Farewell, Food and More Food, Arrival, Tips, Etc.

Robert Shikina writes about the fans who came out to send off the Warriors to NOLA.

Dozens of University of Hawaii fans greeted the Warriors at Honolulu Airport yesterday before they left to play the University of Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl on New Year's Day in New Orleans.

Some fans waited outside the airport terminal, while others met the team inside the security area.

"I'm just surprised how many people came out to support us," said UH linebacker Solomon Elimimian. "It's fun but it's time to refocus. It's about business. It's about doing something that's never been done before."

In his article about the sendoff, Stephen Tsai wins the unofficial line of the day award.

Like most of his University of Hawai'i football teammates, all Blaze Soares wanted for Christmas was two front seats.

Tsai also recounts the frenzy over t-shirts Jason Rivers made for his teammates.

"It's a dream come true," said running back Daniel Libre, rummaging for a size-L shirt. "

"This completes the collection," receiver Jett Jasper added.

Punter Tim Grasso said: "It's a cherry on top. (Rivers is) one of the best players on the team. To finally get a shirt is great. My dad's his biggest fan. Every time my dad sees him, he says, 'That's Jason Rivers! That's Jason Rivers!' I'm like, 'Yeah, dad, calm down.' "

RGM's blog has pics from the sendoff and the arrival in New Orleans.

Michael Tsai compares Hawaii to New Orleans and writes about some things visitors can expect to see.

Hawai'i fans may be tempted to pay a visit to the Warrior quarterback's namesake Brennan's Restaurant, reknowned for its gourmet breakfasts and courtyard dining.

Another must-stop for many tourists is internationally known Cafe du Monde, which has coffee and beignets available at seven locations around New Orleans. (The shop's coffee with chicory and beignet mixes are popular take-home items.)

For a slightly seedier experience, there's no shortage of bars and adult entertainment shops along Bourbon Street (think Kuhio Avenue meets Hotel Street, with better restaurants), and for those who seek maximum efficiency, "Big (expletive) Beers" in plastic cups are available from take-out windows for convenient drinking and staggering.

M-Tsai's article also has a handy list of restaurants and the various UH parties.

Betty Shimabukuro talks to Elmer Guzman, owner of the Poke Stop in Waipahu, who worked in Emeril Lagasse's New Orleans kitchen for a few years. He offers even more food recommendations. An excerpt:

Any Bourbon Street sandwich shop: Try a Po' Boy -- fried oysters, shrimp, roast beef and countless other fillings, served on crusty French bread with Remoulade, a sauce of mayonnaise, ketchup, Worcestershire, garlic and spices that will vary by eatery. "Locals are going to think it's a chunky Thousand Island Dressing."

And add these to your list: Steamed crawfish, etouffée (a seafood stew), gumbo (a soupy stew of many types), blackened red fish (snapper), andouille sausage.

Daddy's gonna come home fat. And while we're on the food recommendations, don't forget to check out this excellent restaurant recommendation rundown from the Georgia Sports Blog, which I've linked in the Sugar Bowl Info sidebar.

Laurie Au offers some safety tips for visitors to New Orleans.

While New Orleans officials acknowledge the high volume of crime in the city, they say most of it is occurring in historically dangerous parts of the city. They advise visitors to stay in tourist areas, such as the French Quarter and around the Superdome, which are relatively safe.

"In reality the French Quarter and the business district is relatively as safe as anywhere else in the country," said Anthony Radosti, vice president of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, a statewide nonprofit watchdog group based in New Orleans.

On the same page, Gary C.W. Chun talks to Hawaii-born Lynn Sapir, who is hosting Warrior fans at his bar, Johnny White's Pub and Grill.

Dave Reardon reminds you that the Star-Bulletin will have tons of coverage from NOLA, and has this quote from June Jones:

Jones has coached in the Superdome before in NFL games, but not in a contest of this magnitude. He said the hype will be akin to that other bowl, the one the pros aspire to.

"I think it will be very similar," Jones said. "Especially with LSU being there, too, in the same hotel (for the national championship game Jan. 7). It's going to be a Super Bowl atmosphere."

The Star-Bulletin begins its on-site coverage with online reports tonight and in tomorrow's print editions.

Here's Dave's first blog post from the trip. And here's Stephen Tsai's post about the team's arrival.

The Warriors arrived safely in New Orleans at about 1 a.m. Hawai‘i time.
According to media relations director Derek Inouchi, the Warriors were greeted by the Sugar Bowl committee and an eight-piece jazz band.
Quarterback Colt Brennan, slotback Davone Bess and the other players who did not travel on the charter are expected to arrive in New Orleans today. June Jones set a reporting deadline of 8 p.m. Central time.

Ferd Lewis writes about the potential the Warriors have to throw another wrench into the gears of the BCS.

Most people believe, incorrectly, the BCS was designed to determine a national championship. It wasn't. It is supposed to assure that the lion's share of the postseason money — more than $100 million — stays in the pockets of the power conferences. For this the best BCS minds had put together a formula that was supposed to largely fence out the lower classes but leave just enough room to mollify Congress and monopoly-charging lawyers.

And now along comes UH to squirm through a hole in that fence, doing it with a schedule that has drawn comparisons with French pastries.

If the Warriors — and they are 9-point underdogs on some betting lines — should somehow win, they will not only reinforce everything Boise State did last season but expand upon it. And there would go another chunk of the BCS' argument for controlling bowl berths and staving off a true national championship playoff.

The AJC has a list of 10 "facts" about UH.

Here's an article from Josh Kendall of The Macon Telegraph about the Bulldogs heading to New Orleans.

And finally, an article from Billy Turner of the Times-Picayune about the Bulldogs getting over their disappointment over not playing for a national title.

"It was disappointing from the standpoint that if you just looked at the fact we were No. 4, and Nos. 1 and 2 lost, it would seem that we would move up to No. 2. But we didn't expect it," Georgia defensive coordinator Willie Martinez said. "A lot of people assumed we would move up. Our kids didn't understand. From my standpoint, we're excited about where we're going to be, in a BCS bowl. We were disappointed about two hours. We went from the euphoria of seeing those teams lose to seeing, as a defense, who we were going to play. It was, geez, we drew Hawaii. The players know we have these guys. They kind of refocused after that."