Policy on travel subsidies lets UH foes double dip

Courtesy of the University of Hawaii, the Colorado State football team will enjoy the best of all possible worlds this season.

On one hand the Rams will receive a reported $1.5 million this fall to play a road game at the University of Alabama. It is one of five nonconference games and 13 overall the Rams are scheduled to play in 2013, because they will be coming to Aloha Stadium.

The "Hawaii Exemption," which permits a matchup beyond the current 12-game maximum for teams coming to play UH, was created by an NCAA membership vote in the 1950s as a way to encourage mainland schools to play in Hawaii. The idea being the proceeds from an extra game would defray the cost of travel.

But CSU will also reap a $175,000 travel subsidy from UH under terms of Hawaii’s membership in the Mountain West Conference.

That’s a point the new UH administration ought to take up with its conference brethren this coming week when scheduling is discussed.

UH signed on to pay what was termed "travel cost sharing" in the official membership document. But while the Warriors are probably stuck with some form of — and let’s call it what it really is — travel subsidies, there should be some negotiating room here.

For one thing, UH should try to get the MWC to view the situation as the Big West has done. In the Big West, where most of UH’s teams other than football now reside, UH is only obligated to pay the subsides for members who were already on board when UH joined.

UH should be exempted from shelling out for anybody who follows Hawaii through the door, as would have been the case if San Diego State and Boise State had followed through on plans to place their teams in the conference.

Big West Commissioner Dennis Farrell’s thinking was that anybody who joined on after UH knew the travel situation they were entering into.

Unfortunately, the MWC, which adds San Jose State and Utah State this season, hasn’t so far subscribed to such an enlightened view.

But there should be some room for negotiation on UH opponents that both take advantage of the "Hawaii Exemption" to add the extra game, especially a big bucks one, and also collect a travel subsidy.

Last season, for example, New Mexico and UNLV got checks from UH and Bowl Championship Series conference schools. In the Lobos’ case, that was a cool $1 million from Texas. The extra game allowed the Lobos to play UT, Texas Tech, New Mexico State and Texas Southern. UNLV, with its extra game, had Washington State, Minnesota, Utah State, Louisiana Tech and Northern Arizona.

Not all, or even most, MWC foes will take advantage of the 13th game, but for each that does, it should amount to a $150,000-$175,000 (depending upon which time zone they come from) savings for UH.

It is a policy that, if you are financially strapped UH, would make both dollars and sense.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.