UH football may take on Alabama, not Washington
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Alabama is prepared to replace Washington State as the University of Hawai'i football team's Nov. 30 opponent, according to people familiar with the situation.
*Pending final approval
When plans are finalized, the Alabama-Hawai'i game will be moved to 3 p.m. — three hours earlier than the usual kickoff at Aloha Stadium — and televised nationally on ESPN. UH will charge the same premium fee, about $5 more per ticket, as it would if it were playing Washington State.
2002 Schedule
Alabama wanted to delay any decision until the NCAA ruled on the Crimson Tide's appeal of an NCAA probation. The sanctions included the Crimson Tide being barred from participating in postseason games for the next two seasons.
Alabama had hoped the appeal would be decided by mid-June. But the NCAA has asked for an additional three weeks to submit a response, meaning a preliminary ruling would not be made until July. As a result, Alabama officials are prepared to accept an offer to replace Washington State.
Alabama already has reached a preliminary agreement with ESPN to serve as a substitute. The Crimson Tide was scheduled to end the regular season against Auburn Nov. 23. If the NCAA appeal is rejected, Alabama would treat the regular-season game against UH as a bowl game.
Washington State sought a replacement after the Pac-10 Conference changed the schedule last month. The Cougars, who were scheduled to end the regular season with the nonconference game against the Warriors, now will finish against Pac-10 rival UCLA. The current Washington State schedule has conference games against Washington Nov. 23 and UCLA bracketing the UH game.
UH athletic director Hugh Yoshida said a switch would not be granted unless a suitable replacement could be secured. Washington State is a Bowl Championship Series contender, and its quarterback, Jason Gesser, is a Saint Louis School graduate and Heisman Trophy hopeful. Washington State, which had considered playing Alabama in a preseason game, contacted the Crimson Tide about serving as a replacement.
UH has agreed not to charge Washington State a financial penalty for canceling. In exchange, the Cougars have agreed to play the Warriors in 2003 and 2007. In addition, the teams are discussing the possibility of meeting at Washington State.
ESPN had said it was interested in televising the UH-Washington State game, but would not make a final decision until October. But ESPN is prepared to schedule a matchup between UH and Alabama, as long as UH agrees to the time switch.
