We gave them the money, and they had the time. What they did with each was entirely up to them. I'm sure our athletic department offers suggestions to opposing teams all the time. MO State seems to have chosen another way. That's their choice to make. We need to get Tabary a game like this. The timing of this game could not have been better.

(09-18-2015 07:50 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  That isn't a long bus trip for an FCS school. Shoot we have bussed to Troy before because Roberts hated the whole mess of bus to Memphis fly to Montgomery load a bus for Troy. Travel time from stadium to stadium was about the same.

The not staying is pretty easy to figure out.

Nothing available in Jonesboro.

There are only two towns I can think of between Jonesboro and Springfield that have a decent hotel. West Plains, MO and you are still a two hour + drive by motor coach from AState and Hardy, AR and that leaves you a bit more than an hour out. In-between you have some off-brand in Thayer/Mammoth Springs.

None likely have any experience with hosting 55 players and 20-30 coaches and support staff and quantity of food required for breakfast. All have limited options to feed the group at night.

That leaves you with driving past Jonesboro and going to Memphis or veering south to Batesville.

Until the next couple hotels that are either under construction or recently announced come online, a school will have a very hard time getting a hotel to offer them a group rate in Jonesboro when they can stay full or near full at full retail price.

This was basically my thoughts on the matter as well.

I know we have flown into places on gameday before especially night games. Northern Iowa was always one of those. Quick hour flight up to Waterloo, land and go to the Dome. But a bus ride over to Jonesboro isn't too bad in the scheme of things. Northwestern State came up to Springfield and bussed the entire way. When we returned it we flew down to Shreveport and bussed from there. We have 3 charter flights for road trips this year, might as well save some travel money when you can.