On a night when it was oh-so-easy to be green, University of Hawai'i football fans — clad, adorned, even dyed in all shades of the school color — turned out in force at Aloha Stadium last night. And the Warriors didn't disappoint, turning in a season-igniting 63-6 blitzkrieg of Northern Colorado.

Fans came dressed in all vintage of UH regalia, from freshly printed T-shirts emblazoned with "Colt Brennan — HI's Man" to faded windbreakers bearing the old "Let's Go Bows!" cheer. Some came with their hearts on their sleeves and Warrior helmets painted on their cheeks. Others, like UH sophomores Jonathan Molina and Austin Lindsay-Oakley, took it a step further.

Molina, a 19-year-old marine biology major, and future economist Lindsay-Oakley, 20, dyed themselves crown to sole with green food dye in an impressive show of school spirit and disregard for their own dating prospects.

"We'll probably be green for a day or two after this," Molina said, laughing. "We tried this a few days ago for fun."

And if the team plays to the sky-high expectations that followed quarterback Colt Brennan's return to school, it might not be long before the rest of the country starts thinking green, the friends said.

"It's looking good for this year," Lindsay-Oakley said. "We should win every game."

Fans — the announced attendance was 36,845 — began pouring in to the stadium lot at 1:30 p.m. to fire up their hibachis, down a few (or more) beers and renew acquaintances with other longtime tailgate neighbors.

Sol Cabral, 63, of Wahiawa, a superstitious sort, warded friends and family away from his oversized grill as he carefully aligned his burgers, brats and chops in proper UH formation.

"That big bumbucha burger over there," he said, gesturing with a pair of elongated tongs, "that's the center. That's (John) Estes, right there. The rib eyes are the running backs."

And the green-dyed hot dogs?

"The receivers, of course!" Cabral said.

'WE'RE GOING TO WIN'

A few stalls down, Kane'ohe Bay Marines Xavier and Nocole Figueroa, both 21, sat side by side in the shade, sipping beer and flipping through magazines. The couple attended several home games last season and decided to buy season tickets this year.

Like his fellow Warrior fans across the state, Xavier Figueroa said he couldn't wait for the season to get started.

"I don't even know who they're playing," he said. "But we're going to win."

For those who have lived through the ups and downs of the program, the upcoming season bears the promise of sweet rewards.

Greg Gouveia, 53, of Punchbowl, has been a devoted fan since 1971, when games were played in the old Termite Palace.

For Gouveia, anticipation for the season opener started right after the Hawai'i Bowl and intensified when Brennan announced his decision to return. Gouveia just hopes UH's relatively weak schedule doesn't prevent Brennan from getting serious Heisman consideration.

"I think he has a good shot, but the schedule doesn't really play out in his favor," Gouveia said. "They've got to win everything."

Still, he expects the team's offensive production to build a strong case for a continued national ranking and, possibly, a BCS bowl invitation.

"They're not going to kick the ball this year," he predicted. "When they have the ball, they're going to score every time."

Gaison Ganiko, 22, of Wai'anae, has been coming to games with his father and uncle for as long as he can remember.

"Yes," he hisses, "even the (Fred) VonAppen years. Yes, yes. Right now, it's great. We might not be as good as last year, but we'll be really good."

Len Dempsey, 42, of Hawai'i Kai, and his wife Judy have a pair of ardent Warrior fans of their own in sons Michael, 7, and Paul, 5, both of whom showed up for the game in black UH jerseys.

"Michael has been wearing his for half the summer," Len Dempsey said, laughing.

The kids' interest in the game spurred the Dempseys to invest in season tickets this year. Len Dempsey expects a strong, if not necessarily perfect, season.

"I think the receiving core might be stronger," he said.

Herb and Jennifer Ching flew in from Hilo just to attend the season opener. And while they're stout UH fans, they also have a soft spot for the Warriors' overmatched opponent. Their daughter Lola attended Northern Colorado from 1998 to 2000, and they remember transporting a cooler of fresh poke to the school's annual lu'au.

"But we're still UH fans," Herb Ching assured.

HISTORIC POSSIBILITIES

Chris Letman, 50, of Hawai'i Kai, and her husband have been season-ticket holders for two decades, and Letman believes this group of Warriors will one day rank as one of the best. The upcoming season, she said, will be "historic."

"I hope they go undefeated," she said. "They have a good team, good coaches and a good attitude. They're like a family, and that's what has always made (the Warriors) attractive."

Ray Kaneshiro, 69, of 'Aiea Heights, also a longtime season-ticket holder, agrees.

That was Kaneshiro and his wife, along with 12-year-old granddaughter Sierra Callihan, cheering loudly as Kealoha Pilares trotted in for the first UH score of the night in the opening minutes of the first quarter.

"I've never given up on UH and this is going to be a fabulous, miraculous year," Kaneshiro said. "They have strength in every position, offensively and defensively. It has to do with the coach (June Jones) feeling very deeply about being in Hawai'i and about his vision for what Hawai'i could be. He sacrificed his pro career because he saw how very meaningful it would be for Hawai'i to grow and become a BCS-level program.

"You see it in the players, too. You see the depth of their feeling in wanting to be the best. I feel very grateful to experience something like this, where every game gives you meaningful memories that will last a long time."

When the outcome of the game appeared a near certainty after just the first few minutes of play — a second UH touchdown with more than 10 minutes left to play in the first quarter led to a small exodus of fans to the beer stands — fans were left to debate whether UH would cover the 59-point spread.

"I don't think they'll cover it, but they will win impressively," said Bryan Martines, 35, of 'Aiea. "They're going to put the reserves in early, so it's a matter of if the reserves score."

In another beer line, 22-year-old Kenny Macareg of Kapahulu seemed unconcerned by the rising cheers coming from the inside the stands.

"It's OK if I miss one score," he said, confidently. "There's plenty more to come. It's one long season, and there's plenty more where that came from."

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.