May the force be with the Warriors
Saturday is “Star Wars Night” at the Stan Sheriff Center, and the Hawai’i basketball Warriors are hoping that the force is with them. The student force, that is.
Several members of the team walked around the dormitories this week to personally invite their fellow students to Saturday’s game.
The Warriors will host Northern Arizona in a non-conference game at 5 p.m. at the Sheriff Center, and fans are being encouraged to wear Star Wars themed costumes. To give the students ideas, a group of Star Wars fans wore their professional-looking costumes and joined the Warriors for the walks around the dorms this week.
Jamie Smith, the volunteer coordinator for the student section at basketball games, organized the walks, and he dressed as a Storm Trooper to knock on the dorm doors and invite students.
Led by Smith, the student section – also known as the Manoa Maniacs – has become increasingly popular at home games this season. They now have choreographed movements and cheers to distract opposing players, and will attempt to do a “Harlem Shake” dance at Saturday’s game.
GAME INFORMATION: Hawai’i (15-11, 9-6 Big West) vs. Northern Arizona (10-16, 7-9 Big Sky)
When: Saturday, Feb. 23, 5:00 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center (10,300) – Honolulu, HI
Television: Live statewide on OCSports – Channels 16 (SD) and 1016 (HD).
Streaming Video: Live video streaming is available on ocsports.tv.
Radio: ESPN 1420 AM will carry the game live. Neighbor islands can listen live on KNUI on Maui, KHLO in Hilo, KKON in Kona, and KTOH on Kaua’i.
Audio Webcast: Live audio streaming on espn1420am.com
Live Stats: Live in-game stats are available at HawaiiAthletics.com
Ticket Information: $26 (lower); $18 (upper-adult); $16 (upper-sr. citizen); $5 (upper-youth, ages 4-HS); UH Manoa students free with validated ID. Parking $6.
Promotions: Bank of Hawaii is the game sponsor and will distribute 1,000 chip clips and award a $200 gift card to the winner of the halftime promotion. Bank of Hawaii will also toss Beanie Babies and mini-basketballs into the stands at halftime. Saturday is Star Wars Night. Dress up as your favorite character or take a picture with one on the many Star Wars characters in attendance that night.
— — — — —
And here is a video from UH Film Productions, promoting “Star Wars Night,” and featuring Hauns “Solo” Brereton and Darth “Vander” Joaquim:
Good job Jamie Smith , Coach Gib and staff and especially the students and MBB team! You all are making for a fun environment at the SSC. The Maniacs and all the fans are having a blast. Wish the team can sweep these last 4 games, and create more buzz. Nice Gesture by Gib to say Mahalo(thank you) to all the student fans for coming out. This Star Wars Night theme should be a good one. A lot of the UH student body and dorm regulars(yes, their are now a couple of hundred regulars to the games, UH MBB, UH MVB, etc!)who can identify with the themes, they are having a blast. College atmosphere, yet clean, safe and fun.
Now UH MBB team, your fellow students are coming out to support. Give great winning effort and try to , in fact do so, you all can do it. win the last 4 games and win the BWC tourney championship. Would be nice to see the WBB and MBB team going to NCAA’s, what an accomplishment that would be! Either way MBB team, get a good record and go dancing at any post season tourney, hopefully you all can host a couple !!
Need to get Jamie back on staff full time ! this visa crap is crazy, the guy needs to make a living now!
Could Prez, Mazie, Hanabusa, Neil, Tulsi, Schatz help? just wondering, with VISA situation, Jamie is GOLD. Gib loves him and so do players, he was with the Celtics, man, he is a diamond in MBB, what every organization needs. If you read this Jamie, so much thanks to you, a one man gang, getting students involved, Hope by senior night, 800 students in Manoa Maniac section and another 200 around the arena for a total of 1000 in house at SSC will give YOU , Sir Jamie Smith, of Great Britain, a well deserved standing ovation!
Hope powers that be, and laws, allow you to stay with UH at least another year or two or three..!!
Whoa, Dayton going Hollywood on the video. Nice job. And props to Jamie Smith. Hope the school can retain his services in some capacity. Maybe AD Ben Jay (or Jays, if you read the paper. Ouch!) can add it to his to-do list.