Hawaii Wants to Prove Themselves.... Again

After last year's blowout against Georgia it was obvious that the Hawaii Warriors were just not quite ready to be a top tier program but they weren't ready to accept that fact. This year, with mastermind head coach June Jones gone as well as Heisman candidate Colt Brennan, the Warriors slipped to 7-6 but they are eying their bowl match up with Notre Dame on Christmas Eve as a chance to showcase their program.

"Senior linebacker Adam Leonard said ... "slowly but surely, kind of in the darkness, we've been building up a program where we have good athletes who can play ball ... We just haven't had the opportunity to showcase that. That's why we have to take full advantage of the opportunities we have now"

"Solving the Irish, even the 6-6 version that arrives in Honolulu late Friday, would be
considered a nice type of validation. The Notre Dame name still carries cachet at this most remote college football outpost, and therefore Hawaii views this as another of those rare marquee moments to seize."

It is true. The Notre Dame name does mean something... well kind of. But the Warriros had their chances already this season; they played Florida, Cincinnati, Oregon State and Boise State and lost to all of them. Either one of those wins could have made quite a statement but Hawaii just could not seal the deal. A win over Notre Dame would help validate the program but in the end it doesn't mean all that much. The irish are a down and out program that don't strike much fear into their opponents.

But Hawaii still wants to heal its wounds from last year and taking it out on the Irish is a good way to start.

[Chicago Tribune]