Travel nothing new for Pac West Schools (Published May 6, 1998)

By John Baker

Lumberjack staff

Though long-distance travel of the sort HSU can expect upon joining the Pacific West Conference is new for the Lumberjacks, it's no novelty for some of the other schools in the league.

"We've been dealing with travel since the university began playing competitive athletics," said Al Walker, athletic director of Chaminade University. "For all of us in this part of the country, that's just a given."

Walker's "part of the country" is Hawaii -- a state from which four members of the new conference hail. Chaminade, BYU-Hawaii, Hawaii-Pacific and Hawaii-Hilo will join Alaska-Fairbanks, Alaska-Anchorage, Montana State-Billings and Western New Mexico in the Pacific Division of the Pac-West.

HSU will be aligned with Simon Fraser (British Columbia), Western Oregon, Lewis and Clark State (Idaho) and four schools in Washington as part of the West Division.

"The Pacific part of the conference is by air, the West is more of a bus league" said Scott Roselius, sports information director at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. "I think it's that way because everyone (in the Pacific Division) has to travel anyway."

Pacific West Conference commissioner Woody Hahn -- of Montana State-Billings -- said travel in the West Division, at least, won't be as extensive as some think.

"We're extremely pleased (Humboldt) made the decision to come into the Pacific West Conference," he said. "We feel it's a move that's very appropriate for (HSU), with the competition being closer to them than people in California realize."

Even though most of HSU's game will be against West Division opponents, the 'Jacks still face several games against Pacific Division schools each year. Both financially and competitively, such travel poses difficulties for teams, coaches said.

"All the issues (HSU has) had with (travel), we deal with it on an annual basis," Walker said. "It's certainly difficult to win on the road because you only see the arenas and the officials one time. The officials' pool is very geographically isolated."

Roselius said he expects changes in the schedule, such as playing games against the same team on consecutive days, in order to accommodate travel schedules.

"Until it really happens, we can only speculate," Roselius said. "Generally I think it's a great competitive conference."

Walker agreed.

"It's a great league. It's a very challenging league because of the distance," he said.

There may be some further tinkering with alignments and scheduling, Hahn said.

"(Travel scheduling) is something that will need to be addressed," the commissioner said. "We all feel it's going to take some adjustment."

Hahn said a solid schedule will make up for the travel distance for schools involved in the Pac West.

"For the first time, we'll be able to offer more championships, more stability, (and) not have to worry about minimum (number of schools in a sport) all the time," he said. "The scheduling possibilities will be simplified - (teams) may have to travel further, but the simplification should help."

In addition, Hahn said, NCAA schools are compensated for championship -- such as post-season tournament -- travel. HSU was already a part of the NCAA, but several schools in the Pac West were NAIA affiliated before joining.

Distance doesn't seem to faze schools in the two newest states.

"(HSU has) been in a bus league forever, playing Northern California schools. We've had these (travel) issues to face since our programs have been existence," Walker said. "We're not talking the same uncomfortableness with regards to cost - that's fact of life when you live in Hawaii or Alaska."

Even schools in the contiguous states, such as Western New Mexico, are not without travel problems. WNMU, located in Silver City, N.M., is about 1,000 miles away from its closest conference competitor.

The conference will have added nine schools over a three-year period after HSU joins this fall, and the growing pains have been relatively minor, Hahn said.

"I think it's been smooth," Hahn, who has been commissioner of the Pac West since its 1992 inception, said. "When you work with new people in their scheduling situations and travel concerns and situations no one has met before, (you expect problems).

"The transition (has been) very smooth - particularly on Humboldt's end because (HSU President Alistair) McCrone and (HSU athletic director) Scott Barnes have been very, very cooperative in this transition."

Walker said Chaminade is not scheduled to visit HSU for any events next season, but is anxiously awaiting the trip when it does come.

"We're definitely looking forward to (coming to Arcata). We've heard it's a beautiful town," Walker said. "We love to travel and see different places."

To some Division I schools, the travel to the outlying states is not so much a problem. Alaska-Anchorage, Alaska-Fairbanks and Chaminade each hold prestigious early-season Division I men's basketball tournaments.

"Unfortunately for us, everything's a lot of travel," Roselius said. "If you really want to talk travel, talk hockey. Our closest competitors are in Michigan."