Legal minds strategize on the football field in annual Ete Bowl

Law School grudge match at Richardson Field this Saturday

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Cynthia D. Quinn, (808) 956-7966
Interim Associate Dean for Student Services, William S. Richardson School of Law
Beverly Creamer, (808) 956-8478
Media Consultant, William S. Richardson School of Law
Posted: Nov 10, 2011

Yes you can call it a grudge match, a pigskin dust-up, a fight to the finish!
 
But in truth, the Ete Bowl that’s played annually by University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa female law students and their older peers who are now established attorneys and judges, is a chance for serious people (often garbed in black robes on a daily basis) to get rowdy and have fun.
 
The Ete Bowl, now in its 33rd year, is also a topnotch networking opportunity for those in Hawai‘i’s legal establishment to get to know up-and-comers from the William S. Richardson School of Law.

And vice versa.

As the annual extravaganza comes together this weekend, November 11-12, at Richardson Field, some of Hawaiʻi’s top legal minds will see how well their courtroom strategy translates into field strategy.

The game pits the Etes - the students - against the Bruzers - law graduates from the past who are now professionals in the community.

The whole tradition began simply enough back in 1978 when a couple of third-year students – Diane Ho and Ricki Amano - wanted to enliven the long dark days of November by suggesting a football match with the class just below them.

The challenge went something like this:  “Hey, you guys hear what the third-year women are saying? They say the second-year women are wimps, and they want to challenge you to a football game.”

Much the same informative challenge, with a few deviations, was relayed to the third-year women law school class:

“You hear what the second-year is saying? They say third-year women are old and fat and a football game will prove it.”

The battle was on!

The tradition has grown and evolved – as so many do. Leading up to the game each year the women are coached by men who know the game – and are also either law students or practicing lawyers.

As things have further evolved, these coaches have also managed to don female attire just so, well, they don’t draw too much attention in the crowd of amazing women players on the day of the game.

The events will include a potluck dinner Friday, Nov. 11, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on campus. That will be followed by the game at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12 at the UH practice field. Cheering sections are gladly welcomed.