Game Notes

The University of Hawai'i Warrior football team opens Western Athletic Conference play with a rare Wednesday night game at Louisiana Tech, Sept. 30, at Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston, La. Kickoff is 7:00 p.m. CT (2:00 p.m. HT) and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN2.

 

The Warriors (2-1) enter their 31st season of WAC play, the longest among the league's current members. The game is the final of three straight road contests for Hawai'i, which split contests at Washington State and UNLV. Hawai'i defeated WSU in Seattle, 38-20, and fell to UNLV, 34-33, a game in which the Rebels scored the go-ahead touchdown with 36 seconds to play.

 

The Bulldogs (1-2) snapped a two-game skid with a 48-13 rout of Nicholls State in Ruston last Saturday. Tech opened the season with road losses at Auburn (37-13) and at Navy (32-14).

 

Hawai'i's last trip to Ruston occurred in 2007 and ended in dramatic fashion. The Warriors held on to a 45-44 overtime victory, but not after Gerard Lewis batted down the Bulldogs' potential game-winning two-point conversion in the extra period. But to even get to overtime, the Warriors needed a 49-yard field goal by Dan Kelly with 1:34 left in regulation which knotted the score at 38.

 

The Warriors own a 6-1 advantage in the series, including a 2-1 edge in Ruston. The Bulldogs' only win in the series was a 46-14 victory on Oct. 8, 2005. In addition to Hawai'i's 2007 win in Ruston, UH's other victory was a 44-41 decision on Oct. 18, 2003.

 

UH is 118-113-3 all-time in WAC play dating back to 1979. This game is also the first of three nationally televised games for the Warriors this season. UH's other games on the ESPN family of networks are against Navy (ESPNU) and Wisconsin (ESPN or ESPN2).

 

What: Hawai'i Warriors (2-1, 0-0 WAC) vs. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (1-2, 0-0 WAC)

When: Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009

Time: 7:00 p.m. CT / 2:00 p.m. HT

Where: Joe Aillet Stadium (30,600); Ruston, La.

Television: ESPN2 will carry the game live nationally with Rece Davis, Mark May, Lou Holtz, and Rob Stone (sidelines).

Radio: ESPN 1420 AM will carry the game live with Bobby Curran (play-by-play) and Robert Kekaula (color). Don Robbs, Chris Hart and Gary Dickman host the “Countdown To Kickoff” beginning at 12:30 p.m. HT, and also the halftime show. Neighbor islands can listen live on KNUI on Maui, KPUA in Hilo, KMWB in Kona.

Video Streaming: www.espn360.com

Audio Webcast: www.espn1420am.com

Live Stats: www.latechsports.com

Series Information: 8th meeting. UH leads 6-1