Hawai'i, Purdue both see it as must-win game
| • | Brennan: QB with a past and presence |
| • | Boilermakers wouldn't pass for your typical Big Ten team |
| • | More than 42,000 tickets sold |
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
This might not be the football game Purdue wants, but tonight's meeting is the one Hawai'i needs.
Purdue (8-4) and UH (9-2) have checked "will attend" on bowl RSVPs — the Boilermakers to the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando, Fla.; the Warriors to the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl.
While Purdue coach Joe Tiller lobbied to get out of playing the game — citing distance, players' time away from family on Thanksgiving and the deficit the trip will impose — the Warriors view this game and next week's meeting against Oregon State as chances to improve their national image.
"It's such a great opportunity to play a Big Ten school," UH quarterback Colt Brennan said. "What's been holding us back is people saying, 'Oh, you don't play the type of teams the Ohio States and SCs play.' Well, the next two weeks we get to play exactly those type of teams."
With three games remaining, including the Hawai'i Bowl, the Warriors have a chance to beat the school-best 11-2 record in 1992.
"We're going for 12," Brennan said. "The only way we get 12 is if we beat (Purdue)."
Purdue defensive end Anthony Spencer applied the same formula to his team.
"We have a chance to get 10 wins this season," Spencer said. "We've got to win nine before we can get to 10. That's one motivating factor."
This will be the Warriors' first game since being ranked No. 25 in three national polls.
"We worked hard to get ranked," slotback Davone Bess said. "We don't want to get ranked, then lose and fall out of the rankings in one week. We want to build on it. We want to prove they didn't make a mistake when they ranked us."
The Warriors have won eight in a row, the school's single-season record as a Division I member.
A good showing should boost Brennan's odds of being named a Heisman Trophy finalist. Brennan, who leads the nation in total offense and passing efficiency, already is a finalist for the Davey O'Brien and Manning awards.
Brennan, in turn, believes a victory would bring attention to the other offensive players.
"If anything, our offensive line needs to be praised," Brennan said. "I can't believe people can recognize me and not recognize the guys around me in the same way. Our o-line is the best in the nation. If you look at how many times we pass and how few sacks we've given up, and then you look at how our running backs are averaging 8 yards per carry, I don't understand how (center) Samson (Satele) and these guys are not getting national notoriety. It's kind of ridiculous, really. This will be a great test for our o-line. This will be a great way for them to get that notoriety."
The Warriors also can earn a share of the Western Athletic Conference's regular-season title if Nevada upsets 12th-ranked Boise State today (11:15 a.m. Hawai'i time).
The Broncos have a 7-0 WAC record. The Warriors finished 7-1 in the WAC. Although the Broncos defeated the Warriors in September, if there is a tie for first place, both would be recognized as WAC champions.
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UH FOOTBALL
WHAT: University of Hawai'i (9-2, 7-1 in Western Athletic Conference) vs. Purdue (8-4, 5-3 in Big Ten) WHEN: 6:05 p.m. Saturday WHERE: Aloha Stadium TV: Live on Oceanic cable pay-per-view digital; rebroadcast on PPV at 10:30 p.m. Call 625-8100 on O'ahu or (808) 643-2337 statewide. Delayed on KFVE Sunday 10 a.m. AUDIO WEBCAST: www.espn1420am.com VIDEO WEBCAST: Available through Hawaiian Telecom and KFVE. Tickets available for single game at $9.95, a full season for $39.95. Go to www.hawaiiantelmedia.com RADIO: Live on ESPN 1420, with warmup show at 5 p.m. Neighbor Island simulcasts on KAOI on Maui/Kona, KPUA in Hilo and KQNG on Kaua'i GATES OPEN: Parking lot 2:30 p.m.; Stadium gates 3 p.m. TICKET PRICES: $38 sideline, $32 South end zone, $27 North end zone (adult), $22 North end zone senior citizen, $22 North end zone students 4-18, $5 UH students. TICKET SALES: Available online at hawaiiathletics.com, by calling 944-2697 (BOWS) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or at Stan Sheriff Center, Aloha Stadium, UH Campus Center, RainBowtique at Ward Centre and Windward Community College's OCET Office during business hours. Convenience fees may apply. PROMOTIONS: Tickets are $20 for special “Kids’ Night” sections in the North and South end zones. A minimum of four tickets must be purchased and there is a maximum of 12. PARKING: $5 ALTERNATIVE PARKING (no tailgating): • Leeward Community College (free with $2 charge for shuttle service); • Kamehameha Drive-In ($5 with free shuttle service); • Radford High School ($3 with no shuttle service). All shuttle service runs from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and approximately one hour after the game ends. SECURITY: Only fanny packs, purses, backpacks and handbags will be allowed into stadium (subject to check). TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Sports Radio 1420 will provide traffic advisories and updates before each UH football home game. BUS SHUTTLES: For UH students: Chancellor office is providing free bus transportation to the home games at Aloha Stadium. Buses will pick up UH students on Dole Street in front of Gateway House two hours before game time.The buses will leave the stadium 30 minutes after the game and return to Gateway. Sign-up sheets are at the front desk at each UH residence hall. Roberts Hawaii is offering round trip "air conditioned" shuttle bus services to Aloha Stadium for $6 from three O'ahu areas. Bus No. 3 will pick up at the Hawai'i Kai Park n' Ride at 4 p.m., at Bank of Hawai'i at Kahala Mall at 4:15 and proceed to the stadium. Bus No. 2 will pick up at the Kailua District Park, Kainalu Avenue at 4:15 p.m., at Windward Mall Shopping Center on Alaloa Street facing Sears at 4:30 and proceed to the stadium. Bus No. 1 will pick up at the Mililani Mauka Park n' Ride at 4:30 p.m. and go directly to the stadium. Reservations are required and service is first come, first serve. Call Roberts School Bus at 832-4886 for reservations and additional information. City bus service The FootballExpress offers 17 pickup locations throughout O'ahu. The first trip from each location leaves approximately three hours before kickoff and the last trip leaves approximately 90 minutes before the game. Return trips leave as soon as the bus is full, with the final trip leaving 30 minutes after the game ends. Honolulu pickup locations are at Ala Moana, downtown, Hawai'i Kai, Kahala Mall, Kaimuki, Palolo, Waikiki and the University of Hawai'i. Leeward pickups are at 'Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Mililani Mauka and Village Park. Windward pickups are at Kalaniana'ole Highway and Kailua Road, Kailua Road at Keolu Drive and Hele Street, Kailua Road at Hahani Street, Kane'ohe Bay drive at Mokapu Boulevard and Kane'ohe Bay Drive at Makalani Street. Rates are $3 one way and $6 roundtrip. Passes and transfers are not accepted. For information, go to: www.thebus.org
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Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.
