It's not often you'll see the Heisman Trophy winner, the Biletnikoff Award recipient, the Walter Payton Award winner and two head coaches, who are synonymous with national championships, wandering the same sidelines at Aloha Stadium.
Granted, that should make a difference at the gate, but will it? That key question won't be answered until the Jan. 19 kickoff.
Since taking over the event a little more than two years ago, Hula Bowl directors Marcia and Lenny Klompus have landed a major sponsor in Hooters, a solid television deal with ESPN, and a recent arrangement with the Downtown Athletic Club and the American Football Coaches Association, who are directly responsible for lining up a talented field.
"Now, it's our turn," Lenny Klompus said. "The AFCA came through, ESPN promises to promote it and our title sponsor has helped defray the costs. It's up to us to put as many people in the stands as we can."
So far this decade, the Hula Bowl has played more to empty seats than anything else. The idea of having a local Hawaii all-star team play a group of all-stars from the mainland set back the game so much that only now is it gaining a measure of respectability.
How else can you account for Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel of the University of Florida deciding to play in the game? It's hard to imagine Bobby Bowden or Lou Holtz coming to the islands in January to coach the Hawaii Pono'i.
Add Wyoming wide receiver Marcus Harris, who won the Biletnikoff Award, and Hawaii All-Americans Chris Naoele of Colorado and Ink Aleaga of Washington, and suddenly it becomes the marquee college all-star event.
"In just 26 months, the Hula Bowl has turned into an event which hosts the nation's best players and coaches," Klompus said through a press release.
"With the unwavering support of the American Football Coaches Association, we believe the 1997 game will be one of the bowl's best, and that's saying a lot given its storied history."
The two teams will be divided into North-South squads. Holtz has the North team that will have Colorado's Koy Detmer, Brigham Young's Steve Sarkisian and Air Force's Beau Morgan at quarterback.
The North also has Notre Dame's top three linebackers in Kinnon Tatum, Bert Berry and Lyron Cobbins, Walter Payton Award winner Archie Anderson of Northern Arizona, who rushed for more than 2,000 yards this season and Colorado wide receiver Rae Carruth.
Joining Anderson in the backfield are Nebraska fullback Brian Schuster and Fighting Irish running back Randy Kinder. BYU's Kaipo McGuire will be one of the receivers, while Oregon tight end Josh Wilcox and Stanford receiver Brian Manning also will take part.
Bowden's South team isn't half bad either. Joining Wuerffel at quarterback will be Southern Cal's Brad Otton. Their wide receivers are Issac Byrd of Kansas, Wayne Messam of Florida State, Baylor's Kalief Muhammad and Chris Miller of USC.
The top running backs are Shon Mitchell of the University of Texas, Clemson's Emory Smith (brother of Dallas running back Emmitt Smith), South Carolina's Duce Staley, who originally was going to attend the University of Hawaii, and Miami's Danyell Ferguson.
The Hurricanes also will be represented by one of the finest centers in the country. K.C. Jones is expected to be one of the top offensive lineman chosen in next April's NFL draft. Competing at that spot will be Outland Trophy semifinalist Jeff Mitchell of Florida.
Defensively, the South will be led by secondary personnel Ray Austin of Tennessee, San Diego State's Rickey Parker and North Carolina State's Kenny Harris.
The linebackers include Miami's Twan Russell, Oklahoma's Tyrell Peters, Florida State's Vernon Crawford and Arizona's Joe Salavea. The top linemen are Van Tuinei of Arizona, Miami's Kenny Holmes and Florida State's Connell Spain.
"It's a tremendous collection of athletes," Klompus said. "We just hope the local fans come out to support it because we need their backing as much as anything."
The kickoff is set for 11 a.m. the weekend before the Super Bowl. For tickets or further information, contact 947-4141.