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boroeagle2 Offline
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Post: #1
Travel Partner Discussion
I see the term Travel Partner used all the time in the various 12th team discussions--generally in relation to needing a travel partner for App St. It is often said that App was "promised" a travel partner when they joined the SBC. The premise (as I understand it) is that a team can for example, fly into Atlanta play Ga St, bus down to Statesboro, play us, and then fly out of Savannah back home; thus playing two conference opponents while only making 2 flights and 2 short bus rides instead of 4 flights. In this example, the travel partner beneficiary is the traveling team, say Texas State by having less flights, so why would a "promise" be made to the non-traveling (read non-benefitting) team that a travel partner will be added for them?

Also, how often and in what sports does this come into play? I know not football.

In baseball and softball, conference games are usually (at least in the SoCon) played as weekend series; occasional mid-week games are usually for non-conference opponents. So other than maybe the week a particular school is on Spring Break or something, I don't see how the travel partner concept helps.

Golf and Track and Field competitions are usually held on weekends and combine several teams at once(I think)--so again I don't think that the travel partner idea is really in play.

Men's and Women's bball is one that I do know sometimes has Weds-Friday or Thursday-Saturday conference road trips, so I can see the benefit here, but at the same time, those are some of the smaller traveling parties and if they are already missing class on the in-between day is a long bus/van ride that much of an issue?

Tennis and Soccer are 2 that I have no idea about scheduling practices. It may be that these are 2 beneficiaries of the travel partner concept similar to basketball, I just don't know.

I see the concept discussed so many threads, just wanted to see if I could get some explanation in a consolidated place. I'm fairly new to this forum, so forgive me and point me to an alternate thread if this has already been detailed out somewhere.
04-14-2014 09:01 AM
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GaStPanthers Offline
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Post: #2
RE: Travel Partner Discussion
I would be interested in reading the discussion on this as well.
04-14-2014 09:09 AM
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blunderbuss Offline
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Post: #3
RE: Travel Partner Discussion
Men's and women's basketball is the big one where you can utilize a travel partner. Oly sports, golf, etc. typically aren't affected as much for the reasons you've mentioned. Baseball and softball not really affected at all. The whole "travel partner" thing is a bit blown out of proportion.
04-14-2014 09:18 AM
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appfan89 Offline
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Post: #4
RE: Travel Partner Discussion
(04-14-2014 09:01 AM)boroeagle2 Wrote:  Tennis and Soccer are 2 that I have no idea about scheduling practices. It may be that these are 2 beneficiaries of the travel partner concept similar to basketball, I just don't know.

As a former college tennis official, I have officiated many college matches where a visiting team is on their 2nd or 3rd match of a long weekend, playing only the local teams in the general area. It could be a conference, an OOC, or a mixture of the two. So I see it as a benefit, to some extent.

Let me add, I've seen this done on several occassions, mostly with the ACC, since there are 3 ACC school within a short drive (UNC, NCSU, and Duke) and a 4th one, about 2 hours away (Wake). But I have been involved with the SoCon, with Elon, UNCG and App 2 hours away.

So if a western Sun Belt team goes to App (via flight into Charlotte, or wherever), they can take a bus trip to JMU (just a possible scenario) for another conference match. On the way, they can stop at Liberty for an OOC match. And/or throw in Virginia Tech for another OOC match.
(This post was last modified: 04-14-2014 09:37 AM by appfan89.)
04-14-2014 09:29 AM
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SHWISH Offline
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Post: #5
RE: Travel Partner Discussion
(04-14-2014 09:18 AM)blunderbuss Wrote:  Men's and women's basketball is the big one where you can utilize a travel partner. Oly sports, golf, etc. typically aren't affected as much for the reasons you've mentioned. Baseball and softball not really affected at all. The whole "travel partner" thing is a bit blown out of proportion.

04-cheers

In the SBC case, travel partner is use to keep foot print tight.
04-14-2014 09:37 AM
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MissouriStateBears Offline
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Post: #6
RE: Travel Partner Discussion
Volleyball and soccer use travel partners. Tennis would as well if more schools offered it.
04-14-2014 09:49 AM
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boroeagle2 Offline
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Post: #7
RE: Travel Partner Discussion
Good info about Tennis appfan. Just looking at the map, it seems like a western team could also hit App, UNCC, Furman, Wofford, UGA or some combination on their way to play Ga St. and then fly out of Atlanta.

