McBride keeps his Wildcats on track

Certainly no stranger to the islands, Ron McBride knows a few tricks to getting a team ready to play in Hawaii.

Ron McBride: Weber State coach well-acquainted with the distractions of bringing a team to Hawaii

For one, stay away from Waikiki.

"There's too many distractions," said McBride, who's housed his teams at Turtle Bay Resort during visits here since he coached at Utah in the 1990s.

"We'll stay on the North Shore, where it's quiet. I don't want any disturbance, I want everything quiet. I don't want them to have anywhere to go."

McBride is back as coach of Weber State and the Wildcats holed up in Laie in advance of tonight's game with the Warriors at Aloha Stadium.

Kickoff for Hawaii's home opener is set for 6:05 p.m.

WARRIORS FOOTBALL Weber State (1-0) at Hawaii (0-1) Today, 6:05 p.m., Aloha Stadium TV: Oceanic pay-per-view Ch. 255; replay 10 a.m. tomorrow, KFVE Radio: 1420-AM Parking: Lots open at 2:30 p.m. Lower Halawa lot opens at 1:30 p.m. Alternate parking available at Ford Island, Kam Drive-In, Leeward Community College, Radford High School. Turnstiles open at 3 p.m.

"A lot of the guys want to go to Waikiki and see the sights and stuff," Weber State quarterback and Saint Louis graduate Cameron Higgins said. "But we're just here for business, not really a vacation."

Although Weber State carries the label of an FCS (formerly Division I-AA) program, the Wildcats will have the Warriors' full attention come game time.

Hawaii is coming off a 46-point loss at Florida last week and is looking to deliver Greg McMackin win No. 1 as head coach.

"We know we could have done a lot better, so we're ready," UH safety Keao Monteilh said. "We practiced our butts off this past week and just want to get out there and play and show the state that we've got what it takes.

"We know (the Wildcats) can play and they've got some local kids who want to prove themselves."

Higgins is among 10 Hawaii products on the Weber State roster looking forward to a return to Aloha Stadium.

"This brings back some memories," Higgins said after arriving at the stadium on Thursday. "It gives you the chills."