By Dave Reardon

NEW ORLEANS >> The Hawaii coach isn’t always a great quipster, but maybe that snazzy suit got him in the groove.

“We liked that the Saints facility is a 30-minute drive from the hotel,” Jones said in opening remarks at his final news conference today before the Sugar Bowl. “That kept the players off the streets for 30 minutes.”

He also said this is the first time he’s worn a suit in “nine years,” referring to around the time he interviewed to become the Hawaii coach.

Will he be wearing one again soon?

“Tonight,” Jones answered.

Don’t worry Warrior fans, the SMU athletic director is nowhere in sight; Jones has to suit-up again for a Sugar Bowl sponsor function.

***

Georgia coach Mark Richt said Knowshon Moreno won’t start at running back. Thomas Brown is his replacement. Moreno has been hampered by a sprained left ankle but is still expected to play.

***

More to come after I write tomorrow’s stories.

***

By Dave Reardon

NEW ORLEANS >> Now that’s a party!

And the after party was even better.

Yesterday was a relatively easy work day, after a 15-hour stint on Saturday. Sunday was just three stories to write as opposed to five the day before. At any rate, I was ready to let off a little steam with the boys and girls on Bourbon Street.

We were bused to Pat O’Brien’s, which is where they invented the hurricane. Actually, I think my college roommates and I invented the hurricane independently when we mixed rum and Hawaiian Punch.

Food was awesome again, it was a pupu deal where they brought trays around with bits of steak, excellent spanokopita (Greek pastry filled with cheese) and other goodie.

We looked down from the balcony at red waves of Georgia fans … plenty of students, as well as alumni.

When the official media party was over, Paul Arnett, Richard Walker and I made our way past the DMZ and a couple blocks down to Johhny White’s, the unoffical UH headquarters on Bourbon. It was home away from home, and we marveled at how many young UH fans had made their way here — most I talked to from Hawaii, rather than the mainland as I figured them for recent college grads who hadn’t found their way back to the islands yet.

Walker got the money shot with pictures of Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann reuniting with his Iolani football teammate and classmate, Warrior Nation Ambassador (New Orleans chapter) Lynn Sapir, the owner of Johnny White’s.

Overall, it was a night of happy chaos on Bourbon Street, where not a UH player was to be seen. A few Bulldogs from deep down the depth chart were spotted, however.

By Dave Reardon

NEW ORLEANS >> Our charter bus headed to the last regular practice for Hawaii before the Sugar Bowl went to the Superdome rather than the Saints’ facility by mistake. Some folks were worried that we might not make it to the UH practice before it ended. But I wasn’t too concerned, since the Warriors usually go a little long two days prior to a game — especially a big one.

Because we were “late” it just meant we stood around in the chill outside of the indoor facility for a few minutes less than we would have. Today’s practice was closed, but we got to talk to a few players.

The players seem to be at just the right emotional level. They’re loose, but they really do want to do everything right so that they represent themselves, the team, the school and the state as well as possible.

Paul Arnett told me the Georgia players were also loose today. I’d heard they were tight earlier in the week. Mark Richt, a master of motivational techniques, probably noticed that and had his assistants lighten up some.

We were fed a very nice lunch today by the Sugar Bowl folks. It included collard greens, a personal favorite. Grilled chicken, jambalaya and chopped salad. Very nice.

Tonight we go to Pat O’Brien’s for a media gathering. I can’t even begin to mention all the other parties; there are several being hosted by folks from Hawaii, and I’m sure we’ll try to stop by as many of those as possible.

***

Former Ohio State punter and Punahou athlete Scott Terna just arrived. Scott’s an outstanding sports photographer. He’ll be shooting the Sugar Bowl for UH and the national championship for This Week in Football in Ohio.

***

By Dave Reardon

NEW ORLEANS >> The Warriors practiced in the wee hours this morning, starting at around 7:30 a.m. Central. Shrewd move by coach June Jones on the day after the first 11 p.m. bed check.

