The Saga of the '07 Schedule (w/update)

Our journey to a complete 2007 football schedule has taken various twists and turns along the way. Below is a timeline of what's happened so far. Feel free to fill in any gaps via comments or e-mail if you notice anything missing. I'll try to edit, update and/or repost it after the schedule is released.

UPDATE: The final schedule has been released, so I've updated this post as of June 9th, 2007. On the timeline, the update starts from 03-12-2007, if you've already read the first half.

So without further ado, we begin in the winter of 2004...

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12-04-2004

UH beats Michigan State in a 41-38 thriller at Aloha Stadium. MSU coach John L. Smith starts whining about the loss, which, unbelievably, won't stop for another two years. Chasethedragon, fed up, posts a rebuttal in early 2007.

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9-10-2005

No return game? The next year, Michigan State beats UH in East Lansing. John L. Smith hints that they won't play UH again in 2007, as contracted.

Smith said: "I'll be there for that vacation. I'm not gonna play that game. We'll just do that vacation part. Can't we just do that? I'd like to come over there and not have to play the game. (But) I'll be there in Nov. 2007."

The contract carries a penalty clause for cancellation.

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9-12-2006

BY-Who? Dave Reardon writes that UH athletic director Herman Frazier declined an away game, and the possibility of a renewed series of games, with Hawaii's old rival BYU. Instead, Herman opts for a home game with Oregon State to round out the 2006 schedule, and gives a good reason (strength of schedule). But Frazier says BYU is not a possibility for the 2007 schedule either.

BYU is not a possibility for 2007, he said. Frazier added he hasn't had scheduling conversations with anyone in the Cougars administration since February.

"The only time we talked to BYU is when we were trying to fill our (2006) schedule," Frazier said. "It's an old story."

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10-10-2006

Excuses. Michigan State gets their lawyers on the case, trying to weasel their way out of their contracted 2007 game, as John L Smith hinted at in '05. As Dave Reardon reports:

"Playing a 13th game that late in the season would interfere with school too much," (MSU associate athletic director John) Lewandowski said. "We'd rather have a game at the front end of the schedule."

When the NCAA voted last year to allow an additional game (12 for most teams, 13 for those playing a game in Hawaii) beginning this season, Michigan State added a home game against UAB to the start of its schedule before Big Ten play.

"It's just Michigan State ... has been whining and crying. All of a sudden they came up with the excuse of a 13th game," Frazier said yesterday, on the Bobby Curran radio show.

Why add a 13th game if you're gonna complain about playing a 13th game? In any case, nobody at UH seems worried...

"If I want to sign four games tomorrow, I can sign four games tomorrow," Frazier said.

... though Stephen Tsai suggests that it may be time to ask for help.

Nobody’s pointing fingers in this situation. There are a lot of circumstances, mainly who would want to play against a Colt Brennan-led football team? But time is running out, season-ticket holders need to be billed in April, and maybe — just maybe — it’s time a little kokua is sought.

...

“If Herman says it’s my job (to schedule), I’ll do it,” (UH head coach June) Jones told reporters at yesterday’s news conference.

It’s time Frazier asked.

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10-27-2006

Announcement Planned. Dave Reardon writes that Herman Frazier will make an announcement regarding the 2007 schedule in the next two weeks.

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10-29-2006

The Price of Success. Ferd Lewis fears that the Warriors' 2006 offensive explosion might scare away potential 2007 opponents.

"I mean, with the way we've been playing lately, I don't think anybody is going to want to come out and play us next year," said UH quarterback Colt Brennan said after tossing five touchdowns for the fifth time in six weeks and the Warriors (6-2) claimed sole possession of second place in the Western Athletic Conference at 4-1. "Especially here, at home."

...

...you hope UH is sitting on a stack of signed, sealed and already-delivered contracts for next season and just hasn't gotten around to publicizing it.

The wish is that it is faxing those contracts out and closing those deals in a hurry. ... That Frazier's contention that closing out the schedule will "be a piece of cake" holds true.

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11-01-2006

Farewell, John L. After yet another disappointing season, Michigan State decides not to retain John L. Smith. Unfortunately, MSU does decide to retain John L's desire to chicken out of the 2007 UH game.

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11-07-2006

No Division I-AA Teams. June Jones tells Dave Reardon the 2007 schedule is pretty much set.

Athletic director Herman Frazier has the four unannounced opponents on next year's schedule arranged, Jones said.

