The University of Hawai'i is negotiating with the University of Central Arkansas to be its season-opening opponent for 2009, UH officials confirmed yesterday.

UH has been scrambling to fill the Sept. 5 slot for months after Navy asked out of the date to play at Ohio State for a reported $1.4 million guarantee.

UH will still play Navy in 2009, but the date has been moved to what had been a Nov. 21 open date. Navy will receive $29,000 plus 145 roundtrip airfares, 75 hotel rooms and ground transportation from UH.

The season opener is the only game remaining to be filled on UH's 13-game 2009 schedule.

"Coach (Greg) McMackin has asked to play a Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA) opponent in the beginning as do many of the Bowl Championship Series programs," said UH athletic director Jim Donovan. "Based upon who we have already scheduled in 2009, we already have a pretty good non-conference schedule so I believe an FCS school could be appropriate."

UH is scheduled to play Wisconsin and Navy here as well as Washington State and Nevada-Las Vegas on the road in 2009. UH would play back-to-back road games at Pullman, Wash., and Las Vegas the weeks after Central Arkansas, if the game is signed.

Associate athletic director Carl Clapp, who has been handling schedule talks, said UH has dates and terms in mind but no contract has been finalized.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported Central Arkansas asked for a Thursday (Sept. 3) or Friday (Sept. 4) date rather than Sept. 5 to better recover from the trip before playing in-state rival Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Donovan said he is opposed to Sept. 3, but might consider Sept. 4 after talking with Aloha Stadium officials and others.

UH is said to be offering Central Arkansas $125,000 in cash plus travel, hotels and meals.

Central Arkansas made the transition from Division II to I-AA in 2005 and joined the Southland Conference in 2006. The Bears were 6-5 last season, including a 28-7 season-opening loss at Louisiana Tech. Central Arkansas plays Tulsa in 2008.