The ConAgra Foods Hawaii Bowl has enjoyed a spike in ticket sales since Hawaii accepted an invitation to play in the inaugural Christmas Day game. Bowl ticket sales
Division II Notebook
spike after UH winBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com"We sold between two and three thousand since the game on Saturday (when UH qualified by beating San Jose State 40-31)," Hawaii Bowl executive director Jim Donovan said.
As of yesterday, more than 20,300 tickets were sold, Donovan said.
UH will probably play a team from Conference USA.
Ticket prices range from $15 to $40.
Option work continues: Hawaii has eight days before taking on Rice's high-powered wishbone offense; the Warriors got serious yesterday with a long full-speed practice of dealing with the option after a walk-through Wednesday.
Defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa is installing several different packages -- one with four linebackers, one with two linebackers.
"We had two attempts at stopping it last year," Lempa said. "We did well the first time and not the second time. We have to change up and do some things differently."
UH performed well against Rice's option for most of the game last year, but lost 27-24 as the Owls kicked two fourth-quarter field goals.
But in the Warriors' 52-30 victory over Air Force later in the season, the Falcons' option chewed up 545 yards.
Yoshida to help Hilo: Former Hawaii athletic director Hugh Yoshida will work as a consultant to Hilo athletic director Kathleen McNally through the end of the calendar year when his retirement becomes official.
"I'll help them look at some of the issues," Yoshida said. "Revenues is a big issue; involvement of the community is another. We'll see what the other issues are and try to make some assessments."
Yoshida retired in August, but remained on to assist incoming AD Herman Frazier's transition. He said he will commute to Hilo as needed.
This weekend he is going to Oregon to be inducted into the Linfield College Hall of Fame. Yoshida was an NAIA All-America linebacker there.
Whieldon update: The last time the Warriors had a bye week, junior quarterback Jason Whieldon quit the team for family reasons. He returned two weeks later, but hasn't played much since.
"Just got to wait your turn, wait it out," said Whieldon, who is now third string after coming close to being UH's starting quarterback when Tim Chang broke a finger in fall camp. "Obviously you always want to be playing, but sometimes that can't be the case. You try to keep a good attitude and try to improve."
Whieldon, who never disclosed the exact reason for leaving, said the situation has improved.
"It's getting better. Actually, it's all better," he said.
Jackson fund: Star-Bulletin lineup edition sellers will accept donations to defray medical costs for former UH defensive back Nate Jackson at the Warriors' next home game, Nov. 23 against Cincinnati. Jackson has been hospitalized since Oct. 24 with a viral infection and requires heart surgery.
Donations for the "Friends of Nate Jackson" fund can also be dropped off at any First Hawaiian Bank branch.
A family member said yesterday Jackson's condition has stabilized after it worsened briefly two days ago.
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The Brigham Young-Hawaii water polo team did all it could to sap the drama from its annual series with Chaminade this year, sweeping the first three games of the five-game affair. Silverswords still
trying to beat BYUHBy Jerry Campany
jcampany@starbulletin.comLittle did the Seasiders know that the series was just a warm-up for more important things.
The Seasiders and Silverswords will battle in the pool once again tonight at 7 in Laie, this time with seeding in the conference tournament on the line. Both teams are almost sure to get into the tournament, with BYUH ranked third in the region and Chaminade fourth, but the Silverswords are envious of BYUH's positioning and would like to take it away.
They believe that a blowout win could accomplish that, because the three games they have played against the Seasiders this year were decided by a total of five goals.
"(Today's game) is important as far as how each team is going to place," Chaminade coach Ben Nary said. "We really think it is still up to us."
The seedings will be announced Nov. 18 for the tournament that takes place in San Diego the following weekend.
The Silverswords want to take the Seasiders' spot at third place to avoid Air Force, which plays a full slate this weekend and is probably the hottest team in the conference. It is also the only team among the top eight that Chaminade has not seen. Nary figures that the No. 3 team will draw UC-Davis, which is a much more palatable first-round matchup.
The Seasiders are ranked 16th in the nation, but Chaminade dropped out of the poll.
Nary hopes to have his team as hot as the Falcons by virtue of beating the Seasiders twice going into the tournament. They are not going to do it though, unless they figure out a way to beat the Seasiders' big goalie, Alexsander Stankovic, when they get a chance to.
"Their goalie is really good, fantastic in the cage," Nary said. "We have kind of developed a tendency of not really shooting, of letting him dictate what we do."
Nary certainly gave his Silverswords their chances to win, getting 12 power-play opportunities and managing the game well enough to give his team the ball on a power play with 26 seconds left.
The Seasiders are as focused on keeping their spot as the Silverswords are on taking it away. They lost an important game to Laverne on their last road trip and need to prove to voters that they are still worthy of a spot in the top four.
"It still matters, it certainly still matters," BYUH coach Aukai Ferguson said. "I'm sure they (Chaminade) aren't too happy about losing three times to us and will want to do something about it before the playoffs."
Seasiders still in third: The BYUH volleyball team is still ranked third in the region behind Western Washington and Cal State San Bernardino, but the local teams behind them are making their moves.
Chaminade, which played the Seasiders in a conference match yesterday and play again tonight in Laie, are fifth in the region, while Hawaii Pacific is seventh. The top six teams at the end of the regular season get an invitation to the regional tournament, with the top team given the option of hosting.
Time for softball: Hawaii's four NCAA Division II colleges will get their shots at the Hawaii women this weekend at the UH Softball Fall Classic at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
The tournament starts at 10 a.m. tomorrow, with Chaminade taking on a UH split squad.
Tennis anyone?: The HPU men's tennis team will host its first HPU Collegiate Invitational today and tomorrow at the Oahu Club.
The Sea Warriors, who are ranked No. 5 in the nation, will take on UH-Hilo beginning at 9:30 a.m. today.
