THE LATEST LINE: OVC ROAD A NO FRILLS EXPERIENCE

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- I've traveled with Southeast Missouri State University's basketball and football teams the past few seasons and let me tell you -- life on the road in the Ohio Valley Conference is not exactly glitz and glamour.

Sure, you're probably thinking, hey, the guy has it made. Hanging out in motel rooms, eating in restaurants, watching ballgames. It's a great life.

True, I consider myself the luckiest guy in the world to be able to make a living watching young athletes shoot jumpers, score touchdowns and the like.

But OVC road stops will never be confused with being in New Orleans for the Super Bowl or attending the NCAA Final Four (and, by the way, I've done neither). It's no-frills stuff all the way.

In fact, as I begin to write this, I'm on the OVC Road Trip from Hell. It's Friday afternoon and we're on a bus headed for Morehead, Ky., where SEMO's basketball team will take on Morehead State's Eagles the following night. Then it will be on to Richmond, Ky., for a game with Eastern Kentucky Monday night.

Take away Nashville, where Tennessee State is located, and the 10-team OVC is mostly made up of small towns, with Cape Girardeau -- believe it or not -- being one of the largest. Needless to say, there isn't all that much in the way of entertainment or night life at a lot of the stops.

This trek into the far eastern part of Kentucky is hands down SEMO's longest OVC road trip, some 400 miles -- and nearly seven boring hours -- on a bus. You bring plenty of magazines and newspapers, along with a radio, and hope time doesn't just stand still.

- - -

Well, the bus ride is over and we're finally here. It's the early evening and we've got two nights in Morehead to look forward to.

Except there isn't actually much to look forward to, because this town of less than 10,000 is hands down THE dullest OVC town among the ones that require an overnight stay.

There simply isn't anything to do -- one of the few bars in town is located right behind our motel, but two years ago a guy told me to be sure and take my knife if I go and I'm not sure if he was joking -- so it looks like cable TV in the motel room and some refreshments will have to fit the bill.

Of course, the Road Trip from Hell could be a lot worse. Last year here we ran into a blizzard that just about shut the whole area down. This time it's only snowed lightly.

And the Indians could be buried in the OVC standings. Instead, they're in the thick of the race.

A couple of wins would make even this road trek seem like a luxury trip.

* Where's the beef?

SEMO football fans certainly won't be asking that question in the 1997 season as the Indians added some hefty -- and much-needed -- linemen to their squad.

On paper right now, SEMO's recruiting crop looks pretty good. But the ultimate proof will be in how the season turns out.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian