WAC Schedule Update, Spring Events

Ferd Lewis writes that the WAC is waiting on ESPN to complete the conference schedule.

Whether the University of Hawai'i's football game at San Jose State is moved to a Friday to accommodate ESPN is one of the remaining pieces of the puzzle to be resolved before the Western Athletic Conference announces its 2009 schedule.

People involved in the process said they expect the schedule to be released before the end of next week.

The San Jose State game — probably in either October or November — is said to be one of six TV possibilities for the Warriors still under consideration. "That's one of the games still being discussed," said someone with knowledge of the situation but who has declined to be identified because negotiations are on-going.

WAC associate commissioner Jeff Hurd said he believes UH will "likely get two to four" games on ESPN or ESPN2. There are additional possibilities on ESPNU.

Jason Kaneshiro writes about some special events being held in conjunction with spring practice, including the team's scrimmage in Maui, the coaching clinic and a "Junior Day":

UH is hosting its first "Junior Day" in conjunction with the final day of practice. High school coaches were asked to nominate their top prospects to attend the event on campus. McMackin expects to draw between 150 and 200 players and their parents.

"On the mainland they do this; we've just never done this here," McMackin said. "We're trying to stay on the leading edge of recruiting.

"Recruiting is such a year-round, full-time deal. We want to get out of losing nine guys (on offense) last year and nine guys (on defense) this year. We're working really hard to recruit year-round and get the right guys and do it the right way."