The first assignment for the Naval Academy football team when it lands here tomorrow will be to tackle ... a plate lunch?

"Our first team meal will be an L&L (Drive-In) katsu, teri beef combo (take out)," said Ken Niumatalolo, Navy's Hawai'i-bred head coach. "We'll have a mixed barbecue plate one night."

Already Niumatalolo has had Hawaiian music, including songs by Brother Iz and Keali'i Reichel, played at their workouts last week.

With Navy playing the University of Hawai'i at Aloha Stadium Saturday, "I want them to get in the mood," Niumatalolo said.

A call to the football office in Annapolis, Md., is greeted with, "Aloha! Navy football."

Navy arrives tomorrow night and Niumatalolo said he wants the Midshipmen to have a "Hawai'i experience" within limits.

"I've been planning for this game for a while now and I want to make sure our guys (experience Hawai'i)," Niumatalolo said. "It is not like you can paint the windows black at the hotel, lock the doors and not let them out. It is paradise, so I want them to be able to enjoy things. But, I want to make sure that we're getting ready for a football game, too."

Niumatalolo said "we'll have some local food and visit the Arizona Memorial but, other than that, we'll work out the same as we would (at other places) and get ready for the game Saturday. I want to keep the guys off their feet and out of the sun as much as possible. I know a lot of teams come over here, get distracted, lose and get on the plane and go home. I want to make sure we're ready for a football game.

"I don't think a lot of our guys realize how far the trip is and what kind of a game it is going to be," Niumatalolo added. "They (the Warriors) are a good team playing for a bowl berth. Obviously, Coach Mac has done a nice job of keeping those guys fighting back the last couple of games. I was there (at UH) for many years and I know what a great home-field advantage it is. Guys get distracted. We'd better be ready to go 'cause we're playing a highly motivated football team."