UH plans The road promises challenges for the Hawaii football team this year, but charter flights will help the Warriors prepare for games at Brigham Young, Fresno State and Boise State.
to fly charter
Jones wants special flights
to Fresno State, BYU and Boise StateBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comUH coach June Jones said he doesn't expect a problem getting the three flights -- which he said each cost $12-15,000 more than a regular commercial flight -- approved for the Warriors' travel party of around 90-95 players and staff.
"It's within our budget," Jones said. "It's certainly beneficial to the players. We travel all night and have to sleep on the plane. We have to do what we can to give ourselves the best chance to win."
Incoming athletic director Herman Frazier said today he had not yet talked with Jones about charter flights. But he said they are a possibility.
"When we ask our athletes to go in and compete we want them to be as prepared as possible," said Frazier.
Another factor, Jones said, is that the Brigham Young and Fresno State games were moved up to Friday because they are being televised by ESPN.
"We have to do something to make sure we get there in a timely fashion," he said.
Hawaii's other two road games are at Texas-El Paso and Rice. The Warriors will fly commercial to and from those engagements.
Last year, UH went the charter route for its trip to Nevada. Travel restrictions caused by the events of Sept. 11 made that the best option for the game at Reno, which was played Sept. 22 after being postponed from Sept. 15. The Warriors also flew a charter from Tulsa to Los Angeles to facilitate a quick return in preparation for a Friday night home game against Fresno State; whether that was a factor is unknown, but Hawaii did upset Fresno State 38-34.
.. In 1972, defensive lineman Levi Stanley led the Rainbows in tackles, forced fumbles and fumbles recovered as UH went 8-3. The only losses were at home against Grambling and Stanford and at Tennessee. Stanley, right, holds the school career record with 366 tackles.
Today, Stanley lives in Hawaii and was inducted into the UH Circle of Honor in 1995.
"It makes a huge difference," senior linebacker Chris Brown said. "When we fly up together as a team, we can bond. Being able to stretch out and relax is a huge plus, too."
Offensive lineman Vince Manuwai adde that cgharter flights are safer.
"I think with the war when youre on a commervcial flight you look around to see if there are crazy people," he said. In a charter you know youre with guys you can trust."
Charter flights for UH football have been a public issue since 1996, when then-coach Fred von Appen brought up the concept as one of 30 points he felt needed addressing for the Rainbows to improve their program.
In other UH football news:
>> Defensive backs coach Rich Miano is also coordinator of the Warriors walk-on program. The former UH walk-on who went on to play in the NFL said he expects 10-15 new non-scholarship players to try to make the team.
Jones and Miano said they have a strong group of walk-ons to choose from because of last year's 9-3 record.
"Whenever you win you create interest," Jones said. "We've got mainland kids, local kids wanting to join us. It tells us we're doing something correctly. They probably also know a lot of walk-ons have earned scholarships since we came here."
Recent examples from last year are running back Thero Mitchell and slotback/kick returner Chad Owens.
>> New players check in Monday for three days of indoctrination before veterans are due Thursday. Practice begins Saturday, with two-a-days running through Aug. 23. UH expects to release the complete practice schedule, with locations and times, tomorrow.
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