Things We Love about Warrior football

It’s time to show some love for University of Hawaii Warrior football, which opens its season Saturday against the University of Colorado at Aloha Stadium. Star-Advertiser reporter Steven Mark surveyed fans, coaches and players about what they love about the home team, and there was so much love we decided to expand our regular “5 Things We Love” list to nine items this week. Add your own comments below.

Hawaii does not have a pro team, so basically the Warriors are our pro team. And for the last few years they’ve been improving and this is their last year in the (Western Athletic Conference). We’re all expecting … to have a great year, if not win the WAC outright and go undefeated. It’s probably the most exciting year since the Sugar Bowl year. I’ve been going since maybe 1992, since I was maybe 10 years old. I’ve got autographs on a lot of stuff — Colt Brennan, Davone Bess, Bryant Moniz. Jesse Sapolu, Jason Elam, Maa Tanuvasa, on different items like helmets, cards, pictures. They’re all great guys. I’ve got too many to count.

— Grant Shishido, Kaimuki

I love the players, I love the coaches, and I love the fans. It’s using people skills and the thrill of putting everybody together and being successful. And if you’re not successful, getting out of that adversity and back to being successful, and then keeping the fans in it, too. And that usually takes winning.

— Greg McMackin, UH head coach

What I love is just the history of Hawaii Warrior football, from when the program was struggling to get a win to an undefeated season. It’s always had a lot of pride. … We’re the only D-1 college football program out here, so everybody here knows who you are because you represent the state. … Growing up here, that’s the one thing you see, the Warriors, UH playing. … Being a walk-on, earning it the hard way, that’s made it even more special because it wasn’t given to you. I just came into it with an open mind — take whatever happens. If I get cut, at least I tried … . I just took it one day at a time and here we are today. It’s something I never thought would happen.

— Bryant Moniz, UH quarterback

I love the energy of the crowd. They emit such a strong, hyped-up energy, and it’s so cool because everyone feeds off that all at the same time. It’s just the ambience of it, it’s really exciting and your adrenaline just pumps.

— Taryn Pascua, UH cheerleader

I was a defensive end. Coach (Larry) Price was my coach. I was bigger back then. … It was just great having all the people support me and being “in football” — it was big. I love music, but less bruises. I love not using my head for hitting, I just write hits now.

— Henry Kapono, musician and former UH player

The thing I love about football is when the defense makes a big stop. It’s not the game-winning touchdown, it’s that third-down stop that changes the game — when the defense’s back’s against the wall, time’s running, and you need that turnover or that huge stop to give the offense a chance to win. When they do it, that’s just epic, that’s what defensive players live for. … And then afterward, you get up and you’re celebrating and, oh, man, that was a big stop, that was a big deal. That’s what I live for.

— Richard Torres, UH defensive back

Right now it’s exciting because of the coach, McMackin. I like winning. (I hadn’t been going to games) for a long time because (past coach Fred) vonAppen spoiled it. He made it dull and boring and I got restless in the stadium. Now it’s exciting.

— Rodney Lum, Kapahulu

I love the excitement of the crowd just being on the field, watching the game and dancing and cheering for them. … The atmosphere is just so energetic and it gets you pumped up. We face the audience, so we get to see (the game) on the screen. Otherwise we don’t get to see it unless we get to turn around and watch, and that’s only when it’s close to the end zone.

— Carly Takara, UH cheerleader

The thing I like the best is when they kick the ball and it goes through. I just like kicking.

— Jenna Ching, Pearl City