[ UH FOOTBALL ]

UH will open
2006 at Alabama

The school will receive
$650,000 to travel to Tuscaloosa
to play the Crimson Tide

UH vs. the SEC Hawaii's football record against current Southeastern Conference schools School W L Last meeting Alabama 1 1 Nov. 29, 2003 Arkansas 0 1 Dec. 5, 1987 Kentucky 0 1 Sept. 13, 1958 South Carolina 2 0 Dec. 5, 1981 Tennessee 0 2 Dec. 4, 1975 Note: UH has never played the other current SEC schools -- Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana State, Mississippi, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt.

Paydays are as important as paydirt in college football these days, and Hawaii gets a big check in two years when the Warriors go to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to play Alabama.

UH receives a $650,000 guarantee when it opens its season against the Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Sept. 2, 2006, the school announced yesterday.

Expenses will be less than $100,000 for the trip, similar to what it costs the football team to go to Houston for a game at Rice, or Ruston, La., to play Louisiana Tech, UH coach June Jones said.

"It is exciting, and not just for the football," Jones said. "The paycheck for the school is something we're in dire need of. And it will be a great experience for our team."

UH's athletic department operated at an estimated $1.4 million deficit in the fiscal year that ended in July.

Next year's nonconference games are at home against USC (Sept. 3), at Michigan State (Sept. 10), and at home against Wisconsin (Nov. 26) and San Diego State (Dec. 3)

UH has one other nonconference game scheduled for 2006 so far, a home game against Purdue on Nov. 25. Athletic director Herman Frazier is also working on an Aloha Stadium game against UCLA for 2006, and a game at UNLV in either 2007 or 2008, athletic department spokeswoman Lois Manin said.

Overtures have also been made to Kansas and Brigham Young for future games, and a member of the University of Florida regents is trying to help negotiate a game at Florida.

Frazier and Alabama athletic director Mal Moore had discussed a game at Alabama since the Crimson Tide first came to Hawaii in 2002 and won 21-16. The Warriors beat the Tide 37-29 here last year.

The game marks the first time UH opens on the road since 1992, when Hawaii won 24-21 at Oregon.

"I'll be here for that," sophomore left guard Samson Satele said. "It's good, we get a chance to show the world we're not a push-around team. I know ESPN has us in the bottom five right now, but that doesn't mean anything."

Sophomore cornerback Kenny Patton is already looking forward to playing at one of college football's legendary settings.

"That's big-time exposure for Hawaii, the state. We have to go down there and show them Hawaii football is for real. That we can beat them here or beat them there. We've got to make sure we come correct that game."

Sophomore punter Kurt Milne is from Roswell, Ga., which is not far from Tuscaloosa.

"I've got a lot of friends who go to Alabama," he said. "It should be a lot of fun."

Match race: In the middle of their conditioning sprints yesterday, the Warriors were treated to a 40-yard one-on-one race between true freshman linebacker Khevin Peoples and second-year freshman cornerback Ray Bass. Peoples won in a close race.

"There was nothing on the line, just bragging rights for 5 minutes," said Peoples. "Ray called me out. We all come from a track background and players read each other's bios."

Bass had run a 4.31 electronically timed 40 yards at a high school camp. Peoples has a 4.4 40 and a 10.92 100 meters to his credit.

Patton said Peoples had an advantage because as a cornerback, Bass ran more during practice than Peoples.

"He beat me fair and square," Bass said.

Short yardage: Senior running back Mike Bass was sidelined yesterday with a tweaked knee. ... Freshman defensive lineman Larry Sauafea is out with a pulled hamstring. ... Senior outside linebacker Paul Lutu-Carroll -- a starter until a knee injury during preseason camp -- will be eased back in, Jones said. "Maybe we can get him in on some special teams," the coach said. Sophomore defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis, coming off back surgery, said he is just waiting for doctor's clearance to start practicing again within the next few days. ... Nolan Lee made a nice over-the-shoulder catch on a long pass from Brandon Satcher for a scout-team touchdown against the first team.