Believe it or not, the University of Hawai'i has more problems than getting the football in the end zone these days.

There is also the matter of getting fans into the stands.

Or, as radio analyst Robert Kekaula put it when asked about the crowd before the kickoff of Saturday's UH-Fresno State game: "What crowd? I don't see any crowd."

The most significant number that day wasn't one — for the lone touchdown the Warriors scored in a 27-13 loss to Fresno State — but 23,157, the announced turnstile attendance for the game.

Now, nobody was expecting a traffic jam for the game given the combination of the 1:05 p.m. kickoff and network television showing it live. But was anybody anticipating the smallest gathering in 53 UH games at Aloha Stadium?

Not since Northwestern in 1998, the penultimate game of the 0-12 season, have the Warriors played to a smaller turnout at home.

By itself, you could chalk up Saturday's miniscule turnout as a blue-moon aberration, even if the last time UH and Fresno State played an afternoon game on TV here, 35,074 still found their way into the stadium.

But taken in the context of the other crowds this season, there is reason for concern. Even with promotions and discounts, UH is averaging just 30,599 through the turnstiles this year, a figure buoyed by the 48,803 that took in the opener with Southern California, the only sellout since 2002.

This was supposed to be the most attractive UH home schedule in ages with USC, Wisconsin and Western Athletic Conference powers Fresno State and Boise State coming in. But Boise attracted just 25,661 and, now, the Fresno fizzle.

With only Utah State, Wisconsin and San Diego State remaining at home, UH might need the combination of the visiting Cheesehead horde and a sizeable local turnout Nov. 25 to avoid its lowest season average since the end of the Fred vonAppen era.

And, that's too bad because these Warriors, for their struggles in a 3-5 start, have been an exciting team to watch, witness the Boise State and Fresno State games that went to the final minutes.

With its rise in premium seating charges this season, UH figured to take a hit. But what has taken place suggests there's more at work here. Between the premiums, gas prices, pay-per-view options, frequent network telecasts, traffic and the usual issues, fans have pause to select from an assortment of options.

A half-empty Aloha Stadium said a lot about which one they chose Saturday.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.