I googled this topic, because I figured someone would be an as$ and tell me to do that. It looks like the Pac12 does a really good job of utilizing travel partners, particulary in bball. They go so far as having both Oregon and Oregon St on the same plane to Arizona and then one play U of Arizona and one play ASU on one night and then switch the next night. Same method can apply for Stanford/UC Berkley.

I think part of my point still stands though; say Ark St flies to Charlotte to play App in basketball on Thursday and need to pick up another conference game on Saturday...they are already missing class on Friday, so how much difference is it that the bus trip is 4 hours to Atlanta to play Ga St and fly out of ATL, than 3 hours 45 minutes to Lynchburg to play Liberty and then fly out of Richmond?
04-14-2014 09:56 AM
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hapapp Offline
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Post: #8
RE: Travel Partner Discussion
(04-14-2014 09:56 AM)boroeagle2 Wrote:  Good info about Tennis appfan. Just looking at the map, it seems like a western team could also hit App, UNCC, Furman, Wofford, UGA or some combination on their way to play Ga St. and then fly out of Atlanta.

I googled this topic, because I figured someone would be an as$ and tell me to do that. It looks like the Pac12 does a really good job of utilizing travel partners, particulary in bball. They go so far as having both Oregon and Oregon St on the same plane to Arizona and then one play U of Arizona and one play ASU on one night and then switch the next night. Same method can apply for Stanford/UC Berkley.

I think part of my point still stands though; say Ark St flies to Charlotte to play App in basketball on Thursday and need to pick up another conference game on Saturday...they are already missing class on Friday, so how much difference is it that the bus trip is 4 hours to Atlanta to play Ga St and fly out of ATL, than 3 hours 45 minutes to Lynchburg to play Liberty and then fly out of Richmond?

Actually, they would fly out of Lynchburg.
04-14-2014 10:18 AM
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GoApps70 Offline
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Post: #9
RE: Travel Partner Discussion
I think all the talk of Benson promised App State he would get them a travel partner is wrong.
Believe it was basically all or most Benson's idea.
After all, doesn't really help App State much unless they fly together,
but does help the other SBC teams a lot.
(This post was last modified: 04-14-2014 10:23 AM by GoApps70.)
04-14-2014 10:19 AM
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chiefsfan Offline
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Post: #10
RE: Travel Partner Discussion
Tennis travel is pointless. The way it works is you just mix and match. For example, ASU flew out to Las Cruces to play NMSU this weekend in a nonconference match. After that match, we played Idaho in Las Cruces the next day, and after that, we bussed down the road a short distance and played UTEP in El Paso before flying out.

When we played Troy, I believe we played Kennesaw State (OOC Florida Jag, don't get your hopes up) at Troy the next day.
04-14-2014 11:18 AM
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chiefsfan Offline
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Post: #11
RE: Travel Partner Discussion
(04-14-2014 09:56 AM)boroeagle2 Wrote:  Good info about Tennis appfan. Just looking at the map, it seems like a western team could also hit App, UNCC, Furman, Wofford, UGA or some combination on their way to play Ga St. and then fly out of Atlanta.

I googled this topic, because I figured someone would be an as$ and tell me to do that. It looks like the Pac12 does a really good job of utilizing travel partners, particulary in bball. They go so far as having both Oregon and Oregon St on the same plane to Arizona and then one play U of Arizona and one play ASU on one night and then switch the next night. Same method can apply for Stanford/UC Berkley.

I think part of my point still stands though; say Ark St flies to Charlotte to play App in basketball on Thursday and need to pick up another conference game on Saturday...they are already missing class on Friday, so how much difference is it that the bus trip is 4 hours to Atlanta to play Ga St and fly out of ATL, than 3 hours 45 minutes to Lynchburg to play Liberty and then fly out of Richmond?

I've made this point several times before, Travel partners is about saving missed class time and money. Teams already miss Friday classes during basketball season. (Most players try and schedule without them) Realistically, its no difference whether or not we flay into Charlotte, bus to App and play on Thursday, and then bus down to Atlanta before flying out.

