Posted on: Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Nation will see where UH is at
By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist
When it comes to having your games shown on national television and cable, Fresno State football coach Pat Hill likes to say there are two disparate scenarios to keep in mind:
"There is exposure," Hill often says, "... and, then, there is being exposed."
We bring this up because the mounting number of University of Hawai'i games being earmarked for national TV and cable networks, and the caliber of the teams they will play there, give the Warriors potential for plenty of either this season.
Open the eyes of college football or hide-your-eyes time.
The Warriors are already listed for four appearances and are likely to add two more, meaning half of their 12 regular-season games could be shown. At least half of those — Southern California, Fresno State and Wisconsin — will be against teams that finished last year in the Top 25 and figure to be there, again, this year.
By the conclusion of their third game this season the Warriors will either be basking in what they've done with the exposure or suffering the pain of being exposed in front of a wider audience. Not only will the Warriors know soon where they stand in their rebuilding season, so will a portion of the college football-watching population.
Already the Sept. 3 season opener with two-time defending national champion USC is booked for ESPN2, and a week later UH's game at Michigan State is on ESPNU and ESPN Plus. Now comes word that once the time of the kickoff is worked out, the Warriors' first three games could all show up on ESPN with the network hoping to air the Sept. 24 game at Idaho as well.
The Vandals, who will be playing UH in their Western Athletic Conference debut, usually have an 11 a.m. (Hawai'i time) kickoff but ESPN is asking for a 4 p.m. or 4:30 p.m. (Hawai'i time) start and will likely get it.
Throw in the Oct. 29 game with Fresno State on ABC and the Nov. 25 game with Wisconsin on ESPN2 and that's five UH games even before SportsWest begins making its picks. SportsWest is obligated to do at least one UH road game under the terms of its WAC contract, the network said.
The Warriors, of course, got a taste of what TV games can bring last year in a season in which they hit the high points, a stirring comeback victory over Michigan State and a Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl win over Alabama-Birmingham, and the depths in blowout losses at Boise State and Fresno State.
Overall, it is an equation that has benefited recruiting and opened doors for the university, officials like to say. But a one-sided flop could challenge the conventional wisdom that there is no such thing as too much TV time.
Lights, cameras ... big wins — or blowout losses? With their expanding TV schedule, the opportunities for plenty of either are there for the Warriors this season.
Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.
