BYU To Resume Football Rivalry with Hawai'i
HONOLULU -- The University of Hawai'i Warrior football team will face Brigham Young on Dec. 1, 2001 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, UH Athletics Director Hugh Yoshida announced today. The Cougars will replace Iowa State, which was scheduled to play at Hawai'i on Sept. 1, 2001. The UH-ISU games is being cancelled at the request of ISU Athletics Director, Eugene Smith. The BYU-Hawai'i game is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. (HST).
"I asked our Associate Athletics Director Jim Donovan to start working on this a while back," Yoshida said. "I'm very happy that it has all come together. I'm sure the fans will enjoy this one."
The Warriors and Cougars have formed a rivalry that spans over 25 years, dating back to the first meeting on Sept. 14, 1974 in Honolulu. The Cougars have won 18 of the past 25 meetings, including the last game between the two teams on Oct. 17, 1998 in Honolulu -- a 31-9 BYU victory. Hawai'i has won seven meetings over the years, with the last victory coming Sept. 26, 1992 at Aloha Stadium, 36-32.
"Were very excited to play Brigham Young next season," Hawai'i head coach June Jones said. "They play an exciting brand of football and they're a brand-name team with great tradition."
"BYU and Hawai'i have enjoyed a great rivalry over the years," BYU Athletics Director Val Hale said. "We were thrilled when the opportunity came to play the Warriors in Honolulu. This is a series we hope will continue in the future and we are all trying to work out those details."
Negotiations are on the table that would match the two teams in future years as well.
"Were looking to build on our longstanding relationship with BYU," Yoshida said. "We're still working out details to play home and away over the next few years. Val has been very cooperative through this whole deal. We are very appreciative for him and all the assistance he has provided to help make this happen."
"This will be a good game between two good teams," BYU head coach Gary Crowton said. "BYU and Hawai'i have developed a competitive rivalry over the years and this will be a nice opportunity for us to go over there and compete. We're focusing more and more on Hawai'i, in terms of recruiting, and feel like this will also be a positive opportunity for our program."
In addition to Hawai'i, the Cougars will also play non-conference games at home against Nevada, at Cal, at Mississippi State and at home against Utah State. The Dec. 1 game will mark the final, regular-season contest for both teams, giving BYU it's second-straight 12-game season.
The Mountain West Conference is expected to release the 2001 MWC football schedule within the next seven to 10 days.
2001 Non-Conference Schedule(Subject to Change)
Sept. 1 vs. Nevada
Sept. 8 at Cal
Sept. 15 at Mississippi State
Oct. 5 vs. Utah State
Dec. 1 at Hawai'i
2001 MWC Opponents
(Opponents and locations are listed in alphabetical
order. List does not reflect schedule order.)
vs. Air Force
vs. Colorado State
at New Mexico
at San Diego State
at UNLV
vs. Utah
at Wyoming
