Athletic director Herman Frazier insisted he has not relinquished hope that the University of Hawai'i football team will play 13 regular-season games in 2007.

Yesterday, Frazier announced the Warriors would open against Division I-AA Northern Colorado Sept. 1 at Aloha Stadium. That gives the Warriors 12 confirmed games, with seven at Aloha Stadium. The NCAA allows UH to play up to 13 regular-season games.

"We're on the phone every day on that 13th," Frazier said. "When we have exhausted every avenue then we will announce that we've exhausted our avenues. But we're not there yet."

Despite an incomplete schedule, UH began selling season-ticket renewals and accepting down payments for season tickets in March. Those packages were based on a seven-game home schedule.

Frazier said he would like the 13th game to be played at Aloha Stadium. If he were to secure that eighth home game, season-ticket holders would be charged for seven games.

The potential eighth home game would be "a bonus for our season-ticket holders, those people who stepped up to help us," Frazier said.

The Warriors are scheduled to play consecutive road games Sept. 8 against Louisiana Tech and Sept. 15 against Nevada-Las Vegas. Frazier had promised head coach June Jones the Warriors would have a Sept. 1 home game.

But two months ago, according to Frazier, talks broke off with a Division I-A team for the Sept. 1 date. He said he then negotiated with Northern Colorado and another Division I-AA team.

Last month, Northern Colorado players were told they would play the Warriors on Sept. 1. Frazier said the Northern Colorado contract was not finalized until "recently."

"Northern Colorado's situation was we kept going back and forth on everything that should be in the contract," Frazier said.

The deal means UH's first two home games will be against Division I-AA opponents. UH plays Charleston Southern on Sept. 22. A Division I-A team is permitted to count only one I-AA victory toward bowl qualification.

Asked if playing two I-AA teams will hurt an undefeated UH team's chances of qualifying for a BCS berth, Frazier said, "At the end of the day, if you run the table, you roll the dice to see where you are. Those things are not going to be decided right now. ... You won't know until December."

Jones would only say he was pleased the Warriors will not open on the road.

SPEED CLINICS ARE SET

Hawai'i Speed and Quickness clinics are scheduled for tomorrow and Sunday at the UH athletic complex.

Sessions, which are open to all ages, are from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Each session is $10, and includes instruction in plyometrics and resistance training. Scholarships also are available.

For details, call 739-5444 or go to: www.hawaiispeedandquickness.com.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.