Time was when you had to be practically undefeated and pedigreed to get a crack at the University of Notre Dame football team in a bowl game.

Or, at least be into double-digit wins, have a high national ranking and a Jan. 1 date.

Then there is the University of Hawai'i, which has a dream shot dumped into its lap despite six losses, the most by any bowl opponent in the Fighting Irish's long and rich history.

So imagine what is going through the mind of, say, San Jose State today. The Spartans beat Hawai'i in Aloha Stadium, became bowl eligible and are left out of the bowl picture entirely. Or, Ball State, which goes 12-1 and, for its reward, plays Tulsa in Mobile, Ala.

Which brings us to the Warriors, upon whom the grid gods have showered a bushel of blessings this Christmas by making them only the second school from what we now consider a non-Bowl Championship Series conference to get a crack at the Golden Domers in a bowl game.

The point is the Warriors have one of those once-in-a-lifetime shots awaiting them Dec. 24 in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl. Like January's trip to the Sugar Bowl, this is something many of us shouldn't expect to see happen again and it behooves the Warriors to make the most of it.

The Warriors have what many schools — and all so-called mid-majors — would give their head coach's courtesy cars and country club memberships for: a shot at the legendary Irish. They have it in their own backyard at Aloha Stadium on a national cablecast to boot.

They even get Notre Dame when its record, 6-6, doesn't really look like Notre Dame but the uniforms say otherwise.

And that's the great thing because it matters little since the Irish are a brand name unique in college athletics. Ten years from now all that will matter is that the record book says "Notre Dame" on the opponent line. It isn't like the Warriors' grandchildren will know the Irish lost to Syracuse or struggled with San Diego State.

Make no mistake about it, the Irish aren't coming here just for the scenery, though it sure beats the alternatives of Shreveport, La., Houston, Birmingham, Ala., and Detroit. They are headed here because this is the best of the limited options and head coach Charlie Weis sees a team he feels good about lining up against. A rare occurrence this season to be sure.

The Warriors have just over two weeks before playing the Irish, time enough, you would hope, to fix some of the things that have deviled this season. Bugaboos such as penalties, problems protecting the quarterback, turnovers and a tendency to go too conservative with a lead.

Fortune is bringing the Fighting Irish to the Warriors' doorstep on Christmas Eve. Hope is the Warriors seize the opportunity that comes with them.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.