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Sidelines Kalani Simpson |
‘Rainbow’ still
preferred by UH fansIT is coming up on five years now.
And you're not alone. It's just not happening.
Hawaii still hasn't warmed to "Warriors".
That's not surprising. It's not even news, really, except that now UH's own numbers bear this out.
The university did its own market research, did a survey (or rather the UH Foundation did, UH president Evan Dobelle said, no tax dollars were involved), in January of 2003. It wasn't about sports. It was about everything, in preparation for the university's centennial campaign in 2007.
And, Dobelle was sure to mention, this wasn't necessarily aimed at UH alumni, or even sports fans.
Not necessarily, I add just to be clear, Internet posters or radio callers or booster club members or secret coach millionaire-makers. You might very well get a different answer if you strictly polled that specific group. I'm sure a much greater percentage of those particular people would favor the new colors and new identity and new name.
But these questions were asked of "everyone," or at least a scientific random sample of all citizens of Hawaii ages 18 and over. You know -- the whole state.
And one of the questions dealt with UH sports teams sometimes being referred to as Rainbow Warriors and sometimes as Warriors, and which was preferred?
And 55 percent went with Rainbow Warriors.
Now, to be honest, this is a lower number than I expected. But then, it's big to get 55 percent of the public to agree on anything. And it is a clear majority, especially in light of all the spin in these last few years, and with no visible evidence the Rainbow had any hope of a comeback in the "Warrior" sports.
Thirty percent said Warriors.
That's no small number, true, and it's actually pretty impressive. But it's a clear minority, nowhere near a mandate, no sign of momentum, especially when you consider the change appeared permanent ("it's over, get over it, move on"). Three years in -- and just days removed from a 10-win football season -- and only 30 percent of the state prefers the new name?
Four percent wanted neither nickname.
Eleven percent had no opinion either way.
Dobelle said the survey (the whole thing, not just this one question) will be discussed in general at the foundation's April board meeting. It was taken for UH's own information as it gets ready for the centennial campaign.
I don't know what, if anything, UH will do with or take from these numbers.
But here is what they tell me. If people haven't been won over by now -- almost five years now -- I don't know if they will be. If "Warriors" hasn't made its big move yet, I don't know if it will.
Sports matter because people care. And people still care about UH's rich tradition and history, about a team they feel is theirs.
They want "Rainbow" in there somewhere.
That's not a surprise. Certainly not news. But it is interesting to know there's real evidence -- even years later -- that you're not the only one.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Kalani Simpson can be reached at ksimpson@starbulletin.com