RUSTON — The stickers are back!
Reviving one of the great UH football traditions, players who do well are awarded stickers for their helmets. The Warriors' design is really impressive (Ferd will post pictures soon).
Maybe viewers can see them during television closeups today.

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The Warriors just performed the haka on the hill on the South end zone side.

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It's 2 p.m., and we're 45 minutes away from the team departing the hotel — for good. After the game, the team goes back to Houston.
Some brought their bags to the team meal, which is a converted conference room. The menu is set on "plenty."
The coaches are already in their green aloha shirts, except for Mel deLaura, who is wearing his blue tanktop. If I had his guns, I'd wear a tanktop, too.
The players are extremely focused. No joking. Little chatter. Not even Dan Kelly is saying much, and he's always saying much.
Even the autograph seekers know to stay clear.
The Warriors are concerned about Louisiana Tech's running back and freshman receiver.
At least the weather is holding up. It's warm and muggy, but sunny. We'll see how it is in Ruston.
At least the Warriors have figured out the video plans. The initial plan was to have video coordinator Lopaka Ornellas return to Honolulu tomorrow, do the video cutups on UH's editing system, then go back to Houston on Monday. Now he'll travel with the team to Houston.

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By the way, I mistyped. Gas in Houston was $2.60 a gallon. Gas in Monroe is $2.58.

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Dan Kelly has a tongue-in-cheek diary at myspace.com/dankelly86.
Give me a review, since my computer is very slow here.

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Mornin' from Monroe.
• Trina, the academic counselor, went to a high school football game last night. Just her luck, it was being videotaped as part of a future reality show.
• Which leads us to running back Korey Reynolds, who was a member of the Hoover (Ala.) High football team featured in the MTV reality show, "Two-A-Days." Twenty of Reynolds' family and friends will be attending today's game. Per NCAA rules, each player receives four tickets, but players make trades. Today's game is an easy trade; good luck to the relative trying to ask for a player's UNLV tickets.
• The guy in the suite ... uh, I mean, room next to mine is starting his own warehouse. He's the guy with all of the helmets — mini and regular. A hotel worker said he and his buddy checked in just to stalk UH players for autographs.
• A local guy named Mike Lum is hosting a tailgate party in Ruston this afternoon.
• The Monroe newspaper devoted a small segment, on page 4, to today's game. Key strategy: Stop Hawai‘i's passing game. I wonder if June Jones knows that's what LaTech is thinking.
• UH has scripted the first 36 plays. Most likely Jones will run two or three, getting a feel for LaTech's defense, and then go off script.
• A scout for the Buffalo Bills is in the hotel. It's always a good sign when a scout hugs the coaching staff.
• A big-time wideout has eliminated Washington in the recruiting competition. It's now down to UH and California.

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Blogs are ike belly buttons and opinions about Joe Moore. Everyone has one.
And this was just another blog until Da Punchbowl Kid visited and became the guest who didn't leave.
We're glad he stayed. As both the voice of reason and insanity, Da Kid fixed up the blog and made it a home. Not only is he a great guy, but he also came up with the blog's best contribution: the nickname for Leila Wai.
We don't say it enough, but thanks for everything you've done, Kid. I appreciate it. (Since I'm out of state, Al and Bulla are free to give Da Kid a man hug for me.)
Here's Da Kid:

Childhood

One of seven born to a Hawaiian lady and a career Marine. Born on the mainland, raised there until age nine. Images memories: Living in front of a corn field on the inland waterway in North Carolina. Fresh flounder, oysters, scallops, clams, mullet, shrimp and crab. When we had fish fries, everything was fresh out of the ocean in front of our house. Fresh corn, watermelon, tomatoes and green beans from the field out back. Collecting arrowheads and fossils with my brother. Enduring memories: Judo tournaments. Broken collar bone in Judo. Watching my oldest brother’s football games. He was an all state LB in the 11th grade.We almost stayed there in NC when my Dad retired.

Later childhood.

Moved to Hawaii when Dad retired. Settled on a farm in Makaua, between Kahana and Ka‘a‘awa. We had fruit trees of every kind and animals of every kind. Cows, pigs, ducks chickens, dogs, cats, rats, freshwater fish, saltwater fish, a mule and a monkey. Many adventures then, mountain climbing, hiking, horse back riding in Kahana Valley, spearing prawns up in the valley. Diving and swimming in the ocean, surfing at Kualoa, bodysurfing at Pounders, jumping off the rock at Waimea, surfing the quater mile break in Kahana Bay with my brothers when the swell was right. Enduring memories: Climbing to the head of the Crouching Lion in 15 minutes time on our secret trail, spearfishing for my mom’s favorite lunch of weke and limu kohu when my brother and I were only 11 and 12 years old. Fun facts: Our mule was a “retiree” from Kahuku Sugar mill, never did a lick of work for us as was intended. Our monkey was a gift from Uncle Don Ho and family, (he was biting too much so they shipped him out to “reform school” on our farm. His name was Sam. He was my marketing assistant for two summers, helping to boost sales at my roadside mango stand by several thousand percent. Monkey sits on mangoes for sale sign, eating mangoes. Cars screech to a halt to see monkey and buy mangoes.

Childhood's end.

Left Kaaawa Elementary for the Kamehameha Schools. Parents move to Hilo my senior year. Memories/Images. Waking up at 5am to catch the bus to Kamehameha, Hitch hiking home from wrestling practice. My brother and I both winning gold medals at the ILH wrestling championships and giving them to our proud mother. Playing football (third string ) for Cal Chai and his brother, the late great Willie Chai. Great social and athletic life in between school work. Graduating from UH Manoa (deans list, highest honors, mortar and pestle) Working with my oldest brother for Magoos Pizza. Working in sales and fundraising, working at Kamehameha (got 20 yrs there) teaching, coaching, and working as fundrasing consultant. Had to leave Kamehameha due to medical retirement. Hated having to do that, loved that job and miss it. Coached many champion wrestlers for the Warriors. Hilo Billy’s most awesome three sons were among the many excellent young men I was privileged to work with there .Taught part time in the DOE. Worked freelance in TV production. I was in the booth with the Coach for three years. Broke several known fundraising records at schools when working as consultant. Love writing, working on a novel. Used to write lyrics for Sonya at the Wave in the day. Wrote with some studio musicians to win an MTV amateur songwriting contest. Working on a novel. Gonna write a children’s book about that monkey too someday. Gonna call it “King Pet”. Learned to love UH football from my second father, a pake uncle who was the first to teach my brother and I to dive as kids. He took me to my first game in the seventies. Been a fan ever since. Love the WB and the Tsaikos. Cool people, fun blogging, many great friends here.

I have two grown sons from my first marriage. Wonderboys both.

I have been married to the woman of my dreams for the last couple of years. Her Hawaiian name is Ke’alohilani. That means the light or shining of heaven. Suits her perfectly.