UH hopes to look
good on TV
"Playmakers" is over, but ESPN starts a new mini-series Saturday. The network televises Hawaii's next three games, closing out the 2003 season.
Hawaii vs. Alabama
When: Saturday, 2:45 p.m.
Where: Aloha Stadium
TV: ESPN
Radio: KKEA, 1420-AM
Tickets: $33 sideline, $27 south end zone, $22 north end zone (adult), $17 north end zone (students/seniors, age 4-high school), UH students free (super rooter only). Available at Aloha Stadium, Stan Sheriff Center, UH Campus Center and Windward Community College's OCET Office. Or call 800-944-2697 or etickethawaii.com on the Internet.
Parking: Gates open at 11:15 a.m. Parking is $5. Alternate parking at Leeward Community College, Kam Drive-In and Radford High School.
Traffic advisory: 1420-AM is the official traffic advisory station and provides updates before each home game.
Bus: Roberts Hawaii School Bus will run shuttles to and from the stadium with pick-ups at six Oahu locations. Call 832-4886 for information and reservations.
Coach June Jones is hoping for a happy ending after early-season national exposure didn't go to well for UH. Hawaii lost back-to-back road games to Southern California and Nevada-Las Vegas on national TV in September.
It won't be easy, as UH hosts Alabama, Boise State, and a Dec. 25 Hawaii Bowl opponent (it looks like it might be Louisville). Jones knows it's a tough lineup, but he sees it as an opportunity.
"It's a real plus to be on TV three times in a row. ... I don't know when the last time three national TV games have been on in a row at this school," Jones said yesterday at his weekly news conference. "It's good for our state, it's good for the school, it's good for the kids."
Alabama (4-8) beat Hawaii (7-4) in the schools' first meeting last year, 21-16 at Aloha Stadium.
"We'll have to play our best to beat these teams. I don't care what Alabama's record is," Jones said. "Looking at them on film, they look better on defense. They're kind of going through some changes. They still have the personnel."
Early return for Keli'ikipi?: Starting running back West Keli'ikipi was originally expected back for the Hawaii Bowl after undergoing arthroscopic surgery for a meniscus tear in his left knee against Nevada.
But Jones said the prognosis might be better.
"He may be ready for Boise. Who knows? He's a very tough guy," Jones said. "He may be ready for this week. I don't know, we'll see."
Running backs coach Wes Suan is cautiously optimistic.
"I'm not a doctor. But West is walking around without crutches and the swelling is down. He's got a lot of muscle strength, which could help quicken his rehab," said Suan, who underwent similar surgery eight years ago after a handball injury. "It varies. Some people come back very quickly."
In other injury news, backup defensive tackle Abu Ma'afala sprained his right shoulder in Saturday's 59-28 victory over Army and is listed as doubtful.
But Jones said he thinks Ma'afala can play against Alabama.
"He said it's not bad. It's not a separation, so I would not anticipate that he would miss this game," Jones said.
Starting right guard Uriah Moenoa came out of the Army game early with a banged up knee as a precautionary measure, and defensive end Travis LaBoy played through a fever and nausea caused by a staph infection.
Help wanted: The Warriors still have a slim chance for a share of the Western Athletic Conference championship.
If visiting Nevada, a 21 1/2-point underdog, can upset Boise State on Saturday, the Broncos would come to Hawaii on Dec. 6 with a 6-1 WAC record to UH's 5-2.
(Ties are not broken by head-to-head matchups; teams with the same final record share the championship.)
Jones was asked if he thinks Nevada -- which beat Hawaii 24-14 two weeks ago -- has a chance against the Broncos.
"Defensively they'll play with them. I don't think offensively they can keep pace with them," Jones said. "I think defensively they'll play the run well. I don't know with their injuries in the secondary. (Ryan) Dinwiddie's a very accurate passer. I would think that they would throw the ball on them."
On the national scene, Jones said the BCS computers could cause a miscarriage of justice.
"I don't understand all that stuff. I guess it does, I don't know how they figure that. If USC doesn't lose another game and Oklahoma doesn't lose another game, if those two don't play for the deal ... the system's screwed up," he said.
Here comes the Tide: Alabama arrives in Hawaii tomorrow, and has a practice scheduled at Aloha Stadium.
The Crimson Tide will likely bring fewer than the 8,000 fans who helped fill the stadium for last year's victory over the Warriors.
Back in black: Jones said the Warriors might wear their special black uniforms on Saturday.
"Maybe there's a good chance of that," he said. "I don't think it's any hotter in black. In fact they wear black in the desert, I think. The Arabs and the Iraquis do."
WAC honorees: Tulsa took two of the conference player of the week awards, as running back Eric Richardson took the offensive honor and linebacker Michael LeDet won on defense.
Boise State kicker Tyler Jones got the award for special teams.
Richardson rushed for 179 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries as the Golden Hurricane beat San Jose State 34-32. LeDet made nine tackles and intercepted a pass.
Jones converted four extra points and a 47-yard field goal in the Broncos' 31-17 win at Fresno State.
