GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
UH Warrior football fans, from left, Shane Shimatsu of Kunia, Danny Alvarez of Makiki, and Walt Quitan of Manoa, cheered while watching the game at the All-Star Cafe yesterday afternoon. At top, wide receiver Neal Gossett was pushed out of bounds by BYU cornerback Mike Sumko yesterday in Provo, Utah. The Warriors lost to BYU, 35-32. For full coverage of the game see Sports: UH throws one away.
Warriors come up University of Hawaii football zealots didn't let a little work interfere with the big game against arch rival Brigham Young University.
short, but fans cheer
on in force
A little thing like work can't
get in the way of supporting
the UH football gameBy Leila Fujimori
lfujimori@starbulletin.comEvery fan the Star-Bulletin interviewed had a legitimate excuse for not being at work yesterday afternoon during the live telecast of the game from Provo, Utah.
At Murphy's Bar and Grill in downtown Honolulu, businessmen in aloha shirts sat at the bar and all the tables were filled with people dressed for work.
"I took vacation from a government job," said a 39-year-old city budget analyst who declined to give his name. "Everything's on the up and up. It was a last minute decision. I put in my vacation papers at lunchtime."
Art Taniguchi, 51, a Hilo district manager for Bank of Hawaii flew in for a Honolulu meeting in the morning, but was done before the game started.
"There was no earlier flight," Taniguchi claimed, letting out a big laugh.
Russell Yoshida, 38, a real estate appraiser, said, "This is my boss, so it's OK."
His boss Sidney Uyetake, 51, admitted they're very busy, but planned to work both Saturday and Sunday. Just then, his secretary arrived at the pub with documents he forgot to sign before rushing out to watch the game.
"We're working to catch up," Uyetake said. "If they knew we were here, our customers would be mad."
GEORGE F. LEE / ASSOCIATED PRESS Yoshida piped up: "I'm sure our customers are watching the game."
Alan Rakov, 32, director of marketing for the Honolulu Symphony claimed to be working while watching the game.
"It's important for me to get some audience research," he said. The symphony just switched concerts to Friday nights, Rakov said. "Now they can go to the symphony on Friday nights and football games on Saturday nights."
"Like the symphony, UH football is an important cultural event," Rakov said.
Ron Seiple, 60, senior vice president at STI, a high-tech company, said, "I'm not the boss, but the president's out of town.
"But I don't miss a Bows game. Ever," he said. "I don't think I've missed a game since 1970.
"Woo hoo hooo! Alright Bows! They stuffed 'em," he shouted, his eyes fixed to the TV.
So what were the 120 employees doing while he was knocking a few back and cheering on the Warriors?
"They're probably up in the conference room with the big screen TV," Seiple said.
But when the Star-Bulletin visited the STI office, an employee said everyone was working, no one was watching the big screen TV, and "so that's where Ron is -- Murphy's."
"I wish I could be watching the game," said receptionist Melissa Patton.
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
UH Warrior football fans, from left, Judith and Andy Carino, both of Waipahu, and Danny Tafua and Malia Tolbe, both of Hanapepe, Kauai, cheered for the team while watching at Murphy's in downtown Honolulu yesterday afternoon.
Darren Nakagawa, 33, and his partner shut down their small design studio for big sporting events such as basketball and volleyball.
"Because it's such a big deal in Hawaii, it's good we can all go out and participate and watch the game," he said.
In Waikiki, about 400 fans packed the All-Star Cafe.
"It's a lot more fun than watching it at home on the TV," said Toni Politsch of Kapolei, who took the afternoon off to watch the game with husband Dave and son Nic, 4.
Diehards like booster club member Orlando Benedicto, 30, manager of Dippin' Dots, took the whole day off. "Can't miss this game. I just love it," he said. "When you got June Jones, it's exciting football."
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