Tech ready to take long bus ride to start season
Yes, the college football season is here. No one knows it more than players from Michigan Tech who step on the bus Friday morning at 7 and take the 10-hour ride from Houghton to Hillsdale for Saturday's noon game.
Big things are expected from Tech this season with 19 starters returning from last year's 8-3 team, including first-team running back Phil Milbrath, who ran for 125 yards and three TDs in his collegiate debut against Hillsdale last year in a 39-36 win. Senior quarterback Steve Short also returns.
Expect the same excitement in the rematch Saturday at Hillsdale. Tech had six games decided by a seven or fewer points last year. Hillsdale has a lot of talent back as well, led by All-American defensive end Drew Berube,
"Our expectations are high," Tech coach Tom Kearly said. "Our quarterback (Short) is back and that's always a good thing. There's a fine line in this league (GLIAC) between winning and losing. You have the one big giant (Grand Valley). You don't have to outrun the bear, but you try to outrun everyone else to get to the national playoffs."
Oh, and about those bus rides?
"We have 10, 12, 13-hour rides, but you can't have that be an excuse," Kearly said. "I'm still waiting to find a gadget that gets ESPN on the bus. Let me tell you, we watch a lot of movies."
