HAWAII FOOTBALL
Warriors add home game against Eastern Illinois to '06 schedule
Hawaii has eight games at Aloha Stadium with the addition of the Sept. 30 contest
Herman Frazier looks at Hawaii's football game against Eastern Illinois on Sept. 30 at Aloha Stadium as a bonus.
"Since we're not raising ticket prices, most fans will be getting eight games when they had seven last year with no (price) increase," the UH athletic director said yesterday, after announcing the Warriors will host the Panthers for the third time in eight years (Frazier did add that some high-end season-ticket packages will have increases on their premium seat contributions).
But on the field, could it be a trap game?
Maybe, if the Warriors don't focus on the task at hand. The EIU game is sandwiched between two tough WAC opponents. UH goes to Boise State on Sept. 23 and hosts Nevada on Oct. 7.
The Panthers were one of the best teams in Division I-AA last year, going 9-3 overall and 8-0 to take the Ohio Valley Conference championship.
UH has good history against EIU, winning the two previous games.
The 1999 meeting was a historic one for UH; in coach June Jones' second game, Hawaii
beat Eastern Illinois 31-27, snapping a 19-game losing streak.
In 2002, the Warriors pounded the Panthers 61-36 in the season opener. UH defensive lineman Lui Fuga was lost for the season because of what Hawaii coaches said was a dirty hit early in the game. But Jones said there is no lingering ill will.
"That was just unfortunate. I'm sure it was just one of those things," Jones said. "I don't know them too well, but we played them twice and they were pretty competitive."
After a week off following the Sept. 2 opener at Alabama, Hawaii will play 12 games in 12 weeks. It might have been just as arduous if UH scheduled a road game for Sept. 9 as Jones and Frazier discussed doing at one point.
Frazier said scheduling EIU is not a desperation measure because of the late date.
"We could've played other schools (on the road). But after we looked at it we decided it would be in the best interest of our fans and what we want to accomplish to have another home game," Frazier said. "We could've scheduled a road game against a big-time team, but at the end of the day it will be better to be at home."
As it is, the Warriors will play five road games this season. They played six away from home in 2003, winning two and losing four.
"I prefer home games, but if I ever have to play six on the road (again), we'll play six on the road," Jones said.
Season-ticket renewal forms will be mailed March 17, with a return deadline of April 7. New season-ticket sales begin June 26.
2006 HAWAII FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Sept. 2 |
at Alabama |
Sept. 16 |
UNLV |
Sept. 23 |
at Boise State |
Sept. 30 |
Eastern Illinois |
Oct. 7 |
Nevada |
Oct. 14 |
at Fresno State |
Oct. 21 |
at New Mexico St. |
Oct. 28 |
Idaho |
Nov. 4 |
at Utah State |
Nov. 11 |
Louisiana Tech |
Nov. 18 |
San Jose State |
Nov. 25 |
Purdue |
Dec. 2 |
Oregon State |
WAC games in bold