Many of you listen to Cajuns' games on the radio.  And, no doubt you have an idea of what a road trip is like.  From now on I'll give you an account of what life is like on the road.  A lot of it is personal, but, hey, we're all friends, right?

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 29

I had an 8 am flight out of Baton Rouge, so that means leaving for the airport at about 5:30am.  Unfortunately, I woke up at 2:30 and couldn't get back to sleep.  That means I'd make the trip on about three hours sleep.  Since my wife Cindy is off from school for the week, it was decided she'd bring me so I wouldn't have to leave a car at BTR for five days.  That'll save about 75 bucks in parking fees and my boss likes it when I save him money.  Got to the airport about 75 minutes before flight time. 

The flight to Houston was uneventful.  My layover was only about an hour and there was a terminal change involved, so no time for messing around.  Was told when we got on the Houston flight to Denver that it would be bumpy when we got near our destination, which is nothing new.  It's ALWAYS bumpy flying into Denver.  Good news....they had DirecTV on the flight.  They charge you six bucks but you can get a movie or watch something on TV.  I found the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary on Marcus Dupree.  As always in that series, very well done.  And the timing was perfect.  We were about to land as it finished.

It took about 2o minutes for bags to arrive after the flight and then it was time to catch the shuttle to the rental car center.  No problem getting the car; the paperwork was done and there was a list telling me which car was mine.  By this time it was about 1:00.  Beautiful day in Denver, in the upper 40's, but the weather forecast was ominus for Thursday.  We were staying at a Marriott near the Denver Tech Center, which is about a 30 minute drive from the airport.  New coach, new hotel.  GPS is a Godsend.

Checked into the hotel and as Marriott's go, it was pretty impressive.  They had a Starbucks inside the hotel, which is good for me.  Coffee is usually my beverage of choice.  It was about 2:30 by the time I got into my room and I set up my laptop and checked a few things.  And, since I was running on about three hours sleep, a nap was in order.  One other thing about the room.  It had an outside balcony.  Now, I'm not proud of the fact that I'm a smoker.  But it's a fact.  Outside balconies in non smoking hotels are a good thing for me.  It beats having to get into the elevator every time.

I've had an annual tradition since I've been making the Denver trips.  The night before the game is dinner with Cynthia Fletcher, wife of the former Cajuns' coach.  Marty and I have remained friends over the years.  Now, he doesn't go out to dinner.  In fact, he doesn't go out.  Period.  That's something that hasn't changed since his days in Lafayette.  We talk on the phone, but if I want to see him, I have to go out to the house.  So, Cynthia and I have dinner when I go up there.  It's always great to see her and no she hasn't changed.  We have an agreement that we don't talk politics.  Hers are considerably different from mine.  And that's okay.  Sometimes former Cajuns assistant coach Todd Rinehart joined us as well, but not this time.  Todd works at the admissions office at DU.  His wife is the gymnastics coach there.

Marty, for those of you who are unaware, does the in-studio analysis for the Mountain West Network and is also the supervisor of women's officials for the Mountain West Conference. 

This time, though, I got a special treat.  Daughter Emily came out with us as well.  Emily Fletcher was probably in about the seventh grade when the family left Lafayette for the Mile High City.  I've seen her a couple of times over the years but not very often.  Emily had a bit of a rebellious streak when she was a teenager but got past that, finished college and teaches high school English at the toughest public school in Denver.  The school is about 97% Hispanic and for many of these students, English is a second language.  Emily's doing great.  She has a boyfriend who joined us later in the evening as well.  Emily Fletcher is stunningly beautiful.  I never had a teacher, English or otherwise, who looked like that.

Marty's other daughter, Alison, is a sophomore majoring in dance (just like her mom) at a small liberal arts school in California.

We ate in Cherry Creek North, a trendy part of Denver, at a burger place.  The food was great and so was the company.  Cynthia pointed out that Marty will be 60 years old in March.  They asked for a suggestion for a surprise.  I suggested a stripper, which was quickly vetoed.  Some people just don't have a sense of humor...I swear...  Next year will be our final pregame dinner.  I'll miss that a lot.

