Ka Leo O Hawaii

Issue date: 11/28/07 Section: Sports

FIRST PLACE: Paul Ayres, Jonathan Pickett, Andy Baskett (Bucketts), Chris Hayashida

SECOND PLACE: Dave Schulwitz

THIRD PLACE: Laura Saki, Sam Apuna, Emilia Samari, Chris Jones.

Students submitted their most flagrant photos of Warrior fandom to Ka Leo's Ultimate Fan Photo Contest, and the votes are in. Winners get the Ultimate Tailgating Kit, which is valued at more than $300 from City Mill.

Prizes:

1st Place: Valued at $215.93

• (1) 10'x10' canopy


• (1) 24 qt. Coleman cooler


• (1) Vector tabletop grill


• (1) Fast Start charcoal


• (1) resin fold up table


• (2) Quick chairs

2nd Place: Valued at $80.95

• (1) 24 qt. Coleman cooler


• (1) Vector tabletop grill


• (2) Quick chairs


• (1) Fast Start charcoal

3rd Prize: Valued at $51.97

• (1) 24 qt. Coleman cooler


• (2) Quick chairs

FIRST PLACE
Paul Ayres - Junior - Economics
Jonathan Pickett - Sophomore - Business
Andy Baskett (Bucketts) - Sophomore - Travel Industry Management
Chris Hayashida - Junior - English

For the four of us, it all starts at 4 a.m. on the first day of school while others are sleeping. Before school starts, the four of us are camping out, outside the Stan Sheriff Center. We have always been the first students to get their season tickets in that front row of the student section. All week we wait for gameday, and when it finally arrives, we greet one another with a "happy gameday" to all we see. When the four of us met last year at orientation, we all decided that we would paint up for every game and take it as our God-given duty to revive the once passive student section. Every Saturday we get our hula skirts and body paint, along with some food and drinks, to take to Aloha Stadium (aka Church) and after chillin' for a couple hours, we begin painting up. All of the "ohana" around us always take notice and are eager to help out. Often we end up painting kids' faces and anyone else who wants a little paint. Once we start to head into the stadium we always get stopped to take pictures with UH and opposing fans. The ticket taker at the "PP" gate doesn't even bother checking tickets anymore; she just lets us on through. We've talked with opposing coaches, including Fresno State Head Coach Pat Hill. We always grab a program, and these people always make the mistake of giving us a list of opposing player names and numbers so when it's nice and quiet, we get in to heckle the visitors a little. We are on a first name basis with most of the cheerleaders and especially Coach. We follow the team very closely, watching scouting reports, opposing games and talking X's and O's. I really do think of us as "The Godfathers" of the student section just by watching the difference from this season to last, and you know it's going to continue next year (but we all know there is never an off-season with recruiting.) Honestly if the four of us are not the biggest fans I really wanna meet the guy(s) who beat us because we live, eat, sleep, breathe UH Football, and we always wanna talk, and it'd be great to talk to someone who cares as much as we do.

- Paul Ayres, First place winner

SECOND PLACE
Dave Schulwitz - Senior - Politcial Science/International Conflict Resolution

Through the thick and the thin, the excitements and the disappointments, I've been an intense Hawai‘i Warrior fan and been proud of it. I am now in my senior year at UH Mānoa and am enjoying the timing of the football team's undefeated season. I still remember my first UH football game: The 2004 home opener versus Florida Atlantic. Going to the game, I thought the Warriors were definite favorites, but as it turned out, the game went to the Owls. I was so disappointed in the outcome, but my commitment to following UH was just beginning to brew. From that day until now, I've lived my life happily as a Hawai‘i Warrior, knowing that my allegiance will never fade. Going to Warrior games is not only a tremendous amount of fun for me, but I take it seriously. I feel like when I perform at my peak level as a fan, I will not only excite the team, but also encourage other fans to do the same. Yes - the athletes are the ones scoring points, but the Warrior Team extends far beyond the sidelines. One rule of thumb that I always live by, and think all UH fans should live by, is that face-paint is mandatory for all games. Any square inch of skin unmarked is another square inch of skin that could be cheering on our Warriors - every little bit helps, right? Another reason why I think I am the Ultimate Hawai‘i Warrior is my creation of one of UH's newest clubs, "Warrior Nation." Through lots of work in the summer, I've created a lot of interest and excitement in UH athletics through organized tailgates, emails and various websites. I love Hawai‘i, I love UH, and most of all I love the Warriors. How about you join me in making this Mānoa campus a Warrior Nation?

- Dave Schulwitz , Second place winner

THIRD PLACE
Laura Saki - Economics Major
Sam Apuna - Biology Major
Emilia Samari - Religion Major
Chris Jones - Business Major

This is a picture of me and my friends. I think I am the ultimate fan because I yell so much that I can't talk till next week, when the Warriors play again. I love the team and make every game. We show up early to spread our spirit in the tailgating where joys are shared with all. We are the X-Factor.

- Chris Jones , Third place winner

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