STAR-BULLETIN PHOTOS BY AGUSTIN TABARES Fans gathered yesterday at Kahala Mall to get pictures and autographs of their favorite UH football players. Some got in line as early as 7 a.m. yesterday for the 6 p.m. appearance.

Signing bonus

Dismissing the Sugar Bowl loss, UH fans greet the Warriors at Kahala Mall

Despite a disheartening Sugar Bowl defeat, hundreds of University of Hawaii football fans pressed in for a glimpse or snapshot of the players at Kahala Mall last night, while others paid for autographs.

Some stood in line from as early as 7 a.m. yesterday for the 6 p.m. appearance.

Lauren Tamanaha, 21, was disappointed quarterback Colt Brennan was not there, but said she understood.

"I figured he would be here, but he's from California and probably wanted to spend New Year's with his family," said the UH student, who paid $37 for autographs.

Her boyfriend, Aaron Patterson, 21, was less sympathetic. "I went to every game and they won, and now we have to fight for their autographs."

Brennan's fans will return Sunday after being promised he would make an appearance then.

"We were given the perception he was going to be here," said Kent Thompson, 46, with son Noah. "We'll be here Sunday morning."

The 41-10 loss to Georgia did not disappoint Thompson. "Just being in the Sugar Bowl is the icing on the cake," he said.

Players Michael Lafaele, C.J. Hawthorne, Carl Noa, Jason Rivers, Hercules Satele and Ryan Keomaka signed autographs nonstop.

Kent Untermann, owner of Pictures Plus, organized the event to allow fans access to the players and fair prices for autographed memorabilia, and also allow players to earn some money.

Players will keep 50 percent or more; 10 percent goes to Na Koa football booster club and various other organizations; and the rest goes to expenses, he said. Untermann set up a two-tiered system, with autographs for some players commanding $2.50 and others $5. He also sold photographs, footballs and T-shirts.

STAR-BULLETIN PHOTOS BY AGUSTIN TABARES Hundreds of University of Hawaii football fans pressed in just to get a glimpse of the players while others lined up for paid autographs at Kahala Mall last night.

"I'd rather just look at them," he said. "You could say they're my heroes."

Cathy Rapoza, 44, was with her mother, 76, trying to get a peek at the players.

"We love the team very much," she said. "We support them 100 percent. They played an awesome game. We still believe in them, no matter what."

Trek Mizoguchi, 12, who was with mother, grandmother and brother Chase, 9, was excited waiting in line for autographs and rattled off the names of the players he wanted.

"They did really good this year," he said.

Lawrence Ordonio, 37, of Sacramento, Calif., spent four hours looking for a football to be autographed and waiting in line for autographs. He will return home before Sunday, so he is having his parents return for Brennan's autograph.

Shyann Jones, 12, said she has watched every game. "I wish the season kept going."

George Nomura, 65, said he has been a lifetime UH football fan, and when the team made it to the Sugar Bowl, "I was very proud of them because it's something rare that hadn't occurred. It made everybody supporters."