UH and BSU faced different Bowl travel rules

HSB Note: "As it turns out, what's good for the Broncos isn't necessarily good for the Warriors. Hawaii and Idaho state laws vary when it comes to what employees are allowed to accept. Spouses and children traveling to bowl games on the public dime may be a no-no here, although not a problem in other states, including Idaho."

About how BSU and UH had to follow different rules for their travel to BCS Bowls, BSU assistant AD Max Corbet said:
"Every school and every state is different. When we (go to bowl games) our athletic director (Gene Bleymaier) works very closely with our vice president of administration and finance and our legal counsel. Gene's always going to double-check everything and make sure everything's above board. I'm not saying Hawaii did anything wrong. I'm just saying we're really good about double and triple checking those things." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Boise State -- which Hawaii based some of its 2008 Sugar Bowl travel policies -- may have been accountable to significantly less strenuous state law when determining who could have their Fiesta Bowl trips paid for in 2007. Idaho law requires "specific authorization of the governmental entity for which he serves" in order for a public servant to "use public funds or property to obtain a pecuniary benefit for himself." Hawaii law is more stringent, specifically prohibiting receiving or granting of "unwarranted privileges." "

HSB Note: "The functions of guests, including spouses and children of UH staff, are under scrutiny. The commission's executive director said he left a pre-trip meeting with school officials with the impression that any children on the trip would not be paid for by UH. But 14 children of university employees were listed by UH as having their way to New Orleans paid by the school."

About how they used BSU as an example when they formed their travel policy, Chancellor Hinshaw said:
"We made these decisions based on extensive conversations with our fellow WAC school Boise State on their travel to the Fiesta Bowl, along with our own knowledge of other schools' policies and our experiences with the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl." (HSB)

About how spouses and children of employees went to the Fiesta Bowl at state expense and how that is routine for them, Corbet said:
"That's been pretty normal for all our bowl games. But it's different for every game. For people on staff, like myself, that can vary. One thing for sure is that we're not going to go over budget." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Corbet said the Fiesta Bowl travel group included 478 and total travel expenses were $1,036,293.96. UH's expenses for more than 550 to New Orleans (a much farther trip) came to close to $2 million."

About how there was no controversy over their travel policy, Corbet said:
"From what I've gathered over the years every state is different and every school handles it differently. It's good to get ideas, but you have to make sure what you do fits your situation. I'm sure Oklahoma did a lot of things differently than we did." (HSB)

About how every school has to follow state law no matter what the NCAA or WAC says, Corbet said:
"You can get in trouble thinking, 'This money was given to us, we can do whatever we want with it.' The answer is yes and no. It's still state money. You still can't violate state laws with what you do with it." (HSB)