Quotes about the UH band and cheerleaders

About how their band and cheerleaders will perform at the Sugar Bowl for a national TV audience, UH assistant band director Gwen Nakamura said:
"This is really the big time." (HSB)


About the importance of their cheerleaders, UH cheerleading adviser and coach Michael Baker said:
"Cheerleaders can help make a difference (in helping a team win)." (HSB)

About how the UH students are excited about the Sugar Bowl, Nakamura said:
"Before we came on to the field today, we had a meeting about the trip, and I could tell by the atmosphere that it was finally sinking in to the students that we're going over there to do this. And I'm sure that once we see Georgia's band, we'll be pumped up to do just as well as them." (HSB)

HSB Note: "With the help of assistant band director Gwen Nakamura and a trio of student conductors, the 270-piece band went through their paces and formations in a brief program that includes the school's alma mater, the "Hawaiian War Chant" and a bit of "Hawaii Five-O." The show features the band in full-dress uniforms -- plus featured baton twirler Shannon Dresser, the 20-member cheerleading squad and 25 Rainbow Dancers."

Remembering the UH band performing at the Holiday bowl in 1991, Nakamura said that the Sugar Bowl is a much bigger deal:
"But, like for us, this is really the big time. This is unreal." (HSB)

UH Marching Band director Brandt Payne said about the Sugar Bowl:
"This will bring us a lot of exposure on a national level, and since this is a BCS bowl game, we'll be part of its grand atmosphere." (HSB)


About the UH band, Payne said that:
"the caliber of this group is as strong as any top marching band in the country, so it's great that we can take them to New Orleans and showcase what talent is available out here in Hawaii." (HSB)

About her love for the UH band, Nakamura said:
"I love UH. It's in my blood." (HSB)

Cheerleading advisor and coach Michael Baker was a former cheerleader at Washington and remembers their undefeated season in 1991 that ended in a Rose Bowl victory:
"It was then that I knew that the cheerleaders can help make a difference. And when Hawaii beat Washington in the last game of the season to remain undefeated, it came full circle for me. I thought going to a bowl game was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but it's nothing like this." (HSB)

Baker's goal is to replicate:
"that home-field feel to the game, and take advantage of the Hawaii fans going there by unifying them as one." (HSB)

HSB NotE: "He hopes that with pep rallies and pre-game events happening around the Big Easy, Baker and the squad will educate the fans with coordinated cheers."

About his cheerleaders, Baker said:
"We've got a great group of kids, and it's great to represent a team that strives for perfection." (HSB)

About how he and the cheerleading squad learned from last season, Baker said:
"When we finished with the Purdue and Oregon State games, more fans came out of the woodwork for those, so in terms of cheering, it was not organized. Back then, the fans just wanted to make noise. But with the last two games of this past season, the crowd was unbelievable. It all came together. During stretches of the Boise State and Washington games when the team was on defense, you could just see the energy in the stadium. These kids are dedicated and focused. We come up with different strategies and, come to think about it, we don't want to miss our assignments as much as the players. When our defense is in a third-down situation, that's our cue to hold up the 'noise' signs." (HSB)

Hoping that they can help their defense by helping get the crowd to be louder, Baker said:
"If we can make a difference on one stop against Georgia, that's huge. That one play could impact the whole game." (HSB)