The Salt Lake Tribune
September 9, 2008
Prep football: Road to Kamas
By Jennifer Gustavson
EASTERN UTAH - Midway through the five-hour bus ride from Moab to Kamas on Friday, players on the Grand County football team found ways to keep themselves entertained.
Some listened to iPods. Others text messaged friends, girlfriends and family. Coach Dennis Wells reviewed the playbook. A 5-pound bag of gummy worms made the rounds through the crammed-to-capacity bus - with the linemen grabbing more than a handful. A freshman sitting on the front row tried to nap but was interrupted by a continuous stream of candy wrappers intended for the garbage can sitting at his feet.
In every way, it was just another game day for a team well-acquainted with long road trips.
Until a resounding groan turned every head toward the center of the bus.
"He just pulled that piece of licorice down his nose and through his mouth," said one player as the culprit proudly displayed the string of candy to his teammates.
"That's awesome!"
Wells just shakes his head.
"After college ball, I told myself I'd never be on a bus again," said the Grand alum and former Southern Utah University player. "Now I've found myself living on this thing. I've jinxed myself, I guess."
Long weekends
As the coach of a team located in a rural area of Utah, Wells has had to come to terms with weekends spent on the road.
While Wells said his players and coaches are both willing and accustomed to the travel, he says it can take its toll.
"You've got to have a pretty understanding wife," he said.
For its game against South Summit, Grand packed 80 players into one school bus for what Wells said would be "one of the best matchups in 2A."
But the intense competition wasn't the reason for Grand's marathon road trip. The trek was a regional necessity. In fact, to meet its nearest region competitor, Grand is faced with a minimum 80-mile bus ride.
But the Red Devils aren't alone.
For many teams located in Utah's outback, three-plus-hour bus trips are just part of the game.
The UHSAA realignment of regions in recent years has helped to alleviate - but not eliminate - the impact of lengthy travel for teams like Grand. Before those adjustments, Grand was placed in the same region as northern schools South Summit, Grantsville and Morgan - an arrangement that Grand Principal Steve Hren successfully fought off in the most recent realignment.
"There was talk of putting us back with them again this year," said Hren. "It's a battle we've been fighting for years. Usually, any consideration for our time has fallen on deaf ears."
But for many smaller schools, extensive travel can be more than just a weekend time commitment.
Costly journey
As 80 players boarded the bus on Friday morning, an assistant coach asked each player an important question.
"What'd you eat for breakfast?" he asked. "I want to know what I'm in for here."
Yes, it was crowded; more crowded than usual.
"Normally, we'd have two buses, but the other one went to the volleyball team," saidWells. "So we're going to do with one. The cheerleaders were supposed to come,but there is just no room."
Under this arrangement, the Red Devils' entire traveling squad - the varsity and JV teams,and all the equipment that goes with them - became one happy family. It was so full, two Grand assistant coaches packed up their SUVs to follow the school bus to Kamas, using their own gas money.
"A lot of times,the cost of these trips is offset by virtue of the coaches themselves,"said Wells. "They do it just because they want these kids to play."
Said Hren: "It's a huge expense for our school district. [The UHSAA] doesn't really look at what we have to deal with."
According to Grand School District transportation supervisor Verna Butler, a road trip similar to the one Grand took to South Summit will cost the district about $3 per mile - a figure based on last year's gas prices.
"It's a huge financial strain," said Butler. "I don't know how we keep doing it. I keep screaming when it comes to trips like this."
It's hard on families and friends, too.
But the parents still show up - and so do the girlfriends. Oceanna Irish and Shae Guerrero both made the 478-mile round trip north to Kamas to support their boyfriends.
"I'm a cheerleader, so I should have been here anyway," said Guerrero. "But either way, I wouldn't have missed it. He's only going to play high school football once."
Safety a concern
As bus driver Patty Jones stretched out during a bathroom break in Wellington on the way to South Summit, she patted the back of her bus seat.
