Two hundred people lined up outside the University of Hawai'i bookstore before it even opened at 8 a.m. yesterday, and three hours later another 100 people stood in a special line to get coach June Jones' autograph.

"It's a madhouse," UH spokesman Gregg Takayama said. "There's a level of excitement around the Manoa campus that people who have been here for years have never seen before.

"The big difference is this year's football team. It's really charged up the atmosphere."

A mix of Jones' one-hour book signing at noon, discounts on UH apparel and sales of black WAC Championship T-shirts drew a constant throng yesterday that rivaled the first-day-of-school crush at the bookstore, said Didot Soewondopranoto, the store's commercial enterprises manager.

"Having a winning season certainly helps," Soewondopranoto said.

The football team's success continues to translate into huge crowds — and huge sales that were still being tabulated last night.

The Warriors clinched their first outright WAC championship Friday night with a victory over Boise State. Now they are looking ahead to Saturday's game against Washington, when UH could end the regular season as the nation's only undefeated team — with the possibility of a BCS appearance that would be worth millions to the school.

Yesterday at the bookstore, Takayama saw the symptoms of UH fever as 50 people waited near an empty table for the next batch of WAC Championship T-shirts to buy.

"It's the difference between a sellout crowd at Aloha Stadium and a regular crowd," Takayama said.

SIGNATURE SEASON

Jon Hiner stood in the front of a crush of UH fans whose arms were filled with thousands of dollars worth of UH caps, T-shirts, books and jerseys waiting to meet Jones.

Hiner, an 18-year-old freshman from Mililani, figured that a special discounted copy of "Hawai'i Warrior Football" for his grandfather, James Hirata, would make a perfect Christmas gift — especially with Jones' autograph.

"To Jimmy," Jones wrote on the first page for Hiner, the first person standing in line. "Happy Holidays and God Bless."

"My grandfather's really into this team," Hiner said after posing for a picture with Jones inside the bookstore. "Especially after this undefeated season."

It was like that for an hour as Jones made the UH faithful even that much happier.

Jones' hourlong appearance was intended to push copies of "Hawai'i Warrior Football," which includes a foreword by Jones. Normally $24.99, it was on sale for 20 percent off yesterday at the bookstore.

But Jones also happily signed anything with a UH logo.

Students and office workers on long lunch breaks waited in a line that serpentined throughout the bookstore. They were armed with caps, WAC Championship T-shirts, jerseys, mini footballs, mini helmets and nearly anything else with a UH logo.

IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS

One customer forked over $350 for an authentic UH helmet, which Jones signed.

"I didn't think it would be like this," Soewondopranoto said. "It's probably the best book-signing we've had in a long time."

Amanda Pontius, a 26-year-old master's degree candidate in oceanography, had season tickets last year and again this year and is a little disappointed that it takes an undefeated, championship season to turn so many people into UH fans.

"I wish it wasn't like that," Pontius said after buying $81 worth of UH books and clothing. "But they're also here because of the sales and everyone needs to buy gifts at Christmas time. I guess everybody likes a deal."

Jocelyn Olegario's family in Pearl City has seen the UH team through hard times and is happy to celebrate the good ones.

Olegario, a 21-year-old sociology senior and member of the UH marching band color guard, got Jones' autograph on three "Hawai'i Warrior Football" books that she plans to give as gifts at Christmas.

She hopes they'll be the perfect presents for a family of UH season ticket holders after UH's best season ever.

"This is the year," Olegario said.

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com.