WAC, UH high
on ESPN list
"Fiesta Frolic" only sounds like all fun and games.
The gathering of college football coaches and athletic directors in Phoenix last week was to promote the Fiesta Bowl. But the Western Athletic Conference also took the opportunity to conduct business.
WAC commissioner Karl Benson said he met with ESPN officials for "review and analysis." The league got high marks from the network after two seasons of a three-year contract, he said.
"They're very happy with the WAC. We've produced a very good product and been very flexible," Benson said. "We expect as our renegotiations begin later this fall and winter we'll be treated very fairly."
Benson said he hopes a new contract means more broadcasts, especially basketball. A total of 15 football games involving at least one WAC team were shown by ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPN Regional last year, but only seven basketball games, including the three highly publicized "Bracket Busters" games.
"Basketball is underexposed. We're anticipating more televised basketball games," Benson said.
Five regular-season football games involving WAC teams are already scheduled for ESPN broadcast this fall: Hawaii at Nevada-Las Vegas on Sept. 19, Boise State at Brigham Young on Oct. 31, Boise State at Fresno State on Nov. 21, Boise State at Hawaii on Dec. 6, and Alabama at Hawaii on Nov. 29.
Hawaii athletic director Herman Frazier said it's no accident that three of the five games involve UH.
"We're always happy for more exposure for our program," he said. "And I think ESPN is happy with (coach) June Jones and the Warriors' exciting brand of football. The 2.42 rating we got for the (ConAgra Foods Hawaii Bowl) is off the charts. It's as high as anything they do, including Saturday prime time SEC games."