FRESNO, Calif. — T-shirts in Fresno State apparel shops dedicated to tomorrow's University of Hawai'i-Fresno State football game proclaim (at $18 apiece): "the rivalry continues."

But, really, for how much longer and how strong?

Let's face it, even though the Warriors have played the Bulldogs more than any other opponent (this will be the 41st meeting), a lot of the hostile energy revolving around this series is from what former UH coach June Jones brought to it. UH has taken the field with four other head coaches against Fresno State in the major college era, but none with near the incendiary touch of Jones (1999-2007).

So, as Greg McMackin debuts in the series in the role of UH head coach, you wonder whether he can be a keeper of the flame. Can he fan it or will we find that a lot of the fire went out with Jones' departure to SMU?

Whether it be claims of mystery screwdriver tossing — and Bulldog fans are still grousing about that — suggestions of having run up the score, doing the haka on sacred Bulldog Stadium landscape or just plain beating the Bulldogs in big games, Jones brought a lot to the series.

Beginning with his first year and a 31-24 double overtime victory that earned UH a piece of the Western Athletic Conference title in 1999, this has been a good rivalry, probably the most combustible in the WAC these days.

Part of it was that Jones' personality contrasted so much with that of Fresno State's Pat Hill. Like their offenses, Jones was a just-wing-it guy while Hill, he of the often ground-pounding approach, has been fairly predictable. Hill's uptight nature helped cast him as the ideal foil for the calculating Jones. And Jones didn't pass up many opportunities to stick the needle, when he could.

So much so that Jones remains the coach that Bulldog fans love to hate. He is the see-red symbol to Fresno football fans that Jerry Tarkanian was to Hawai'i basketball followers.

Fresno fans once urged their school to hire UH men's basketball coach Riley Wallace. But you would not see Jones on any wish lists where, as one commentator in Fresno put it the other day, they want to get their "hands on his neck."

So this is the stage that McMackin steps upon tomorrow. McMackin has been extremely complimentary of Hill and the Bulldogs this week. Undoubtedly, this is the function of both his humble, glad-to-meet-you personality and, of course, the fact his team is a 22 1/2-point underdog.

A win on the Bulldog home grounds would be a good first-year contribution to the rivalry. So, too, would a controversy.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.