Boise State fans might not have been happy about the outcome of last night's game, but thanks to a security effort that included public service announcements, a massive and very conspicuous security and police detail, and some old-fashioned aloha spirit, they were at least assured a safe and mostly peaceful evening of disappointment.

About a dozen people were escorted out of the stadium for disorderly behavior but none was arrested, according to the Honolulu Police Department's Steve Ariola, the coordinating sergeant on the field. This despite a liberal mixing of blue-and-orange-clad Bronco fans and good-to-be-green Warrior faithful.

The beefed-up security — a mix of HPD officers and Wackenhut security personnel — came as a response to the magnitude of a game that would decide the Western Athletic Conference crown as well as concerns raised by numerous complaints from Fresno State fans earlier this season. More than 100 special duty officers and about 80 members of HPD's rapid response force kept constant vigil over the mostly amiable crowd of 49,651. Several plainclothes officers also circulated around the most congested areas.

In a show of goodwill, UH Manoa chancellor Virginia Hinshaw also strolled through the Boise State section to greet fans who had made the trip.

"Like anything, improvements can be made, but I heard from the Boise crowd that they felt safer tonight," Ariola said. "We just wanted to make sure we had a peaceful, good, celebratory ending to a good game."

As fans spilled onto the field to celebrate the victory, officer Brant Pia and his rapid deployment force colleagues — conspicuously armed and protected under flack jackets and riot helmets — kept a low-key watch for potential trouble makers. By the end of the evening, they were yawning at the lack of work.

"It's a good crowd," Pia said.

Boise State fan Brooks Aberg, 37, said he expected to face some "issues" when he showed up in a Broncos game uniform, but he was pleasantly surprised at the reception he got from UH fans.

"Everybody has been really good," he said. "We talk back and forth. I was tailgating all day surrounded by Hawai'i fans and we just traded stories and drinks. You all are gracious hosts and we'll definitely be back."

Boise State graduate Zach Smith, 32, said he too had some concerns about coming to the game after hearing stories about what happened to Fresno State fans. Still, he and his wife Jennifer, 27, felt nothing but aloha as they strode through the sea of green.

"I think as long as you're respectful, you'll be treated the same way," Jennifer Smith said. "I don't think I'm concerned at all."

Mark Mooney, 40, flew to Hawai'i for the game as a birthday present to himself. He couldn't figure out what all the concern was about.

"These are some of the nicest fans I've ever seen," he said.

Mooney's buddy Al Andrade, 36, said he was prepared even if he had to take a little ribbing about his allegiance to Boise State.

"In my experience of the game, people are passionate about their team," he said. "They're going to interact and they're going to yell for their team and that's fine. We don't worry about that at all."

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.