Hawaii Bowl, Corey Nielsen

Ferd Lewis writes that the Hawaii Bowl had the highest TV ratings in its history.

Approximately 3 million households saw Notre Dame blow out the University of Hawai'i, 49-21, in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl on Christmas Eve, record viewership for the seven-year-old game.

The bowl's owner, ESPN Regional Television, operates six bowl games and the Hawai'i Bowl viewership was the highest in the history of those bowls, according to David A. K. Matlin, executive director of the Hawai'i Bowl.

The game, thanks to the first appearance by storied Notre Dame, did a 3.03 rating live and, combined with the replay, a 3.70, equating to 2,974,000 households for the live showing and 3,636,000 households for the replay.

Yay.

And future Warrior Corey Nielsen talks to the Long Beach Press-Telegram about his experience in the Mainland vs Hawaii/Polynesia game.

"It came out of the blue," said Nielsen, who admitted the idea of going to play in the game was a "no-brainer" as he has orally committed to the University of Hawaii and plans to sign a national letter-of-intent on Feb. 4.

Even though his Hawaii-Polynesia all-star team lost to the Mainland all-stars, 22-8, it was a very pleasurable venture.

"It was the best time I had in my life. I wouldn't trade it for anything," he said. "It was a blast."

Nielsen, who has been promised a chance to win the starting QB job when he reports to school over the summer, did his best to give Hawaii fans a preview of things to come.

"I wanted to show them what to expect of me next year and for the years to come," he said.