Gameday

January 1st is finally here. Sugar Bowl in the Superdome. I woke up with butterflies in my stomach, and all I gotta do is watch the game. Just read the news articles from the past couple days to know what this game means to the players, coaches, and the fans. Check out this morning's article from Michael Tsai, who captures the craziness of the fans and the atmosphere here in New Orleans. So many people have traveled so far and spent so much money just to be a part of this day. I've talked to several people who flew and drove for practically a whole day just to get here, leaving on a red eye, catching multiple connecting flights, and finally driving six hours from Houston, or catching a train from the East Coast. And they gotta do it all over again on the return trip. I'm just amazed at what some of these fans have gone through to come out and support this team. So I just wanted to say a big thanks to them.

I also wanted to give a shoutout to the Georgia fans we've met so far. They've been really classy and fun to talk with. We met "Merv" who posts in the comments of the Warrior Beat, and he had a lot great things to say about the UH fans and the team. Even the trash talking has been fun and good-natured, despite of all the alcohol involved. The only surly Hawaii hater that I've encountered was some reporter from Texas (or so he said) who kept asking me and Chawan Cut in a drunken slur "Why do you think your team even deserves to be here?" "You're schedule was pathetic, you truly believe you belong here?" and other variations on the theme. It was like watching a message board troll come to life. But I even give that guy a shoutout, as it was pretty funny. And I don't envy the hangover he must have this morning.

And to answer his question -- yes, we do belong here! Not just because UH went undefeated and hurdled all the obstacles placed in front of it or any non-BCS team trying to make a BCS bowl, but because, and ask any UH fan, we believe this team is truly special. From the stories of personal struggle and triumph in the lives of the players and coaches on this team, to what they've done bringing together the fans, the state, the t-shirt merchants, the ex-kamaaina living in California, New York, Texas, Florida, Japan, Korea, Germany and other spots around the world, and all the fans who never even grew up in Hawaii, but have just been taken with the spirit of this team and with the aloha from all the great representatives of this great state. It's just been an amazing time, an amazing experience, and for this team and for these fans, it's very well-deserved.

So here's to a great game between two great teams. I'll be decked out in white and green, waving my ti leaf, cheering my loudest along with the thousands of UH fans in the stadium and with those back home watching it on TV. It's gonna be an awesome game. You just gotta believe!

GO WARRIORS!!!!!