"About two and a half weeks ago and he assured me that he's about got things pretty much lined up," said Jones, who added that all the opponents will be Division I-A teams.

He declined to name the schools.

"I'll let him break it to you," Jones said. "I think that a couple of them might be on the road."

Excitement mounts.

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11-12-2006

Okay, Maybe One. Herman Frazier tells Dave Reardon that negotiations with Michigan State is holding up the non-conference schedule, but not to worry:

"It will fall into place," Frazier said.

He said he is in contact with schools that want to play Hawaii, but did not disclose the names. He did say Louisville called him last week to schedule a 2007 game, but Frazier declined because it would be at Louisville.

"If I'm going to do that, I might as well play at Georgia," Frazier said.

He said he wants to schedule a "marquee" team. When asked to define "marquee," Frazier said "top 20."

Frazier said his plan is to schedule a "big-time anchor on the back end," meaning Thanksgiving weekend or the first week of December (most likely at home), then a "decent team on the front end," and a I-AA team.
...

"To have a schedule is not the issue. What I'm trying to do is go after a certain mix. Otherwise I could have the games. We hold out until we get the best deal going. That's how we do it. I'm going to do what's best for us," Frazier said. "Now, at the end of the day, I'm gonna fill it all up, one way or the other. But that's not a problem, because I know just what's out there. I can go get a schedule tomorrow, but it's not the optimum schedule."

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11-22-2006

Question From Tsai. Stephen Tsai asks:

If UH already has four opponents lined up, as officials hint, why not announce at least two of them? That would give hope to UH fans and still give the school legal claim to the money owed from Michigan State. I mean, there really are four teams lined up, right?

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12-24-2006

Question For Tsai. Stephen Tsai writes about the big question on UH fans' minds.

In the last few weeks, I'm asked the same question: Did UH fill any of its four football openings for next year?
The questions aren't coming just from fans. UH coaches, players, players' families, recruits, prominent boosters, and Aloha Stadium officials are among those who have asked.
Three fathers of prominent UH players yesterday expressed their amazement over the lack of progress. "All we need to do is go 9-0 next year," one of them said.
Nobody seems to have an answer.

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12-28-2006

USC? Louisville? Stephen Tsai writes that USC may be an '07 opponent, and though Frazier initially turned Louisville down (see above), they may be back in the picture.

...I got a call from a UH official yesterday telling me that UH was seeking to play USC in the 2007 opener. At home.

...

And then I get this voice message from USC athletic department spokesman Tim Tessalone:
"We received a query from ESPN about the possibility of playing that game. Very preliminary talks. We haven't even addressed it here and don't plan to address it for a while. I would tell you it's probably 50-50 at best that something like this would happen. It's way, way premature to go down that road."
ESPN also is supposed to be helping to see if a road game against Louisville can be arranged.

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01-05-2007

Eastern Washington On. Eastern Washington, a D-IAA team, is tentatively, unofficially added to the schedule.

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01-12-2007

Close. Dave Reardon asks Herman Frazier about the status of the schedule.

"Close."

That sums up where Hawaii athletic director Herman Frazier says he is with finalizing this fall's football schedule.

The Warriors have three open dates to fill, but where some would see the situation as a last-minute scramble, Frazier says the flexibility allows for bigger-name opponents and national television exposure.

"Obviously for me to be holding out this long, it has to be BCS conference schools," Frazier said yesterday. "The reason we've held out on our schedule is because we can get better teams and there are more people assisting us, like ESPN, the WAC and the other conferences.

"If I had all the dates filled, the flexibility goes away because we can't change (the opponent). But we're talking about mostly home games."

Excitement mounts again.

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01-18-2007

MSU Issue Resolved, Announcement Planned. Herman Frazier talks to Dave Reardon, saying the MSU situation has been resolved.

Frazier has said legal issues with Michigan State have hampered his ability to complete and announce the Warriors' schedule.

...

"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."

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01-19-2007

Washington Added. The Washington Huskies from the PAC-10 are added to the 2007 schedule. June Jones and Warrior fans are optimistic.

“We’re very excited about playing a quality Pac-10 team like Washington at home this season,” June Jones, UH head coach, said. “Tyrone Willingham is a first-class coach and person and he’ll have a very competitive team next season, so we’ll need to be ready. In regards to the rest of the schedule, I know Herman has some exciting things in the works, so it will be great to see it all come together.”

