LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Unless it is able to find a home opponent for Sept. 1, the University of Hawai'i football team could play but one home game — against Division I-AA Charleston Southern — in the five-weekend month of September, according to the schedule that was released here yesterday by the Western Athletic Conference.

UH athletic director Herman Frazier said in a statement that the school will release the balance of its schedule Monday afternoon but did not name the prospective opponents.

UH has three open dates on the schedule — Sept. 1, Oct. 20 and Nov. 3 — in which to add two non-conference games and complete its 13-game schedule.

Conference athletic directors concluded two days of schedule meetings in conjunction with the WAC Basketball Tournament yesterday. Commissioner Karl Benson said, "We've tried to wait as long as we could."

Without mentioning UH by name, Benson said, "There is at least one school trying to finalize their non-conference but we felt it was critically important that we get these games out because there were eight other schools that were ready to move on."

Benson said schools needed to begin making charter flight reservations and other arrangements.

In his statement, Frazier said, "Now that we know the WAC dates, we'll finalize our non-conference matchups."

Charleston Southern announced it is playing at Aloha Stadium Sept. 22 and the WAC schedule lists it although UH has yet to publicly acknowledge the game.

In his statement, Frazier said, "I realize that fans have been anxious for the schedule to be released. However, due to many factors, this has been a difficult process and I've been working diligently to put together a non-conference schedule that is in the best interest of the football team and our fans. I appreciate the patience of all parties involved and I look forward to announcing our remaining 2007 non-conference opponents on Monday."

As it stands now, unless the Sept. 1 date is filled with a home opponent, UH would open at Louisiana Tech Sept. 8 then play at Nevada-Las Vegas Sept. 15 before returning home to play Charleston Southern Sept. 22. Then it goes back on the road to Idaho Sept. 29.

Under the current schedule, UH would play four of its final five games at home, finishing with Fresno State, Boise State and Washington.

The WAC schedule lists two Friday games for UH, Oct. 12 at San Jose State and Nov. 23 at Aloha Stadium against Boise State. Officials have said UH could get four ESPN dates and, possibly as many as five, depending on the value of its remaining non-conference opponents.

Benson said the TV schedule is expected to be released next week.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com.