From the railings at Bronco Stadium, they yelled — among kinder things — "no bowl for you this year" at the University of Hawai'i players trudging off the blue turf following Friday's 27-7 loss at Boise State.

After the Warriors had knocked Boise State from Bowl Championship Series consideration last year, Broncos' fans relished the thought of UH being denied a place in the postseason this year and vociferously shared the sentiment with the vanquished.

To be sure on that night the turnover-prone Warriors looked unlike a team that was bowl-bound.

But with a 3-4 record and six games remaining, they are still in the hunt, though needing to win four games to meet the minimum 7-6 standard to become bowl eligible. But revenge-stirred Boise fans aside, the Western Athletic Conference wants the Warriors in the postseason. Frankly, it needs them there.

Well, most of them, anyway.

UH in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl — the only bowl it has a shot at this year — is worth an approximately $800,000 swing to the nine schools that make up the WAC. With UH in its backyard bowl, the WAC picks up a $400,000 check from the bowl's owner, ESPN Regional TV, and doesn't have to shell out for airfare. No small consideration these days.

But without the hometown Warriors, there is no $400,000 guarantee and the WAC digs deep for the travel expenses, meaning a passing of the hat at year's end in a conference already feeling the financial jitters.

Last year, when UH's 12-0 regular season carried it to the Sugar Bowl, the WAC took about a $750,000 hit on the Warriors' absence. With fuel prices up this year, WAC members say they have been told to project in the $800,000 area. At approximately $88,000 per school, that's a hefty hunk of change, especially in austere times.

In 2007 that cost was defrayed by UH's appearance in the Bowl Championship Series, earning each school upwards of $300,000. This year, if Boise State doesn't crack the lucrative BCS, there is no windfall to cushion the hit. So, there are more than those who wear green that have a rooting interest in the Warriors doing well.

But for a couple of WAC schools — and upcoming UH opponents Nevada and New Mexico State are in this scenario — there is self-interest in getting to the postseason. Paths that run directly through the Warriors. With just three guaranteed bowls for WAC members (Hawai'i, Humanitarian and New Mexico) and one of them reserved for UH if the Warriors are bowl eligible, that puts games with Hawai'i at a premium. Nevada, Saturday's opponent at Aloha Stadium, and New Mexico State (Nov. 8 in Las Cruces), can enhance their chances while taking UH's down a notch.

They share the Boise crowd's sentiments, but are in a position to do something about it.

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