“I think he was just making sure everyone was in their room for curfew,” linebacker Blaze Soares said.

Back to normal, since UH practices in the morning at home?

“Back home it’s 3 a.m.,” Soares said. “I don’t think this is normal.”

Will post more later … today is a heavy work day.

By Dave Reardon

NEW ORLEANS >> The first complaint I’ve heard from any player is a minor one. Ryan Grice-Mullins is unhappy that the players won’t be able to spat their shoes in the Sugar Bowl (spatting means to apply tape to the outside of the shoes). While spatting supposedly offers ankle support, it is also a show of style.

*Brian Kajiyama and I agreed today that you can tell people here are genuinely friendly, and not only because we’re tourists. They possess a giving spirit, like folks from Hawaii. Of course, we know there are evil-doers out there, just like there are in Waikiki. We haven’t encountered any though.

*Colt Brennan was again a hit at pre-practice interviews, and he looked very sharp at what we got to see before we were hustled out of practice.

*Someone commented that Georgia receiver Sean Bailey and running back Knowshon Moreno are very articulate. They were among the players offered up at today’s news conference.

*Today’s lunch: shrimp po’boy and red beans and rice at the Cajun Cafe at the River Walk. I’ll give it a B compared to an A for the grilled gator yesterday at Mulate’s. Cajun Cafe is behind a souvenir shop with a nice view of the Mississippi.

Stood in line for coffee at Cafe Du Monde, but the line didn’t move for nearly 10 minutes, so we bagged it.

***

By Dave Reardon

NEW ORLEANS >> Jamm Aquino, Gary Chun and I got back from a Bourbon Street foray about an hour ago. Richard Walker is still there; I think we might have a hard time getting him to come back to Hawaii with us.

There were plenty of UH folks there. Folks from the band, ticket office, equipment staff, etc. We saw a few Warrior players, who were just cruising around, checking out the sights … and here’s the good news: None of them were starters, and I noticed no underage drinking by any players. It’s still early in the week, but that’s a good sign. From what we could see, the Warriors are worthy of Coach Jones’ no-curfew call for the first couple of nights.

By Dave Reardon

NEW ORLEANS >> Just got back from Georgia’s practice at the Superdome. Surreal to be at the place where so much history was made two years ago … and we’re not even talking about football, but rather the Katrina situation.

Mark Richt was very interesting in his comments today, as were Georgia players. Players and coach very classy.

Richt talked about taking his team bowling the night before Thanksgiving to keep them loose.

Paul Arnett will have a story in TODAY’s Star-Bulletin (p.m. edition) with TODAY’S news, as well as a piece tomorrow.

I’m headed to June Jones’ press conference and then the Saints’ practice facility for UH practice.

Glad we got that “protected” posting thing fixed. Check in with you later.

UPDATE: June Jones chatted with Saints coach Sean Payton and GM Mickey Loomis as practice got underway this afternoon at the Saints facility. On the way over, we passed many houses that were flooded two years ago and are in various stages of repair … or not. Quite a solemn feeling. The mood was lightened when we passed the “Jade Moon Chinese Restaurant.” All of us Hawaii people got a laugh out of that, making jokes about 25-year-old Zippy’s commercials and electricity, and the Georgia and New Orleans guys were wondering what was so funny. We’re gonna try to get them to stop the bus tomorrow so we can get pictures.

Practice seemed pretty normal for the half hour we were allowed to be there. The Saints place looked kind of like the Kibbie Dome, but without seats. There were several excercise bikes, and two were occupied by Keao Monteilh and Victor Clore. I think you can count on neither of them playing in the Sugar Bowl.

Of course, Colt Brennan was the most popular interview subject, and Paul Arnett said “Colt was on fire,” referring to his glib and articulate answers.

Adam Leonard was another popular interview, doing his best to dispel the notion of UH as an offense only team.

We had a great lunch/dinner at a place near the hotel. Somehow I missed out on gator meat when I lived in Florida, but I had it grilled today, and it was great.

