08-17-2024, 03:30 PM
(08-16-2024, 10:39 PM)M T Wrote: Oh, those poor football players, with their charter planes that fly on their schedule, with typically 6 days between weekend games.
I'm sure the other sports without the mass to fly charter, having to fit into scheduled airlines with connections, and typically 4 days between weekend games will be so sympathetic to the hardships of the football team's mileage.
Oh, and sitting in the commercial airline seats will be so good for cramped legs, or for studying (yea, right).
Looking at WVB: Shortest Flight time only, add at least 3-4 hours for room-to-room time. As for dates, YMMV.
Aug 29 Minneapolis, MN: 3.75 hours
Sep 5: Return 3.75 hours
Sep 9: Burbank, CA: 1.33 hours
Sep 12: Return 1.33 hours
Sep 16: Lincoln, NE: 5.0 hours
Sep 19: Return: 5.0 hours
Sep 25: South Bend, IN: 6.6 hours
Sep 28: Louisville, KY: 4.1 hours (bus)
Sep 29: Return: 5.1 hours
Oct 17: Dallas, TX: 3.6 hours
Oct 19: Pittsburgh, PA: 2.7 hours
Oct 21: Return: 5.4 hours
Oct 26: Coral Gables, FL: 5.6 hours
Nov 2: Tallahassee, FL: 1.5 hours
Nov 4: Return: 7 hours
Nov 17: Durham, NC: 5.2 hours
Nov 23: Chapel Hill, NC: 0 hours (bus)
Nov 25: Atlanta, GA: 1.5 hours
Nov 28: Return: 4.9 hours
and then the tournaments.
I didn't look to see that the shortest flight time made sense for their schedules. I'd guess that most of the air travel has to be on a day dedicated to travel (ie, not before or after a match)).
That's almost 70 hours in the air over 17 flights (10 states) in 90 days. Plus at least another 17-25 hours in the plane, plus another probably 30 hours going to/from airports, plus the 4 hour bus trip to Louisville. So a good 120 hours (ie, 3 work weeks equivalent) traveling. In 3 months. Wow.
I didn't add up the ticket prices (or miles) but I'd be surprised if it was less than $5K each player & staff. More if they want seats they can study in. Good luck sleeping...
I guess the October & November flights might be impacted by a hurricane. The Sep 16 to Oct 17 trips could be impacted by thunderstorms or tornadoes. Would the team violate NCAA rules if they had an over/under line on the number of matches delayed or cancelled due to travel delays?
Those kinds of schedules are why I pulled the plug at 62 plus the impact of Covid. No matter what the perks, after while it becomes very much an unfun way to spend hours and hours of every month. But being in your late teens or early 20's with not much more to worry about than passing the next math exam, plus flying around country with your friends and teamates, a piece of cake.