Hawaii Bowl ticket sales brisk

Even at 6-6, Notre Dame draws.

It doesn't matter what their record is, the Fighting Irish attract a crowd.

At the end of business yesterday, nearly 30,000 tickets had been distributed for Notre Dame's date with Hawaii (7-6) at the Dec. 24 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl—and it's only been three days since college football's most storied program was announced as the Warriors' opponent.

“;We're moving. It's great. We're going to make a positive impact on the economy,”; Hawaii Bowl executive director David Matlin said last night. “;We can also look forward to the broadcast on Christmas Eve. They already do well, but this will be our best ratings ever. It will be a transformational game.”;

Matlin said 4,000 tickets were sold yesterday, and the number has gone up each day.

UH athletic director Jim Donovan was the Hawaii Bowl executive director from 2002 through last year's game.

“;It's a great time of year to be on TV,”; he said. “;It's going to be very exciting to host the Golden Domers.”;

The highest attendance in the six year history of the Hawaii Bowl is 40,623 for the 2006 game, in which UH beat Arizona State 41-24.

Wagner finalist for AD job

Former University of Hawaii football coach Bob Wagner is one of three finalists for the Hawaii-Hilo athletic director position.

Also in the running are Paul Batchelder, senior associate athletic director at North Texas, and former Towson University athletic director Dr. Wayne Edwards.

The finalists will meet with the public beginning today. Interested people should contact Audrey Hirayama at 974-7520.

Vercruyssen wins trampoline gold

Hawaii trampoline gymnast Nani Vercruyssen won her first gold medal as a senior athlete at the Pan-American Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Vercruyssen was one of three girls on the USA team that won the women's team trampoline event. She also won the silver medal in the individual trampoline event.

This was her first competition in the senior division.

PACWEST PLACE

BYU-Hawaii moves up to eighth

The Brigham-Young men's basketball team moved up one spot to eighth, its highest ranking since moving to Division II, in the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II poll this week.

The Seasiders don't play again until facing Washburn Dec. 17.