Eastern Washington has reached an agreement in principle to play the University of Hawai'i in a football game Sept. 8 at Aloha Stadium.

EWU athletic director Darren Hamilton said he is waiting for UH athletic director Herman Frazier to finalize the contract.

"Once we sign the papers, everything will be good," Hamilton said.

Frazier, who is on the Mainland, is not scheduled to return to Hawai'i until Wednesday, his secretary said.

EWU is an NCAA Division I-AA member of the Big Sky Conference.

After this, the Warriors will have up to three openings on the 2007 schedule.

UH head coach June Jones said he did not know Eastern Washington would be on the schedule until he was told by reporters.

"That's good," Jones said. "Now we can fill up the others and get this thing going."

Last week, USC spokesman Tim Tessalone confirmed that ESPN was exploring the possibility of arranging a game between the Trojans and Warriors. But Tessalone described the query as "very preliminary talks."

Tessalone added: "We haven't even addressed it here and don't plan to address it for a while. I would tell you it's probably 50-50 at best that something like this would happen. It's way, way premature to go down that road."

USC opens against Idaho Sept. 1, has a bye Sept. 8, then plays at Nebraska Sept. 15. The only possibility would be for USC to drop its game against Idaho — which was scheduled when former USC assistant Nick Holt was the Vandals head coach — and sign UH as a replacement.

But no such discussion is in the works.

"Nothing's changed since last week," Tessalone said last night.

NCAA rules limit Division I teams to 12 regular-season games. A 13th game may be added for a team that plays in Hawai'i as part of the so-called Hawai'i exemption. The rule allows UH to play 13 regular-season games each year.

In addition to eight Western Athletic Conference opponents, the Warriors will face Nevada-Las Vegas Sept. 15 at Sam Boyd Stadium.

OWENS SIGNS WITH BUCS

Former UH receiver/returner Chad Owens yesterday signed a two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Like all NFL contracts, only the signing bonus is guaranteed. Owens received an undisclosed bonus.

"I got a little change," Owens said.

Owens finished the past two seasons on the Jacksonville Jaguars' practice squad. He was credited with one year of NFL service.

If he makes the Buccaneers' 2007 roster, he will earn $360,000, the NFL minimum for a second-year player.

"I'm definitely going to miss Jacksonville," Owens said. "I've made some friends in the organization. From a business standpoint, now I have to do what I have to do to get on the field."

Owens said he turned down an offer to return to the Jaguars, who released him each of the past two years. They signed him to the practice squad both times.

But Owens said: "It was time to move on."

He will be used as a receiver, as well as returner on punts and kickoffs.

"There will always be competition," Owens said. "I'll go in there and do my thing. I believe I'll come out of it No. 1."

Owens said he instantly bonded with Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden.

"The way I am as a player, he is as a coach," Owens said. "He's fired up. We'll work well together."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.