Posted on: Sunday, November 23, 2003
Hawai'i Bowl eyes Louisville
Advertiser Staff
Louisville is climbing up the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl's wish list of prospective opponents for the University of Hawai'i football team on Christmas Day.
"We're talking with the conference office to see what the possibilities are," said Pete Derzis of ESPN Regional Television, which operates the bowl. "We certainly view them (the Cardinals) as an attractive possibility, but it is too soon to say anything."
The Hawai'i Bowl is contracted to match representatives from Conference USA and the Western Athletic Conference.
Before UH took the field last night attempting to win its seventh game and clinch the WAC bid to the Dec. 25 game at Aloha Stadium, Louisville ripped Houston, 66-45, for its eighth victory against three losses.
Bowl officials are said to like Louisville's offense, which produced a school record 779 yards of offense against Houston, the Cardinals' pedigree and their television appeal.
The Cardinals have been to five consecutive bowls and have considerable name recognition through frequent television appearances.
UH and Louisville have never met in football.
Although CUSA teams are picked in conjunction with the conference office, the Hawai'i Bowl has the third pick among the five bowls with CUSA ties after the Liberty and GMAC bowls.
Following its victory over previously-unbeaten Texas Christian, Southern Mississippi (8-3, 7-0 conference) is expected to get the bid to the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn. The Golden Eagles have one remaining game (East Carolina) and have clinched at least a share of the conference title.
Either TCU (10-1, 7-1), Memphis (8-3, 5-2) or Louisville (8-3, 4-3) could wind up in the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Ala. Houston (6-5, 3-4) is also bowl eligible.
• Passing fancy: Hawai'i junior quarterback Tim Chang eclipsed 12,000 passing yards in his career last night.
Chang entered the game with 11,835 yards. He is averaging 329.5 yards in his 37 games.
With at least 14 games left in his career, Chang is on pace to finish with 16,804 yards, ahead of the record 15,031 yards set by Brigham Young's Ty Detmer from 1988-91.
• Soccer champs honored: The Rainbow Wahine soccer team was honored before the game for winning its first Western Athletic Conference regular-season co-championship this season.
Sophomore striker and two-time WAC Player of the Year Natasha Kai led the nation in goals this year.
• Just dropping in: The Golden Knights Parachute Team dropped into Aloha Stadium before the game and was given a rousing ovation by fans.
All five members landed safely near Hawai'i's "H" logo at midfield. One parachutist carried the Hawaiian flag.
• Streaking along: An unidentified man wearing a white cape and green undershorts ran the length of the field after Chad Owens' third-quarter touchdown to the delight of fans.
The man barely eluded a police officer by jumping over a fence.