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01-20-2007

Optimism. Stephen Tsai hears good things:

We're hearing UH will announce another 2007 opponent from a BCS school, maybe as early as next week.
Also, Brigham Young and UH remain in talks about playing in a series of games.

BYU back in the mix as well? Excellent.

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02-02-2007

Thanksgiving. While the WAC and Hawaii tries to work around each others schedules, Ferd Lewis writes that Frazier may have a big out-of-conference team lined up for Thanksgiving weekend.

UH athletic director Herman Frazier said he expects to fill the Nov. 24 opening "probably before next weekend."

The Nov. 24 date came open when Michigan State withdrew from its 4-year-old commitment to play at Aloha Stadium.

Frazier said he has been trying to land another Big Ten team to fill that spot and had talked with Wisconsin, among others. "One of the Big Ten teams we were working on even had one of their associate (athletic directors) out here looking at the hotels," Frazier said. "At the end of the day, that's probably not gonna work."

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02-13-2007

Announcement Planned. Optimism is again in the air as Ferd and Stephen report:

The University of Hawai'i should be able to announce its long-awaited football schedule this week, possibly as soon as tomorrow, and will immediately tie it in with a stepped-up season ticket campaign, school and conference officials said yesterday.

While Michigan, and it seems USC are no longer options, it's looking like the long-awaited schedule is mere days, if not hours away from being announced.

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02-16-2007

Announcement Delayed. A mere three days after everything seemed on track once again, Stephen Tsai writes:

It does not appear the final football schedule will be announced anytime soon. At least two more weeks is the word we're hearing.

Okay.

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02-17-2007

Announcement Delayed Indefinitely. Not sure if these are the same officials who said the schedule would be announced this week, but Ferd Lewis writes:

It is apparently anybody's guess when the 2007 Western Athletic Conference and University of Hawai'i's football schedules will be announced, officials said yesterday.

@#&%!

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02-18-2007

What's Going On. Stephen Tsai hears all sorts of things, including UH being in talks with a Division I-AA team from South Carolina, Michigan still possibly being on the table, USC most likely off the table........

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02-23-2007

Announcement Scheduled. Stephen Tsai writes that June Jones has been told:

athletic director Herman Frazier is set to announce a complete 13-game schedule for the 2007 football season. Jones said he was told the announcement probably will be made Tuesday, when Frazier returns from a trip to Philadelphia. Jones said Frazier did not tell him which three teams will be added to finalize the schedule.

Excitement mounts...

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02-25-2007

Fo Real? Stephen Tsai reiterates:

June Jones said he has been assured — for real, this time — that a 13-game schedule has been finalized.He said he's been told seven of the 13 games will be played at Aloha Stadium.
That means two of the three to-be-announced games will be at home.
Despite being pressed for details, the administrators did not give Jones the names of the final three opponents.
But Jones said a final schedule must be close to being announced because he was asked to approve the art for the schedule poster and cards.

Excitement mounts! For real this time.

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02-27-2007

Eastern Washington Out. And the schedule's still not done, but we're definitely close, as Dave Reardon writes:

UH officials had said the Warriors schedule would be announced this week, as early as today. But athletic director Herman Frazier was not expected to return until late today from a personal-reasons visit to his hometown of Philadelphia.

One nonconference game might be against Charleston Southern, a Division I-AA school in South Carolina. Charleston Southern would replace Eastern Washington, with which a deal could not be finalized after EWU officials said last month it was all but done.

...

UH coach June Jones said he'd heard "through the grapevine" that the Warriors schedule, at least of nonconference games, would be released today.

June Assured Again. Stephen Tsai writes:

Jones has been told by two UH athletic department officials today will be the day the remaining non-conference opponents will be identified.
We'll see.

I don't like Tsai's last comment...

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02-28-2007

Announcement Delayed Again. Stephen and Ferd write:

Plans to announce the University of Hawai'i football team's 2007 schedule did not materialize yesterday, yet another delay to the campaign to launch ticket sales.

...

Sports information director Lois Manin said UH will not announce its schedule — even the non-conference portion — until the WAC schedule is released. She said she hasn't been told if Frazier has completed the schedule.

Great.

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03-01-2007

There Is No Schedule. Stephen Tsai reports Herman Frazier has admitted that the schedule is not complete.

