Inside, Tim Carey, Chris Shinnick and Thea vonAppen waited patiently near University of Hawaii head coach Fred vonAppen's office while he was being interviewed for the television news magazine show "Inside Edition."
Across the country, the interest in Shannon Smith's tragic drowning had grown. Late Monday night, ESPN's SportsCenter gave a brief account of what happened, while the complete news story could be found on ESPNet.
"That's where my brother read about it," Shinnick said. "I think it's great. Shannon deserves the national recognition for what he did. He is a hero."
Thea vonAppen touched the shoulder of Carey and asked him how he was doing, in a subdued, understanding tone.
"I'm feeling a little better," Carey answered quietly, then shrugged. "But it's still tough sleeping at night. You can't forget."
A few hours earlier, Fred vonAppen described a similar problem. Sitting in his office, he was trying to watch film of offensive linemen blocking in the pro set in preparation for today's opening of spring practice, but it was no use.
"I would catch myself staring at the screen, wondering what I just watched," vonAppen said. "I'm tired, but we're all having difficulty sleeping.
"Thea and I stayed up half the night talking about it. Reliving what happened. Sharing how we felt. We finally went to sleep, but it's like a hole in your soul that you can never fill."
At this point, vonAppen wasn't interested in doing an "Inside Edition" interview, and neither were his players.
"They asked if they could interview (his son) Cody," vonAppen said. "And I told them no."
But two hours later, a different production crew showed up at his office door and he agreed to be interviewed, saying the magazine program promised to show Smith in a favorable and heroic light for saving vonAppen's son from drowning last Saturday at Slippery Slide on Kauai.
"They're going to interview the four of us," Fred vonAppen said. "Maybe we can find some closure after this."
The Smith family also was interviewed yesterday afternoon by "Inside Edition." A family spokeswoman said that the show would probably be on tonight.
The television interview lasted all afternoon. She added that this story seemed to have touched the lives of everyone in Hawaii.
"I think it's good that Shannon can be remembered in this way," Thea vonAppen said. "You always read and hear about people who get recognition for doing something wrong. Shannon did something wonderful. It's a story that touches people in many ways."
A Mass will be said next Wednesday at St. Catherine's Church in Kapaa. It will be from 1 to 3 p.m. There will be a potluck at the family's home afterward.
VonAppen said most of the team wanted to attend. Arrangements are being made through Hawaiian Airlines to handle that large of a group. He hoped the logistics of such a major undertaking could be worked out soon.
Born in Virgin Islands, Smith is survived by parents Rosemary and Norbert; brothers Christopher, Gregory, Shawn and Ryan; and sisters Terri Cordell and Colleen Smith.
Casual attire. No flowers. Donations suggested to Shannon Smith Scholarship Fund, 1337 Lower Campus Road, Honolulu 96822-2370; or to WCS Shannon Scholarship Fund, Winners Camp, 1292 Maleko St., Kailua 96734.
What: Interview ith UH Head Football Coach Fred vonAppen about Shannon Smith