Saturday, September 15, 2001
[ UH WARRIOR FOOTBALL ]
No decision yet The Hawaii at Nevada football game will likely be played a week from today, but only if the Western Athletic Conference can move the Nevada at San Jose State game originally scheduled for that day.
on UH-Nevada
San Jose State is standing firm
with its current schedule and the
final say may go to the WAC presidentsBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com"It's not confirmed, but we're working as if we're going to play the game," UH athletic director Hugh Yoshida said yesterday.
The Nevada athletic department issued a news release yesterday announcing that Nevada and Hawaii had agreed to play next Saturday in Reno. The release also said the Nevada at San Jose State game would be moved to Nov. 10.
"I felt it was critical for us to find some way to play a home game next week," Nevada athletic director Chris Ault said in the release.
But the Spartans haven't given up on that home game.
WAC commissioner Karl Benson was unable yesterday to sway San Jose State athletic director Chuck Bell, who is adamant that the Spartans keep their original date with the Wolf Pack -- especially after moving today's home game against Stanford to Dec. 1.
Bell said yesterday he was ready to dig in to keep next week's game.
"We're even more resolved now, after I spoke with the university president (Thursday)," he said. "It just wouldn't be acceptable."
The Hawaii at Nevada game was supposed to be played today -- until Tuesday's terrorist attacks changed everything.
Yoshida said the WAC hopes to resolve the scheduling conflict over the weekend. If not, the conference's presidents will vote on it Monday, he said.
"The last straw is to go to the presidents," Yoshida said.
Benson said if it came to that he would recommend Hawaii playing at Nevada next Saturday "to protect the integrity of the league's schedule."
Benson said he had several conversations with representatives from the Hawaii, Nevada and San Jose State athletic departments yesterday.
"I can't speak for San Jose State," he said. "All we're trying to do is make the best decision in the interest of the WAC at a time when every decision is going to be scrutinized and criticized."
UH president Evan Dobelle said he hadn't heard about a possible presidents' vote on Monday.
"My understanding is the commissioner is saying (Hawaii at Nevada next week) is the best alternative for all involved," Dobelle said. "I'd like to think that the world got complicated enough the past week that we don't need to make it more complicated with this."
Dobelle alluded to recent situations where Hawaii went along with policies it deemed detrimental to its athletic programs, but Benson had determined were good for the WAC overall.
"There was no board meeting when it was decided to move the (UH versus) Fresno game or the (UH versus) Air Force game," Dobelle said. "In situations like this, nobody's a winner and nobody's a loser."
Meanwhile, Hawaii secured air transportation to and from Reno for next week. Warriors coach June Jones was helping to "fine-tune" the arrangements, Yoshida said.
Don Murphy, president of Na Koa, said any extra travel costs incurred by having to use a charter flight might be defrayed by the booster club.
"We would take a look at that," Murphy said. "I think that's the kind of thing that falls under our program."
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