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By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist
What could be worse than the University of Hawai'i football team not qualifying for its own hometown bowl game this season?
How about having to help subsidize somebody else's all-expenses paid trip to take its place?
As galling as that might be, it is becoming an increasing possibility following the 2-3 start that Saturday's 51-20 loss to Texas-El Paso has meant.
Unless the Warriors somehow manage to win at least five of their remaining seven regular-season games, not only will somebody else be taking their Dec. 24 reservation in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl, but UH will be expected to write a check to help pay for it.
Nothing like watching somebody else be the "home" team playing in your stadium, your bowl and frolicking on your beach when the bill comes due.
By playing in the game itself, UH would likely realize a much-needed profit. But if it misses out on the postseason, not only does UH lose the possibility of a paycheck, the situation would tack on additional bills for a program that is already battling red ink from three consecutive budget deficits.
By having UH in the Hawai'i Bowl, the Western Athletic Conference only has to pay for bus travel. But if the Warriors fail to achieve the seven victories required for their bowl eligibility, the WAC has to send another representative, which means airfare. And since the WAC is a partner in the Hawai'i Bowl, any resulting drop in tickets sales would likely mean a passing of the hat among the membership.
Informed estimates suggest the WAC's liability in such a scenario could reach $500,000 — or more. If Hawai'i is assessed a one-tenth share, that's $50,000 that could be better spent around UH ending up somewhere else.
If the humbling loss to UTEP wasn't officially the end to UH's hopes for a winning season and bowl berth, the fear is that you can almost see it from there.
The word is out that the Hawai'i Bowl, the most desirable reward in the WAC bowl portfolio, could soon be up for grabs.
I mean, if you were 6-0 Boise State where would you choose to be on Christmas Eve? With three bowls to choose from — Humanitarian in Boise, Silicon Valley in San Jose or the Sheraton in Hawai'i — what would it be: Snow, San Jose or surf?
The ironic thing for UH at this point is that the less exhausting part of the schedule was to have been the first half. With Florida Atlantic and two open dates, that was where the Warriors were supposed to get some traction for the second half backloaded with Boise State, Fresno State (3-2), Northwestern (3-3) and Michigan State (4-3).
Instead, the Warriors now find themselves in a hole up to their chin straps with the hard part of their schedule upcoming and their bowl hopes dimming.
Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.
