New Orleans--"We're excited about getting out there and having one last hurrah," said Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan on the eve of Tuesday's Sugar Bowl matchup with Georgia in the Superdome. "it's just like Wyatt Earp and his last ride with the immortals. That's what we're going for."
The opposing coaches, Hawaii's June Jones and Georgia's Mark Richt, wore business suits in their final pregame news conference. Richt appeared to be a comfortable fit. Jones was awkward in a suit, much like Bum Phillips was when he coached the Saints. You could a $1,000 suit on Bum and it would like a $100 suit. Jones, who sometimes plays golf in bare feet, even wore socks for this event.
The two coaches are polar in style, tradition and circumstances. The differences will be on display during warm-ups. Georgia. as the home team, will wear black jerseys. Hawaii is expected to to unveil a new look with white jerseys, white pants and white-and-black shoes.
Much is at stake for both teams. The Bulldogs believe they should have been invited to play in the BCS national championship game and are using this game to launch next season.
"Where we finish this season will probably have some effect of how we start next season," said the Georgia coach. "The way the bowl system is set up right now, the way the national championship game is set up, usually the higher you are in preseason, the better chance you have of being there at the end. LSU proved that.
"I think most people's formula for preseason rankings is how did they finish and how many starters do they have returning? We'll have a lot of returning starters back, and hopefully, we'll finish high.
The Warriors, meanwhile, are carrying the banner for non-BCS schools, the state and the integrity of their four-wide offense. The Bulldogs are a run-oriented SEC team.
"People act like we're a gimmick offense,: said Warriors slotback Ryan Grice-Mullins. "But look at the Patriots. How many touchdowns has Tom Brady thrown? They have three receivers across, and a fourth with the tight end. Look at the Colts, who won it last year with a passing attack. The game has changed."
"This game is a great opportunity to end our careers on the right note," said Brennan, a folk hero in Hawaii.
He will star chucking passes just after the team breakfast and won't stop until the game is history.
"Georgia is a great team," said receiver Davonne Bress. "We have so much respect for them. But they put on their uniforms the same way we do."
Note:Many pressboxers and the general public are fascinated by the Warriors' and their Cinderella story. Georgia's offensive line will be the deciding factor. And, the longer the game wears on, the more the larger Bulldogs will impose their will on the smaller Warriors' defense.
Look for the game to be close for a half. The SEC team will dictate play in the second half and run away with the game.
The Bulldogs are a very good SEC team. I'm picking the Bulldogs, 40-21.
New Orleans
