Stress buster

In the stress-filled, rat-race life I lead, there’s no better way to relieve my pent-up tension than to emit a blood-curdling yell as "our boys" lay their hearts on the field to represent Hawaii. As the team exits the football tunnel onto the field, pumped up and ready for battle, the stadium explodes with wild enthusiasm, and all my cares disintegrate.

This season, Santa is bringing me an early present: the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl game, being played on Christmas Eve! — Lynne Hasegawa, Waipio Gentry

5 things Ferd loves about Warrior football

1. When the band cranks up "Hawaii Five-0."

2. Evenings when the sun sets against the Waianae range.

3. Enduring cheers of "Rain-BOWS" even though they are no longer.

4. The aroma of hibachi smoke wafting through the facility before kickoff.

5. The way the stadium shakes and bounces during a fourth-quarter rally. — Ferd Lewis

A grand entrance

There’s something about the Warriors’ entrance onto the field that gives me chicken skin, especially when it’s a big game. It starts with a public-service message and then a loud proclamation by uniform supplier Under Armour that "we must protect this house." That’s followed by a scoreboard movie clip from the 1979 cult thriller "The Warriors" that repeatedly urges, "Waaarriors, come out to plaaay." Then the UH band begins drumming , smoke rises from the inflatable helmet tunnel entrance and, as the band breaks into the "Hawaii Five-0" theme song, the team races out from the bowels of Aloha Stadium with a female cheerleader leading the charge atop a surfboard before one of the players plants the state flag near midfield. — Dave Segal

Dress for success

If you’re going to today’s Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, of course you have to dress in your finest official UH merchandise to show you’re a true fan. You can honor top receiver Greg Salas by wearing his number on a Warriors jersey, modeled here by Mandy Moody. It’s $65 at the Rainbowtique at Ward Centre. If you have extra Christmas scratch, pick up an actual Riddell football helmet, sale-priced for the holidays at $250. Imua Warriors! — Gary Chun

Super Bowzooka hits the bull’s eye

The only thing that could make the Super Bowzooka more awesome is if it shot beer into the stands instead of T-shirts. It combines two things sports fans love: the chance to get something for free and transportation back to childhood. I mean, what 9-year-old wouldn’t love his very own Super Bowzooka? Laters with the BB gun; you’d be the coolest little kid in the neighborhood.

The fact that it’s sponsored by Farmers Insurance is just a slight buzzkill. Maybe that’s a good thing in case someone gets their eye shot out.

I want one for Christmas. — Dave Reardon