Hula Bowl Maui will remain on Feb. 2

Advertiser Staff

Even if the dates of the Super Bowl and Pro Bowl are moved back a week, the date of the Hula Bowl Maui game won't.

The game will be played as scheduled — Saturday, Feb. 2, at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku, Maui.

In June, the NFL announced a partnership with the Hula Bowl, in which the game would be played the day before the 2002 Pro Bowl.

The Pro Bowl is scheduled for Feb. 3. But that date could be pushed back because the NFL regular season was extended a week to make up for the postponed games in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The NFL could reduce the number of playoff teams to keep its current schedule.

If the NFL decides to retain its current 12-team playoff system, it probably would push back the Super Bowl from Jan. 27 to Feb. 3. The Pro Bowl would then be pushed to Feb. 10 at Aloha Stadium.

Some of the reasons Hula Bowl Maui officials won't move to the day before the Pro Bowl (Feb. 9) include the college football signing date and the Winter Olympics.

"Feb. 6 is signing day, national letter of intent day, and we would lose our coaches. We are not going to lose our coaches," said Lenny Klompus, executive director of Hula Bowl Maui.

The coaches for the 2002 game are Bob Stoops (Oklahoma), Steve Spurrier (Florida), Dennis Erickson (Oregon State) and Sonny Lubick (Colorado State).

The opening ceremonies for the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City are Feb. 8.