Hawaii-Colorado football opener moved to Thursday, Sept. 3
When the University of Hawaii football team opened its season on Thursdays in the recent past, it was against USC. And it was to accommodate national TV — ESPN.
So it made some sense. The gate took a bit of a hit, but at least there was good national exposure.
Now, though, UH is moving its opener against Colorado from Saturday, Sept. 5 to Thursday, Sept. 3. And no national TV is involved at this point, nor is there an expectation of such.
UH athletic director Ben Jay said this move helps UH because it gives the Rainbow Warriors two more days to prepare for their road game at Ohio State on Sept. 12.
“Right now, being able to have a couple extra days (after playing each other) is important to both programs,” Jay said.
I think this helps visiting Colorado a lot more than it does Hawaii. UH is going to take a huge hit at the gate, especially with a 7 p.m. kickoff and the next day being a work day.
It would be a lot more beneficial to have a few more days to recover AFTER the game at Ohio State against the national champions. But UH hosts UC-Davis on Sept. 19, a week before hitting the road again to play at Wisconsin. Talk about a classic trap game.
UH expects to net $1.8 million by playing at Ohio State and at Wisconsin. Too bad it is apparently frittering some of that away by a scheduling move that certainly will affect season-ticket sales and walk-up for the opener in a negative way.
Hawaii and Colorado had originally hoped to play this game in Australia or Japan, and get a waiver from the NCAA to do it a week in advance, on Aug. 29. That would’ve been great (except, of course, for fans who couldn’t afford to make the trip), but turned out to be a pipe dream.
UH also has to be wary of a potential conflict with a volleyball home match on Thursday night.
This move is really bizarre. Don’t understand it but I stopped trying to understand UH’s thinking a long time ago.
To make it easy for you to understand that? It’s really better for the University of Hawaii football program to play up there!. A large University who has a large program and a stadium that holds more then 100,000 fans and students too. The money is there for the University of Hawaii. It’s better then playing in a stadium that only holds less then 35.000 fans. And only can give 25,000 to 50,000 to play up there!. Remember this playing in Ohio State and Wisconsin the University of Hawaii will get 1 .8 million each University. And look when Hawaii plays up in Michigan next’s year!. University of Michigan stadium holds more then 100,000 and plus. It’s not like playing in Utah State, San Jose State and UNLV stadium that holds only less then 30,000 fans. And remember this they’re only bring in 12,000 or less fans per game! . This not the NHL or a minor league baseball game!. That’s is why? Ben Jay had scheduled those teams to play Hawaii!. Look now! University of Nevada goes to at Florida State they never did before! They are copying the University of Hawaii. The only University don’t do that is UNLV! . They only play one major University and all small University or college teams none conference games!. It just shows that? Hawaii have guts to play with the big University!.
To help UH prepare for Ohio st.. Do they really think they have a chance? They would be lucky to get 20,000 people to show up on Saturday but now? Good luck getting 12,000. This must be Ben jays way of saying buck you!
A bad move. No amount of additional days to prepare will change the outcome against the Buckeyes.
There are no direct flights from HNL-CMH and most of the ones I see leave in the afternoon or night with 1, 2 or even 3 stops along the way. That means a minimum 12 hour red eye flight, get off the plane and play the National Champs. School just started and allie knows how hard it is the first few weeks of school. Believe it or not the University puts academics above athletics. Sure, it is an inconvenience but the game starts late enough for most people to get to the stadium with ample time to spare.
this is just ridiculous! If espn was gonna put us on prime time for the Thursday night game, it would make sense. But if not, then what is the point? 2 extra days to prep for Ohio st??!! We could have a month or 2 months to prep and still not have enough to beat those guys. Ben jay is half way out the door and setting us to fail even more. Thursday night game, rush hour traffic, rail traffic, game traffic, poor gate, sounds like a plan huh??!!
Ben Jay please go home!
#2 there you go again with your incoherent off the wall assumptions. The opening game is very important to get the fans back in the stadium. It is a marketing mishap to not play the game on Saturday. Ben Jay just doesn’t get it.
By the way #2 we are already scheduled to play Ohio State and Wisconsin so that part of the scheduling is a given. The topic is the change of dates playing Colorado.
Deerest, bet you more than 12,000 fans will show up!
It appears Ben Jay does not understand Hawaii at all. Agree with everyone else that mentions that this is a terrible move! By the way, it makes no sense for Hawaii to prepare an extra two days as if Hawaii has a chance with the Buckeyes in anyway! I’m not trying to sound harsh, but it’s the truth.
why a thrusday and not a friday ? and bj get to your corner and get your free pay check !!
You don’t have a chance against the number 1 team in the nation…so why not go all out and try and win the first game with a nice crowd. Hello…doesn’t make any sense at all. ..trying to win the fans back and you do something stupid on the same night as wahine volleyball. Man, no wonder Jay is going…..
wow bj chow had blow that much smoke up your behind that you think a couple days going = a win !! if that the case i know a coach in china you might like meet winsomesoon !! lol
#13, Les – Jay is not going. he’s already gone. Too bad he’s not taking Chow with him.
#2 must be related to Jay and Chow – incoherent.
#5 Les – are you Chow’s son in law?
Good luck! UH I hope MAX or BEAU can score quick.
UH defense needs to work for this big game.
Why do people care what day the game is played if they aren’t going. Free country, your choice. If 12,000 show up no traffic, plenty of parking. Game starts at 7:30 pm. Thanks Ben for giving us the early heads up and doing a good job on fund raising and the APR. oldyobo, what’s it to you who’s son in law I am.
I doubt that most of these complainers even attend UH games, let alone are able to walk from the parking lot to their seats at Aloha Stadium without assistance. Better to curse the team and coach in your neighbor’s garage watching the game there.
Whle we’re in the complaining mood today:
WHY ARE LEFT TURNS NOW ALLOWED ON WAIALAE AVE INTO ST LOUIS / CHAMINADE IN THE MORNING???
wow olyobo you had pin point that one fast!! lol les wake up smell da coffee 12,000 is a joke!! anytime you have big names coming you should be trying for full house !! and if bj was dong his job they would not be were da UH IS TODAY IN A HOLE!!
Did Norm Chow have a say in this? The only advantage is that they get to keep a normal week before they go to Columbus.
Let’s face it. Sorry to be blunt, but Ben Jay is an idiot.
Ben Jay, Norm Chow And Everyone who Hired these two are all Idiots.!!