COLLEGE FOOTBALL / BOWL REPORT : HOLIDAY : Bruins Rejected a Trip to Hawaii

Building a reputation in college football has its limits. Coach Bob Wagner of Hawaii realized this when a scheduling change almost brought the Rainbows to Los Angeles to play UCLA this season.

When Cal State Long Beach dropped football, UCLA had a home opening that it ultimately filled with Cal State Fullerton.

But the Bruins offered Wagner the berth first. He was tempted, but wanted to arrange a home-and-home series. When UCLA balked, Hawaii walked.

“My feeling is our program is far enough along that if we’re going to schedule somebody, they should have the respect to give us a home-and-home,” Wagner said.

“I knew if we could go to L.A. that would be a positive step for us. It just didn’t work out.”

Instead, the Rainbows (10-2) will have to be content with their first mainland bowl appearance Wednesday night in the Thrifty Car Rental Holiday Bowl at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium. Hawaii, the Western Athletic Conference champion, will play Illinois, fourth in the Big Ten.