Few Miner adjustments needed when traveling

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

If it is Friday, this must be the North Shore.

"They've been getting on me about that," Nord said. "But where I'm from in Kentucky, it looks like a peninsula to me."

Pardon Nord for the confusion. This will be the Miners' second consecutive road game and fourth in the first six games.

"We're getting used to traveling," wideout Lee Mays said. "That's part of football, I guess."

The Miners received an appearance fee estimated at $400,000 for last week's game at Alabama. The outcome (56-7), and subsequent injury list, left them crimson-faced.

"That's what happens when you play a team like Alabama," said Nord, who inherited the schedule when he was promoted to head coach last year. "We don't mind playing money games, but let's don't play the Alabamas and Oklahomas, the best teams in the country year in and year out."

For this trip, Nord consulted with defensive coordinator Bob Wagner, a former UH head coach who still owns property on the North Shore, and several other WAC coaches. The thinking is a team should leave a day early for every time zone crossed. El Paso, the only Texas city in the Mountain time zone, has a four-hour time difference from Hawai'i through the end of the month.

With food and lodging costing $12,000 per day, Nord said, the Miners could not afford to arrive here until yesterday afternoon.

"Also, keeping our players out of school for a long time is a concern of ours," Nord said. "We'd love to come over, say, two weeks before a game because it's so beautiful over here. But the budget and time don't allow it."

He said this schedule is preferable to one in 1999, when he was the defensive coordinator. The Miners arrived late Friday afternoon. "Our kids were up at 3:30, 4 o'clock in the morning (the day of the game). By the time the game rolled around, we were very tired.

"Now, we feel if we can get here two days early, get in a good workout and get out the jetlag, it will help us on Saturday."

At the recommendation of Rice coach Ken Hatfield and Fresno State coach Pat Hill, the Miners are staying at the Turtle Bay Resort. The Miners will practice on an open field near the resort's stables, but "the place is off the beaten path and there will be less distractions than if we were to stay in Waikiki."

• Chang appears ready: In the latest version of "Name That Quarterback," it appears that UH's Tim Chang is closer to starting against UTEP.

Showing no ill effects of a sprain in his throwing wrist, Chang easily threw long passes during yesterday's two-hour practice at UH's grass field.

If the game were played today, UH coach June Jones said, "He threw the ball well enough to start."

For the first time since suffering the injury Sept. 29, Chang competed in 11-on-11 drills. He was able to reach wideouts on corner routes and deep patterns.

"He looks like he's back to normal," Jones said.

Under interview guidelines set by the athletic department, Chang was not available to comment after practice. Player interviews are not permitted on the Thursday and Friday before each game.

Jones said he will wait until tomorrow's pre-game warmups before deciding if Chang will start. Jones said he has not decided if Chang will play even if he does not start.