FANS PLAN TO FOLLOW INDIANS TO HAWAII

Even though Southeast Missouri State's football team plays the University of Hawaii far away in Honolulu, players will hear shouts of support.

Hundreds of local fans are going with them.

The Nov. 12 game against the Division I-A Rainbows won't cost the local team or its cheerleaders a cent -- the University of Hawaii is picking up the tab.

But die-hard fans made arrangements through local travel agencies to cheer for the Division I-AA Indians, ranked lower than their upcoming competitors.

Greg Brune, Southeast's associate director for athletic development, said the presence of parents and other fans makes a difference for the team.

"It's a nice opportunity for everyone," Brune said. "It's good for recruiting, too, because students will see that we get to take nice trips."

Billie Stukenberg, offensive tackle Dave Stukenberg's mother, began making plans a year ago to see her son play on the island.

Stukenberg and her husband, along with two children, will leave their Mascoutah, Ill., home Nov. 9, the same day the team leaves.

The Stukenbergs missed only one of their son's games in his four years on the team, but this will be the longest distance they have traveled to see him.

They have driven 700-mile round trips to watch their favorite tackle.

"We made the decision when Coach Mumford told us about the trip a year ago," Stukenberg said. "It will be a really neat trip, and we hope to spend just a little time with our son."

Cape Girardeau resident Charles Brune, whose son Greg was quoted earlier, went through a Capital Bank plan to attend the game.

The elder Brune played football at Southeast in the 1940s, two sons did in the 1960s and 1970s, and now his grandson, linebacker Brian Brune, is on the team.

He couldn't predict the game's outcome.

"I keep watching Hawaii," Brune said. "They beat California, and that scared us, and Hawaii is rated higher than we are. I just hope we give them a good game."

Bill Bowers, coordinator of Capital Bank's senior citizens' program, said the bank decided to open the travel plan up to all Southeast fans.

Some 86 people signed up for the package by the Sept. 1 deadline, but many got in as soon as it was introduced early this year.

For about $1,800 a person, participants enjoy airfare, the game, lodging, shows, some meals and tours of two islands.

AAA Travel Agency also offered trip discounts for Southeast fans, and people still were signing up last week.

While manager Jane Harte declined to say how many clients were going, she said interest in the trip was high.

Unlike the Capital Bank plan, AAA individualized trips but still offered discount fares.

Most clients will leave Nov. 10, and some may take the same flights or stay in the same motels.

Harte said AAA offered the plan because of its close ties to Southeast.

All four travel agency employees, three in Cape Girardeau and one in Sikeston, attended the university.

Neither university spokesmen nor travel agency representatives could estimate how many Southeast fans will attend the game.

Those who can't go to Hawaii may attend Southeast Fun Night Nov. 12 at the Show Me Center.

The basketball team will play a scrimmage game at 8:30 p.m., with contests beginning at 9:30 p.m.

The Southeast game will be televised at 11:05 p.m., and attendance at the event is free.