Hawai'i foe flying out ahead of hurricane
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Despite the announced closing of its school as Hurricane Frances approaches the Florida coast, the Florida Atlantic football team was scheduled to depart this morning for Saturday's game against the University of Hawai'i at Aloha Stadium.
Schools and several businesses near FAU's Boca Raton campus were closed yesterday. FAU is set to close today in anticipation the hurricane will hit this weekend.
Schnellenberger
"It can turn any which way," said FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger, who spent yesterday putting up hurricane shutters on his house in Ocean Ridge, 13 miles from Boca Raton.
He said arrangements have been made for his wife and children to spend the weekend with relatives.
"I want to make sure they're in a safe place," he said.
FAU staff yesterday spent the afternoon putting up shutters on the campus buildings.
"They'll be evacuating the coastal towns," Schnellenberger said. Boca Raton is located on Florida's Southeast coast, between Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale.
Schnellenberger said he never considered canceling the trip to Hawai'i.
"No, no, no," he said. "It won't hit here until Saturday."
He said an airport will close 24 hours after a hurricane warning is issued. By late yesterday afternoon, no warning was issued, meaning Fort Lauderdale's airport was not scheduled to close before the Owls' morning departure.
"God can't make (a hurricane) fast enough to get here by 6:30 in the morning," Schnellenberger said yesterday.
Last night, the Owls practiced for two hours. Schnellenberger said the 10:30 p.m. start will help his team get used to the time difference in Hawai'i. It will be 12:05 a.m. Sunday when the game kicks off.
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.
