NEW ORLEANS — Today's Sugar Bowl between Hawai'i and Georgia is supposed to be the stage for a clash of football styles, and no more was that apparent than on a Sugar Bowl-sponsored stage yesterday.

The opposing head coaches, UH's June Jones and Georgia's Mark Richt, wore business suits in their final pre-game news conference.

Richt appeared to be a comfortable fit, as he leads the Bulldogs into their eighth Sugar Bowl, and third since the game was incorporated as part of the Bowl Championship Series in 1999.

In contrast, Jones was noticeably awkward in a suit, the first he claims to have worn in nine years. Jones, who sometimes plays golf in bare feet, even wore socks for the first time in recent memory.

There they were, two leaders of programs that are polar in style, tradition and circumstance.

The differences will be on display during warmups. The Bulldogs, as the home team, opted to break out the black jerseys they use for special occasions.

The Warriors, according to the word on the street, are expected to unveil a new look — white pants and white-and-black shoes, both provided by Nike. The Warriors, who usually wear silver pants on the road, reportedly will go with an all-white uniform for the first time in four years.

Much is at stake for both teams. The Bulldogs, who believe they should have been invited to play for the national championship, are using this game to launch their 2008 campaign.

"Where we finish this year will probably have some effect on how we start next year," Richt said. "The way the bowl system is set up right now, the way the national championship game is set up, usually the higher you are in preseason, the better chance you have of being there in the end."

He added: "I think most people's formula for preseason rankings is: how did they finish and how many returning starters did they have? We'll have a lot of returning players, and hopefully we'll finish high."

The Warriors, meanwhile, are carrying the banner for non-BCS schools, the state and the integrity of their four-wide offense. Even though Georgia uses elements of the Warriors' spread-out passing attack, the Bulldogs still have a reputation of being a traditional run-oriented Southeastern Conference team.

"People act like we're a gimmick offense," UH slotback Ryan Grice-Mullins said. "But look at the Patriots. How many touchdowns has Tom Brady thrown? They have three receivers across, and a fourth with the tight end. Look at the Colts, who won it last year with a passing attack. The game has changed. We shouldn't be criticized for being the first to do what successful teams are doing now."

Slotback Davone Bess said: "It's been going on for years, whether Hawai'i has a real offense, whether every quarterback who's played here is a system quarterback. The object of the game is to put points on the board. That's what we try to do. It's been proven that anybody can't come in here and play this offense. It's tough."

This is only Hawai'i's second appearance in a Mainland bowl. Defensive tackle Michael Lafaele, a senior, said he hopes it won't be the last.

"I hope the guys who are staying will carry the torch, and keep it burning," Lafaele said. "I hope this isn't a once-in-a-lifetime thing. I hope this can become a tradition."

Lafaele said the Warriors are not ready to back down from this challenge.

"This is going to be the battle of who plays with the biggest heart," Lafaele said. "It's about who plays the hardest and who hits the hardest."

Bess said: "Georgia is a great team. We have so much respect for them. But they put on their uniforms the same way we do."

The Bulldogs are at the crossroads. A victory would be the 40th for this senior class. Their quarterback, Matthew Stafford, is a sophomore. Three starting offensive linemen and star running back Knowshon Moreno are freshmen.

The core of this year's Warriors either emerged as starters or joined the team in 2005. They endured the growing pains of a 5-7 season in 2005. Since then, they are 23-3, winning 22 of their last 23 games.

And after this game it will never be the same. Heisman Trophy finalist Colt Brennan, starting wideouts Jason Rivers and C.J. Hawthorne, Lafaele and three-quarters of the secondary will be playing their final UH game.

"Ever since we got to Hawai'i, our relationship has blossomed," said Brennan, who transferred from Saddleback Community College in July 2005. "That's what this great game and this great opportunity leave us. It's a great opportunity to end it on the right note. All of us are excited to get out there and have one last hurrah. It's just like Wyatt Earp and his last ride with the immortals. That's what we're going for."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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