UH rebuffs offer to play Colorado

The University of Hawaii has rejected an offer to play Colorado in an Oct. 19 football game in Boulder, Colo.

That puts an end to more than a week of negotiations between the schools.

Colorado was seeking to replace the Sept. 14 home game against Fresno State that was canceled because of area floods.

The Daily Camera reported Colorado’s athletic department incurred a $7.5 million shortfall last fiscal year because of poor ticket sales in football. Unless a replacement is found, the Buffaloes will play only five home games this season.

UH was an attractive option because it is an FBS member and has a bye on Oct. 19.

An FBS school is allowed to count only one FCS victory a year toward bowl consideration. The Buffaloes played FCS’s Arkansas State on Sept. 7, limiting their scheduling options to FBS schools.

Colorado initially offered UH a participation fee of $400,000.

After UH rejected that offer, Colorado upped the fee to $600,000.

UH had sought charter flights included in the offer. The Rainbow Warriors are playing at UNLV on Oct. 12, and wanted to ease the wear-and-tear of traveling on consecutive weekends. UH travels on commercial flights between Hawaii and the mainland.

When Colorado could not increase the offer, UH decided to pass.

Colorado will try to negotiate with other teams or seek a special exemption to play a second FCS team this year.