Tuesday, July 27, 1999

Foot’Bows to hit
the road earlier

The football team will leave on
Wednesday or Thursday instead of
Friday in an attempt to win its
first road game since 1992

Associated Press

The University of Hawaii football team will leave earlier on its road trips this year, according to new head coach June Jones.

He said the team, which used to leave for trips against Mainland teams on Fridays, will now depart as early as three nights before a road game.

Jones, who was the San Diego Chargers' interim head coach last season, said he is basing the team's travel patterns on those used by the National Football League.

Since 1993, the Rainbows typically left Honolulu on Friday for each road game. Because of delays, they once arrived in Laramie, Wyo., less than 12 hours before kickoff.

UH has not won a Western Athletic Conference road game since 1992, a span of 24 games.

The Rainbows will now depart Thursday afternoon for games at Tulsa and San Jose. For the trip to Dallas to play Southern Methodist University, the Rainbows will leave Wednesday night.

UH associate athletic director Jim Donovan said the earlier starts will cost an extra $4,000-$5,000 per trip for additional hotel and meal costs.

Donovan said the extra cost is covered because the Rainbows are playing one fewer road game than they did last season.

Jones said he will consider taking a tutoring staff on the road to make up for the lost classroom time.