Not to get ahead of ourselves, but...

[Scoops]

Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl to be Played in Prime Time Dec. 24 on ESPN

HONOLULU – ESPN Regional Television and the Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl have announced that the 2010 Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl will be played Friday, Dec. 24, 3 p.m. HT, 8 p.m. ET at Aloha Stadium. The game, in its ninth year, will be televised nationally on ESPN, featuring a team from Conference USA against a team from the Western Athletic Conference.

“We’re excited to bring the Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl in prime time to fans everywhere,” said Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl Executive Director David Matlin. “We look forward to the continued growth of this event in the great destination of Honolulu and to giving the teams, their coaches and staffs, as well as the fans, another unforgettable experience.”

Last year’s Hawai’i Bowl featured Nevada of the WAC and SMU of Conference USA.

The Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl is owned and operated by ESPN Regional Television, which markets and owns these other bowl games: the Beef O’Brady’s Bowl St. Petersburg, Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, MAACO Bowl Las Vegas, New Mexico Bowl, Papajohns.com Bowl and Texas Bowl.

Tickets to the 2010 Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl are expected to go on sale this summer. For more information, visit the official Web site: http://sheratonhawaiibowl.com.

[CalallenStang]

I would not mind returning to the Islands.

[RGV Pony]

I would not mind returning to the Islands.

agree 100%.

I may do so whether we are in that particular bowl game or not

[Dooby]

I prefer a bowl in the contiguous 48 and not on Christmas Eve, thank you.

[Stallion]

Don't hold your breath-if Hawaii is in the game and SMU is bowl eligible better get your Hula ready.

[One Trick Pony]

I would go

[03Mustang]

I'd rather be in Memphis playing an SEC team...

[CalallenStang]

I'd rather be in Memphis playing an SEC team...

I'd rather be in Dallas playing a Big Ten team, but that isn't the arrangement for the CUSA champion until 2011.

[mustang1108]

id rather be playing on the mainland. preferable in memphis or one of the c-usa bowls in texas

[ALEX LIFESON]

Don't hold your breath-if Hawaii is in the game and SMU is bowl eligible better get your Hula ready.

BINGO!

[ALEX LIFESON]

I thought that was the same time slot last year?

[Buckethead]

Alex how would you know, you missed the plane.

[CalallenStang]

I thought that was the same time slot last year?

I think it is...not sure. If 8 ET corresponds to 3 PM in Hawaii then it is the same time slot.

I could definitely live on Hawaii time again this year...

[ALEX LIFESON]

Alex how would you know, you missed the plane.

You scumbag!

[Garret]

I thought that was the same time slot last year?

It is the same time slot. In December the time difference between Dallas and Hawaii is 5 hours.

One big thing between this year's Hawaii Bowl announcement and last year's announcement is that last year they announced that the Hawaii Bowl had the #2 pick from C-USA and they pointed out that SMU was in C-USA and that they would love to have JJ in the Hawaii Bowl. This year there was no mention about having the #2 pick from C-USA.

I'm guessing that JJ's goal for 2010 is to make the Liberty Bowl...but the Hawaii Bowl is not a bad backup option. It isn't like SMU has sold out stadiums or traveled tens of thousands of fans to games recently, so many bowls would chose teams that would sell more tickets. SMU's appeal to bowls will improve as the attendance improves...and that tends to come with wins.