The Delaware State football team’s harrowing travel experience was expected to end Wednesday by reaching their appointed destination.
According to a USA Today report, the Hornets, who missed their Tuesday morning flight thanks to a “snafu” by the shuttle bus company contracted to transport them to JFK, were expected to reach Hawai’i Wednesday afternoon. The Hornets wanted a direct flight, but thanks to the delay, will have three connecting flights to reach Honolulu.
Hawai‘i director of media relations Derek Inouchi said that the team was working with Delaware State to readjust practice times, but the game is still scheduled for Saturday 6 p.m. Hawai’ian time. DSU will be the first HBCU to play on the island since Grambling defeated the Rainbow Warriors 34-23 back in 1976.
Delaware State University president Tony Allen told the Delaware News Journal that the delay was an “unfortunate incident,” but praised the team’s morale and attitude, as evidenced by social media videos from the airport.
“I can tell you these are resilient guys,” Allen said. “Things like this happen. They got it. I know they’ll be uber-focused on the game.”