Saturday’s kickoff between the University of Hawaii and San Jose State at Aloha Stadium is set for 1 p.m., it was announced Wednesday, the earliest start for a Rainbow Warriors home game since the 11:05 a.m. start against Brigham Young on Dec. 8, 2001.
The Mountain West Conference game initially was to played at San Jose’s CEFCU Stadium. But Santa Clara County’s newly implemented coronavirus-related restrictions forced San Jose State to seek another location. The order prohibits contact-sport activities, such as practices and games, for the next three weeks. Several other sites were considering, including the two stadiums in Las Vegas, before an agreement was reached Tuesday to move the game to Aloha Stadium.
“We explored many venue and date options for this game over the last 48 hours,” San Jose State athletic director Marie Tuite said in a news release. “Moving the game from San Jose to Honolulu became the best option based on our county and the state’s current public health directives. We want to thank the many people who were involved in the decision-making process, and there were many—our university administration, the Mountain West office, and the conference schools that offered their support.”
The change of venue will not impact next year’s schedule rotation, meaning San Jose State also will travel to Hawaii in 2021.
San Jose State was installed as a seven-point favorite earlier in the week, but on Wednesday the game was listed as a pick‘em.
A return to action is important for the Spartans, whose previous two games were canceled because of coronavirus-related circumstances involving Fresno State and then Boise State. Off to their best star since 1955, the Spartans are in contention for a berth in the Mountain West’s title game on Dec. 19. The top two winning percentages in league play determine the participants. It is believed the Spartans would need to play at least five league games in the eight-week regular season to meet the threshold for title-game eligibility.
For the 3-3 Warriors, it is a chance to extend their strong performances of the past six quarters.
“We want this game, ” UH quarterback Chevan Cordeiro said on Tuesday morning. “We need to win out.”
The Warriors’ regular-season finale is against UNLV on Dec. 12 in Honolulu.
The Spartans, meanwhile, are road warriors. They plan to leave for Oahu Thursday and will leave after the game for Las Vegas.
The trip to southern Nevada is a necessary adjustment because Santa Clara County’s restrictions include a mandatory two-week quarantine for those traveling into the region from more than 150 miles away.
A SJSU spokesman said he did not know the team’s plans for the week leading to a Dec. 11 game against Nevada (5-1). The Mountain West has yet to announce the location of the game that also was scheduled for San Jose. The Spartans also cannot play host to the Mountain West Championship on Dec. 19 should they reach the finale.
It would not be a surprise for San Jose State to stay in Las Vegas. The University of New Mexico has used UNLV’s Sam Boyd Stadium this season because of its state’s novel coronavirus restrictions. Nevada-Las Vegas’ team has moved to the Raiders’ new Alligiant Stadium near the Vegas Strip.
One question remained unanswered Wednesday: Where has San Jose State practiced to prepare for Hawaii? A school spokesman said only “we’re following county guidelines and preparing for Hawaii as it relates to this week’s team activities.”
That’s a noticeable difference from its county neighbor to the north, Stanford. The private university outlined its itinerary for this Saturday’s game at Washington and next week’s game at Oregon State in a news release Wednesday.
Conference co-leader San Jose State will play its first game since defeating UNLCV, 34-17, on Nov 14. The games at Fresno State and last weekend at Boise State were canceled because of COVID-19 issues affecting the Bulldogs and the Broncos.
Also Wednesday, Boise State’s football game at UNLV scheduled for Friday night was canceled. The Mountain West said the game would not be rescheduled and the decision was made after guidance from medical personnel and epidemiologists.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser and (San Jose) Mercury News contributed to this report.