JaM can trust me on dat.

right Ralph?

SMU was faced with a similar problem for their next home game because it is being played the Saturday after Thanksgiving, a typically low day for their home attendance. That was supposed to be a bye week for them, but a conference member accidentally scheduled 2 games for the same day and SMU ended up having to change their schedule to fix things.

The last time I brought up SMU here, at least 2 people criticized me right away on the blog, but I’m bringing this up because I would like UH to try to adopt the same program that SMU is doing under JJ. Their program has short term and long term objectives:

1. Increase attendance for the final home game against Tulane (Saturday, November 28).

2. Reach out to under-served youth in the Dallas community by providing a rare opportunity to attend an SMU football game.

3. By targeting these youth groups, we will raise awareness and build loyalty with new young fans. It will also create a positive introduction for possible future student athletes, who might not otherwise choose SMU as a college option.

Swap SMU for UH and Oahu for Dallas and *everything* in those goals applies to UH’s situation.

How does the program work? They selected non-profit youth groups (YMCA, Parks & Recreation, Boys & Girls Clubs), which would be easy to find in Hawaii. Each group that participates gets:

– Round-trip bus transportation for 50 people to and from Ford Stadium. The trip will originate from the youth group’s home location.

– A hotdog and soft drink at the game for each youth group member.

– A ticket to the game for each youth group member.

– Participation in a 15 minute Spirit Orientation prior to kick-off. There, youth group members will be taught SMU traditions and when to make noise at the game (i.e. opponent’s third downs). SMU related prizes will be awarded to the most enthusiastic groups.

Free transporation and free food would *definitely* get a great response in Hawaii also. I could see buses coming from all over Oahu and no shortage of students who would wish to participate!

They already have 164 sponsored buses and their goal is for 200 buses–10,000 more people in their stadium for a game. The sponsorship cost for each Bus (including tickets and food) is just $750, so groups like the Tsaikos could definitely sponsor at least one bus (I’m in if UH ever does this).

D1, Kekoa, Whitey, howzit howzit.

Believe you me, I’d love to go spend one Monday in Honolulu for da Na Koa lunch and axe da kine questions. Unfortunately, da timing is not right now.

Even though you know I get dat sly kine mind, and I’m thinking what Postmanke and LOL is thinking, I also agree with Idono and LizK

and mostly, I realize we are all guessing, some more accurate than others, but still, we’re guessing.

and so my democratic side says: give em chance.

Then, with dat winning Hilo smile, you may axe questions like you wuz in da courtroom! Oh…and if you come early, you can sit in da front gel like Bob Ueker!

Hold on to your hats! Kinda breezy today.

HiHo….