Hawaii Football Wow!
Last night my oldest daughter took me to the University of Hawaii 6-5) vs. Michigan State (5-6) football game. The tickets were a promised gift from my birthday back in May. I was allowed to choose the game and I chose what I thought would be the best matchup of the year in Aloha Stadium this year. I made a good choice. After blow-out losses to Boise State and Fresno, UH had to win its final three games to become eligible for the Christmas Day Hawaii Bowl. Last week they upset Big 10 Northwestern and now, the final game of the regular season was their last hope for a post-season game.
Although broadcast live on ESPN (not blacked out in Hawaii) the stadium was about as filled as it ever gets...even for the Pro Bowl each February. Lots of MSU fans were strolling about. You could easily spot them. They were the ones wearing tank tops, shorts and slippers...glad to be in a warm place and determined to enjoy it to the full. With heavy rain showers, strong wind and lower than usual temperatures the local Hawaii folks were clad in ponchos, jackets, long pants and shoes.
The predominant color for both schools is green so there was a pleasant uniformity to the stadium crowd. As we munched nachos and andagi my daughter commented on how unique college football is in Hawaii. What other football stadiums sell teryaki beef cooked over kiawe coals, ginger-marinated chicken, and, in the stands during the game, tako poke! (Not to mention the national side dishes of Hawaii, "two scoop rice & mac salad!")
As it turned out, UH made mac salad out of MSU for their second win over a Big 10 team in two weeks. The final score was UH 41 MSU 38. Michigan State led by 28-0 in the second quarter but Hawaii methodically came back to take a lead of 41-31 in the last part of the final quarter. MSU scored a desperation TD with 1:30 left but, after UH recovered the ensuing on-side kick and with MSU left with only one time-out the game was essentially over.
As we left the stadium to return home on the bus I turned to my daughter and said, "I sure like a good story. Especially one like this that has a happy ending!"
Having a daughter old enough (22) and wise enough to buy football tickets for her father and accompany him to the game was the best part of the whole deal. The game and the upset victory were simply icing on the cake! Go Bows! (oops! I mean...) Go Warriors!
Although broadcast live on ESPN (not blacked out in Hawaii) the stadium was about as filled as it ever gets...even for the Pro Bowl each February. Lots of MSU fans were strolling about. You could easily spot them. They were the ones wearing tank tops, shorts and slippers...glad to be in a warm place and determined to enjoy it to the full. With heavy rain showers, strong wind and lower than usual temperatures the local Hawaii folks were clad in ponchos, jackets, long pants and shoes.
The predominant color for both schools is green so there was a pleasant uniformity to the stadium crowd. As we munched nachos and andagi my daughter commented on how unique college football is in Hawaii. What other football stadiums sell teryaki beef cooked over kiawe coals, ginger-marinated chicken, and, in the stands during the game, tako poke! (Not to mention the national side dishes of Hawaii, "two scoop rice & mac salad!")
As it turned out, UH made mac salad out of MSU for their second win over a Big 10 team in two weeks. The final score was UH 41 MSU 38. Michigan State led by 28-0 in the second quarter but Hawaii methodically came back to take a lead of 41-31 in the last part of the final quarter. MSU scored a desperation TD with 1:30 left but, after UH recovered the ensuing on-side kick and with MSU left with only one time-out the game was essentially over.
As we left the stadium to return home on the bus I turned to my daughter and said, "I sure like a good story. Especially one like this that has a happy ending!"
Having a daughter old enough (22) and wise enough to buy football tickets for her father and accompany him to the game was the best part of the whole deal. The game and the upset victory were simply icing on the cake! Go Bows! (oops! I mean...) Go Warriors!
posted by Bird of Paradise at 3:33 PM
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