UH needs to leave I-AA foes behind

"I have great respect for Appalachian State, but we need to play Purdue."

— University of Hawai'i President Evan Dobelle on the need for the school to cease scheduling Division I-AA football opponents

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Columnist

Say it is so, Mr. President.

Amid the changing membership of the Western Athletic Conference and the need for higher profile for the football program, Dobelle says it is high time UH got away from playing Division I-AA teams.

"Maybe Florida State can afford to play I-AA teams, but they have Top 25 teams for the rest of the schedule," Dobelle told The Advertiser yesterday. "I think in order to build up any possibility to get to a (Bowl Championship Series) game we have to play (better teams)."

In a separate interview, he told radio station KKEA, "We can't play I-AA teams anymore."

Funny he should mention it, but Sacramento State's recently expressed desire to get out of next season's Sept. 11 game provides the Warriors with an opportunity to make a clean and overdue break from lower-drawer competition.

Rather than play I-A teams Nevada and UH back-to-back next season, the Hornets say they are opting out, affording the Warriors an opportunity to empty the schedules of the last of l-AA teams for the foreseeable future.

With quarterback Tim Chang and an impressive core of seniors due back next year, here's an opening for UH to further upgrade a 2004 nonconference schedule that includes Idaho, Northwestern and Michigan State. (UH athletic director Herman Frazier said through an aide he is contacting schools in the Big Ten, Big 12, Big East and Pac-10 for a replacement.)

Once upon a time, UH used to be able to put 40,000-plus fans in the seats just by turning on the lights at Aloha Stadium. But the days of packing in 46,649 for Abilene Christian are over. With a lot of other entertainment options, fans insist on value for their money. With premium pricing, pay-per-view, etc., they want teams with name recognition.

Since 1976, the Warriors are 18-1 against lower-drawer opponents, so there's rarely much drama. Of course, it can be worse when there is competition, as Portland State's win in 2000 illustrated. Nothing casts an immediate pall on a season the way a loss to a I-AA team does.

Sometimes, when there is an 11th-hour contract cancellation the way there was with Akron last March, you take what you can get.

But there are 117 I-A teams and somewhere, somehow, UH should be able to find enough teams to fill out the schedule each year.

It is a good time to find out.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.