Colleges

This job is a trip

It was supposed to be a simple week in Oklahoma City and Fayetteville, Ark., with a bad basketball team that nobody cared about. It turned into a near-death experience and a pathetic first encounter with heavy snow.

 

By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published July 30, 2007

It was supposed to be a simple week in Oklahoma City and Fayetteville, Ark., with a bad basketball team that nobody cared about. It turned into a near-death experience and a pathetic first encounter with heavy snow.

As the Florida men's basketball beat writer for the Gainesville Sun, I had spent five days in December 1995 at the All-College tournament in Oklahoma City. It snowed constantly and I had no rental car, though as a native Floridian it wouldn't have helped anyway. I was ready to get out of town.

Turns out, I should have stuck around.

The Gators were playing Nebraska for the football national championship that day so I had a flight that would get me to Fayetteville in plenty of time to see the game (the basketball team had its season opener against Arkansas two days later). As we flew out of Oklahoma City on one of those tiny planes frequently used to fly into SEC cities (presumably after dusting crops), the plane started to dip. The pilot informed us that the weather was bad (no kidding) and we needed to make an emergency landing. With nothing but grass fields anywhere in sight, I started praying. (I didn't have a cell phone back then or I might have started calling family members to say all those things you mean to say, but never do.)

In her effort to keep everyone calm, the flight attendant started handing out extra peanuts. Seriously. I took some. Extra drinks, too. I figured if I survived, I might get hungry in the woods waiting for the rescue team.

The pilot said we'd make an emergency landing at Fort Smith, where a bus would be waiting to transport us to Fayetteville. We arrived, prayed a little more, then boarded the bus.

It got worse. The driver was at least 75 (I'm being kind). It was snowing, the roads were winding, and he was driving really fast. I kept thinking, only I could survive a bad flight then die in a bus crash. It's amazing the kinds of things that come to your mind in that situation, mostly wondering if your body will be found.

By some miracle, we arrived at the Fayetteville airport. More problems: It was still snowing. Remember, I'm from Florida.

I might have started crying, but I couldn't feel my fingers and it was too cold to waste time on pity. It took me nearly an hour to drive what should have been a 15-minute ride. (Ever wonder how everybody can speed in a snowstorm?)

At the brand-new Holiday Inn Express, the manager informed me that most of his staff was unable to make it to work due to the storm. Room service consisted of hamburgers and hot dogs. Like I was going to complain. At least I was alive.

Unfortunately, by the time I got situated in my room, it was the end of the first quarter and Nebraska had already won the national championship.

Twelve years, four national championships and countless road trips later, Oklahoma City-Fayetteville remains my most memorable. And no, I still can't drive when it's snowing.

Three best road cities

Chicago

Sports and shopping the Magnificent Mile. What more could a girl want?

New York

The greatest city in the world.

San Francisco

Football, baseball and Fisherman's Wharf.

Three worst road cities

Starkville, Miss.

Particularly in winter, it's barren and feels like the middle of nowhere.

New Orleans

Even before Katrina, it had its problems.

Auburn, Ala.

No knock on the city, but getting there from Florida reminds you of the movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles. And then it's one way in and one way out.

Three favorite stadiums/arenas

University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.

It's got all the luxury and extravagance of a new professional stadium, but with the cool college atmosphere (at least for a bowl game).

Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, La.

If you love college football, it's one of the greatest places to watch a game - at night. (Auburn's Jordan-Hare at night is a close second.)

Rupp Arena, Lexington, Ky.

Back in the day, when they actually had something to cheer about, the crowd noise could send chills up your spine.

Three least favorite stadiums/arenas

Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville

It's like being at a high school game, without all the fun of high school.

United Center, Chicago

You need a cab to get from the playing floor to the interview rooms.

Orange Bowl, Miami

It's so antiquated you can barely use your wireless technology. They should tear it down.

Three favorite people you've covered

Billy Donovan

The man can fill a reporter's notebook with just his opening statement, and he makes the job fun.

Shannon Snell

(Tampa native and former UF offensive lineman) In good and bad times, he was funny, good-natured and most shocking of all - HONEST.

The Gator '04s

They managed to win two national championships while remaining the same carefree, fun, humble and unpretentious guys they were when they arrived.

Favorite event you've ever covered

2006 men's Final Four

Favorite restaurants on the road

I'm a single, black woman. On the road. I stick to the chain restaurants.

Best airport

Gainesville Regional Airport

No bells and whistles, but you can still arrive 50 minutes before your flight - and get on the plane.

Worst airport

Hartsfield-Jackson International, Atlanta

Delays, delays, delays. And more delays.

Favorite sport to cover

College basketball

Favorite sport to watch

College football

One athlete you've never interviewed but want to

Charles Barkley

[Last modified July 29, 2007, 22:37:22]