Posted at 11:45 a.m., Monday, September 24, 2001

UH-BYU game could be facing rescheduling to Dec. 8

• Warriors' Rolovich injures finger

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Brigham Young University has secured a television deal with ESPN, clearing a major hurdle in its attempt to move the Dec. 1 game against host Hawai'i to Dec. 8.

UH athletic director Hugh Yoshida said he favored the move if it could be guaranteed that the game will be televised nationally.

Of securing an arrangement with ESPN or ESPN-2, BYU athletic director Val Hale said, "To my knowledge , that's pretty much a done deal."

The non-conference game between BYU and Mississippi State was postponed in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. MSU's only open date is Dec. 1; the Southeastern Conference championship game is scheduled for Dec. 8.

If UH does not agree to a move, Hale said, BYU will cancel its game at Mississippi State, forfeiting a $200,000 appearance fee and a chance to play a Bowl Championship Series team.

Yoshida said he will discuss any switch with UH president Evan Dobelle. No meeting has been planned yet, Yoshida said this morning.

Because BYU is arranging the game, it will fall outside ESPN's contract with the Western Athletic Conference, allowing UH to keep most of any potential appearance fee.

But Yoshida said he will not make any unreasonable demands of BYU, in light of the Cougars' willingness to play this year's game on late notice after Iowa State dropped out as UH's season-opening opponent.

"It's a special situation," Yoshida said. BYU officials "really stepped up and helped us fill our schedule."

Said Hale: "Hugh has been great about this."

UH coach June Jones said the national exposure will help the program and seniors with pro aspirations.

The late date, Hale said, "will make the game seem like a bowl game. I think we can make this a win-win situation for everybody."