LAFAYETTE, La. - It's seems strange to say, but this is the final regular season road trip of the 2010-11 season.
The team practiced in
Hamilton Gym yesterday morning, boarded a bus to DIA and flew through
Houston before arriving at the not-so-large Lafayette Airport around
6:30 p.m. After checking into the hotel, the team walked down the street
to a restaurant.
People ask about these
towns we go to, and it's always a little funny to hear the players
describe them. The players spend almost all of their time at the hotel
or the arena with perhaps a restaurant thrown in, if they don't just eat
at the hotel. Sometimes, they wander to a nearby convenience store for
snacks. Other than that, though, most of the players couldn't tell you
much about Lafayette, La.
If one were to describe
the polar opposite of Denver, this city might come to mind. While Denver
is a Mile High, Lafayette is all of 36 feet above sea level with swamps
just about everywhere you look.
There's even a swamp
just outside ULL's student union, where a deck is built for students to
eat while alligators swim below them. More than a few people we've told
that to don't believe us, but I assure you that it's true.
The temperature outside right now is 80 degrees, and the humidity is exponentially higher than Colorado.
The growth of this town
is pretty amazing. The city's population has risen nearly 10 percent in
the past decade. After Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, more than 14,000
people took refuge in the Cajondome, right where the Pioneers are
currently shooting around.
About Louisiana-Lafayette - The
proper name of the school is the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
People around here, including our good friend and the well respected
voice of the Ragin' Cajuns Jay Walker, like to refer to it simply as the
University of Louisiana, and they even tried to change the name in the
1980s. However, according to the school's own website, "A subsequent act
of the Louisiana Legislature nullified that name change."
Furthermore, they prefer
you not call them simply Lafayette, because they don't want to be
confused with the school in the Patriot League, which used to feature
Denver associate head coach Mike McKee on its coaching staff.
Generally, we try not to
repeat a school's notable alumni from year to year. However, when a
school can boast Richard Simmons, like Louisiana-Lafayette can do,
certain bloggers would find that impossible to avoid.
Other famous graduates of this institution are Richie Cunningham (the former Cowboys kicker, not the beloved character alongside Fonzie) and Ali Landry, the former Miss America and Dorito girl.
Finally, I was informed that current ULL left-handed pitcher and team captain Taylor Hubbell is dating Heather Morris of Glee. Rumor has it that he's currently in the bullpen, but his sudden star power might catapult him to the starting rotation soon.
Yearly travel totals:
Total Flights, regular season only - 17
Total Mileage by Air, regular season only - 14,260
Total Mileage by Air, including Spain - 24,238
Total Mileage by Bus, regular season only - 1,379
Total Mileage by Bus, including Spain - 2,754
Total Number of Hotels - 11
Total Number of Different Airports - 11
Total Number of Airline Delays - 1
Total Number of Cancelled Flights - 0
Total Number of Bags Lost This Year - 2
Total Number of Bobby Boucher and Waterboy References Since Landing in Cajun Country - Too Many to Count
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