UH Going to Michigan in 2016; Face Boise St. Next

USC will open its 2013 season against Hawaii at Aloha Stadium. File photo courtesy of UH Athletics.

By Rodney S. Yap

The University of Hawaii will travel to Michigan for the first time in school history when the teams play, Sept. 3, 2016 in Ann Arbor, Mich. In addition, next year’s season-opener against USC will move to Thursday, Aug. 29 at Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium.

UH and Michigan have met two previous times, both in Honolulu in regular season finales. The Wolverines won both meetings – Dec. 6, 1986 (27-10) and Nov. 28, 1998 (48-17).

The Warriors have played five previous road games at Big Ten teams – at Michigan State (1948 & 2005), at Iowa (1956 & 1991), and at Wisconsin (1987).

UH and USC will open the 2013 season – the fourth time the teams will have opened their respective seasons against each other in Honolulu (1999, 2005, and ’10). The teams opened this season at the Los Angeles Coliseum, a 49-10 USC victory. The teams have met eight previous times with the Trojans winning each time.

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Hawaii returns to Honolulu to host its fourth home game of the season against Boise State, Saturday, Nov. 10 in a Mountain West contest. Kick-off for the nationally televised (NBC Sports) game is 2 p.m. at Aloha Stadium.

The Warriors (1-7, 0-5 MW) dropped their sixth consecutive game after a 45-10 setback to Fresno State last week in Fresno, Calif. It also marked the eighth consecutive conference loss dating back to last season. UH fell behind 42-3 at the half after allowing the Bulldogs to total 428 yards of offense and four first half touchdowns by Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr.

Hawaii quarterback Sean Schroeder and the Warriors finally returned to Honolulu for Saturday’s game against Boise State at Aloha Stadium. File photo courtesy of UH Athletics.

The Broncos (7-2, 4-1) lost for just the second time this season in a rare MW home defeat to San Diego State, 21-19, in a battle of two of the league’s top teams. Leading 13-7 at the break, the Broncos allowed the Aztecs to score two second half touchdowns and failed a crucial two-point conversion after a score pulled them to within 21-19 with 5:35 left in the game.

“Come and spend five minutes with me in the tape room. Your heart stops sometimes. They (Boise State) make your heart absolutely stop sometimes,” Hawaii head coach Norm Chow said of Boise State on Monday at his weekly press conference. “You wanna turn off the tape and just go play. Their defensive front hasn’t allowed a touchdown in the first quarter all season long. They’re what you’d like to be like. They play like you want your teams to play. They’re fast. They’re not highly recruited young guys. There’s a young guy from Punahou that plays safety. And they play fast and they play hard. I bet you they’ve got two first round draft choices on defense. They’re chipped up on their secondary but they understand that. That’s why they stay back. But again, we have to go play them.”

The former Western Athletic Conference rivals have met 12 previous times with the Broncos holding a 9-3 advantage. BSU has won the last three games in the series and nine of the last 10.

“Offensively, without Kellen Moore, I don’t think they’re as explosive. And San Diego State kind of took advantage of some of that. But they’re good now, they’re awfully good. But that doesn’t say less about anything from us. Our guys are excited. We’re not practicing today. We’re gonna give them the day off. They’re going out on their own. We’ll fight them, we’ll fight them. We will absolutely fight them. I don’t know what else to tell you.”

Game 9

Who: Hawai’i (1-7, 0-5 MW) vs. #24 (Coaches) Boise State (7-2, 4-1 MW)

When: Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012

Time: 2:00 p.m.

Where: Honolulu, O’ahu; Aloha Stadium (50,000)

Television: Live nationally on NBC Sports Network (Digital Ch. 210) with Paul Burnmeister (play-by-play) and Rod Woodson (analyst).

Radio: ESPN 1420 AM will carry the game live with Bobby Curran (play-by-play), John Veneri (analyst), and Felipe Ojastro (sideline). Chris Hart and Gary Dickman host the “Countdown To Kickoff” beginning at 12:00 p.m. HT, and also the halftime show. Neighbor islands can listen live on KNUI on Maui, KHLO in Hilo, KKON in Kona, and KTOH on Kaua’i.

Audio Webcast: Live audio streaming on espn1420am.com

Live Stats: Live in-game stats are available at HawaiiAthletics.com

Series Information: 13th meeting. BSU leads 9-3.

Promotions: First Hawaiian Bank is the game sponsor and will award $500 in prizes throughout the game. Also, UH students have the chance to compete in the “Quarterback Challenge” and win a Vacations Hawaii Trip to Las Vegas during the first timeout of the fourth quarter (register at Gate 7). One lucky fan will compete for $1,000 during the Allstate Field Goal Kick promotion during pre-game (register at Gate 3). One thousand (1,000) green & white pom poms will be distributed in the UH student sections. Fans are encouraged to visit the Chevron Family Fun Zone before the game in the parking lot across from the stadium ticket office. Also, register at Gate 4 or 6 to win the “Best Seats In the House,” compliments of Papa John’s Pizza Hawaii and NAPA. The Farmers Hawaii Supa Bowzooka will be launching T-shirts into the stands between the first and second quarters.

UH Band Performance: The UH Marching Band will present “Latin Legends” during halftime of the game.  The performance will feature the Rainbow Dancers and Trumpet Section in “Welcome to Cuba” and saxophonist Todd Yukumoto will highlight the “Spain” performance.  The National Anthem and Hawai’i Ponoi will be performed by Contagious.