Like many business travelers, Tom Mason started a book during his nine-hour flight from Chicago to Honolulu.
But Mason, who coordinates the University of Hawaii football team’s defense, was an author instead of a reader.
By the time the plane touched down on Sunday afternoon, Mason had filled a notebook with observations, suggestions and diagrams. The information was culled from watching football videos of the Rainbow Warriors’ 28-0 road loss to Wisconsin and two games involving upcoming opponent Boise State.
Mason graded every UH defensive player — inside linebackers Benetton Fonua and Jerrol Garcia-Williams had high scores — and every play.
Notes from the book were shared with assistant coaches and graduate assistants during a video-review session at the UH offices on Sunday evening. An outline already has been started for the game plan against Boise State.
The Warriors were on the clock following the Wisconsin game. After showering, they traveled from Madison to Chicago, where they stayed in a hotel on the O’Hare International Airport property. Before boarding the flight to Honolulu, video coordinator Dory Kong uploaded the game’s footage to each coach’s laptop. The plane then became a work station at 34,000 feet.
"We can’t waste time," head coach Norm Chow said.
The Warriors’ game against Wisconsin was their second in the Midwest in as many weeks and the first of four road games in five weeks.
"We have to leave again on Thursday," Chow said of the Boise State trip.
The Warriors usually have a self-imposed 24-hour period to celebrate or rue a game. But when the clock struck "0:00" at Camp Randall Stadium, the Warriors began thinking ahead to this Saturday’s Mountain West Conference opener.
"We had to move on," Chow said.
Chow said the Warriors had their moments against Wisconsin, but there were times "we didn’t play real smart." Chow said the Warriors will need to minimize mistakes against Boise State, which clobbered Virginia, 56-14, on Friday night.
Wideout Marcus Kemp, running back Paul Harris, linebacker Julian Gener and right tackle RJ Hollis exited the Wisconsin game with apparent ailments. Chow said he expects Harris, Gener and Hollis to be available this coming weekend. Kemp has a knee issue and his situation is being evaluated.
"We have to get our (injured) guys back, and get back to work," Chow said.
