Dual responsibilities haven’t exactly created 24-hour work days for Larry Fedora.

"It’s 28-hour days," said Fedora, the departing Southern Mississippi head coach and incoming head of North Carolina’s football program.

And you thought your holiday season was hectic.

Fedora hasn’t had much down time since accepting the post at North Carolina between assembling a staff and recruiting for the Tar Heels while preparing Southern Miss for Saturday’s Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.

"It’s been a blur," Fedora said. "We’ve done the best we can, I want to make sure we do this the right way, because I want to finish this season with this team."

Managing distractions is often part of the deal for teams coming to town for the Hawaii Bowl, and the Golden Eagles have a few to contend with given Fedora’s impending departure and the program’s first visit to Hawaii since 1977.

But Fedora said the Golden Eagles — ranked 21st in the coaches poll and 22nd by the Associated Press — have maintained their focus heading toward the Christmas Eve matchup with Nevada at Aloha Stadium.

"The great thing about these players is when it’s time for ball they’re ready to focus and play ball," Fedora said during Tuesday’s Hawaii Bowl press conference. "They’re enjoying their free time, and when it’s time to go, we go.

"They understand what it takes, they understand how important it is. … We’re not just playing another game, we’re making history at Southern Miss."

The history Fedora referenced was Southern Mississippi’s quest for a 12th win, and the Golden Eagles who will return next year received some news on their future with Tuesday’s announcement that South Carolina defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson had been hired to succeed Fedora.

But the emphasis is on the present for both teams.

"This is the last time this team, as we know it … will be together," Fedora said. "The last time, so we’re going to make the most of it."

Nevada is making its third appearance in the Hawaii Bowl and fills the Western Athletic Conference’s spot in the game for the second time in the last three years.

Throw in regular-season games and the Wolf Pack have a run of four consecutive years with a trip to Hawaii, which is expected to grow to five next year, according to the Mountain West Conference schedule.

Nevada head coach Chris Ault said the team’s familiarity with the surroundings and the bowl-week festivities benefits the Wolf Pack, who contributed to keeping UH out of the bowl game with a 42-28 win on Nov. 12 in Reno, Nev.

"I know they’ve earned the right and the activities that they have, from the luau to Pearl Harbor, they’re special activities and we do want them to enjoy that part of it," Ault said. "But the rest of it, we want them to concentrate on football."

Nevada last won in Aloha Stadium in 2005, when the Wolf Pack defeated Central Florida in overtime. Since then, Nevada has lost three close games against Hawaii and was blown out by Southern Methodist in the 2009 Hawaii Bowl.

"We have the bowl events we’re going enjoy to the fullest, but we have a mission to accomplish and we’ve been practicing hard to finish and win the game," said Nevada senior Brett Roy, an All-WAC defensive lineman.