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Tuesday, July 25, 2000

WAC may
have plenty of
bowl options

The league could have as
many as four teams invited
but where they might
go is uncertain

By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

For the good of the Western Athletic Conference, it's possible the University of Hawaii would wind up back in the Oahu or Aloha bowls this December if the Rainbows have another stellar season.

League commissioner Karl Benson made this announcement during last weekend's WAC meetings. At this point, the conference has three firm ties to postseason games -- the Humanitarian, Silicon Valley and Mobile bowls.

If the WAC champion is from the West, that team would go to the inaugural Silicon Bowl and if it's from the East, the winner would be in Mobile.

Either of those bowls will have the second pick from the WAC with the Humanitarian Bowl getting the third choice. But here's where it gets interesting.

Bowl Games Hawaii already has said it would consider the Rainbows again for the Christmas Day doubleheader. If the scenario arises where Hawaii and Fresno State are tied for the WAC title, it's likely the Bulldogs would be invited to play in the Silicon Bowl and the Rainbows would play on Christmas Day.

"If there's a way the conference can get four teams into postseason, then that's the way we would like to go," Benson said after Saturday's WAC meetings. "It makes financial sense for the teams involved and it makes financial sense for the league."

The current bylaws approved by the athletic directors have teams keeping the $750,000 minimum payout, but forfeiting any money above that figure to the league.

As an example, the proposed payout by the Silicon Valley Bowl is $1.2 million. The school representing the WAC would get to keep $750,000, but the league would share the rest.

"We want to make sure that the teams and the bowls are working cooperatively," Benson said. "If Hawaii were the champion and they believed it was better for them -- for whatever reasons -- to leave Hawaii and play here, I think we would honor that.

"I think they have to make a business decision. And if they have the opportunity to stay at home for probably one more year, that would probably happen.

"I don't think this arrangement between Hawaii and Bowl Games Hawaii is something that will continue onward if Hawaii is going to be bowl-eligible several years in a row. They can probably get away with it for another year. It would benefit that bowl, it would benefit the university and it would benefit us."

It doesn't appear the Rainbows will benefit from any national television appearances on the Fox Sports Network. The game with Wisconsin on Nov. 25 is still being considered.

The major stumbling block, however, is money. Games on the mainland generally have a production cost of $60,000. In Hawaii, that figure jumps to $100,000.

"That game is still being looked at as a possibility," Benson said.