MOSCOW, Idaho — The University of Hawai'i football team's first trip to the University of Idaho will nevertheless be a "homecoming" of sorts for coaches Mouse Davis and Jerry Glanville.

Davis, UH's running backs coach, was born and lived for a while in Palouse, Wash., a city less than 20 miles away.

"I'm sure the whole town — about 20 people — will be there to support him," joked Michigan State coach John L. Smith, who used to coach at Idaho.

Davis said several relatives, who have since moved away, will be back for the game.

He said he worked on farms in the area, "sun up to sundown for a summer job" in his youth.

Glanville, meanwhile, was recruited by Idaho out of high school in Ohio in the late 1950s. He instead chose to attend Northern Michigan.

"When you're 17 years old, you're just thinking about girls," Glanville said.

PLAYING UP THE WAC

Idaho's home opener and Western Athletic Conference debut has been designated a WAC "Play Up!" game in which conference officials go into the area to promote the conference.

Commissioner Karl Benson is appearing at several functions in the area and the WAC will be giving away promotional items at the game.

The "Play Up!" tour comes to Honolulu next week for the Oct. 1 UH-Boise State game.

TRIPLE COVERAGE

With three outlets showing the game, this might be the most televised meeting of 0-2 and 0-3 teams this season.

In addition to Honolulu's KFVE (pay-per-view), Idaho's seven-station KBCI network and ESPNU will be originating telecasts of the game today.

PLAYING BY NUMBERS

UH's new silver on white road uniforms, which were greeted with little enthusiasm by broadcasters at Michigan State two weeks ago, are expected to present less of a problem today.

In East Lansing, the combination of the non-contrasting colors, sunlight and the height of the press box made the players' numbers hard to follow for broadcasters.

BIRTHDAY BOYS

Today is the birthday of punter Kurt Milne and UH quarterbacks coach Dan Morrison. Milne is 23 and Morrison is 56.

HOGAN MISSES TRIP

Defensive back-special teams performer Omega Hogan did not make the trip but UH coach June Jones declined to specify the reason.

Jones did say it was not related to Hurricane Rita, which was closing in on the Houston area, where Hogan's family lives.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com.