The Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl is the first bowl appearance in University of Central Florida football history, but head coach George O'Leary isn't getting sentimental about it.

After what is scheduled to be an 11- to 12-hour trip Sunday from their Orlando campus, the Golden Knights won't go to their hotel or sightseeing upon arrival. Officials say they'll go directly to the practice field.

O'Leary, whose Golden Knights (8-4) meet Nevada (8-3) in the Dec. 24 game at Aloha Stadium, is sending a clear business-first message for the seven-day trip.

"There are so many things for the players to do, but we're going to take care of business on the athletic field also," O'Leary said.

UCF officials said the Golden Knights are scheduled to leave the school at 5 a.m. Eastern time Sunday and arrive via charter flight in Honolulu by noon. They are scheduled to practice at the University of Hawai'i.

UCF said it will bring all 103 players, included redshirts and injured players, in a traveling party of 253.

O'Leary said: "I think if you go to a bowl game you have to let the players enjoy the place you're at and there is no better place than Hawai'i to enjoy it, but I do think that you have a job to do when you get there...

"To ensure that, we'll practice each day, but they're also going to enjoy the bowl dance."

O'Leary added: "I already have the schedule set as far as the bowl is concerned. We'll ... wake up at 6:30 a.m. and go (practice) until about 12:45 with some type of football or meeting and then, I think, they're done for the day."

A spokesman said the Golden Knights are scheduled to leave immediately after the game with the goal of getting their players from Florida and Georgia back to their families by Christmas night.

NOTES

About 100 to 150 UCF fans are expected to make the trip for the game, officials said. Travel packages for airfare, six nights hotel, game tickets and transfer from Orlando, Fla., have been running about $1,800, UCF officials said. ... Las Vegas oddsmakers have established the Wolf Pack as a two-point favorite.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com.