Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs Partake in Hawai'i Bowl Lu'au
12/20/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
By: Matt Burkholder
mburkholder@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
HONOLULU - The first full day for the Fresno State Bulldog football team in Hawai'i concluded with the 13th annual Hawai'i Bowl Royal Hawaiian Lu'au on Saturday evening. Both the Bulldogs and Rice Owls met beachside at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel as the two celebrated the Hawaiian culture and to feast on local food upon meeting one another for the first time on the Island.
"I think it important for the educational process," said head coach Tim DeRuyter. "For guys to be able to come out here not just to win a football game, but also be able to learn and partake in the culture here."
The Bulldogs were dressed in custom Hawaiian Lu'au shirts, as were the Owls. A few of the Bulldog players, including Karl Mickelsen, Josh Quezada and Greg Watson took the stage to learn the Hawaiian dance called the hookie lau to kick the night off.
"My whole family, they dance too," said Mickelsen. "All my brothers and sisters dance, it something I grew up around. I just went up there and had fun."
The players took a break from the dancing and were able to enjoy a buffet that included traditional dishes of Kalua Pig, Mahimahi, Teriyaki Steak, Laulau, chicken long rice and more dishes to fill a plate for a number of football players while the entertainment continued on stage.
"We had a blast tonight," Mickelsen added. "It was really fun. The dancers were great, the food was great, and the lualua was amazing."
To close the evening, dancers entered the crowd and selected members of the audience to dance along. Former Bulldog and now offensive graduate assistant coach, Richard Helepiko, was one of those selected audience members and brought the Bulldog players to their feet with his unpredicted dance moves.
"I was a little nervous at first," said Helepiko. "But I used to dance like that when I was younger, so I got to show that off. I just wanted to get everyone pumped up and ready for this game."
The Bulldogs will suit up for another practice day in full pads on Sunday in preparation for their Christmas Eve showdown against the Rice Owls. The Hawai'i Bowl is set to kick off at 5 p.m. Pacific on ESPN.
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