"You know, this seat is pretty nice," she said. "It definitely helps on long trips like this. But I don't think anyone ever gets used to it."
Before the bus left Moab, Jones made sure the Red Devils knew the drill.
"If I tell you to get off the bus for any emergency, just do it," she said. "Don't ask questions. Just do what you're told."
According to Hren, theGrand principal, driver fatigue and inclement weather are always a concern forparents and the administration.
"There have beentimes when we've been stranded. Other buses have broken down or hit animals onthe way," he said "It's especially a challenge during the winter.Sometimes it's better to just cancel."
Wells agreed.
"Sometimes it's just too hard to drive the canyons in the winter," he said."Sometimes it's just not worth the risk."
Quiet ride home
The Grand High School bus is usually full of boisterous laughter after a Red Devils' victory. Butthis wasn't one of those nights. Grand fell 20-0 to South Summit.
Following the defeat,the Red Devils grabbed a quick concession stand meal at the stadium. On the ride home, the city lights of the Wasatch Front quickly gave way to the darkness of Spanish Fork Canyon and the whirring of the bus wheels replaced the postgame chatter.
But coach Wells still had a few things to say.
"You know, we played well," he said. "We struggled with some injuries, but I'm proud of the guys."
A handful of players stayed behind with their parents in Salt Lake City to watch former teammate Zane Taylor play for the University of Utah against UNLV on Saturday. Others planned to take on still another long drive by returning to Moab with the team- then heading back to Salt Lake to watch the Utes.
"That's just the kind of mentality these kids grew up with," said Wells. "If something matters to them, distance really isn't that much of an issue."
As the bus made its final 3 a.m. approach into Moab, players bustled to get their belongings together and clean up the bus. Despite the 18-hour venture and a draining loss,Grand's football team was once again wide awake - and not quite ready to call it a night.
"Dude, let's goto Denny's," said one player as he stepped off the bus.
"Sounds good, man," his friend answered. "I'm not even tired."
September 9, 2008
Prep football: Road to Kamas
By Jennifer Gustavson
EASTERN UTAH - Midway through the five-hour bus ride from Moab to Kamas on Friday, players on the Grand County football team found ways to keep themselves entertained.
Some listened to iPods. Others text messaged friends, girlfriends and family. Coach Dennis Wells reviewed the playbook. A 5-pound bag of gummy worms made the rounds through the crammed-to-capacity bus - with the linemen grabbing more than a handful. A freshman sitting on the front row tried to nap but was interrupted by a continuous stream of candy wrappers intended for the garbage can sitting at his feet.
In every way, it was just another game day for a team well-acquainted with long road trips.
Until a resounding groan turned every head toward the center of the bus.
"He just pulled that piece of licorice down his nose and through his mouth," said one player as the culprit proudly displayed the string of candy to his teammates.
"That's awesome!"
Wells just shakes his head.
"After college ball, I told myself I'd never be on a bus again," said the Grand alum and former Southern Utah University player. "Now I've found myself living on this thing. I've jinxed myself, I guess."
Long weekends
As the coach of a team located in a rural area of Utah, Wells has had to come to terms with weekends spent on the road.
While Wells said his players and coaches are both willing and accustomed to the travel, he says it can take its toll.
"You've got to have a pretty understanding wife," he said.
For its game against South Summit, Grand packed 80 players into one school bus for what Wells said would be "one of the best matchups in 2A."
But the intense competition wasn't the reason for Grand's marathon road trip. The trek was a regional necessity. In fact, to meet its nearest region competitor, Grand is faced with a minimum 80-mile bus ride.
But the Red Devils aren't alone.
For many teams located in Utah's outback, three-plus-hour bus trips are just part of the game.
The UHSAA realignment of regions in recent years has helped to alleviate - but not eliminate - the impact of lengthy travel for teams like Grand. Before those adjustments, Grand was placed in the same region as northern schools South Summit, Grantsville and Morgan - an arrangement that Grand Principal Steve Hren successfully fought off in the most recent realignment.
