Well we have finally made it to the Elite Eight in Springfield, Mass. Some people had a much easier time getting here and they should, because they are much more important than me. More on that in a minute.
As I mentioned on Friday night, myself, Chris Hmielewski and Rolly Muller along with Aaron Ziemer from KARL radio, were flying to Springfield a tad different than the team. We embarked from Marshall on Saturday night around 7 p.m. and the four of us headed to Omaha, Neb. The reason you ask? The NCAA pays for a team travel party of 20 for each of the teams going to the Elite Eight. With our coaches, players, media relations, trainer and administration that number reached over 20 people.
Because of cost, the four of us found less expensive flights out of Omaha. After a food stop in Sioux Falls and a gas stop in Sioux City, we arrived in Omaha around 11:30 p.m. Checked into our rooms around midnight and was sound asleep shortly after for our five-hour nap!
Woke up at 5:15 a.m. this morning, and we headed to the airport. Check in was fine the flight to Atlanta was just fine (yeah I know, real direct, Omaha to Atlanta to Hartford). I picked up some much needed sleep and also got some important reading in as well. Sports Illustrated, Omaha Herald newspaper, and a novel by Jonathan Kellerman.
Following lunch in at Chili’s and watching some college hoops on TV, we boarded the plane around 12:15 p.m. EDT to head north to Hartford. Before I forget, I’m doing some checking on-line, but I swore I saw Vanilla Ice in the airport. As someone who graduated high school in 1993, Vanilla Ice was “the man” for a few months of my life in the early 1990s. Again, I can’t be for sure it was him, but I’m sticking with the story.
Smooth flight to Hartford and we arrived around 4:15 p.m. Then went to Enterprise to pick up the five mini vans that team will be using this week.
Travel was much easier for the team and trainer Nathan Burns. The Mustangs were treated “big time”, taking a bus to Sioux Falls on Sunday morning and then boarding a charter plane that would take them directly from Sioux Falls to Hartford. The bus dropped the guys off right on the tarmac and within minutes the team was in the air. The team arrived earlier than expected and by 5 p.m. our official travel party was in the vans and making the drive north to Springfield, which is just 20 minutes from Hartford, Conn.
The drivers for the week: Greg Stemen, Nate Burns, Kelly Loft, Chris Hmielewski and Brad Bigler.
Finally got to Springfield and with Chris leading the way, took a wrong turn and we drove past the Basketball Hall of Fame twice. I told my van full of guys we were just checking to see the times it was open. I had assistant coach Nate Kaeding, along with Ross DeMasi, Ryan Krome and Andrew Peschong in my van. We’ll come up with some “cool” name for the van. When I’m with the SMSU baseball team in Ft. Myers, Fla, each year we usually come up with some dumb name. Just weird stuff guys do to pass the time.
Hope all is well in Marshall or wherever you’re reading this from. School is back in session at SMSU on Monday. I’m sure the players are all thinking of you students as you head back to classes…or maybe not.
More tomorrow, or maybe tonight. We’ll see.
Go Mustangs!
As I mentioned on Friday night, myself, Chris Hmielewski and Rolly Muller along with Aaron Ziemer from KARL radio, were flying to Springfield a tad different than the team. We embarked from Marshall on Saturday night around 7 p.m. and the four of us headed to Omaha, Neb. The reason you ask? The NCAA pays for a team travel party of 20 for each of the teams going to the Elite Eight. With our coaches, players, media relations, trainer and administration that number reached over 20 people.
Because of cost, the four of us found less expensive flights out of Omaha. After a food stop in Sioux Falls and a gas stop in Sioux City, we arrived in Omaha around 11:30 p.m. Checked into our rooms around midnight and was sound asleep shortly after for our five-hour nap!
Woke up at 5:15 a.m. this morning, and we headed to the airport. Check in was fine the flight to Atlanta was just fine (yeah I know, real direct, Omaha to Atlanta to Hartford). I picked up some much needed sleep and also got some important reading in as well. Sports Illustrated, Omaha Herald newspaper, and a novel by Jonathan Kellerman.
Following lunch in at Chili’s and watching some college hoops on TV, we boarded the plane around 12:15 p.m. EDT to head north to Hartford. Before I forget, I’m doing some checking on-line, but I swore I saw Vanilla Ice in the airport. As someone who graduated high school in 1993, Vanilla Ice was “the man” for a few months of my life in the early 1990s. Again, I can’t be for sure it was him, but I’m sticking with the story.
Smooth flight to Hartford and we arrived around 4:15 p.m. Then went to Enterprise to pick up the five mini vans that team will be using this week.
Travel was much easier for the team and trainer Nathan Burns. The Mustangs were treated “big time”, taking a bus to Sioux Falls on Sunday morning and then boarding a charter plane that would take them directly from Sioux Falls to Hartford. The bus dropped the guys off right on the tarmac and within minutes the team was in the air. The team arrived earlier than expected and by 5 p.m. our official travel party was in the vans and making the drive north to Springfield, which is just 20 minutes from Hartford, Conn.
The drivers for the week: Greg Stemen, Nate Burns, Kelly Loft, Chris Hmielewski and Brad Bigler.
