Many Maui fans hung on until the end, although disappointed at Hawai'i's 41-10 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs and unhappy that much of the game's second quarter was knocked off the air by apparent technical difficulties by Oceanic Time Warner cable television, which acknowledged problems with channels in a recorded message to customers.

"We missed quite a bit of the game," said Patty Ruhland, an Iao Parkside resident, to The Maui News.

Ruhland hosted a game party with about a dozen people, a number of whom went home early as the score against the Warriors became more grim with each quarter.

After the game came back on toward the end of the second quarter, it was painful to watch "at times," Ruhland said.

But "we're still watching it," she said, as the game wound down.

Kahului resident Devery Bailey watched the game during breaks while working as a security officer at Kahului Airport.

Bailey said he wasn't surprised at the strength of Georgia's running game, but he didn't expect such a lopsided result.

"I was hoping we could get a few quick scores and make them play a faster-paced game," Bailey said.

While he said he was disappointed at the game's outcome, he still was happy to see the Warriors receive national recognition and optimistic that Hawai'i can build on this season to create a stronger football program.

"Money from the bowl game will help in the recruiting department a lot," Bailey said.

Earlier in the day, the mood was upbeat at the Ale House Restaurant and Sports Bar in Kahului as every dining table and bar seat was filled with Warrior fans eager to see how the big game would unfold.

"This is a rare opportunity," said 24-year-old Leon Huynh who was joined at a table by his dad, Glenn Hokama, and four of his closest friends. "When are we going to see our team come out like this again?"

Huynh, a Kahului resident pursuing business studies through the University of Hawai'i Center on Maui, said getting together for New Year's Day's unprecedented game was partly about friendship and fellowship, and partly about cheering on the Warriors, who were undefeated before yesterday's game.

Ian Nakamoto, 24, of Wailuku enjoyed the company of friends while watching the game at the Ale House.

"The atmosphere here is different. It's fun, and it's better than staying home and watching the game alone," Nakamoto said.

Victoria Constantino, 52, of Waiehu, said she was glad to combine her favorite activity — billiards — with her favorite football team — the Warriors.

"Why watch it at home when you can come here and feel the energy level lift you? It's so much more exciting than if you're watching it at home," she said.

Dan Lopez, and his wife, Michelle, left their home in Haiku to drink and enjoy food like potato skins and Buffalo wings while watching the game.

Lopez wore a white UH football T-shirt, while Michelle dressed in Hawai'i's green-and-white colors.

"We just love being around people, and that's why we came out," Dan Lopez said.

"Definitely Hawai'i is the underdog here, but we're still rooting for them."

High school friends Miki Mukai, Ashley Sentinella, Rusty Higa and Joshua Rosete, all 22, came together at the Ale House to consume nachos, garlic cheese bread and a few beers.

"If they start losing a lot, more is going to go down," Rosete joked just before kickoff.

The four pointed to Mukai as the "die-hard" fan who has tracked the team all season long and has traveled to O'ahu for a home game at Aloha Stadium.

"I'd like them to win," Mukai said.

Hokama joked that he joined his son and friends for the game because of the free food.

"They're going to pay for my food," he said.

Toward the end of the game, the Lopezes left the Ale House and went to Koho Grill & Bar in Kahului to eat dessert and "lick our wounds."

"It was kind of a bummer," Dan Lopez said. "It just didn't work out, but we're glad they went there. And it's all a learning process."

Huynh remained proud of the team.

"I felt that they tried their very best," he said. "It was a good season."

The Maui News staff writer Brian Perry contributed to this report.