Delaware State will make it to its game after overcoming some travel difficulties.

The Hornets football team is currently on its way to Honolulu for their season opener against Hawai‘i, despite missing their original flight on Tuesday due to a delay with the shuttle bus. The game is still scheduled for Saturday at 6:00 p.m. HT, which is midnight Sunday on the east coast.

Hawai‘i’s media relations director, Derek Inouchi, informed YSL News Sports on Wednesday that the Rainbow Warriors are assisting Delaware State in modifying practice times, but no conversations have taken place regarding changing the game’s schedule.

Here’s everything you need to know about Delaware State’s travel complications before their matchup with the Rainbow Warriors.

Will Delaware State arrive in Hawai‘i for Saturday’s game?

Not yet, but the Hornets are en route. The Delaware News Journal (part of the YSL News Network) reported that the team departed Wednesday morning and is expected to land in Honolulu by Wednesday afternoon. Although the Hornets aimed to have a direct flight, they will now take three separate flights on their journey.

What caused Delaware State to miss their flight to Hawai‘i?

Delaware State preferred a direct flight due to the nearly 5,000-mile distance from Philadelphia or Baltimore to Honolulu. The nearest direct flights were from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, which required shuttle buses. However, the bus company contracted to transport the Hornets, Wertz Motor Coaches, issued a statement to HBCU GameDay, explaining that an “internal scheduling malfunction” in their reservation system was the root cause of the delay in picking up the traveling party.

As a result, the Hornets missed their flight and spent Tuesday night in a hotel in New York City while organizing alternate travel arrangements.

The travel ordeal made headlines, but the players managed to keep spirits high by sharing videos on social media.

DSU president Tony Allen commented to The News Journal on Wednesday saying, “It was unfortunate with the bus company, but that’s another matter.” He added, “I can tell you these are resilient guys. Things like this happen. They’re focused on what’s ahead.”

What financial implications are involved in the Delaware State-Hawai‘i game?

An athletic event contract obtained by YSL News Sports reveals that the University of Hawai‘i will pay Delaware State $180,000 to take part in the game. This contract, signed by both schools’ presidents and athletic directors in late February, is a common arrangement for Hawai‘i when facing FCS teams to round out their schedule. In a similar contract, it was revealed that the University is obligated to pay Northern Iowa $165,000 for a game scheduled on September 21 at 6:00 p.m. HT.

As stipulated in the contract, Hawai‘i must pay Delaware State within 60 days after the game. Additionally, the agreement outlines that Hawai‘i will cover “round trip airfare for a travel party of 100, not to exceed fourteen hundred dollars ($1,400) per fare.” However, it notes that “all change fees shall be paid by the Visiting Team.” Hawai‘i is also responsible for hotel accommodations and transportation to and from the airport, as well as to practice facilities and stadiums.

Furthermore, the agreement includes clauses regarding cancellations and forfeitures. If either party breaches the contract, they would owe the other party “$750,000,” which reflects the estimated revenue loss from attendance. “The Parties further agree that this sum is a reasonable estimate of the damages incurred as a result of a breach and not a penalty,” the agreement states.

There is, however, a provision in the contract that protects against cancellations or forfeitures caused by “Force Majeure Events,” which include situations like labor disputes or unforeseen issues affecting either party.

What should you know about the Delaware State-Hawai‘i football game?

The Hornets had a tough season last year, finishing with a record of 1-10 and coming in last in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, losing all five conference games. They averaged 18 points per game, ranking them 102nd out of 122 FCS teams.

On the other hand, the Rainbow Warriors ended their previous season with a 5-8 record, finishing eighth in the Mountain West Conference with a 3-5 conference record. Hawai‘i quarterback Brayden Schager led the Mountain West in 2023 with 3,542 passing yards and 26 passing touchdowns. Additionally, the Rainbow Warriors have maintained a successful streak, winning their last 20 contests against FCS teams.

How to watch the Delaware State-Hawai‘i football game?

Locally, the game will be available on Spectrum Sports pay-per-view. Those outside Hawaii can stream the game using the Team1 Sports app by looking up “Hawai‘i football” in the channels section.

The matchup is set to occur at the Clarence T.C. Ching Complex, which is located on the University of Hawai‘i’s campus.

Contributing: Steve Berkowitz