By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

Imagine how ears perked up across the state last night when it was announced that the University of Hawai'i football team will open its season against a team from Florida.

After years of openers against Appalachian State, Eastern Illinois, Montana, Portland State and the like, here was an apparent breakthrough.

So, imagine the disappointment when it turned out to be ... Florida Atlantic, after all.

Not Florida, Florida State, Miami or even Central Florida. But Florida Atlantic?

In the list of possible opponents out there, the Warriors apparently found their opening-game foe looking under the category of "obscure."

I mean, you either have to be a graduate of FAU, which the New York Times a couple months ago called "a relatively unknown commuter school of 25,000 students," or a hardcore Division I-AA fan to recognize the name.

The Warriors have jerseys older than FAU's football program, which will be in its fourth season when it comes to Aloha Stadium on Sept. 4.

For Florida Atlantic, it will be stepping up to Division I-A as a probationary member of the Sun Belt Conference.

For UH, there is little to gain from the game. If the Warriors win — as they will undoubtedly be several-touchdown favorites to do — congratulations, they will have beaten a team that lost to Valdosta State and Colgate a few months earlier. You don't even want to think about the flip side.

Perhaps when you have an all-new offensive line and your starting quarterback is on suspension, as was the situation last year for UH, it calls for a Twinkie opener. But with quarterback Tim Chang and practically the whole offense back, the Warriors really don't need a softie this time.

Indeed, the hope was that with Chang poised to set the NCAA career passing record early in the season, the Warriors would find a way to open with somebody of consequence. When Sacramento State asked out of the contract in November, a heaven-sent opportunity was dropped right into UH's lap.

With two dates to work with, the Sept. 4 opener and the Sept. 11 open date, a little wheeling and some dealing and the Warriors could — and should — have had an opener to get excited about in February and sell season tickets with in March.

Maybe it was a short turnaround but you'd like to believe that an administration that was hired for its vast contacts still could have swung a deal for a more suitable foe.

As recently as last week, athletic director Herman Frazier said he was still considering whether to raise the premium seat charge in some prime season ticket locations for the Warriors this year.

"A lot of that will depend upon who we play in that first game," Frazier had said.

With the announcement that it will be FAU, it is going to be pretty hard to demand more money out of season ticket holders now.

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