Honolulu, HI -- (Sports Network) - Conference USA and the Hawaii Bowl signed a contract on Friday, granting the conference a bid in the 2009 contest.

The game is usually a showcase for the Western Athletic Conference, and specifically the hometown Hawaii Warriors if the school is bowl eligible.

Until this year, the Pac-10's seventh bowl-eligible school received the other bid to the contest, but that spot was voided after last season by mutual agreement after only five teams from the conference received bids to the postseason.

"We are thrilled to be returning to the Hawaii Bowl and to have the fantastic opportunity for one of our football programs," said C-USA commissioner Britton Banowsky."

The last time a Conference USA team played in the bowl was in 2007, when East Carolina posted a 41-38 win over WAC powerhouse Boise State.

The 2009 Hawaii Bowl is scheduled for December 24 at 8:00 p.m. (et) at Aloha Stadium.