LAS VEGAS – After practicing at a local high school the past four days, the University of Hawai'i football team held a 60-minute walkthrough practice at Sam Boyd Stadium, site of Saturday's non-conference game against UNLV.
Kickoff is 8:00 p.m. PT (5:00 p.m. HT) and the game will be televised live on CBS College Sports Television (Digital Ch. 247). In addition, fans can listen to the game live on ESPN 1420 AM, beginning with the “Countdown To Kickoff” show at 3:30 p.m. Neighbor islands can listen live on KNUI on Maui, KPUA in Hilo, KMWB in Kona.
The Warriors have been headquartered in Las Vegas since Sunday after playing Washington State in Seattle, Wash., last Saturday. The Warriors (2-0) practiced at Palo Verde High School all week to get adjusted to the 90 degree weather they'll experience at kickoff. They got their first opportunity to practice at 39,000-seat Sam Boyd Stadium, where a large UH contingent is expected. The last time these two teams met in Las Vegas was two years ago and half of the sold-out crowd were Warrior fans.
UH completed the hour-long walkthrough by practicing the ha'a, the team's traditional pregame dance. After two games this season, the Warriors have yet to perform the dance.
UH enters the contest 2-0 for just the second time in the last 12 years. The Warriors defeated Washington State 38-20 while the Rebels (1-1) are coming off a 23-21 loss to Oregon State in Las Vegas.
The teams have met 18 previous times with UH holding a 12-6 edge. The Warriors won the last two meetings, in 2006 (42-13) and in 2007 (49-14). In games played in Las Vegas, Hawai'i leads 5-4. In that 2007 game in Las Vegas, the Rebels scored on their opening possession before Warriors responded with 42 unanswered points for a 49-14 victory. Quarterback Colt Brennan passed for 298 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for three scores.
The Warriors depart for Honolulu following the game and will not play again until Sept. 30 against Louisiana Tech in Ruston, La. That game will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
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