2 UH games moved
to Fridays for
ESPN telecastsThe changes give the Warriors
more exposure but less time to
prepare for two tough opponents
The good news for the Hawaii football team is two of its road games will be broadcast by ESPN this fall.
UH's 2004 schedule
Home games at Aloha Stadium, 6:05 p.m.
Sept. 4 Florida Atlantic Sept. 18 at Rice Oct. 2 Tulsa Oct. 9 Nevada Oct. 16 at UTEP Oct. 23 San Jose State* Oct. 29 at Boise State Nov. 6 Louisiana Tech Nov. 12 at Fresno State Nov. 20 Idaho Nov. 27 Northwestern Dec. 4 Michigan State * Homecoming
The bad news is the games -- against perennial Western Athletic Conference contenders Boise State and Fresno State -- have been moved from Saturday to Friday.
"The two telecasts have been confirmed (for Friday)," said WAC commissioner Karl Benson, who is still awaiting ESPN's official announcement of the new contract between the league and network.
The Oct. 29 Boise State game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. Hawaii-time kickoff, and the Nov. 12 Fresno State game is slated to start at 5:30 p.m.
UH coach June Jones said the national TV exposure is "a positive," but moving the games up a day hurts the Warriors' chances on the field.
"It's definitely a disadvantage for us," said Jones, who usually has his team fly on Wednesdays to mainland games. "It gives us a shorter week and traveling in that direction is tough as it is. And those are the two toughest teams we play. But we can't do anything about it except show up and play hard."
That's what the Warriors did in 2002 when they faced the Friday-night lights at Fresno on Oct. 25 and came from behind to win 31-21.
Last year, UNLV beat mistake-plagued UH 33-22 on Friday, Sept. 19 at Las Vegas. Missed practice time and travel weren't really issues because the well-rested Warriors remained on the mainland in Ontario, Calif., after losing 61-32 at USC the previous Saturday.
ESPN also plans to televise UH's Dec. 4 home game against Michigan State. That game will remain on Saturday.
In other UH football news, third-year sophomore quarterback Ryan Stickler will move to outside linebacker. Jones spoke with Stickler and told him the best way to get on the field would be by switching to another position.
Stickler and fourth-year junior quarterback Jeff Rhode will not participate in fall camp because of the logjam, Jones said.
"Ryan could try safety if he wanted to, too. It's up to him," Jones said. "He's a good kid and a real hard worker, a tough guy. We'll see what happens."
Jones and linebackers coach Cal Lee said Stickler will have a lot to learn, but he might be able to contribute on special teams early on.
"He's a good athlete," Lee said. "We'll just have to take a look at him."
UH Athletics
uhathletics.hawaii.edu
