FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. » They called it the Game of the Century even though the century was only about two-thirds over. We try not to do stuff like that these days, although it is tempting to dub tonight’s BCS championship tussle the Game of the Millennium. Hey, we’re talking Alabama-Notre Dame, with perhaps the largest TV audience ever for a college football game. This might hold up 988 more years.

Back in 1966, the Game of the Century also determined the national champions (well, sort of, in a murky way).

And, like today, three guys from Hawaii played for one of the schools. But the islands’ team for the day then was Michigan State, not Notre Dame — which happened to be MSU’s opponent on Nov. 19, 1966.

Both teams were undefeated, and Alabama was lurking, also unbeaten. The Fighting Irish and the Spartans tied 10-10, and both ended up 9-0-1 with a share of the national championship. Alabama went 11-0, but the voters did not deem them No. 1-worthy. Typical college football snafu.

Bob Apisa, Dick Kenny and Charlie Wedemeyer represented Hawaii in Michigan State uniforms in that game.

Tonight it is Manti Te’o, Robby Toma and Kona Schwenke, and most of Hawaii is all about their plucky and lucky Fighting Irish team.

Even Apisa, a star at Farrington before starting at fullback for the Spartans, wants to see them complete an undefeated season and hoist the crystal football.

"I’m rooting for Notre Dame because it’s such a magical season for them and I would like to see a magical, Cinderella ending," he said.

The 1966 game transcended sports in Hawaii because it was the first time a live TV event was broadcast to the islands from the mainland. This one today does because of Te’o, the Heisman Trophy runner-up whose athletic success is just part of his portfolio.

One thing I’ve confirmed by being here since Wednesday as the massive Notre Dame media contingent continually snowbirded in is that Te’o is beloved in South Bend for things beyond making tackles and intercepting passes. The Midwest is like Hawaii and the South in that most people are very down to earth, family-oriented and sharing. They just don’t label it with a name, like Aloha Spirit or Southern Hospitality.

Since high school, Te’o has had a perfect understanding of what he means to Hawaii but expresses it with humility. The other day he did the same when asked about his potential for a lasting impact in South Bend.

"I hope my legacy is just a guy who gave Notre Dame his all, a guy who really committed himself to the school, and I really feel fortunate to play under the Golden Dome and get an education there. Just one who really gave everything he had."

He is now as much a son of South Bend as the North Shore.

"Manti is the glue," said salesman Pat Butler, a Notre Dame alumnus and season-ticket holder who lives near campus. "He’s the best player in at least the last 20 years, a great leader and the biggest reason for the turnaround. But most of all he is the glue within the team, to the fans and the community, and hopefully to the future."

If there’s someone from northern Indiana who doesn’t love Te’o, he or she isn’t here. Now, back home in Hawaii there are a few holdouts. There’s the Punahou Factor and the Going To The Mainland Instead of UH Factor. Almost everyone has gotten past that, at least temporarily. Too bad everyone can’t.

But most agree with former high school sports chief Keith Amemiya, who says Te’o "perfectly embodies the values that we cherish and make Hawaii a special place."

Apisa took note of how Te’o played one of his best games against his alma mater while mourning his girlfriend and grandmother, who died within hours of each other.

"He’s acted with pride and honor through the adversity he has endured, personal and team," Apisa said. "(Tonight) Manti has a great opportunity to showcase not just to the country, but the world that the smallest state puts out some pretty bad boys on the field and great men off of it. They used to call us pineapple. Our attitude was, ‘Strap up and we’ll show you what pineapple can do.’ "

In 1966, college football showed the mainland to Hawaii. Tonight, it shows Hawaii to the mainland.

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783.