Redhawks receive red-carpet treatment

AUSTIN, Texas -- Southeast Missouri State has qualified for the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament twice in school history, last season and this year.

And both times, the Redhawks -- along with other university personnel and supports groups -- have been transported to their playing site like royalty.

"It's great the way we've traveled the last two years," said senior center Lachelle Lyles, who has made both trips.

Most travelers have to battle long lines and lengthy waits at Not Southeast's travel party, which was shuffled from Cape Girardeau to Austin, Texas, in a manner fit for kings and queens.

All courtesy of the NCAA, of course.

The Southeast group that numbered about 85 departed from Cape Girardeau Regional Airport at approximately 10:15 a.m. Thursday on a charter Miami Air International B737-800.

Less than two hours later, the jet touched down on an off-terminal area at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, again saving the hassle of navigating through a main terminal.

Two charter buses awaited the travel party, and after all the baggage had been transferred, the group arrived at the Holiday Inn Town Lake.

The total travel time from Cape Girardeau to the Holiday Inn was less than three hours.

"It's very impressive, the way we've traveled the last two years," Southeast athletic director Don Kaverman said.

Southeast coach John Ishee, who was not on the coaching staff last year -- when the Redhawks competed in their first NCAA Division I tournament in Denver and traveled in the same manner -- also was impressed.

"It's a great way to travel," Ishee said. "We traveled this way for some games when I was an assistant at Mississippi and it's a super way to go."

Ishee was appreciative, because he knows the Redhawks have a big enough challenge playing powerhouse Oklahoma, the nation's ninth-ranked team and a prohibitive favorite in Saturday's 11 a.m. tipoff.

The last thing the Redhawks need to worry about is complicated and tedious travel.

"You don't want to get worn down before you even get to where you're playing, which could easily happen under normal travel circumstances," Ishee said. "You don't have to sit around an airport for several hours, and you don't have to worry about your luggage not arriving.

"This way, it's just less things you have to worry about. It's all done very first-class."

The NCAA picks up the tab -- including travel, lodging and a daily stipend -- for 75 people. That includes everybody associated with the team, along with a certain number of band members, cheerleaders, administrators and support staff.

"We could sure get used to this, no question about it," Ishee said with a smile.