The stretch of I-70 between Kansas City and Manhattan, Kan., is 130 miles of flat, fairly boring road. It’s also a killer for Kansas State recruiting. Not only is it hard on coaches heading out to scout players, it’s hardly appealing for anyone making their on-campus visit.
Until American Eagle became the blessed saint of K-State coaches.
The airline’s recent expansion to Manhattan Regional airport means coaches can now fly to Dallas-Fort Worth three times a day. Starting on November, the airline will offer one daily flight to Chicago. It’s not much, but compared to that stinking stretch of road, it’s the greatest thing since Michael Beasley came to Manhattan.
“It’s been a blessing,” assistant Brad Underwood told the Kansas City Star. “It’s become so much more convenient as well as freed us up to do quite a few other things and not just get stuck in a vehicle in transit.”
However, this part makes me laugh: “We have the best accessibility situation in the Big 12 Conference in terms of being right there,” K-State athletic director John Currie said. “You don’t have to drive an hour or even 30 minutes to get to the airport. At the big airports you’re fighting traffic and all that kind of stuff. At ours you drive right up, park your car for free, go through security and you’re on your way.”
That’s called P.R. for an airport in the middle of nowhere.
Mike Miller’s also on Twitter @BeyndArcMMiller, usually talkin’ hoops. Click here for more.