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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, November 28, 2003

Alabama shows it's first-class program

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Wealth is measured not only in how the other half lives but how it travels.

SHULA
Wednesday afternoon, the Alabama football team arrived on a 350-seat private charter flight for tomorrow's game against Hawai'i at Aloha Stadium.

Four air-conditioned buses, complete with television monitors and DVD players, awaited on the tarmac.

For yesterday's practice at Aloha Stadium, a fifth bus was added — for the Crimson Tide's trainers and managers.

The Tide also hired 12 private guards, wearing bright crimson Tide caps, for 'round-the-clock security for four days.

The costs are pocket change for a school that spends $36 million annually on sports, including $18 million on the football team. In comparison, UH's entire athletic budget was $18.1 million for the last fiscal year. There is no room in UH's $4 million football budget to rent buses, a reason why the Warriors do not practice at Aloha Stadium, a 12-mile drive from the Manoa campus. The Tide will have had three practices there before tomorrow's kickoff.

But money does not always buy happiness, and these are indeed tough times for the 4-8 Tide. Alabama needs a victory to avert its second-worst football season in 109 years of competition. Last week, the Tide suffered a 28-23 loss to arch-rival Auburn.

"It's been a tough season for us," quarterback Brodie Croyle said. "We expected to come in here and have a lot better year. At the same time, we understand we're still in the learning stages right now."

Croyle said the players are adjusting to Mike Shula, the Tide's third head coach in 11 months. Dennis Franchione resigned to accept the head coaching job at Texas A&M and his successor, Mike Price, was fired in May because of problems relating to off-field activities.

"I loved Coach Price, and I have stood by him to this day," Croyle said. But he also has become supportive of Shula, adding, "We have the right guy. We're going to win some games. We have a lot of talent. We have to put it all together."

Price had implemented an expanded passing attack during spring practice. Shula, a former Tide quarterback, installed his offense during training camp.

"It's a fun offense," Croyle said, although noting it is not being run at full efficiency.

Shula said all of the schemes are in place, but "I think the main thing is guys getting experience with it. None of them (has) the experience through playing time like you would want."

But Shula said he has watched his players make relative improvements through the season.

"They've been through a lot, especially the older guys, even before the season started," Shula said. "We feel we've got some togetherness. Unfortunately, our record isn't better than it is. But I think there are a lot of positive things we can pick out of this season. That's why we're focusing on ending on a positive note against a good football team."

• Health report: UH defensive tackle Abu Ma'afala told a school spokeswoman his strained right shoulder is better and that he will be available to play tomorrow. In accordance with a team policy, UH players are not allowed to speak directly to reporters in the two days leading to a game.

Wednesday, Ma'afala said he suffered the injury against Army when "I was trying to make a tackle and I fell on the ground and a dude fell on me."

Last year against Alabama, Ma'afala, aligned as a receiver, dropped a wide-open pass. "I try to block it out of my mind, but people keep bringing it up. I have to redeem myself on the defensive side of the ball."

• Low Tide: An Alabama spokesman said Tide fans have purchased about 3,200 tickets through the school for tomorrow's game, about 5,000 fewer than for last year's meeting at Aloha Stadium. He did not know how many tickets were purchased through UH's ticket office.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051