Even with a 10 percent decline, the University of Hawai'i led the Western Athletic Conference in average football attendance for a third consecutive year, according to statistics released by the NCAA.

The Warriors averaged 36,725 per game, ranking 63rd among the 120 schools in the Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly known as Division I-A, and 8,820 below the national average. Figures are based upon tickets distributed.

UH averaged 41,010 per home game in 2008, which ranked 58th nationally.

But the Warriors again out-distanced both Fresno State (33,578) and Boise State (32,782) in 2009. They were the only schools in the nine-team WAC to average more than 20,000 per game.

The Warriors are aided by the largest stadium capacity in the conference, with Aloha Stadium seating listed at 50,000 while Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, Calif. is 41,031 and Boise's Bronco Stadium is 33,500.

Since the departure of Brigham Young from the conference after the 1998 season, either UH or Fresno State have led the WAC in attendance.

The WAC ranked ninth among 12 entities — 11 FBS conferences and independents — in attendance at 22,279 per game. The Pac-10 ranked fourth at 54,186 while the Southeastern Conference led with 76,288.

Michigan (108,933), Penn State (107,008), Ohio State (105,261) and Texas (101,175) all averaged more than 100,000 in attendance.