For Hawai'i football fans, it's the game of a lifetime, and the stakes could not be higher.

This afternoon, the University of Hawai'i Warriors play Boise State for the undisputed Western Athletic Conference championship title.

Also on the line is Hawai'i's undefeated record; its best chance at a Bowl Championship Series berth; maybe even a Heisman trophy for our quarterback, Colt Brennan.

So emotions will be running high at Aloha Stadium. We can expect the sellout crowd of 50,000 to be stomping and rocking the stands in thunderous support for the best Warrior team we've seen in years. Let's hope the fans will show good sportsmanship as well.

Because there's an ugly side to the fan frenzy. Reports of harassing and sometimes violent behavior against visiting teams and their fans by a few unruly fans have prompted UH and Aloha Stadium officials to increase security around the visitors' section.

And UH took the unusual step of pleading with Warrior supporters to behave themselves during tonight's nationally televised game.

In print, television and radio ads, coach June Jones urges fans to show good sportsmanship. Respect our visitors and each other. Don't throw rubbish on the field. Don't damage Hawai'i's image on national television.

He's right. Hawai'i — the Aloha State — has a long and rich tradition of kindness to locals and visitors alike.

But it's a tradition we could lose. As one fan posted on Advertiser sports reporter Stephen Tsai's blog, "a good friend from Boise ... was afraid to wear her BSU gear to the game because she heard she would get beaten up."

That's not the kind of reputation we want, and it's a reminder that a WAC championship is not the only thing at stake tonight. Our reputation for aloha is on the line as well.

As Jones puts it, "This is Hawai'i's time to shine ... let's make the most of it!"

He's not talking about his football team. He's talking about us.