be competitive.

"So far, we haven't been competitive. The score was close at Fresno State (20-0), but they kicked our ass. Wyoming wasn't competitive and neither was San Diego State.

"Air Force is as good as any of the above, so we won't be able to spend a lot of time patting ourselves on the back about beating Vegas. We need to improve on things that we haven't done very well so far."

Teams: Hawaii at Air Force Academy
When: Next Saturday, Falcon Stadium.
Weekend update: Air Force defeated then-No. 8 Notre Dame, 20-17, in overtime at South Bend, Ind.
Man of the hour:Falcons quarterback Beau Morgan rushed for 183 yards and a touchdown for the 4-2 Falcons.
Quotable:"What this proves is size isn't everything in football. There's desire and there's belief," said Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry, after the upset of the Fighting Irish.