Hawaii Bowl gets the 2nd choice C-USA team

About getting the 2nd choice of C-USA teams for the Hawaii Bowl, Pete Derzis (senior VP & GM and ESPN Regional Television) said:
"Conference USA was one of the original partners of this game, and we're pleased to have them return in 2009." (HA)

HA Note: "The seventh bowl-eligible school from the Pac-10 was to participate this year, but because the conference only had five bowl-eligible teams last year all parties agreed to void the Pac-10 selection for 2009."

About how it is better for UH to play a high-placed C-USA team than an at-large team, JD said:
"We have had a great relationship and some exciting bowl games with Conference USA teams. The possibility of not having an eligible Pac-10 team was very real." (HA)

"We have had a great relationship and some exciting bowl games with Conference USA teams. The possibility of not having an eligible Pac-10 team was very real. I think in the long run it is better for us to be matched up against a high-placed C-USA team than an at-large team." (HSB)

HSB Note: "The Sheraton Hawaii Bowl and Conference USA signed a one-year contract sending the league's championship game runner-up or a "preferred selection team" to the eighth annual game. The deal was announced yesterday by ESPN Regional Television, which owns the bowl game."

About getting their choice from C-USA was better than trying to get an at-large team, Hawaii Bowl executive director David Matlin said:
"We want to be able to control our own destiny by getting a preferred selection from Conference USA." (HSB)

HSB Note: "The Hawaii Bowl and Pac-10 agreed to void the last year of a two-year deal that would have given the bowl the league's seventh selection. The Pac-10 produced six bowl-eligible teams in 2007 and five last year."