After not sleeping much the night before, I slept quite well Wednesday night.  The low temperature was going to be 28.  That was also going to be the high temp for Thursday

THURSDAY

Got up around eight.  Showered and went downstairs.  The sun was out, but that wouldn't be the case for long.  Ate an overpriced breakfast at the hotel restaurant.  Then back upstairs.  Did some work on the computer and then started my game prep for DU.  See, there's one thing you might not have known.  We actually have to do some game prep.  Most of it is going over game notes supplied by each school.  I also have my self designed scorebook to prepare.  By the time I finished all of that, the storm had arrived.  The temperature was already down in the teens by 2pm and there was already an inch or so of snow on the ground when I went down for lunch with basketball Sports Information Director Cade Sirmans.

Although I had a car, I made the decision that I wasn't going to drive to the arena.  This New Englander hasn't driven in snow in quite some time.  The drive to the Magness Center was about six miles, but it was in 5:00 traffic.  So I rode on the team bus, something I rarely do.  It was snowing hard when we reached the arena.  The temp was down to 6 degrees.  The wind chill was -5.

Let me digress for a minute and say that I like the people at the University of Denver.  Now, I realize they don't really fit the blueprint for the league and their move to the WAC will probably be better for them and for the Sun Belt.  Having said that, there are some relationships there that I'll miss.  Mike Kennedy is their SID and he's a hoot.  When I arrived at the arena, the scoreboard said "DU" and "ULL."  Now I'm not militant about "Louisiana."  I use it and hope others will as well, but I don't force that.  However, "ULL" and "Lafayette"?  Let's just say I'm a little bit anal about those two.  I asked Mike if they would change it and he said "Ain't gonna happen, Jay."  But he said it with a grin and five minutes later the second "L" had disappeared.  I also asked him if I needed a credential and he said he'd get me one.  During the pregame show, he brought it to me.  It said "Jay Walker/Lafayette Radio." 

Mike Kennedy is a hoot.

Denver's play by play man Mitch Hyder is also a good friend.  Every time I see him I always give him regards from Orien Greene.  In 2004-05, Denver had a really good ball club.  DU beat the Cajuns twice during the regular season on their way to the Western Division Championship.  Greene did not play in one of those games.  He did not guard Rodney Billups, brother of Chauncey, in the other game.  And, as fate would have it, Denver and Louisiana played for the title in the SBC Tournament at the Super Pit in Denton, Texas.  Before the game, Mitch remarked that he had never called a game in the NCAA tournament.  I informed him he wouldn't be calling one this year either.  He just looked at me.  I told him Orien Greene would guard Billups.  He did.  The Cajuns won by 19.  Of course, later, Greene was ruled ineligible by the NCAA and the Cajuns had to vacate their NCAA tournament appearance.  But I distinctly remember calling the NCAA tournament game.  Mitch is still waiting.  I remind him of that often. 

After the game, it was back on the bus.  The temperature was down to 3 degrees.  The wind chill was minus 10.  Sandwiches were passed out.  Upon returning to the hotel, I wrote a game story (http://espn1420.com/as-cold-as-the-weather/), packed and went to bed.

FRIDAY

My flight wasn't until noon, but I was taking no chances.  I got up early, had some breakfast, packed and left around 9am for the airport.  The temperature was zero, the wind chill was -18.  I had on a hooded sweatshirt and leather jacket and after checking out of the hotel, I walked out to my car.  Before I could leave, I had to knock the four inches of snow off the vehicle.  Those scraper/brush things that they leave in the rental cars come in handy.  Then I carefully made my way to the airport.  Most of the drive was interstate and the roads were relatively clear.  I had to stop near the rental car area and gas up.  With all the ice and slush at the gas station, that was somewhat of an adventure.  But I managed to not put a ding on the car and I'm sure the people at Thrifty are happy about that. 

Amazingly, my flight left the gate on time.  Had a delay while they de-iced the plane but only arrived in Dallas fifteen minutes past the scheduled time.  In Denver, they have a clue as to how to deal with weather.

But I have never been that cold in my adult life.  The balcony at the hotel didn't get used nearly as much as you might think.

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