Finally got to Springfield and with Chris leading the way, took a wrong turn and we drove past the Basketball Hall of Fame twice. I told my van full of guys we were just checking to see the times it was open. I had assistant coach Nate Kaeding, along with Ross DeMasi, Ryan Krome and Andrew Peschong in my van. We’ll come up with some “cool” name for the van. When I’m with the SMSU baseball team in Ft. Myers, Fla, each year we usually come up with some dumb name. Just weird stuff guys do to pass the time.
We checked into the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Springfield, Mass. Seems like a very nice place. They are doing some renovations or should I say LOTS of renovations. The middle of the hotel has (I’m not kidding) 14 floors of scaffolding. You walk out your room and you can look down to the second floor and look up and see to the 15th floor. It’s a huge open area, but right now all you see is scaffolding.
I still haven't talked to associate head coach Brad Bigler, or barely have seen him. I guess some motion sickness has taken over Mr. Bigler. He is staying in the room tonight.
Everyone got into their rooms, and then we head out for supper. Our first meal as a team was at Theodore’s Pub in downtown Springfield. Good food, BBQ, burgers, etc. We took some pictures and watched some college basketball. Make me wonder, how many meals this team has had together this season. Remember, the team first played an exhibition game in mid-October in Brandon, Manitoba, then in Anaheim, Calif., in early November and now we are still playing in late March. Love it!
Everyone is tad tired from the day of travel and we headed back to our rooms around 8 p.m. EDT. Coach Stemen has a meeting scheduled for around 9:30 p.m. to talk about tomorrow’s schedule. (Wait, there is a knock on my door, hold on). The hotel just dropped off a welcome tray for my roommate, head coach Greg Stemen. Coach is not here right now I tell them, but they bring in anyways. It looks fancy, two bottles of water on ice, with two glasses and a plate wrapped in tin foil. I’m trying to see what is inside, but I better wait for Greg. They also gave two plates and two forks. What are they saying? Date night for Greg and Kelly I guess.
I will post some pictures tonight and throughout the week of our travels. Tomorrow, there is practice, maybe the Basketball Hall of Fame and much more. This of course again is an experience the guys will never forget. I was a part of the 2001 team that advanced to the Elite Eight in Bakersfield, Calif., and it is something I will always remember. This year though, I’ll remember to take more pictures!
The guys also know there is plenty of business to take care of. Everything pointed to Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 EDT versus Cal Poly Pomona.
I still haven't talked to associate head coach Brad Bigler, or barely have seen him. I guess some motion sickness has taken over Mr. Bigler. He is staying in the room tonight.
Everyone got into their rooms, and then we head out for supper. Our first meal as a team was at Theodore’s Pub in downtown Springfield. Good food, BBQ, burgers, etc. We took some pictures and watched some college basketball. Make me wonder, how many meals this team has had together this season. Remember, the team first played an exhibition game in mid-October in Brandon, Manitoba, then in Anaheim, Calif., in early November and now we are still playing in late March. Love it!
Everyone is tad tired from the day of travel and we headed back to our rooms around 8 p.m. EDT. Coach Stemen has a meeting scheduled for around 9:30 p.m. to talk about tomorrow’s schedule. (Wait, there is a knock on my door, hold on). The hotel just dropped off a welcome tray for my roommate, head coach Greg Stemen. Coach is not here right now I tell them, but they bring in anyways. It looks fancy, two bottles of water on ice, with two glasses and a plate wrapped in tin foil. I’m trying to see what is inside, but I better wait for Greg. They also gave two plates and two forks. What are they saying? Date night for Greg and Kelly I guess.
I will post some pictures tonight and throughout the week of our travels. Tomorrow, there is practice, maybe the Basketball Hall of Fame and much more. This of course again is an experience the guys will never forget. I was a part of the 2001 team that advanced to the Elite Eight in Bakersfield, Calif., and it is something I will always remember. This year though, I’ll remember to take more pictures!
The guys also know there is plenty of business to take care of. Everything pointed to Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 EDT versus Cal Poly Pomona.
More media coverage for SMSU men's basketball coming up on Monday night. I worked my contacts and Greg Stemen will be on WCCO radio on Monday night with Mike Max at 8:10 CDT! Make sure and tune in!
Hope all is well in Marshall or wherever you’re reading this from. School is back in session at SMSU on Monday. I’m sure the players are all thinking of you students as you head back to classes…or maybe not.
More tomorrow, or maybe tonight. We’ll see.
Go Mustangs!
Hope the guys enjoyed the signs. The boys were pumped up to go and have the "U Got Roehled" sign, "#1", and the Independent's poster insert. They were glad the bus went by and honked! Keep up the great updates Kelly.
ReplyDeleteHans the guys loved the signs, especially the U GOT ROEHLED.....that was awesome. I think Kelly should definitely give me a shot as a guest blogger.....I would have mentioned the smoking hot flight attendant we had on our charter!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this site Kelly - I have shared it with my husband and father, who will also be grateful for it. Especially for posting different media opportunities that the team has had - it is nice to know when and were to watch/listen. We cannot wait to cheer on the Mustangs!
ReplyDelete