By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

Lights, camera ... national attention?

If you are the University of Hawai'i football team, here come the cameras and it is time to start putting the best foot, arm, whatever, forward. The ones that aren't wrapped in casts, anyway.

Beginning today, network television and cable will show an unprecedented 19 consecutive days of football. Through Nov. 15, there will be at least one football game — college or pro — shown every day, including Election Day. In all of November, there are but five football-empty days.

The vast majority of the appearances — 13 days' worth — will belong to college football, which is where the Warriors come in. Between tomorrow's game at Boise State on ESPN2 (2:05 p.m., Hawai'i time) and the Nov. 12 game at Fresno State on ESPN, UH will have more than six hours to make its case to the nation. Few other college teams will be blessed with as wide a window of opportunity in the period.

While quarterback Tim Chang's pursuit of Ty Detmer's NCAA career passing mark, which requires but 241 more yards, takes center stage tomorrow, this opportunity is more than record-deep for the Warriors.

For a team 2,500 miles off the beaten path of college football, this is about as good an opening to showcase itself as comes along in a while. Here's a heckuva opportunity to display both the wide-open offense and the program to an audience of, perhaps, a few million households. Here's a chance to embellish its profile with some highlights on SportsCenter.

Recall the glow UH basked in at the end of the 2001 season, when the Warriors beat Brigham Young on ESPN? Remember the lift that last year's win over Alabama provided?

Now comes No. 18 Boise State (7-0), providing the most attractive, ranked opponent since the UH played then-No.4 Southern California early last season, even if the Warriors will limp into it with significant defensive injuries. Then, there is Fresno State, which isn't nearly as threatening at the moment.

Make the most of these opportunities and the Warriors stand to not only open some eyes among prospective and future recruits, but earn some additional TV time this season.

The Nov. 27 game with Northwestern and Dec. 4 game against Michigan State — both at Aloha Stadium — remain on ESPN's "watch list" of games under consideration, according to Western Athletic Conference officials.

Of course, UH will have to show better than it has in its two road appearances, both losses, so far because a 4-5 or 3-6 team isn't going to merit many call-backs.

These next few weeks and the television showcases that come with them give the Warriors a chance to make their season with a boom. Or, failing that, to quickly end it with one.

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