Spring Break
Travel-friendly schedule saves CSU much-needed money
Sean Star
Issue date: 11/21/08 Section: Sports
Peterson's sentiments were echoed by first-year head coach Steve Fairchild, who on multiple occasions this year preached the importance of improved recruiting.
Since 2004, the team hasn't had a recruiting class ranked higher than fourth in the conference, according to the recruiting Web site Rivals.com. In 2002 and 2003, CSU ranked second and third, respectively.
Collier said the program has already put some of the extra money toward a database that will help Fairchild and his staff organize their recruiting efforts.
As the recruiting season heats up with Thanksgiving break nearing, Peterson is anxious to make use of the extra funds.
"That's a big difference," he said. "And you think about it, too, with the price of fuel and airline tickets and what it costs to travel, and that means we can get out more and cover more ground and continue to improve this program."
Schedule helpful for players, too
While having fewer plane flights is more cost efficient, it's also preferable for the players.
After CSU defeated the San Diego State Aztecs 38-34 at Qualcomm Stadium on Oct. 25, a heavy fog fell over San Diego International Airport, and the Rams were unable to board their scheduled flight back home. Instead, they had to travel two hours north to Ontario, Calif., in order to fly back to Fort Collins.
When it was all said and done, players and coaches weren't home until 5:30 in the morning.
"Honestly, getting back that late ... it kind of threw my whole week off," Rams senior wide receiver Dion Morton said. "I'm not going to lie to you, I was kind of tired through the week."
A delayed flight is just one reason why players like Morton aren't particularly fond of traveling long distances for away games.
"It seems like it's a little more time consuming when you have to take a flight, especially when our flights this year have been to California, which have been a couple hours," Morton said. "It seems like it kind of throws your day off a little bit, because we're coming (to campus) in the morning for a walk-through, then eat and take a bus ride, then a plane ride. So it seems kind of long."
Since 2004, the team hasn't had a recruiting class ranked higher than fourth in the conference, according to the recruiting Web site Rivals.com. In 2002 and 2003, CSU ranked second and third, respectively.
Collier said the program has already put some of the extra money toward a database that will help Fairchild and his staff organize their recruiting efforts.
As the recruiting season heats up with Thanksgiving break nearing, Peterson is anxious to make use of the extra funds.
"That's a big difference," he said. "And you think about it, too, with the price of fuel and airline tickets and what it costs to travel, and that means we can get out more and cover more ground and continue to improve this program."
Schedule helpful for players, too
While having fewer plane flights is more cost efficient, it's also preferable for the players.
After CSU defeated the San Diego State Aztecs 38-34 at Qualcomm Stadium on Oct. 25, a heavy fog fell over San Diego International Airport, and the Rams were unable to board their scheduled flight back home. Instead, they had to travel two hours north to Ontario, Calif., in order to fly back to Fort Collins.
When it was all said and done, players and coaches weren't home until 5:30 in the morning.
"Honestly, getting back that late ... it kind of threw my whole week off," Rams senior wide receiver Dion Morton said. "I'm not going to lie to you, I was kind of tired through the week."
A delayed flight is just one reason why players like Morton aren't particularly fond of traveling long distances for away games.
"It seems like it's a little more time consuming when you have to take a flight, especially when our flights this year have been to California, which have been a couple hours," Morton said. "It seems like it kind of throws your day off a little bit, because we're coming (to campus) in the morning for a walk-through, then eat and take a bus ride, then a plane ride. So it seems kind of long."
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