Funny enough, there was a runway error. When Valpo's team landed on Friday, the pilot cut the plane too early on the runway and got a wheel stuck in the mud. The bus had to drive out to the plane to load the team and the gear. The plane was stuck there overnight, with a maintenance crew even flying in from Milwaukee (where the flight crew is out of) to try and dig the plane out. When I landed on Saturday morning the plane was still there and the pilot was incredibly irate at the situation. There was real question as to whether or not the plane would be ready once the team was flying out. They finally got the wheel dislodged from the ground and the team took off without a hitch. We beat them back to Valpo by 21 minutes.
I believe it's about 2 miles long which is longer than some of the runways at Midway Airport in Chicago and they land the big jets there.
The runway at Waterloo airport is similar and the terminal is tiny. I think they get 2 flights a day.
This first season was not a surprise to me, you had to know the cards in Powell’s poker hand coming in was 2-3-4-5-7. I am looking forward to the recruiting and transfer protocol activities. They need seriously boost their talent base to compete. Powell is ready to pull a Prime Time approach and I look forward to it. Welcome to college basketball in 2024.
I had to abandon the broadcast at 48-40 Valpo and the next time I looked it was a final. I wasn't particularly surprised. The "real" season for Valpo fans is a couple of weeks away when Arch Madness ends for Valpo. Coach Powell's ability to recruit will be sorely tested as I think there are anywhere from 3 to 4 starting caliber players needed including at least two front court players with some experience and a set of nuts. A healthy Thomas Kithier type in at least one case.
