The lettering and logos on their black and green uniforms announce them as being of Hawai'i and the Western Athletic Conference, affiliations the University of Hawai'i football players wear with chest-expanding pride, especially on a night of import like this one.

But with each passing game and mounting victory total in this magical season, these Warriors also have become cognizant that they represent much more to many more people. They are coming to understand that they are living the dreams and carrying the hopes and aspirations of 54 other universities, their thousands of players and millions of fans.

When the unbeaten Warriors take on Washington at 6:30 tonight at Aloha Stadium, attempting to complete a 12-0 regular season and force their way into the prestigious Bowl Championship Series, they will have a lot of people in their corner watching national television from far-flung nooks and crannies of the country.

"I know a lot of people across the country are looking to us, wishing us well for what it means," UH slotback Davone Bess said.

"Any time one of us has a chance to rise up and compete with the the big boys, it speaks well for all of us," said Jeff Reinebold, UH defensive line coach.

"I would tell Hawai'i to beat whomever they play to prove once again that parity is a reality in college football," said Tulane University President Scott Cowen, who has helped lead the fight to open up the BCS after his school went 11-0 in 1998 and was passed over.

DEEP DIVIDE

In the world of college football, there has been a large and deep divide separating the haves and have-nots, the brand-name schools and the Brand Xers, and it is represented by the BCS, which means bright-lights exposure and lucrative paydays for participating schools and conferences.

Tonight's protagonists, Washington and UH, embody the disparity. Washington, with a 72,500-seat stadium anchoring much-envied facilities, a century plus of tradition (including a national championship) and a $13.8 million football operating budget, is a have, even in its presently reduced (4-8 record) circumstances.

UH, with threadbare facilities and one-sixth the football operating budget ($2.2 million) is a decided have-not.

The BCS, conceived a decade ago ostensibly to crown a national champion, also has had the effect of making sure the 64 schools in the six most powerful conferences — plus Notre Dame — corner the market on visibility, validation and money. They have been loath to let the other five leagues and independents into their game, and the more than $100 million their series controls.

The four original BCS games — Rose, Orange, Sugar and Fiesta — took the champions from the six automatic leagues (Atlantic Coast, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pacific-10 and Southeastern) plus two at-large representatives.

PRESSURE ON BCS

WAC Commissioner Karl Benson was an early champion of "the other guys" when the BCS was created, and advocated for greater access. Only under threat of legal proceedings and legislative intervention did BCS organizers deign to establish a provision where a team from an outside conference (WAC, Conference USA, Mountain West, Sun Belt) or independent could gain entry.

From 1998 through 2005, only a team from a nonguaranteed conference in the top six of BCS rankings would be assured a BCS berth, and just one, Utah, was. Further agitation brought about an extra game and a clause to allow a team ranked in the top 12 to be assured a BCS appearance.

Last year, Boise State got in at 12-0 and proceeded to stun Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, opening the way for UH this season.

Still, the majority of the money goes to BCS-guaranteed conferences, $17 million per conference. The WAC divided up $6 million for Boise State's appearance.

'SLAP IN THE FACE'

UH players know there is much to be proven.

"Look at teams like UCLA (6-5) that still have an opportunity to play in the BCS," said Warriors linebacker Adam Leonard. "It is kind of a slap in the face of a lot of other teams that have great records and won their games."

As such, the 50,000 at Aloha Stadium tonight and those who wear UH colors elsewhere are hardly the only ones with a rooting interest in this.

"Do Boise State and the WAC in general a favor (and) beat Washington and then cream whoever they give you in the BCS bowl," e-mailed Boise State fan Dale Gray of Owyhee, Idaho.

"Yes, we lost to (Hawai'i), but we will be rooting for Hawai'i. Every Broncos fan would love nothing better than to see Hawai'i rise to perfection."

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com.