UH feels the love — from those who showed up

No one really expected throngs of crazed University of Hawaii football fans to show up on a sunny Saturday morning in June for the chance to be in a TV commercial to help sell tickets for the 2013 season.

Still … just four students and the family of a UH athletic department employee? That doesn’t bode well for sales.

The previous time UH did this about 25 people showed up.

"But that was after the (undefeated) 2007 season," associate athletic director John McNamara said. "You never know what you’re gonna get. It’s OK as long as you get what you need."

And Johnny Mac got what he needed for the commercial: enthusiasm from fresh-faced Manoa Maniacs, a loud and joyful promise of "family fun" from the Kinilau ohana, and testimonials from coach Norm Chow and former UH players about the need for a full stadium.

Chow tries to encourage the fans to return since 18 starters are doing so. But, you know how that can be perceived when those are the same guys who went 3-9 last fall.

Al Noga, still UH’s only AP first-team All-American, was enlisted as part of this campaign. At 47, the Sackman still looks like he could crush a quarterback.

"As you get older you want to give back," Noga said. "This is the school that got me to the NFL and let me see the world."

He said he’s taking graduate courses to learn more about disabilities caused by concussions. Noga has a personal stake in that; after UH, he banged heads for seven seasons in the NFL and then three more in arena ball.

Chow and Noga were adversaries in the mid-1980s when Chow was running BYU’s offense.

"There was no way to block Al Noga," Chow said. "He was like Dwight Freeney. You had to change your entire scheme because of him. Al and his brothers (Niko and Pete)."

Mike Biscotti, Mitch Kaaialii and Richard Torres also taped for the commercial. Biscotti, the UH quarterback from the early 1970s, was one of the most vocal players in getting "Rainbow" restored to the team nickname. He captured the essence of what it means to play in front of a packed house of supporters.

"There’s nothing better than playing in front of your home fans, knowing they’ll feel the pain with you if you lose and share in the experience if you win," he said.

Students Regine Estrella, Bree Locquiao, Vance Nagata and Ryan Wallett know that the magic they helped bring to basketball games as leaders of the Manoa Maniacs won’t be easy to transfer to football at Aloha Stadium — unless the Rainbow Warriors improve.

But they’re still out there trying.

"The problem of non-support doesn’t go away if you stop going to the games and just complain," Wallett said.

Estrella said encouragement from Chow has inspired them. The student group is working with UH on improving the shuttle system, tailgate party, parking and seating.

The spirit and effort are encouraging.

Of course, the reality remains that most of those seats will remain unused if the team doesn’t win.

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783.