UH slate still in limbo

Warriors content to play 12 games

Another self-imposed deadline came and went yesterday, and Hawaii athletic director Herman Frazier still doesn't have a finalized football schedule for 2007.

Frazier said he is waiting for two schools to decide if they want to accept a lucrative offer (around $700,000) to play a nationally televised game at Aloha Stadium.

ESPN and Western Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson are trying to help broker a deal.

Frazier said he will give the schools until the middle of next week to decide.

"We're zeroing in on Oct. 20," Frazier said.

UH also has an open date Nov. 3.

Meanwhile, Warriors coach June Jones and quarterback Colt Brennan said they are fine with either 12 games or a baker's dozen.

Either way, UH has a chance to be ranked headed into the season, and will likely be favored to win the WAC coming off last year's 11-3 record.

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Two Division I football teams, one from a BCS conference, are still considering offers to fill the 2007 Hawaii football schedule, UH athletic director Herman Frazier said yesterday.

UH schedule » Sept. 1: Northern Colorado » Sept. 8: at Louisiana Tech » Sept. 15: at UNLV » Sept. 22: Charleston Southern » Sept. 29: at Idaho » Oct. 6: Utah State » Oct. 12: at San Jose St. » Oct. 20: ?????????? » Oct. 27: New Mexico St. » Nov. 10: Fresno St. » Nov. 16: at Nevada » Nov. 23: Boise State » Dec. 1: Washington Possible opponents? These teams have byes on the same day UH looks to schedule a game School, conference Akron, Mid-American Arizona State, Pac-10 Boston College, ACC Duke, ACC Georgia, SEC North Carolina, ACC Oregon State, Pac-10 UTEP, Conference USA Virginia Tech, ACC Washington State, Pac-10

But Frazier, coach June Jones and quarterback Colt Brennan sound like they are prepared for a 12-game schedule after Frazier's self-imposed deadline of yesterday passed with no takers to complete the Warriors' slate.

"I don't know. Your guess is as good as mine," said Frazier, when asked if he thought one of the schools would accept a $700,000 payout (including funds from ESPN) for a nationally televised game at Aloha Stadium, probably on Oct. 20. "We're still having some talks, and the commissioner (Karl Benson of the Western Athletic Conference) is still involved."

The uncompleted schedule has been a source of discontent for UH fans for months, as it had four openings as late as December and includes two Division I-AA opponents. Critics feel the weakness of the schedule could adversely affect the Warriors' chance to play in a prominent bowl game, and could derail the Heisman Trophy campaign of Brennan before it begins.

Frazier told state lawmakers last week that he would have a schedule done one way or the other, 12 games or 13, by the end of the month.

"I'm mindful of the May 31 deadline I set earlier this month, so I wanted to provide our fans an update. However, the teams considering our offer are not operating on that same deadline," Frazier said. "Currently, we have 12 games and we are prepared to move forward based on that. If a 13th game comes to fruition, we will add it, as well as a fifth national telecast to our 2007 schedule."

Frazier said he wants decisions from the possible opponents by the middle of next week.

Jones has led UH to six winning seasons in eight years, and many feel the 2007 team could be better than last year's squad that went 11-3 and was ranked No. 24 in the coaches' poll at season's end. Two national magazines have ranked Hawaii at No. 19 headed into the fall, and collegefootballnews.com projects UH to play Michigan in the Sugar Bowl.

Getting into a Bowl Championship Series bowl game would require an unbeaten season, one reason Jones and Brennan say a 12-game season might not be totally disadvantageous.

"The current schedule (with two byes) will help us gear up for the home stretch where we play Fresno State, at Nevada, Boise State and Washington," Jones said. "I don't really have a feeling either way. There's still some things in the works, so maybe we get a 13th game. We'll just line up and play them either way."

Brennan said a 12-game schedule provides "a great opportunity to run the table."

He said "another big game on (national) TV" on Oct. 20 would be nice.

"But we've got plenty to be excited about with Fresno, Boise and Washington at home," Brennan added. "Me and some of the guys were just talking about it, the preseason polls and how someone has us predicted for the Sugar Bowl. What could be better than us running the table and getting into a big-time bowl game?"

Brennan, a third-team Associated Press All-American last year after breaking numerous passing records, turned down the NFL Draft to return for his senior season. He said the schedule situation doesn't make him regret his choice.

"Nah, I don't think it does. That decision revolved around some other things," Brennan said.