With several hundred fellow red-clad University of Wisconsin fans on Maui, Terry Murawski said he is often asked which team the Badgers are playing in the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

"When I tell people 'we're not here for basketball; we're here for a football game,' they go, 'what?'"

They are the early vanguard of more than 6,000 members of the "Badger Nation" expected for Friday's game with the University of Hawai'i at Aloha Stadium.

Just how many will show up is a mystery to even UW officials. "Over the years we've learned that no matter how many you anticipate, there will always be more," said Murawski, who is executive director of the W Club. "I mean, it is almost like if we have X numbers of tickets then X-plus will somehow show up."

For the 1994 Rose Bowl, an estimated 65,000 Badger faithful found their way to the game — some even securing tickets in UCLA's card section. So many more were on hand than were able to get tickets that an auxiliary TV screen was set up outside.

For games at Minnesota, UW officials say it is common to have Badgers fans make up half the Metrodome crowd. The two largest crowds in Nevada-Las Vegas football history both involved Wisconsin bringing upwards of 20,000 fans.

For Friday's game, Wisconsin associate athletic director Corbin Hunt said while the school distributed all of its 3,300 ticket allotment, Wisconsin travel agencies have come up with as many on their own. Head coach Barry Alvarez said he wouldn't be surprised to see 10,000.

Holly Botsford, a representative for Fun Jet Vacations in Milwaukee, said it sent three plane loads here Saturday.

"Our fans are passionate about their football — and they love to travel," Alvarez said. "You'll see 'em all there in red — with their ankles taped."

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com.