NCAA votes
tomorrow on lifting
bowl ban

2 groups hope to return holiday
football to Aloha Stadium

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By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com

Tomorrow could be Christmas in April for Hawaii football fans, as the NCAA is expected to determine if a moratorium on new college bowl games will be lifted.

Such action would open the way for the revival of a postseason holiday game in the islands, as early as this December, and two groups have applied to be Santa Claus.

The front-runner appears to be the mix of ESPN, the Western Athletic Conference and the University of Hawaii. One big reason is the group's built-in broadcast advantage, said Ken Hoffman, leader of the other group.

"They bring a lot to the table. Clearly there's no question about a TV contract," Hoffman said. "On the other hand, I think the NCAA has an ethical question posed before it now. If ESPN owns a game, that eliminates the possibility for another network (to broadcast the game)."

Hoffman said the involvement of UH and the WAC also strengthens the group's viability.

As for Hoffman, he has bowl game leadership experience. He was director of the Motor City Bowl, a partner in the GMAC Bowl (which became the Motor City Bowl) and a consultant and NFL scout liaison for the Hula Bowl.

He lacks a major component though -- a title sponsor.

"We're still in the process of securing one," Hoffman said. "That's the number one thing the NCAA looks at, along with a TV contract. I feel pretty good about our prospects, but it's a difficult time. Corporations aren't spending like before."

Hoffman said he has some good sponsorship prospects, but doesn't want to name them yet.

WAC commissioner Karl Benson said earlier this month that tomorrow's vote by the NCAA board of directors could go either way. The NCAA's management council is recommending lifting the ban, but the football issues oversight committee suggests keeping the moratorium in place for one more year.

Hoffman and UH athletic director Hugh Yoshida said the management council probably has more influence.

"I would venture to say if this vote goes as expected to lift the moratorium, Honolulu will have an Aloha Bowl again," Hoffman said.

Honolulu was home to two postseason games -- the Oahu and Aloha bowls -- until last year. UH finished its season 9-3 last year, but was not invited to a bowl game.