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PDF versionWILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- At first glance, Weber State University's trek across the country for today's first-round game in the Division I FCS playoffs against William & Mary might look like a difficult trip.
After all, it's close to 2,188 miles from Ogden to Williamsburg, home to Zable Stadium and the No. 6- ranked Tribe.
Compared with some of the trips the No. 15-ranked Wildcats have taken this season as well as the past few years, however, the flight to Virginia might be one of the easiest trips of the season.
"This is better than traveling on the bus," said WSU coach Ron McBride. "This will be shorter than the bus rides to Wyoming, Colorado State and Northern Colorado."
WSU spent the first two weeks this season getting to know Interstate 80 on bus trips to Laramie, Wyo., and Fort Collins, Colo. Then on back-to-back weekends, the Wildcats again rolled across I-80 on their way to Greeley, Colo., followed by a bus trip north to Montana.
Each of the four trips by land had longer travel times than Thursday's trip by air to Norfolk, Va.
As for long flights, well, WSU has experienced that type of travel as well.
"Last year, we traveled to Hawaii, and that was a six-hour flight, so this is going to be just another walk in the park," said WSU linebacker Nick Webb.
This weekend's trip is both exciting and a little unglamorous for the team, which left Thursday afternoon on a chartered flight.
"We've never been out of the West, so it will be fun to go out there," said WSU safety Beau Hadley.
"The Thanksgiving part is kind of a bummer because you won't get to be with your family, but everyone's excited that we're missing for a good reason."
The Wildcats weren't able to spend the holiday with their families, instead having a team dinner before heading to Salt Lake City to catch their 4 p.m. flight. However, like McBride points out, this trip is one the Wildcats should be excited about taking.
"If you're home for Thanksgiving, it means you're not in the playoffs."
The Wildcats are spending Thanksgiving weekend away from family for the second straight season.
A year ago, WSU played a first-round playoff game at Cal Poly. WSU won that game, 49-35, and advanced to the second round to face Montana.
While the Wildcats are 3-3 on the road this season (2-0 on trips when they flew rather than bused), the players say they don't really have a negative feeling about playing away from Stewart Stadium.
In fact, there are a few pluses to playing on the road.
"We usually do pretty good with traveling on the road," Hadley said. "You can relax in the hotel, and we get to watch a little more film in the hotel."
