ASSOCIATED PRESS Alabama quarterback Tyler Watts ran for a TD last season against South Carolina. Alabama travel agents say Crimson Tide fans are looking forward to the Nov. 30 game at Hawaii.

’Bama fans jump
at trip to islands

Travel arrangements were
being made long before the
game against UH was set

---

Staff and news reports

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. >> Alabama's players aren't the only ones eager about going to Hawaii.

Crimson Tide fans began calling travel agencies across the state hoping to line up an island trip even before the Nov. 30 game with Hawaii was officially added to the schedule two weeks ago.

"We had over 200 asking for brochures even before it was official," said Patti Pearson of All Seasons Travel in Birmingham.

Pearson said calls requesting trip information have come from across the state and nation.

"I think they will have more Alabama fans than they will know what to do with," said Karen Creasy of Adventure Travel in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama athletics director Mal Moore said it is too early to estimate how many Tide fans will make the trip. The Alabama ticket office doesn't begin selling individual game tickets until later this month.

But Hawaii has set aside 2,500 tickets for Tide fans at the request of Alabama, according to Walter Watanabe of the UH ticket office. Most schools that come here ask for 300-500 tickets.

UH has had large requests before, as teams with large followings like Notre Dame, Wisconsin and Michigan have played at Aloha Stadium in recent years.

"But not too many people are traveling now, especially after 9/11," Watanabe said. "This is the biggest request in a long time."

Eliot Capouya, president of Montgomery-based Total Sports Travel, said his agency has sent out more than 12,000 brochures and business has been brisk despite the expense of the trip.

Packages vary, but a typical cost is about $1,600, he said.

"It can be cost prohibitive," said Capouya, whose company handles travel packages for Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi State, Mississippi and South Carolina.

Pearson has one theory why so many fans are willing to treat themselves to the trip.

"It's sort of an early Christmas present," she said.

The Hawaii game will be Alabama's season finale unless the university's appeal of the NCAA's postseason ban is successful.

UH ended up with Alabama after Washington State pulled out of the Warriors' schedule.

"Football in Alabama is religion," UH athletics director Hugh Yoshida said. "They're very committed to Crimson Tide football. The amount of interest certainly isn't unexpected, especially since it's their first time here."

---

UH Athletics