He admitted the 2007 football schedule was not complete and that he was having difficulty filling it.
He said it in public (during the Circle of Honor induction ceremony) and gave a plausible reason (the Warriors' success was scaring off potential opponents).
And, despite the difficulty, he said he would continue to work until the schedule is complete. He said it has changed 22 times in the last 90 days.
It was an honest assessment — the sort that was needed for months, maybe during all of Frazier's tenure here.

So where do we go from here?

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03-04-2007

WAC Moves Ahead. Ferd Lewis writes that the WAC will probably finalize the conference schedule without waiting for Hawaii, as Hawaii's out-of-conference options dwindle.

A potential top 10 team was lost as a possibility last week when Wisconsin announced an Oct. 20 game with Northern Illinois. UH also has an Oct. 20 opening and had talked to the Badgers concerning a game — home or away.

In previous weeks, UH had been involved in discussions with Michigan and Nebraska about possible games, but both have filled their schedules.

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03-08-2007

Charleston Southern Confirmed. Ferd Lewis writes that D-IAA Charleston Southern will be playing UH, and also dishes out some doom and gloom.

Will the University of Hawai'i football team play a second Division I-AA opponent or a non-conference road game in the middle of its Western Athletic Conference football schedule this year?

Either loomed as a possibility yesterday...

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03-09-2007

Announcement Scheduled. The WAC releases the conference schedule, and Herman Frazier promises an announcement regarding the non-conference schedule.

In his statement, Frazier said, "I realize that fans have been anxious for the schedule to be released. However, due to many factors, this has been a difficult process and I've been working diligently to put together a non-conference schedule that is in the best interest of the football team and our fans. I appreciate the patience of all parties involved and I look forward to announcing our remaining 2007 non-conference opponents on Monday."

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So will the schedule actually be announced on Monday, or will there be yet another delay? If the remainder of the schedule is finally announced, will it be a happy one? We'll find out soon, or maybe not, in our next episode of The Saga of the '07 Schedule....

UPDATE (6-9-2007): With the schedule finally finalized, below is the rest of the saga as updated on June 9th, 2007.

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03-12-2007

Announcement Delayed Again. After stating the previous Friday that he looked forward to announcing the rest of the non-conference schedule on Monday, Herman Frazier instead issues a press release to announce another delay:

The University of Hawai'i Athletics Department is awaiting confirmation from a Division I-A non-conference opponent in order to complete the 2007 Warrior football schedule, Athletics Director Herman Frazier announced.

"We were anticipating confirmation today, but university officials have asked for additional time in order to make final arrangements on their end," Frazier said. "Therefore, they requested that we hold off announcing the game, which could be played on one of two open dates. Once that game is determined, it will allow us to finalize the last home date."

Frazier confirmed that UH would host Charleston Southern on Saturday, Sept. 22, at Aloha Stadium and that the Warriors will play seven home games during the 2007 season.

Well, at least we know Charleston Southern is officially confirmed... and it sounds like the Division I-A opponent is very close to finalizing the deal. So good news delayed?

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03-13-2007

Deadline Set (?) Stephen Tsai and Ferd Lewis write:

As one deadline clicked past, the University of Hawai'i set a new one — next Monday — to have at least one of its two remaining football games on the 2007 schedule filled.

Athletic director Herman Frazier, who a week ago announced yesterday afternoon as the deadline to complete the 13-game schedule, said he wants to have the Warriors' seventh home date done in time for the planned March 19 kickoff of the season ticket renewal campaign.

While it may sound like a new deadline, Herman seems a little non-committal about the whole thing.

Frazier was also asked if he could guarantee a 13-game schedule.

"I ain't guaranteeing anything, based on how people react," he said.

A lesson learned?

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03-14-2007

Lamentations. Ferd Lewis laments the possibility that there may be TWO I-AA teams on the schedule.

But, two I-AA opponents, should it come to that, would really be watering down the schedule, a disservice to the players, fans and bowl eligibility. Doubly so if one of the I-AAs ends up the season opener.

Frazier maintains that some, including Michigan, open with a I-AA opponent (Appalachian State). But the Wolverines also have Notre Dame, Penn State and Oregon in that first month, not Charleston Southern, too.

The spin out of UH would remind you New Mexico State is playing two I-AA foes. But, really, do you want to put UH in the same category with the Aggies, who were 0-12 just two years ago and have been struggling to beat somebody, anybody, ever since?

