Dec. 9, 2008

On Friday, December 5, we left for what would be a true road trip. Typically, we have been fortunate enough to travel by plane to any game farther than about a five hour bus ride away. However, for multiple reasons, this would be a little different for our trip to University Park, Pa. to play Penn State. At 7 a.m. on Friday we began loading all our belongings for an eight hour ride on a sleeper bus! For most of us, this was our first experience on a sleeper bus. And what an experience it was! The layout was posh; complete with 21 beds (which I like to call "pods"), a TV in each pod, a lounge area with a big screen TV, wireless internet, etc. It really had the works. But, with limited seats available, most of us had no choice but to stay in our pods. What this did do though, was put us all in quite close proximity.

So, here's the situation: an eight hour ride in a bus with tight quarters. There were card games, movies, sleep, story telling, jokes, and more laughter than I could handle. Let the fun begin!

While I could tell you all about it, I feel like it would be more intriguing if you heard it from the players themselves. So, I asked senior Ashley Brown and freshman Patrice Lalor to share their thoughts.

Ashley Brown
Like I said, for many of us, this was our first experience with a bus like this. How about a little first impression:
"It was a big bus! It seemed like it could fit a whole football team! I had never heard of a sleeper bus until that day."

With all of us doing different things to pass the time, I was curious as to what Ashley did with her 17+ hours on the bus.
"I watched a few movies and slept. I rested my eyes."

For most, sleeping and resting their eyes are the same thing...
"I very much sleep with my eyes open. It's kind of scary. I wish someone would videotape me doing it because I can't tell. My mother tells me I do it all the time. The first time she saw it she freaked out. It happened a lot last year where my roommates would talk to me, because they thought I was awake because my eyes are open, but I don't respond because I'm actually asleep."

Now, a hypothetical question: If Ashley could be somebody else on the team for one day, who would she be? Oh, and we don't have practice or a game on this day.
"I would switch with Coach Jim Jabir! I'd get to control the shots! Even if it's just a day off! There are a lot of times I wonder what's going through his mind; he does say a lot of profound things!"

Patrice Lalor
The beds on the bus were stacked three high. The lowest bunk was the shortest (the one I ended up in), the middle had a little more head room, and the top had the most room. Even though, listed at 5-6, she's the second shortest person on the team, Patrice somehow ended with a top bunk.
"When I got on, there were already about five people on the bus, I went all the way to the back, noticed there weren't any TVs, so I went back to the front, where the only bed open was a top one! So I claimed it! I guess I used my quickness."

With so many different things going on throughout the bus, I wondered what Patrice did to pass the time. "I did a little bit of homework, watched some movies, but I only slept for like an hour, which might have been because of Puna (Aundrea Lindsey) laughing very loudly in the bunk below me! She's always joking. Then I watched a little TV on my computer. Anything to pass the time."

Of course, sometimes things come up during a game as well that just can't help being laughed at.
"During the game, there was a media time out. Everyone who's not in the game is supposed to go behind the bench. Well, Staci (Willis) was trying to climb over the seat and stepped on the back part of it that they always tell us not to. It collapsed right on her foot and she definitely almost fell over!"

After starting the season with nine straight games on the road, we are all pleased to have a nice home stand! Be sure to check the schedule and come to UD Arena to support your Dayton Flyers!!!