Pigskin Pigout kicks off the football season
Friday - August 03, 2007
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Del.icio.usWith the start of the college football season less than a month away, Warrior fans are anxious to see where their team will be ranked in the pre-season coaches’ poll. That’s the important poll, because the AP is not used by the Bowl Championship Series. And while coaches love to tell you that these early polls don’t matter, actually they do.
The reality is that a Top 25 ranking in the coaches’ poll is critical for a non-BCS school, because those teams must ascend to the No.12 position to gain access to one of the big money bowl games. If a team starts too far back, even an undefeated team could have trouble moving up into the first dozen. That will be especially important for Hawaii, whose schedule is rated at No. 116. Without a marquee team lining up against the Warriors, and a number of the WAC teams at the bottom of the food chain, it will be difficult to move up by large leaps.
But it doesn’t worry WAC commissioner Karl Benson. “Remember last year people said that Boise State’s schedule was too weak to get to a BCS game,” says Benson,“and they got to No. 8 by the end of the regular season, making the Fiesta Bowl. If Hawaii wins all of its games, I have no doubt they’ll get in.”
Benson was thrilled with the coverage the conference got at the recent media meeting. “We’ve never seen the national guys out for that before,” he says. “We’re moving in the right direction.”
Warrior fans who have relocated on the West Coast will have three great opportunities to cheer for their team in person. The Sept. 15 game in Vegas against UNLV will have well over 10,000 fans wearing green, and should have the feel of a home game. Hawaii will play Oct. 1 at San Jose State, and that is an easy ticket in what should be good Bay Area weather. For the hardy, the Nov. 16 game at Reno may be the toughest, both on the field and in the stands. Tickets won’t be a problem, but it could be freezing at that time of year.
You know it’s football season when it’s time for the Pigskin Pigout at Murphy’s Bar and Grill. The annual shindig has become Hawaii football’s biggest and best fundraiser. This year it will take place Thursday, Aug. 23. The fully hosted event will include silent and live auctions. All of the coaches and most serious fans will be there, and if you aren’t feeling that football buzz yet, you will on this night. Best to get your tickets in advance; the cost is $100. Stop by Murphy’s (on the corner of Merchant and Nuuanu) or call 531-0422.
The college basketball world was shocked and saddened by the sudden death of Wake Forest basketball coach Skip Prosser. Prosser, 56, collapsed after a noon jog in 90-degree heat in Winston-Salem, N.C.. Three years ago, Prosser led the Demon Deacons to their first ever No. 1 ranking. He was as well-liked and well-respected as anybody in the game. He’ll be buried Saturday in Cincinnati.
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