Here, booking two I-AAs will be taken as a sign of desperate straits. Not the best of advertisements heading into what should be a banner season ticket sale.

Elsewhere the perception will be worse: that UH was trying to pull a fast one and was afraid to play another team of note. Not the kind of message you want to be deduced while pushing a quarterback for the Heisman Trophy or campaigning for a place in the Top 25.

Please let it not come to that.

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03-19-2007

Deadline Passes *crickets* As season tickets go on sale, another deadline, perhaps not technically a deadline but a dream, passes. Stephen Tsai writes:

Just returned from UH, and the football coaches are resigned to a schedule with (at least) two Division I-AA opponents.
One coach joked the Warriors would open against OD.
OD?
Open Date.
Asked about the opener, a UH safety said: "I think we're playing Madden that day."

Nooooooooo.

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03-20-2007

You Gotta Be Kidding Me. Things seem so dire, Dave Reardon floats the possibility that there may be THREE I-AA teams on the schedule.

If the Warriors can't find two more Division I teams, they'll be left with a schedule including at least two I-AA teams, and maybe three, to fill a 13-game schedule.

"That's the worst-case scenario," Warriors coach June Jones said, referring to the possibility of playing three I-AA teams. "We need to have 13 games, to me. We lose money otherwise."

Luckily, we're just waiting on word from one I-A school to fulfill that 13th game...

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03-23-2007

You Gotta Be Kidding Me II. A second division I-AA team, Northern Colorado, surfaces as a possible UH opponent.

The Bears went 1-10 last year, their inaugural season in the Big Sky, after moving up from Division II.

...

UH already has a I-AA opponent, Charleston Southern, on Sept. 22.

UNC has been seeking a season-opening opponent since its game with Air Force was canceled. The Greeley (Colo.) Tribune reported the cancellation was because the Bears did not offer enough scholarships to meet the minimum level that would have allowed Air Force to count the game for bowl eligibility purposes.

I'm pretty sure this is just a set-up for an elaborate April Fools Joke.

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03-25-2007

Frazier Speaks. Perhaps feeling the heat from the fans and the media, Herman Frazier gives an in-depth interview to Dave Reardon, admitting that mistakes were made.

"I think what people need to understand is we're not making any excuses in not getting (the schedule) done in a timely manner," Frazier said. "There have been mitigating factors all the way through the process. As we kept trying to close a deal, other things would happen that opened it up."

Frazier said he has worked with "24 different scenarios" regarding the schedule, going back to last fall.

...

"We may have gotten a little bit greedy," Frazier said.

"I miscalculated, because at the end of the day, too many people were involved in it, because somebody wanted to do this, and somebody wanted to do that," Frazier said, citing the involvement of ESPN as a matchmaker in situations involving up to four teams at a time.

"When we were talking about six home games vs. eight home games, I should've just knuckled down and done it myself."

Frazier said he could have booked a 2007 schedule late last year that would have included Texas A&M and either North Carolina State or Texas Tech, all on the road. Louisville on the road was also an option.

But he wanted to hold out for more home games.

"In November we could've done it. Do I regret it? Now, yeah. I need a game," Frazier said Friday.

And despite all this, Herman still has hope:

Still, he said he remains optimistic for a full 13-game schedule in 2007.

"We never said it would be a 12-game schedule," Frazier said. "We've got options."

Options are good. Let's do this!

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04-03-2007

The Fans Get Involved. Stephen Tsai writes that the fans have gotten involved in trying to salvage the UH football schedule.

After reading the posts that Mississippi State might be available for a game on Nov. 3, I called the school.
Quick recap: MSU and Jacksonville State are scheduled to meet Sept. 22. But a team dropped out of JSU's league, and after the schedule was reworked, JSU is now double-booked for Sept. 22.
Update: An MSU spokesman said as of right now, the plan is the MSU-JSU game will be played. But there's a feeling that JSU will indeed try to get out of it. The MSU spokesman said MSU has had no contact with UH at all. But told that UH is seeking a game for Nov. 3 — which is an open date for MSU — the spokesman said MSU would definitely be interested. He said he would talk to the higher-ups.
Our good friend Robert Kekaula notified June Jones, who said he would call the UH athletic director.
So thanks to SportsBow and the others for the nice find. Jones is very appreciative.

This is amazing in many ways. Makes you proud!

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04-04-2007

News from Northern Colorado. It appears that Northern Colorado thinks they'll be playing UH this season.