What you do is you play a travel pod, and any trip to Georgia State is always paired with a trip to Statesboro or Boone.
04-14-2014 11:24 AM
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QuinDuke Offline
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Post: #12
RE: Travel Partner Discussion
(04-14-2014 11:24 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  
(04-14-2014 09:56 AM)boroeagle2 Wrote:  Good info about Tennis appfan. Just looking at the map, it seems like a western team could also hit App, UNCC, Furman, Wofford, UGA or some combination on their way to play Ga St. and then fly out of Atlanta.

I googled this topic, because I figured someone would be an as$ and tell me to do that. It looks like the Pac12 does a really good job of utilizing travel partners, particulary in bball. They go so far as having both Oregon and Oregon St on the same plane to Arizona and then one play U of Arizona and one play ASU on one night and then switch the next night. Same method can apply for Stanford/UC Berkley.

I think part of my point still stands though; say Ark St flies to Charlotte to play App in basketball on Thursday and need to pick up another conference game on Saturday...they are already missing class on Friday, so how much difference is it that the bus trip is 4 hours to Atlanta to play Ga St and fly out of ATL, than 3 hours 45 minutes to Lynchburg to play Liberty and then fly out of Richmond?

I've made this point several times before, Travel partners is about saving missed class time and money. Teams already miss Friday classes during basketball season. (Most players try and schedule without them) Realistically, its no difference whether or not we flay into Charlotte, bus to App and play on Thursday, and then bus down to Atlanta before flying out.

What you do is you play a travel pod, and any trip to Georgia State is always paired with a trip to Statesboro or Boone.

It's used everywhere, too. You always see each school mentioned as having one travel partner, not multiples. I found mentions of Utah being Colorado's travel partner upon its addition to the PAC-12, and the schools are 7 1/2 hours' drive apart.
04-14-2014 11:29 AM
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FloridaJag Offline
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Post: #13
RE: Travel Partner Discussion
(04-14-2014 11:18 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  Tennis travel is pointless. The way it works is you just mix and match. For example, ASU flew out to Las Cruces to play NMSU this weekend in a nonconference match. After that match, we played Idaho in Las Cruces the next day, and after that, we bussed down the road a short distance and played UTEP in El Paso before flying out.

When we played Troy, I believe we played Kennesaw State (OOC Florida Jag, don't get your hopes up) at Troy the next day.

Aaahh maannn! 03-weeping
04-14-2014 04:05 PM
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Liberty Fan Offline
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Post: #14
RE: Travel Partner Discussion
(04-14-2014 10:18 AM)hapapp Wrote:  Actually, they would fly out of Lynchburg.

Runway is 3 miles from the campus.

Liberty U to LYH map
04-14-2014 05:16 PM
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TOPSTRAIGHT Offline
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Post: #15
RE: Travel Partner Discussion
Maybe O. P. had trouble with the concept since the Southern Con. has a smaller footprint(bus league,etc.).Seems pretty clear and has been used by leagues for years.Don't forget these travel parties are larger than you think--asst. coaches,grad.asst.,trainers ,managers,univ.media,other media,tutors?,and others.
04-14-2014 10:38 PM
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boroeagle2 Offline
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Post: #16
RE: Travel Partner Discussion
Thanks for the responses everyone. I think I had a handle on the overall concept, I was just failing to see how much of an impact it had since it really only affects a small number of sports. Also I didn't understand why it would have been "promised" to App State when it really benefits the teams traveling TO play the Mountaineers rather than APP itself--it seems like this promise idea is false and/or was blown way out of proportion. Mostly, I am not really a fan of Liberty to the Belt and if JMU admin decides to be douches, I am hoping that Mo St would be the 12th instead, so I was wondering how much the travel partner thing would really play into the decision--it doesn't sound like too much really.
04-15-2014 08:40 AM
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FloridaJag Offline
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Post: #17
RE: Travel Partner Discussion
I am with you. When I think of travel partners it means two things:

1. Convienience of travel for non revenue sports
2. The ability of fans of non revenue sports to travel and follow the teams.
04-15-2014 03:42 PM
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