UH-Boise St. football game may change date for ESPN

Advertiser Staff

The Western Athletic Conference football game between Hawai'i and host Boise State is expected to be moved up a night — to Friday, Oct. 29, 2004 — and shown live nationally on ESPN.

WAC associate commissioner Jeff Hurd said ESPN requested the date change.

Hurd said he does not anticipate any objections to the move and "I would expect this game to be played on Friday."

That is "tentatively the deal," Boise State spokesman Todd Miles said.

Hurd said the conference is holding off an official announcement until its master football schedule is finalized this month.

"Until we get our final schedule done, nothing's in stone," Hurd said.

UH coach June Jones said he welcomed the opportunity for his team to play on national television, even though the schedule change would shorten his preparation time. The Warriors, who host San Jose State on Oct. 23, usually leave on a Wednesday for a Saturday road game.

"It makes for a shorter week of practice, and we lose the time zones going over there," Jones said, noting the four-hour difference between Hawai'i and the Mountain time zone. "It makes it more difficult, but, hey, life is tough sometimes. ... The opportunity to play on national television is certainly a good opportunity."