These days, Louisiana Tech football players spend their free time lifting ... boxes, furniture, supplies.

"Anything to do with physical labor, we're willing to help," quarterback Matt Kubik said of the team's relief work since Hurricane Katrina blew through the Gulf Coast Aug. 29. "It's the least we can do."

The team's campus in Ruston, La., located in the northwest part of the state, was spared from direct damage. But coach Jack Bicknell, whose team hosts Hawai'i Saturday, said 15 players' homes were damaged or destroyed, and more than a hundred of their family members were evacuated to Ruston.

Running back Freddie Franklin's family home was located 100 yards from the break in a levee, a major source of the flooding in New Orleans.

Linebacker Byron Santiago was raised in Violet, La., which was battered by the hurricane. "All of his extended family's houses were wiped out," Bicknell said. "It was a terrible thing."

Backup quarterback Donald Allen's family home in New Orleans also was destroyed.

The most frustrating period, Bicknell said, was in the days after the hurricane struck the Gulf Coast. "We had players who weren't sure about family members," Bicknell said. "That first week was very difficult. Nobody could get in touch with anybody. As the days went on, they started getting more and more nervous about what was going on. Of course, you're watching CNN, and some of our players were from the hardest-hit areas. That was a hard time."

Bicknell canceled two practices. As it turned out, none of the players' family members suffered serious injuries.

But left homeless, more than a hundred of the players' relatives ended up in Ruston, a town of 20,500.

"At one time, there were about 2,500 evacuees in Ruston," Bicknell said. "A lot of them are still here, because they can't go home."

Bicknell said about 800 evacuees are staying in an eight-story dormitory that was scheduled to be torn down. "Santiago's family is there," Bicknell said. "At one time, there were at least 70 from his family alone."

Allen's and Franklin's families also are living in the dormitory.

"The families who have had their homes wiped out, it's a very difficult situation," Bicknell said. "One thing we're always talking about is, 'when do they get the insurance money, and when are they going to rebuild?' It's still up in the air."

Bicknell said he was told many of the families wouldn't be able to return to Gulf Coast areas until January.

In the meantime, the Tech players have served as volunteers.

"We're doing everything we can to make (the evacuees) comfortable," linebacker Barry Robertson said. "This whole thing has been a reality check."

Robertson said his mother's home in Mississippi was partially damaged. "My mom lost a couple of things," he said. "It'll take time, but everything will work out."

Kubik said: "It's been rough on a lot of families. We've had some guys lose their homes and all of their possessions down there. It kind of puts everything into perspective. We are just playing a football game. There are people down there who don't have houses anymore. I think it brought us together a little bit, too."

Bicknell said: "This town and this university really opened their arms to a lot of people. You really saw the best come out in human nature."

WHO'S GOING, WHO'S NOT

UH running back Mario Cox, who did not play last week while he tries to learn the blocking schemes, was included on the 60-player travel roster for Saturday's game against Louisiana Tech.

Cox said UH coach June Jones is crafting a role for him on special teams. "I'll be doing that until I can get into proper shape," said Cox, a freshman whose eligibility was approved three weeks ago.

Also on the travel roster are running backs Nate Ilaoa, Bryan Maneafaiga and David Farmer. Maneafaiga missed the past two games because of a pulled left hamstring. Running back Kala Latuselu will not travel.

Slotback Patrick Olchovy, who suffered two broken back ribs during a preseason scrimmage, will make the trip. Olchovy resumed competing in contact drills this week.

Wideout Chad Mock will play this week, but 6-foot-4 Jordan Slye will not. Against Boise State, Slye caught two passes for 29 yards and grabbed a two-point conversion. Mock and return specialist Andre Taylor will serve as the backups to left wideout Michael Washington.

Cornerback Ryan Keomaka, who is suffering from a subluxed right shoulder, is on the travel roster.

Freshman JoPierre Davis, who will not make the trip, yesterday moved from running back to cornerback.

The Warriors were scheduled to arrive in Houston early this morning. They will practice in a Houston community complex tonight and tomorrow morning before traveling to Louisiana.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.