UH by a touchdown - Cayetano USC can intimidate opponentsHundreds of spellbound University of Hawaii faithful were watching as bright-orange flames rose from the school's first bonfire since the '50s.
And in the heat there was a feeling of hope that a new spirit of pride would emerge from the fire.
The university scored a big victory last night with "The Home Advantage: Pride '99" pep rally on the Bachman Hall lawn fronting University Avenue and Dole Street -- an event which seems destined to become an annual affair.
The enthusiasm will continue tonight with Rainbow football's 71st season-opener, which will be played before the team's first sellout crowd at Aloha Stadium since 1992.
"If the football team just plays well, Hawaii will go upside down," said Bronson Etse, a 20-year-old UH sophomore from Micronesia. "I'm going to make sure I get tickets for the next game.
HAWAII VS. USC
"This rally is a good thing for the school. It makes students feel like we're a part of it, too. There's a lot more pride now than last year."
The goal of the rally was to build tradition, and such feelings are a key ingredient.
"It's important to build pride so we can have a sense of community on campus," said Joanne Clark, UH's director of community relations, whose department organized the rally. "You do it by giving people a feeling of ohana.
"I think the last time we had a bonfire, we were celebrating statehood and each student brought a stick of wood. It takes a while to build tradition. To me, the bonfire light means a new beginning."As the architect of Leilehua High School's football renaissance in the '70s, UH Athletics Director Hugh Yoshida knows that community pride will snowball with success.
"People are hungry for a winner and they can identify with (UH Coach) June Jones because everything June has done, he's done for all the right reasons," Yoshida said.
Last night's rally and the quick sellout of $3 student tickets for the opener against the University of Southern California are encouraging signs, added Yoshida."This is what Division I is all about," Yoshida said. "It's excitement. It's people getting involved, being part of an event. It's knowing there'll be 50,000 people watching you play."
UH President Kenneth Mortimer added, "We're trying to build internal excitement at the university so I think it's a big deal that student tickets sold out."
Vantz Singletary, UH's new defensive line coach and the nephew of NFL Hall of Famer Mike Singletary, said having that little extra push comes from a support base.
"It makes you want to work harder and gives you the attitude of never quit," Singletary said. "When you feel appreciated, you push harder."This is the first time I'm getting a chance to mingle a little with students and fans. It feels like a family gathering."
Jill Hanley of UH Community Relations coordinated the rally activities, and said it took three months to get approvals for the bonfire. She hopes it will become a tradition.
The rally featured food, games and a unique new attraction in Hawaii called the "climbing wall," a 24-foot high vertical wall that harnessed climbers climb up in less than a minute.
Warrior mascot target of threat
Star-Bulletin staffThe University of Hawaii's warrior mascot will not suit up for tonight's season-opening football game at Aloha Stadium.
Athletics Director Hugh Yoshida said an unsigned letter threatening physical harm to the mascot prompted the decision.
"It's unfortunate for our mascot," Yoshida said. "But we don't want to risk any harm to him and/or the safety of fans at the game."
The governor’s prediction:
By Pat Omandam
‘I think we’re gonna win’
Star-BulletinThe University of Hawaii football team, fueled by emotion, will beat the University of Southern California tonight by a touchdown, Gov. Ben Cayetano predicts.
Cayetano said yesterday he is basing his prediction on UH coach June Jones' ability to rally support throughout the state for Rainbow football.
Cayetano, who will attend the season-opener at Aloha Stadium, said Jones is the type of coach who brings out the best in players.
"Here's this guy, he lived here before, he knows what Hawaii is all about," Cayetano said. "The reason he's coming home, coming back to live here and giving up a half-million-dollar salary is because he understands what this place is all about.
"Right there he's a winner. People will want to play for him."
Cayetano said if you have players in the game of football who are willing to throw their bodies around the field and play hard because they believe in and are loyal to their coach, strange things can happen -- even an upset victory over the nationally ranked USC Trojans.
"I think we're gonna win."
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
Ka Leo O Hawaii
