The believing was what got them through all the anxious moments of the first perfect season in Warrior football history.

Yesterday, the seeing was their reward.

More than 7,500 fans, clad in all mode of Warrior green, gathered at Stan Sheriff Center to witness, via JumboTron, the Warriors' historic selection to the Sugar Bowl — and perhaps to get a little Fox face time.

The event served as a backdrop for Fox Sports' live reporting on the Warriors bid as part of the network's "BCS Selection Show."

"I've been waiting for this for 40 years," said 65-year-old Mililani resident Alvin Akiyama. "This is just fantastic."

Football fans joined an already fever-pitched crowd, there for the state high school cheerleading competition, in deafening chants of "BCS, BCS, BCS ..."

Throughout the stands, fans displayed a patchwork of homemade and professionally printed signs emblazoned with Bowl Championship Series-themed messages, such as "The Dream Lives, BCS 2007," "BCS Spells R.E.S.P.E.C.T." and "Bruddahs Can Succeed."

Vernice McKinney, 54, of Waipahu, came with her grandson, Armani, 4, her sister, Cyndy, Galinato, 53, and Galinato's 8-year-old granddaughter, Chancey and 5-year-old grandson, Jayden — as well as enough signage to fill a TV screen.

"It's more than just the football," McKinney said of her appreciation for the team. "You look at their humility. This is a team that plays together, takes care of each other, and wins for each other. That's more important than the record."

Many fans arrived early, still bearing the afterglow of Saturday night's thrilling come-from-behind victory over Washington, which tied a bow on the Warriors' perfect regular season and virtually assured their BCS selection.

Outside, dads and sons in matching Colt Brennan jerseys threw tight spirals (or, at least, their best approximations) to each other on the narrow grassy areas around the UH athletic complex.

Inside, buoyant Warrior faithful of all stripe bounced to the music of the UH band and exchanged shakas and high fives with complete strangers. Some crowded the RainBowTique in search of yet another way to display their allegiance to the Green and Black. Others simply walked the concourse, smiling to themselves as they soaked up the scene.

"I feel so good for this team," said 47-year-old Luana White of Mo'ili'ili, who showed up with green and white streamers in her hair. "They brought everybody in this community together. Try walk around town and see."

Dean Shishido, 41, of Kailua, brought his son, Evan, 4, and nephew, Trey, 8. A longtime Warrior fan, Shishido bought his first set of season tickets during the low years of the Fred vonAppen era.

"This is great," Shishido said. "This makes up for all those years of suffering."

While attendance fell short of the arena's capacity, those who made the trip made up in volume what the crowd lacked in, well, volume.

And as the airtime for the selection show neared, the cacophony of screams and hoots and hollers found common voice.

Responding to emcee Aaron Custodio's direction like a gospel choir, the assembled fanatics roared, chanted, got "crunk," quieted and roared on cue in preparation for the Fox broadcast.

Head coach June Jones received a rousing ovation, as well as a show-stopping cheer from Kamehameha cheerleaders in the stands. Quarterback Colt Brennan got a standing-O, then led the crowd in a cochlea-numbing cheer for his teammates seated in the lower deck.

"That's what it's all about," said Daven Keomaka, 45, of Pauoa. "It's about team, not the individual. When Colt called out his teammates, I got chicken skin. I'm getting it again, just talking about it."

Keomaka and his brother Elwyn, 48, uncles of Warrior defensive back Ryan Keomaka and fans of the program "since they was Rainbows," came to yesterday's celebration because it seemed like the natural thing to do.

"All season long, it's been about unity," Daven Keomaka said. "You look at all the different kinds of people who are here today — this team brought them all together."

Joel Leong, 70, drove from his home in Kapolei to be a part of his favorite team's big day.

"I've been a fan my whole life," he said. "This is a big thing for our elderly people and it's a great thing for the state."

Leong said what the team accomplished this season is a reflection of the community from which it arises.

"Our boys believe in themselves," he said. "(Saturday night), we were down, but we never gave up. Other teams might have given up, but we persevered because we believed. We all believe."

Lynnsey Doles of Pacific Heights didn't know first downs from touchdowns until a chance encounter with Brennan at a supermarket over the summer.

"I asked him if I could take a picture with him and he was just the nicest guy on earth," Doles said.

That was enough for Doles and family to dole out for season tickets. Now Doles, husband Gil, and children, Kara, 16, and Christian, 12, are as well-versed on things gridiron as any family this side of the Brennans.

"For us, it's really been a family affair," Doles said. "For me, it's been so fun for all of us to enjoy something together."

And while Doles was admittedly rattled by the Warriors' first-quarter struggles on Saturday, her children kept the party line.

"We believed," said Christian Doles.

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.