Frazier OK with BCS position
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With five games left on Hawaii's schedule, athletic director Herman Frazier sees the potential for the Warriors to earn a Bowl Championship Series berth if the team finishes the regular season undefeated.
"I would share the same thoughts as (WAC commissioner Karl Benson) that should we have a the opportunity to run the table, we've got a real good chance," Frazier said.
The Warriors debuted at No. 18 in the BCS standings released Sunday. They'll need to reach No. 12 in the final standings to become eligible for the lucrative bowl berth. They can also get in if they finish at least 16th and higher than the champion of one of the conferences with guaranteed berths.
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Had Hawaii managed to secure a 13th football game this season, the Warriors might have been getting on a plane to Big Ten country this week instead of taking some time off.
Playing a game at Wisconsin this Saturday was among the possibilities UH athletic director Herman Frazier looked into while trying to fill out the 2007 schedule.
As it turned out, the Badgers couldn't get out of an obligation and will play Northern Illinois instead. Meanwhile, the undefeated Warriors -- who debuted at No. 18 in the Bowl Championship Series standings this week -- are in the midst of the first of two bye weeks over a three-week span.
Frazier was pleased with the Warriors' position in the season's initial rankings and said the first half of the team's schedule, which included two Division I-AA teams, hasn't been a detriment so far.
"I don't think it's holding us back at this point when we show up in the polls at No. 18 in the BCS," Frazier said. "What's helped us is we're 7-0, that's the bottom line."
UH (7-0, 4-0 Western Athletic Conference) is ranked 16th in both of the polls used in the rankings, but 25th by the computer rankings, which factor in strength of schedule.
There are two ways UH can gain entrance to the lucrative BCS party in January. They'll get in if they finish 12th or higher in the final BCS standings, or if they place at least 16th and higher than the champion of one of the six conferences with guaranteed berths.
Hawaii's bid hinges on the Warriors remaining undefeated with five hurdles -- New Mexico State, Fresno State, Nevada, Boise State and Washington -- looming down the stretch. And Frazier said the opportunity to move up is there if the team can successfully navigate the remainder of the regular-season schedule.
"I think (No. 18 is) an excellent place to start for us," Frazier said.
"If you look at teams five through 12, they're going to start playing each other and it's going to have a huge effect on our numbers if we're successful in playing one game at a time."
That "if" remains the key to the equation, and Frazier pointed out that October is too early to start making plans for January with five games left. But IF the Warriors can stay unbeaten ...
"As I've said many times, I have no doubt that if Hawaii were to run the table and finish the season 12-0 they would finish in the top 12 in the BCS rankings and earn a BCS berth," WAC commissioner Karl Benson said during Monday's football coaches teleconference.
With the Warriors having a break in the schedule, Frazier will also be keeping an eye on developments around the conference and the country that could influence UH's position. The five teams left on the schedule entered the week a combined 16-15 this season.
"The thing you have to look at this week is Fresno State and Boise State got votes (in the polls), so if that continues they could both come in here with a pretty decent ranking," he said.
In other matters:
» Frazier said the committee looking into allegations of academic cheating made by former UH football player Ian Sample is close to submitting its report to himself and UH-Manoa chancellor Virginia Hinshaw.
"I have been informed that I should be getting something very soon," Frazier said. "They have completed their work and they just need to write it."
» Sports Turf Hawaii has been selected as the contractor to replace the playing surface at Les Murakami Stadium. The target date for completion is Jan. 3, with the baseball season scheduled to start on Feb. 15.
