ESPN may show three UH football games

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writer

ESPN is looking at the possibility of televising as many as three University of Hawai'i football games this fall, according to people familiar with the situation.

The network, which showed two games this past season, is asking Brigham Young University to move its scheduled Sept. 7 game with UH to Friday, Sept. 6, BYU officials said.

That is the rematch of the Dec. 8, 2001 game that was the most viewed in the history of ESPN2. The game attracted 1.5 million households, according to the network

In addition to the UH-BYU game, ESPN reportedly is considering televising UH's Oct. 26 game at Fresno State and its Nov 30 game against Washington State game at Aloha Stadium. Both dates are Saturdays.

The UH-Fresno State game this past season attracted just over 1 million households, according to the network. Fresno State says it has not been approached about moving that game.

Last season's games against Fresno State and BYU helped showcase junior wide receiver Ashley Lelie, who had a combined 17 catches for 384 yards and five touchdowns. Lelie has since declared for the NFL draft, and has been projected to be a first-round pick.

Under the Western Athletic Conference television agreement with ESPN, the network is obligated to telecast five games involving conference schools this season. One is expected to be Fresno State's Oct. 4 game against Colorado State.

UH athletic director Hugh Yoshida said: "It is premature now to say what games might be selected but ESPN is looking at some of our games."