As the University of Central Florida football team lined up for an early first-quarter kickoff, senior tailback Jeff Branham pumped his palms up and down, exhorting the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl gathering to raise its noise level.

Dissatisfied with the meager response of the announced crowd of 16,134, Branham shrugged his shoulders and gave up.

But by time the game wound to its stunning conclusion, a 49-48 Nevada victory in overtime nearly 4 hours later, the place was loud enough that people on the sideline had to shout to complete conversations.

"You couldn't ask for a better crowd," Branham said.

Despite being 35,844 less than the last crowd UCF appeared before in the Conference USA Championship game, "I've got nothing but good things to say about the crowd that was here," Branham said. "They were into the game."

Officials said 26,254 tickets were distributed for the game, including more than 6,000 through various promotions.

REPLAY DEBUTS

Instant replay made its college debut at Aloha Stadium yesterday — and the first to benefit was the University of Central Florida.

A fumble call that was overruled after video review opened the way for the Golden Knights to kick a 47- yard field goal.

Although the Western Athletic Conference was one of two Division I-A conferences that did not implement instant replay for the 2005 season, replay was mandated for all bowl games by the NCAA.

In yesterday's game, it came into play 7 minutes, 6 seconds into the game when Central Florida quarterback Steven Moffett fumbled the ball at the UCF 28, where possession was awarded to Nevada.

But replays, according to the Mountain West Conference officiating crew, indicated Moffett was down before the ball came loose and the Golden Knights retained possession. Nine plays later, Matt Prater kicked the field goal to give UCF a 17-7 lead.

"I don't like it; it went against us," joked Nevada coach Chris Ault afterward. "But I'll look forward to it next year" when the WAC implements it.

The replay process took approximately three minutes yesterday.

While the Mountain West crew worked the Hawai'i Bowl, Hawai'i-based WAC officials Matt Sumstein and Mike Goshima, who have conducted replay trials at Aloha Stadium this season, will work the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas on Friday.

OWNER PLEASED

The owner of the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl said it was "thrilled with everything about this year's game."

Pete Derzis, executive vice president of ESPN Regional Television, which owns and operates the game, said, "it was a great game, good crowd and excellent halftime show. I think the fans here and on television got a fine show."

Derzis said, "without the University of Hawai'i in the game we frankly didn't know what kind of a crowd to expect but I'm pleased with the turnout (16,134). This will allow us to continue to grow the game."

WORTH EVERY PENNY

The WAC projects it will make money on its overall bowl season despite the expectation of a loss at the Hawai'i Bowl, officials said.

The WAC covers Nevada's expenses up to approximately $600,000 and with a ticket purchase requirement could lose $200,000 or more on the trip.

But commissioner Karl Benson said, "the opportunity for our co-champion to have an experience like the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl provides is important to the conference."

Benson said any shortfall here would be made up by profits expected to be generated by the WAC's other two bowls, the Liberty Bowl and MPC Computers Bowl.

Benson said the WAC has made money on the Hawai'i Bowl in the three years in which host Hawai'i appeared.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com.