UH might move game with Air Force to Friday
Advertiser Staff
The University of Hawai'i has agreed to move the date of its football game with the Air Force Academy to Friday, Nov. 23, the day after Thanksgiving, to accommodate ESPN2 if asked.
The game is scheduled for Saturday Nov. 24. Regardless of which date it is played, kickoff will remain at 6:05 p.m.
Western Athletic Conference commisioner Karl Benson says that the compromise will benefit everyone.
As part of the agreement, ESPN will notify UH by Oct. 29 whether it will show the game. Typically, the network says it makes the decision six to 12 days in advance of the telecast to select the best matchup. The other game under consideration for the date is San Jose State at Fresno State.
"Whichever way it goes, there are positives for us," said June Jones, UH football coach.
The agreement ended a six-week stalemate and came following talks involving Jones, UH athletic director Hugh Yoshida and Western Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson, who flew in for a 24-hour visit.
"I think we reached a good compromise that will benefit everyone involved," Benson said.
If ESPN2, which has a potential audience of 77 million households, picks up the game, Benson said UH and the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association have worked out a switch of dates involving the state semifinals.
Keith Amemiya, executive director of the HHSAA, said, "We'll do whatever we can to support the UH football program."
"It was a very worthwhile trip," said Benson, who also paid courtesy calls on UH president Evan Dobelle, Manoa chancellor Deane Neubauer and chief of staff Walter Kirimitsu. "Hawai'i is an integral part of the conference and if we're going to reestablish the WAC as a major player, we need UH's support."
