That's how Hawai'i senior defensive end La'anui Correa felt about his three-year career with the Warriors after transferring from UNLV following the 1999 season. He was one of 19 UH players who finished their playing eligibility and were honored on Senior Night in last night's 41-40 win against San Diego State.

"This is so great, playing my last home game in front of my home crowd and everybody just going nuts, winning by one (point)," Correa said. "I can't ask for anything else."

After graduating from St. Louis School in 1998, Correa went on to UNLV, but returned because of the fans.

"Up there, we'd get 5,000 (fans)," he said. "Here, we get minimum 30 (thousand) every day. The local fans are the best."

Offensive lineman Lui Fuata echoed Correa's sentiments. A knee injury prevented him from playing last night, but did not put a damper on his career.

"There's nothing in D-1 football like playing at the University of Hawai'i, especially if you're from Hawai'i," said Fuata, a Lahainaluna graduate. "It was very magical. I wish all the local boys would stay in Hawai'i, get the chance to experience what I experienced."

Backup quarterback Shawn Withy-Allen, an icon familiar with fans because he is always shadowing coach June Jones as he relays plays to quarterback Tim Chang, contributed to the win by scoring UH's first touchdown on a 3-yard run that gave the Warriors a 9-3 lead in the first quarter.

"It's something you always dream of," he said. "It's your last game and you want to score. I'm grateful I had the opportunity and that Coach Jones gave me the ball to go and get it in there."

Even players who came to UH from the Mainland enjoyed being Warriors, even though they were far from home.

Running back Thero Mitchell scored a fourth-quarter TD on a 2-yard run to pull UH to 40-35.

"Tenth win, 10th touchdown, senior game, one-point win, it's a lot of emotion at once," he said. "It's real special. I feel fortunate to just be here, to be a part of this."

Linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, who will play in the Senior Bowl, had his usual game, sharing the team lead with eight tackles.

"This is what it's all about, the memories," Tinoisamoa said. "You wouldn't remember this too much if we blew them out. But this game, I felt the underclassmen played a big role. They did their job and they played hard for us. I told them, I play for them like they're seniors."