"There was talk of putting us back with them again this year," said Hren. "It's a battle we've been fighting for years. Usually, any consideration for our time has fallen on deaf ears."
But for many smaller schools, extensive travel can be more than just a weekend time commitment.
Costly journey
As 80 players boarded the bus on Friday morning, an assistant coach asked each player an important question.
"What'd you eat for breakfast?" he asked. "I want to know what I'm in for here."
Yes, it was crowded; more crowded than usual.
"Normally, we'd have two buses, but the other one went to the volleyball team," saidWells. "So we're going to do with one. The cheerleaders were supposed to come,but there is just no room."
Under this arrangement, the Red Devils' entire traveling squad - the varsity and JV teams,and all the equipment that goes with them - became one happy family. It was so full, two Grand assistant coaches packed up their SUVs to follow the school bus to Kamas, using their own gas money.
"A lot of times,the cost of these trips is offset by virtue of the coaches themselves,"said Wells. "They do it just because they want these kids to play."
Said Hren: "It's a huge expense for our school district. [The UHSAA] doesn't really look at what we have to deal with."
According to Grand School District transportation supervisor Verna Butler, a road trip similar to the one Grand took to South Summit will cost the district about $3 per mile - a figure based on last year's gas prices.
"It's a huge financial strain," said Butler. "I don't know how we keep doing it. I keep screaming when it comes to trips like this."
It's hard on families and friends, too.
But the parents still show up - and so do the girlfriends. Oceanna Irish and Shae Guerrero both made the 478-mile round trip north to Kamas to support their boyfriends.
"I'm a cheerleader, so I should have been here anyway," said Guerrero. "But either way, I wouldn't have missed it. He's only going to play high school football once."
Safety a concern
As bus driver Patty Jones stretched out during a bathroom break in Wellington on the way to South Summit, she patted the back of her bus seat.
"You know, this seat is pretty nice," she said. "It definitely helps on long trips like this. But I don't think anyone ever gets used to it."
Before the bus left Moab, Jones made sure the Red Devils knew the drill.
"If I tell you to get off the bus for any emergency, just do it," she said. "Don't ask questions. Just do what you're told."
According to Hren, theGrand principal, driver fatigue and inclement weather are always a concern forparents and the administration.
"There have beentimes when we've been stranded. Other buses have broken down or hit animals onthe way," he said "It's especially a challenge during the winter.Sometimes it's better to just cancel."
Wells agreed.
"Sometimes it's just too hard to drive the canyons in the winter," he said."Sometimes it's just not worth the risk."
Quiet ride home
The Grand High School bus is usually full of boisterous laughter after a Red Devils' victory. Butthis wasn't one of those nights. Grand fell 20-0 to South Summit.
Following the defeat,the Red Devils grabbed a quick concession stand meal at the stadium. On the ride home, the city lights of the Wasatch Front quickly gave way to the darkness of Spanish Fork Canyon and the whirring of the bus wheels replaced the postgame chatter.
But coach Wells still had a few things to say.
"You know, we played well," he said. "We struggled with some injuries, but I'm proud of the guys."
A handful of players stayed behind with their parents in Salt Lake City to watch former teammate Zane Taylor play for the University of Utah against UNLV on Saturday. Others planned to take on still another long drive by returning to Moab with the team- then heading back to Salt Lake to watch the Utes.
"That's just the kind of mentality these kids grew up with," said Wells. "If something matters to them, distance really isn't that much of an issue."
As the bus made its final 3 a.m. approach into Moab, players bustled to get their belongings together and clean up the bus. Despite the 18-hour venture and a draining loss,Grand's football team was once again wide awake - and not quite ready to call it a night.
"Dude, let's goto Denny's," said one player as he stepped off the bus.
"Sounds good, man," his friend answered. "I'm not even tired."