The Hawai'i Bowl, to be held 3 p.m. Dec. 25 at Aloha Stadium, will pair a team from the Western Athletic Conference with an opponent from Conference USA. Competing teams will receive at least $750,000 each.

UH is assured a place in the inaugural game if the Warriors have seven or more wins in a 13-game schedule. In 2003, with a 12-game schedule, they would be eligible with at least seven wins.

"We certainly look at UH being a viable participant in many of the four years," said Pete Derzis, senior vice president with ESPN Regional Television (ERT), a subsidiary of ESPN Inc., which will own and operate the Hawai'i Bowl.

Derzis said the game is exploring several possible title sponsorship candidates, including firms in Hawai'i, which he declined to name. It is also looking for a Hawai'i-based executive director for the game.

Despite a 9-3 record last season, UH did not receive a bowl invitation. That perceived snub is what prompted UH and WAC officials to investigate the possibility of establishing another bowl game.

"They are definitely guaranteed a bowl game in the first two years if they are eligible," Derzis said. "And, in theory, (they) could be selected all four years under certain circumstances."

Derzis said after 2003 bowl decisions would be based upon "the best collective decision of what is best for the game and the conferences."

The addition of the Hawai'i Bowl brings to three the number of guaranteed bowl slots for the WAC. In addition, the WAC is attempting to reach an agreement with the Mobile Bowl to consider a WAC team from the central time zone. Four of the 10 WAC schools, Louisiana Tech, Rice, Southern Methodist and Tulsa are based in the central time zone.

Conference USA is obligated to send its champion to the Liberty Bowl. The Mobile Bowl has the second pick but Michael Slive, CUSA commissioner, said other assignments would be based on what makes the best sense for the conference and regional pairings.

To pay for the cost of participating in the Hawai'i Bowl, the farthest of the conference's five bowl opportunities, Conference USA pools all its bowl revenue into a financing plan gear specifically toward funding expenses for post-season appearances.

"We believe when a team plays in a bowl, it does it for the conference as well as for itself," said Mike Slive, Conference USA commissioner.

Derzis said that ERT projects the Hawai'i Bowl will reach about two million television households, providing marketing opportunities for both the program and the state.

"Playing the Hawai'i Bowl at Aloha Stadium live on national TV will bring the University of Hawai'i and the warmth of our 50th state into the living rooms of millions of Americans celebrating Christmas day in the middle of winter," said Walter Kirimitsu, UH President Evan Dobelle's chief of staff. "I can't think of a better message that markets our university and our state."

The opportunity for UH to showcase its athletes on national TV is just one reason head coach June Jones is excited about the partnership.

"It's really not just about our school, our football team, our kids," Jones said. "It's about Hawai'i ... It benefits everybody, not just our school ... You can't be on national TV enough."

ERT will be responsible for the organization, operation, sponsorship and marketing efforts for the Hawai'i Bowl. UH's only financial exposure will be as a part of he WAC which is investing in the venture.