I’m either going to meet the shooters on Bourbon Street for some shooters, or I’m going to Harrah’s. Or maybe both.

By Dave Reardon

NEW ORLEANS >> First thing I saw when the plane landed was the Warrior Express. Bizarre to see a Hawaiian Airlines plane sitting on the tarmac in New Orleans.

Several UH fans were on the plane to Houston. They have relatives and friends there and are staying in Texas for a couple of days before heading to the game.

Just landed about an hour ago, and am now at the team hotel where I will be interviewing some UH football players.

Have spotted Tim Grasso and Joshua Rice so far.

Will update after the interviews.

By Dave Reardon

We haven’t even left yet, and we’ve lost our leader. Actually, Paul Arnett just went to get a magazine, and the rest of us — feature writer Gary Chun and photographers Jamm Aquino and Richard Walker and myself — are waiting to get on a US Airways flight and start our journey to New Orleans.

So far, we’ve met with tactical success; our travel agent, Sally Asao, got us out of two middle seats and we’ve all got aisle or window.

We stop in Phoenix and then Houston. The rest of the fellas will drive to New Orleans. I get to fly because I have to be in New Orleans for the first UH press conference tomorrow late afternoon.

Check Richard Walker’s blog starbulletin.com/blogs/thephotolounge/ for the first photo of our trip.

I’ll try to figure out how to get the photo of the five of us on here at the next stop.

By Dave Reardon

This is a little bit longer than the advised blog post, but it is very good. It is from reader Teri Wakuzawa. We’re glad your friends convinced you to send it to us, Teri.

I composed this Christmas card and attached it to my Christmas present this year – signed UH footballs. People kept telling me I should send it to the paper so here it is:

“Twas The Night Before Georgia…”

All through the season, the critics said, “No.”
But Hawaii fans cheered, “Go Warriors, Go!”
We beat Northern Colorado and Louisiana Tech
They took us to overtime, we said, “What the heck?”

We were ranked 22, off to Vegas we went
We took UNLV down, with hardly a dent.
Charleston Southern’s Buccaneers were ready to play
Eli Byrd and Jay Mills were defeated that day.

We were ranked 17th, when we hit Kibbie Dome
There was no way the Vandals were sending us home.
Quin Ashley and Idaho tried with their might,
But we were up 28 by the end of the night.

With Hawaii ranked 15th and raring to go,
The Utah State Aggies proved a formidable foe.
Brennan was out, with a pass rush attack
But Graunke had triumphed, not even one sack.

San Jose State was ready, or so it would seem
But we beat them in overtime, it took the whole team.
New Mexico and Fresno States, they were up next
We defeated them early, we hardly were vexed.

We went to Nevada, Mackey Stadium was packed
The going got rough, Tyler Graunke got sacked.
The game was real close, it came down to just two
We won with a kick of Dan Kelly’s gold shoe.

Hawaii was fearless, we started to grin
As the Warriors racked up, win after win.
The critics had doubts, they still said, “No Way!”
But their voices grew quiet when they saw our boys play.

Colt Brennan stepped up, Grice-Mullen got set
Our faith was in Jones, our hearts ran with Bess.
We silenced Chris Petersen, crushed Tayor Tharp
With the Broncos sent packing, we looked pretty sharp.

The Pac-10 came to play on a cool winter’s eve,
But we wouldn’t be beaten, our motto, “Believe.”
The Washington Huskies wore purple and gold
But Colt and the Warriors knocked them out cold.

The Bulldogs are next, we will take on Mark Richt
He said, “Are you kidding?” when Hawaii was picked.
Our boys go for Sugar, they’ll come home with gold,
On January 1st, we will see Georgia fold.

The critics now silent, Hawaii fans shout,
“Lets show them the Ha’a.” “Erase all their doubt.”
Twelve teams have been downed, only one more to go
Then Hawaii will chant, “WE’RE 13 AND 0 !”

Merry Christmas,
Terri Wakuzawa