UH may make a million in Michigan | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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DAVID G. MCINTYRE / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER
"I like to think that the type of people we’re going to be able to recruit here in the state of Hawaii are those tough, hard-nosed linemen. I want to establish a tough, hard-nosed running game, a tough, hard-nosed football team, period, that people in Hawaii can identify with.”
Norm Chow

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The Hawaii football team will receive its biggest payday when it plays Michigan at "The Big House" on Sept. 3, 2016.

The Warriors will receive an appearance fee of $1 million, according to people familiar with the situation.

"That’s exciting to play a team like that in a place that’s so storied," UH coach Norm Chow said. "It’s going to be exciting for our kids, and I’m sure it’s going to be helpful for recruiting."

Michigan Stadium — "The Big House" — has a seating capacity of 109,901, the largest among NCAA venues.

Acting athletic director Rockne Freitas said he played there while playing for Oregon State and in an NFL exhibition with the Detroit Lions.

"It’s a great place," Freitas said. "Every player needs to play there once in (his) career."

Chow said: "That’s why I appreciate Rockne so much. I’d never been there. That’s on my bucket list. Hope I’m still around."

Freitas was UH’s point negotiator. Freitas consulted with Chow. UH president M.R.C. Greenwood gave final approval.

"Give Rockne all of the credit to get something like this done," Chow said. "It’s going to be exciting for our players."

Cornerback Mike Edwards, who was raised in Ohio, said he received his first scholarship offer from Michigan. He said he visited the Ann Arbor campus twice, including an official recruiting trip as a high school senior.

"Oh, man, it was one of the biggest stadiums I’ve been to in my life," Edwards said. "It’s built into the ground, so you have to step down. It has great tradition with great people."

Quarterback Taylor Graham, who is redshirting this year, spent the previous two years at Ohio State.

"We thought the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry was the greatest rivalry in all of college sports," Graham said. "Some would argue that."

Defensive coordinator Thom Kaumeyer coached in the Big House when he was a member of the San Diego State staff. Defensive line coach Lewis Powell played there with visiting Utah.

"The stadium was impressive," Powell said. "It was an older crowd, but it was packed and it was a good atmosphere. It was crazy knowing there were 105,000 people there."

Openings in the Michigan schedule occurred when Notre Dame pulled out of a series of games with the Wolverines.