Sugar Bowl, Fans, Banquet, Etc.

Dave Reardon covers yesterday's announcement and gets reaction from Colt Brennan.

"I haven't been to New Orleans and I'm excited about it, especially playing in that dome," Brennan said after yesterday's announcement. "So many great games have been played there. I can't imagine how this offense will run indoors."

Dave also writes about last night's banquet, injury updates on Jacob Patek and Keao Monteilh, this week's Warrior Replay, and a full bowl schedule.

Stephen Tsai talks to the players about going to the Sugar Bowl. They also give thanks to the fans.

The fans roared each time Fox cut to a live shot inside the arena. They booed loudly when an analyst questioned whether the Warriors merited BCS consideration. But, mostly, they yelled in joy.

"I've never experienced anything like this," linebacker Timo Paepule said. "Our fans have our back. It was loud."

Watson said: "It was nice to experience this. During the games, we're so focused, we don't pay attention to what the fans are doing. This was nice to see our fans really support us. We appreciate it."

"We always wanted to do something for the community and Hawai'i itself," Bess said. "This is way beyond what we imagined. We're thankful for the opportunity."

Mary Vorsino covers the festivities in the Stan Sheriff Center and talks to some long-time fans.

For many UH fans, the road to the Sugar Bowl has been a long one.

Some have been waiting more than 30 years for yesterday, after sticking with the Warriors through seasons filled with disappointments and frustrations.

"We've cheered for them all the way through," said Kane'ohe resident Beverly Hamada. "It's been a really fabulous season."

Michelle Alves of Makiki has been supporting the Warriors since the 1980s. "We always believed they would pull it out," Alves said, laughing. "I think it's a season of a lifetime."

Michael Tsai has a lot more great fan quotes.

"I've been waiting for this for 40 years," said 65-year-old Mililani resident Alvin Akiyama. "This is just fantastic."

"This is great," Shishido said. "This makes up for all those years of suffering."

Ferd Lewis has a few quotes from June Jones.

"We're excited to be there and, obviously, it is a big game for us," Jones said.

Jones said, "We're in for a tremendous challenge in the Superdome with a whole bunch of Bulldog fans and I know how many come down there."

Georgia has announced it has already sold more than 20,000 tickets for the game.

"It is gonna be like a home crowd (for Georgia)," Jones said. "We're, hopefully, going to have the whole state of Hawai'i there, too, to make it equal."

Ferd also has a column discussing what June said in the process of hyping Colt for Heisman that made a few Florida fans angry.

In a Brian McInnis article, June Jones talks about what the BCS money might mean.

"Hopefully, it means we'll get some new carpet and new stuff in my office," Jones deadpanned.

In all seriousness, Jones said the increased funding takes the team's recruiting plateau, previously limited to $50,000, up a notch.

"The identity, what's happened to us and how we do it, it's a little different," Jones said. "We haven't even made trips to the mainland to recruit because of the money situation. ESPN, Fox and all the TV exposure, which I knew would come as we got to winning with our offense, people would want our games on TV. We're getting calls from Atlanta, South Carolina, Florida. It brings us into a new arena."

Paul Arnett reacts to the Sugar Bowl selection.

Suzanne Roig writes about some of the hurdles UH fans will have getting to New Orleans.

"Flights are really booked right now between the holidays and with college kids returning to school," Shimamoto said.

A search of airline Web sites yesterday showed roundtrip ticket prices around Jan. 1 running about $900 per person.

The UH athletic department's Web site did list a Sugar Bowl package starting at $1,999 per person that included airfare through Vacations Hawai'i, but company officials could not be reached yesterday. Space is limited, according to the site.

UH season ticket holders Jasmine and Stephen Mukai, of Niu Valley, plan to go to New Orleans but know they will probably have to book their airline arrangements separately from their hotel and game tickets.

"We'll see what happens," Stephen Mukai said yesterday.

I'll be flying out of LA, so I have it a little easier. I just hope everyone who wants to go can go.

And finally Ferd Lewis writes that East Carolina and Boise State will play in the Hawaii Bowl. He also discusses the possibility that Broncos head coach Chris Petersen may or may not be there for the game.

The Los Angeles Times has reported Petersen is the first choice of the UCLA administration to replace Bruins' head coach Karl Dorrell, who is expected to be fired this week. The Times said UCLA athletic department representatives have already contacted Petersen.

Boise State athletic director Gene Bleymaier did not return calls to The Advertiser.