Aloha Irishman...I've lurked here for years with just an occassional post. Why, because I love Alabama football...ever since I meet some fans who came over for the games in Hawaii. Most of the people on the board are pretty passionate and knowledable about football. I don't understand why you're so negative about Hawaii. Facts are facts. Hawaii has a lousy schedule. But, why so judgmental? Almost like looking down an aristocratic nose. YES, Hawaii is not near Alabama's class. Not now or in the near future. Facilities are like at your high schools. Our recruiting budget is 60K (not joking)! We're 2,500 miles away from California. Our first road trip this year went through 5 time zones, 2 games and took 12 days to complete. Do you know any other team that has to do that? Check out how many road games we have this year. Teams complain about coming all the way to Hawaii. They do it once. How many times will Hawaii make the trip? This isn't a complaint. We do it because we LOVE football.
So, why do you put us down? Do you preceive us as competition? That would be too flattering. It's a given that Hawaii has not and is not able to recruit the quality athletes that any of the top schools do. We make do with an occassional gem that falls through the crack and local boys who love to play the game. If they play with a chip on their shoulders, it's only because we're always up against the odds. After watching the San Jose game, how can you not give props to a TEAM that battled and never game up even in the most trying times, to pull out a most improbable win on the road? USC couldn't do it against Stanford on their home field...I won't go through the whole litany of top 10 teams who lost against unranked teams. Surely a fan of football can show some appreciation of the purest elements of the spirit of competition.
Tell you what...in the spirit of battling odds, I will wager that Hawaii will go undefeated and go to a BCS bowl...and BEAT THEIR OPPONENT. That must be the dumbest bet ever. But, perhaps you'll realize what kind of odds that Hawaii must battle to do what they do. The prize will be a t-shirt of your choice...either Hawaii or Alabama. Should I win, I would prefer an Alabama shirt. If you accept, I'll PM my address to you and you can do the same to me.
BTW, continued good wishes for a wonderful Crimson Tide season...
BG