Team Travel Costs

KRAM1 · July 22, 2008

Just wondering what folks might think about the idea that rising travel costs might cause athletic directors and schools to re-think conference affiliations???? It costs a "bunch" to send a football team "on the road" these days, and the cost of transportation, food, etc., etc. continues to rise "fast".

What do you think?

greenjoe · July 22, 2008

I think car pooling is the answer. If we were to recruit more guys with big cars, we could save a bunch on travel. Also, we should schedule games in cities where some of the players have a grandmother or aunt. This way, the jplayers could stay with "granny" and expect a good, home-cooked breakfast in the morning. Perhaps take out the trash or trim some trees while they're there to defray the cost for the chicken and dumplins.

Here's the best part.

With Aunt Fern having already met some of the players, she's for sure going to go to the game. And maybe even bring her bridge group.

Then, after the game, back in the big guys big car. Plenty of time to stop by the Dairy Queen for a DQ Dude and a sundae.

No more airport hassles, no more mixed up hotel reservations, and no more wondering if our boys are back home in bed at a decent hour.

Edited July 22, 2008 by greenjoe

Smitty · July 22, 2008

Just wondering what folks might think about the idea that rising travel costs might cause athletic directors and schools to re-think conference affiliations???? It costs a "bunch" to send a football team "on the road" these days, and the cost of transportation, food, etc., etc. continues to rise "fast".
What do you think?

With dramatically rising travel costs, I think there are going to be schools all over the country pushing hard up against their athletic budgets this year. It's suddenly a lot more expensive to send any team to a game, and that could force re-alignment of conferences. How expensive is it going to be for TCU in the Mountain West or Louisiana Tech in the WAC?

the real grad88 · July 22, 2008

Just wondering what folks might think about the idea that rising travel costs might cause athletic directors and schools to re-think conference affiliations???? It costs a "bunch" to send a football team "on the road" these days, and the cost of transportation, food, etc., etc. continues to rise "fast".
What do you think?

What do you know, someone else is thinking of the same thing. I agree 100%. Now, the last time I posted this discussion, I had several who said that it would take a lot more than $4.00 gas to cause realignment. I don't think so and here is why. It's not JUST $4.00 gas, it is the prospects of how high it could go in the next several years. In addition, it is the FACT that college development officers are having a TOUGH time getting donations for things that used to be gimmies. The economy is slowing all kinds of things down that used to keep the little perks going. The point is: I don't know what the tipping point will be, but it will not be business as usual for the indefinite future. Eventually rising costs and shrinking donations are going to catch up with a BUNCH of midmajor programs and maybe then some common sense will come into play.