Evening star., 1955-10-07
SPOTLIGHT
ON
SPORTS
Bus Rides | Have Taken
By MERRELL WHITTLEsEY

BUS RIDES HAVE Takenr was q topic Of discussion
at College Park the other day and while on the subject
body made up list of the most inaccessible places to play
bg-time college football Eastern and Southern versions
The list OF course reflection some very fine
institutions of learning which Just happen to be out Of the
way the modern football coach who prefers to go
class all the way.
The ideal trip from the standpoint Of the coach
board plane at home and land nonstop at the city where
the to be played take short bus trip to the hotel
another short bus ride to the stadium the next day behind
police escort play an afternoon game and leave almost
Immediately for home.
That schedule hardly can be maintained you're play
ing Dartmouth at Hanover NJ H. Penn State at University
Park Pa West Virginia at Morgantown vpT at Blacksburg
Mississippi at Oxford Mississippi State at State College.
Arkansas at Fayetteville Georgia at Athens to few.
ANYBODY WHO DOUBTS the above colleges are distant
from major transportation centers could confirm it with the
athletic directors OF the schools who h year after
year for home games 1t not for conference Obga
tons some Of the above never would get name team to
play them at home. As&
The football rivalry West Virginia ana Penn state
They deserve each other Washington sports writer's who
have travelled to Morgantown with Maryland and George
Washington have many tales of being lost snowbound frozen
waylaid and missing Ditto for Penn State.
The last time Maryland played West Virginia at Morgan
town the Terps left early Friday for Unontown Pa where
the players spent the night nasmuch there hotel
in Morgantown to accommodate them.
Breakfast and lunch rounes disrupted the next
day the Terps continued the journey to their dressing
quarters in the eldhouse The latter building long hike
from the stadium.
The bus waited for the players to dress, and then
started the uphill trip the stadium Hallway up it stalled
and the players had to get out and push.
e&Es*
ANOTHER OBSTACLE TO Morgantown is that it is so
out of the way that seldom does visiting bring any
supporters OF the usual 2000 spectators present. West V
ginas fans dominate the cheers about 800 to
George Washngtons team few into Morgantown in two
small planes last Others to Pittsburgh by rail
and take the bus Some scouts who try to make Nor
gantown at the last minute It, get
back.
When Navy played Dartmouth last year the Middies
flew into Hanover In two small planes The official party
flew to Boston and rented for the 15Ome trip
there Dartmouth must play its home games early This
year the Big Green plays only at home after October a.
VPI SIS miles from Roanoke the nearest rail center and
not exactly the home Of La Guardia Airport managed to per-
suade CIV and Richmond to play there this 1t plays
home game at Roanoke and another at Buefed Va
And In the basketball season. the situation because
OF the slippery mountain roads
COACH JIM TATUM Of Maryland never has lived down
the abis after his teams is-game winning streak
broken by Mississippi
Quartered Memphis 80 miles away the previous night
the Terps forbidden police escort to the game by
State law So instead Of the usual carefully planned pre-
game preparations the Terps spent the morning slow
moving bus which followed the ow Of traffic narrow
winding roads from Memphis to Oxford The team
upset on arrival.
Oxford crossroads without rain plane connections
and without hotel This year Ole Miss plays home games
in Memphis and Jackson Miss and two at Oxford It's OPP
ponents include North Texas State Memphis State
Houston as an idea Of the trouble has getting opponents
of note, even though it Is Sugar Bowl contender
For its Penn State game this year the Navy team will
split and fly in small planes to Phpsbug Pa, where it will
spend the night and take the 25-le bus trip the
morning The official party will drive from Annapolis
Arkansas, Mississippi State and Georgia have similar
problems In their conferences Auburn used play one
home game year.
You've idea how fussy football coaches can be about
routine You should hear them squawk when the athletic
u. S.A.