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News Nuggets, 09.15.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

USM's Bower blasts Cal handling of postponement

HATTIESBURG — Southern Mississippi coach Jeff Bower says 10th-ranked California jumped the gun by declaring Thursday's game postponed without first talking to Golden Eagles officials.

Concerned about the projected path of Hurricane Ivan, Cal athletic director Steve Gladstone on Monday afternoon said the game was postponed — nearly 24 hours before Southern Miss officials planned to decide the status of the Golden Eagles' home opener.

Southern Miss AD Richard Giannini later Monday confirmed the game was off, then on Tuesday said the schools will get together to set a makeup date.

"That was (Cal's) decision," Bower said Tuesday. "That was a unilateral decision (which was) totally wrong by them. They didn't communicate with us whatsoever. We had told them we would make a decision by noontime on Tuesday — plenty of time to decide their plans. They were dead-set on not wanting to come. Very unprofessional."

Gladstone did not immediately return telephone messages left Tuesday seeking comment.

Cal coach Jeff Tedford said Tuesday an initial proposal to play the game this Saturday was out of the question because of concerns about travel, lodging and the potential aftermath of the menacing storm, which is projected to make landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday along the Gulf Coast.

"To try to take the team across country with so many uncertainties was not very logical," Tedford said during the Pac-10's weekly teleconference. "If we were the home team in this, we could say, 'Yeah, come on,' but we're trying to get a lot of things done and it just wasn't coming together. We exhausted all of our efforts here."

The postponement means Southern Miss could miss out on $140,000 in television revenue from ESPN, which was to televise the game, school officials said. Playing on TV in December is a possibility, officials said.

"With this storm coming this way, it's the best decision," Bower said of the postponement. "The only thing you can do is probably play it in December. I assume that's when it would be. We were hoping it would be, if this thing (Ivan) didn't come toward us, this weekend."

So, the stir-crazy Golden Eagles will have a few extra days to savor their unlikely win at Nebraska.

Southern Miss (1-0) was off the week before its 21-17 win last Saturday in Lincoln, and doesn't play until Sept. 25 at Tulane.

"It's not just the ESPN thing," linebacker Michael Boley said. "We already had the first week off. We don't want to have to play a game (Nebraska) and then have another open week before playing another game."

Cal (2-0) doesn't play again until Oct. 2 at Oregon State. The Golden Bears beat Southern Miss 34-2 in last year's season opener in Berkeley.

More Ivan: Tulane-Louisville game postponed

NEW ORLEANS — Tulane officials have postponed Saturday's football game against Louisville because of the threat of Hurricane Ivan.

Tulane officials said in a statement Tuesday that the game is tentatively rescheduled for the weekend of Dec. 4 at the Superdome.

The Cardinals and Green Wave are both off until Sept. 25, when Louisville plays North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Tulane hosts Southern Mississippi, which also had its home game scheduled for Thursday night with California postponed by Ivan.

Big bucks lure Hawaii to Alabama in 2006

HONOLULU — Hawaii will open its 2006 football season at Alabama, Warriors athletic director Herman Frazier announced last week.

The schools reached an agreement for the Sept. 2 game in Tuscaloosa that guarantees Hawaii $650,000.

"It is exciting, and not just for the football," Hawaii coach June Jones said. "The paycheck for the school is something we're in dire need of and it will be a great experience for our team."

It will mark the first time Hawaii opens on the road since defeating Oregon 24-21 in 1992.

"We very much appreciate the class manner in which our team and fans were treated during our two trips to Hawaii, and we look forward to hosting them at Bryant-Denny Stadium," Alabama athletic director Mal Moore said in a statement.

The Crimson Tide and the Warriors traded victories in 2002 and 2003 at Aloha Stadium.

Hawaii is tentatively scheduled to open the 2005 season at home against Southern California.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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