BLOOMINGTON - The Rose Bowl football game between Illinois and USC was only moments old when Central Catholic High School football coach Bobby Moews saw something on the television screen that caught his eye. | Photo gallery | Rose Bowl page | Bowl scoreboard

"Michael is in there," Moews said.

The Michael that Moews was referring to was Michael Hoomanawanui, who Moews coached at Central Catholic.

While the sophomore tight end didn't catch a pass on that play, he threw a powerful block.

As it turned out, Hoomanawanui's effort was to no avail as USC beat Illinois 49-17 to win the Rose Bowl, leaving Moews and other Illinois fans disappointed but still proud of their team.

Hoomanawanui is one of two former Saints players on the Illinois squad. The other is Josh Brent, a freshman defensive lineman.

Moews, who has been the Saints football coach for 16 years, had special interest in the game because of his connection to the two players. Making the game even more interesting for Moews was the fact that senior Illinois safety Justin Harrison attended Bloomington High School.

Moews watched the game with a few friends in the Bloomington sports garage of Tom Crawford.

The garage, complete with potbellied stove to keep things toasty, has sports memorabilia lining the walls.

Moews, however, was concentrating on the game.

When USC jumped ahead in the first quarter, he folded his hands and said "Oh boy, that ain't good."

In between plays, Moews reflected on his two former players.

"I was pretty certain both would go on to the next level," he said, adding that both have good work ethic and are "huge."

At 260 pounds, Hoomanawanui is primarily a blocker, and an occasional target of Illinois Quarterback Juice Williams.

In the Illini's upset of Ohio State, Hoomanawanui caught a touchdown pass. Moews believes Illinois coaches should call Hoomanawanui's number more often.

While the Illini got off to a rocky start, things got worse as the game progressed against the favored USC team.

Though Illinois seemed to pick up momentum on occasion, USC came back after turnovers.

Before the game, Moews said Illinois would have to play its best game of the season, control the ball and not have any turnovers in order to win.

While Moews watched intently in his Illinois pullover and Saints baseball cap at the Crawford garage, across town at Maguire's Bar & Grill, the mood was mostly somber.

"You don't like to see your team lose but you can be proud of the fact that they made it this far," said Neal Benjamin, a freshman at the University of Illinois.

Benjamin was at Maguire's with his father, U of I graduate George Benjamin, of Ellsworth.

Brandon O'Connor, of Normal, who wore an Illinois sweatshirt, agreed the Illini did well to get as far as they did.

Also at the bar was Ohio State fan Leroy Hushak of Columbus, Ohio.

Hushak, who was traveling over the holidays, was rooting for Illinois. "I want the Big 10 to look good," he said.

Though disappointed, Moews, like those at Maguire's, was pleased with how far Illinois got.

"You've got to be excited about how they played this year," Moews said.