The University of Northern Colorado football team will head to play the University of Hawaii in Honolulu for its season opener on Sept. 1.

Players were told at the end of practice on Tuesday and came off the field and into Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion shouting "we are going to Hawaii" and talking among each other about the trip. Neither UNC nor the University of Hawaii have made an official announcement.

Even though it may seem too late to be an April Fools Joke, I'm still holding out hope. After all, these are the same people putting the schedule together.

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04-18-2007

It Was Worth a Shot. The potential Mississippi State game is a no-go.

MSU announced its 2007 schedule today.

Gardner-Webb replaced Jacksonville State, which had a conflict, on the Sept. 22 spot on the schedule.

Hawaii, he said, was one option.

“Herman Frazier, their athletic director, and I had three or four telephone calls and exchanged several e-mails,” Templeton said. Ultimately, State wanted to stay with a 1-AA foe, and also didn’t want to play a 1-A foe on Nov. 3, which was the date Hawaii had available.

Who knows what might've been if I-AA Charleston Southern wasn't scheduled for 9/22. In any case, great effort by all.

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05-17-2007

It's Not a Joke. As Herman Frazier gets prepared to answer questions regarding facilities, travel, the schedule, etc. from state legislators, Division I-AA Northern Colorado, is confirmed as the SECOND I-AA team on UH's 2007 schedule. And there's still one more opening. Frazier reassures the fans.

"I realize we still have an open date on our schedule and that time is of the essence," Frazier said. "I want to assure everyone that I am doing everything I can to secure another game and I will not close the door until I have exhausted all of our resources."

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05-18-2007

Bonus for the Fans. Herman Frazier states the eventual 13th game would be a bonus for season ticket holders.

Frazier said he would like the 13th game to be played at Aloha Stadium. If he were to secure that eighth home game, season-ticket holders would be charged for seven games.

The potential eighth home game would be "a bonus for our season-ticket holders, those people who stepped up to help us," Frazier said.

He wouldn't say something like that unless he was confident a 13th team could be signed. Excitement mounts.

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05-21-2007

Informational Briefing. Herman Frazier appears before the state legislature and answers all sorts of questions about all sorts of things. He also sets a new deadline in regards to the schedule.

Frazier revealed that the drop-dead date for UH to add a 13th game to its 2007 football schedule is the end of this month. He also vowed to complete the 2008 schedule by the end of the summer.

Soon.

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05-23-2007

No OSU or WSU. Ferd Lewis writes that Oregon State and Washington State turned down UH's offer to play them in 2007.

"UH contacted us, but we just can't do it," said Steve Fenk, OSU sports information director. "I think given different circumstances — like the end of the season or maybe earlier in the year — we'd really be interested."

...

WSU spokesman Rod Commons said the Cougars, "do not want to (give up) our bye weekend in the middle of the season. Our staff feels strongly we need that midseason break."

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05-31-2007

Drop Dead Day #1. Herman Frazier, who told the Legislature that today would be the drop dead date for adding a 13th game to the schedule, instead issues another press release, pushing the date back.

"We have two Division I-A schools considering proposals that include an ESPN telecast at Aloha Stadium," Frazier said. "If neither accepts the offer, we will play a 12-game schedule. 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.

Which makes you wonder why this deadline was even set at all. Nonetheless, it sounds like good news because teams are still considering offers...

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06-01-2007

New Deadline Set. To the middle of next week.

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.

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06-06-2007

Drop Dead Day #2. Oh my goodness. Delayed again:

University of Hawaii Athletic Director Herman Frazier said he has extended the deadline on whether the Warrior football team will play a 13th game to Friday.

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06-08-2007

Drop Dead Day #3. And finally, after months of agony, false starts, endless delays, empty promises, reassurances, anger, denial, sadness and acceptance, it is announced that there will be only 12 games on the schedule this season, with only one game against a BCS conference team and two games against I-AA (FCS) teams.

"After a long and exhaustive process that included discussions with several schools, no team we targeted for a 13th game would agree to play at UH in 2007," Frazier, said. "Therefore, we will play a 12-game schedule this season."

And so there you have it. The saga, as Jim Leahey might say, for all intents and purposes, draws to a close. Definitely not the happy ending everyone had hoped for. A comedy of errors that ended in tragedy. But cheer up, as Herman Frazier puts it:

"It's not the end of the world that we don't have 13 games."

I feel better already.