Frazier focuses on adding home dates; MSU issue reportedly settled

Hawaii still has three spots open on its 2007 schedule

Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan's announcement to return for his senior season might mean more home games for the Warriors this fall.

Athletic director Herman Frazier said he will look at scheduling eight of UH's 13 regular- season games at home now that the Heisman Trophy candidate has pulled his name out of consideration for the 2007 NFL Draft.

Frazier had previously talked about at least one and possibly two of four remaining unannounced games being on the road.

"That will factor in," Frazier said, when asked about the crowds Brennan could help draw to Aloha Stadium.

Also, Michigan State is officially off the Hawaii football schedule for 2007, Frazier said.

Another source said MSU will pay UH a $250,000 fee for pulling out of the game, but Frazier would not confirm that yesterday.

"I can't talk about that aspect of it, but they will be off the schedule," Frazier said.

Frazier has said legal issues with Michigan State have hampered his ability to complete and announce the Warriors' schedule. As of now, only one of five possible nonconference games has been announced -- at UNLV on Sept. 15.

Hawaii beat Michigan State 41-38 at Aloha Stadium on Dec. 4, 2004, the first of two contracted games at Hawaii (in addition to one at Michigan State, played in 2005). MSU coaches and players complained about the officiating by a WAC crew in the 2004 game. The Spartans' official reason for not wanting to play Hawaii again is that they don't want a 13-game schedule.

The issue went to lawyers from the two schools.

Also, Eastern Washington officials said earlier this month that EWU will visit Hawaii on Sept. 8. Frazier would not confirm this game yesterday, but repeated that Hawaii will play one Division I-AA opponent in 2007.

"We're staying with that," Frazier said.

UH is working with ESPN to schedule nonconference games, Frazier said. One possibility is USC early in the season. The Trojans are scheduled to play Idaho on Sept. 1 and have a bye Sept. 8 before playing at Nebraska on Sept. 15. It is unlikely USC would want to play at Hawaii the week before a game at Nebraska.

"ESPN, in conjunction with the WAC, will release (a schedule) in either the first or second week of February," Frazier said. "It will include all of our conference games. We will (release the nonconference schedule) at the same time or earlier."

Two of the four WAC home games are against rivals Fresno State and Boise State. The Boise State at Hawaii game could be scheduled for late in the season in anticipation of a league-championship matchup. This was previously done in 2003 when the Broncos beat the Warriors 45-28 in the last regular-season game for both teams.

"This team will be on TV a lot this year, maybe more than ever before," UH coach June Jones said after Brennan's announcement. "Because of what you just heard."