The Little Bus That Could - By Eric Neff

Each time I step onto a Weber State bus two things automatically go through my head. First, will we actually make it to our destination, and second, are the cheerleaders coming with us? After our last road trip, an exasperating journey to White Trash Missoula for an FCS playoff game, I have doubted the ability of Weber State’s buses to get fans to their intended destinations. A night in Deer Lodge Montana will do that to you. Deer Lodge is not the most glamorous spot in Montana, hell in all honesty, I wouldn’t doubt if Montanans have erased it from off their maps. It’s very similar to a black hole, but not one that could hold back the stellar efforts of the GREYGOOSE!! However, last night that very same super bus, failed the students of Weber State. Granted, every superhero needs a night off once in a while. Unfortunately, that night was last night. As I stepped onto the bus, my thoughts automatically returned me to that fateful night in Deer Lodge: Jimmy was sick from eating too much candy, crazy lady slapped Bev, and worst of all Weber had lost the football game to the hated White Trash Grizz.

Throughout this week, which preceded the first road trip since that fateful event, I have been paralyzed by apprehension and fear. I am one who believes in facing my fears, and thus signed up for the annual road trip to the WSU/ISU basketball game. However, my fears wouldn’t easily subside, as the memory of the last road trip flooded my mind. But, to my utter most relief, once I arrived in the parking lot of the Alumni Center, I spotted the mighty Grey Goose, and realized that this Super bus was to be our transportation to Potatoville. The fear subsided, and the excitement mounted, as we were about to embark on our expedition to the first of two rivalry games with the ISU Potatoes.

Unfortunately, despair was to overcast our hopes and excitement. Willie Page and I both let out a sigh once the Grey Goose started faltering. If the mighty Grey Goose wasn’t able to get us to Potatoville, then what were the devoted students of Weber to do, besides, the Cheerleaders were with us this time (even though none of us had a chance with any of them), and it was after all ISU, our hated, despised, and easily beatable rivals. Even though the rivalry is practically once sides, especially in football, we all knew that tonight’s game would be huge, and that the boys in Royal Purple needed the support of their fans. Yet, the Grey Goose, though it tried, would not be taking us to Potatoville. Bemoaned by the inability of the Grey Goose, another hero would step up on the “BIG STAGE, though it had two fouls,” for the Cats on this fateful night…

Like the little engine that could, one of the regular shuttle buses was used as our transportation. This little bus couldn’t go over 67mph, didn’t have enough seats, was grudgingly chilly as cold air slipped in through cracks, and overheated in riverside; yet, it refused to be denied. At 7:10 the Shuttle Bus that Could entered the LOLT Arena parking lot full of fanatical Weber State fans. Because of the late arrival, the rabid fans were unable to express their appreciation to the little bus that could, but that didn’t matter, all the bus wanted was a Weber State victory on this normal, cold, dingy, and ugly Idaho night. Though small in number, this small group would be louder than the 3,200 ISU fans, and help drive the Wildcats onto victory in a classic Over Time game between the two rivals. By the way, the cheerleaders, especially the dancers, who were on the bus, were really hot! BVB is definitely one lucky duder.

After a long night of struggling, the little bus brought back those faithful and appreciative Weber State fans. On this night we had witnessed two of the greatest spectacles of in Weber State history: A come from behind win on our rivals’ court, and the shaping of a hero…in the form of the Shuttle Bus that Could.

Coach Rahe at the Wildcat Luncheon

Every other week Wildcat Club members and other Weber State University supporters meet inside Lagori’s restaurant in Ogden to listen to WSU coaches report on the teams they coach. Today at the luncheon five coaches addressed supporters. The coach that stole the show—Men’s basketball coach Randy Rahe.

I paid $6.75 for my lunch and to hear the coaches. I would have paid $10.00 just to hear Rahe, even if that price didn’t include a meal. Rahe was awesome. Besides reporting on the Wildcat’s improbable road victories over Portland State and Eastern Washington, he was chuck full of hilarity. Among other things, he shared a personal conversations he had with a referee during the road trip, and he also detailed for those in attendance the pathetic state of Portland State’s basketball facilities. (Last year the ‘Cats actually had to share a locker room with a bunch of naked PSU professors. Yikes.) He talked about his superstitions as a coach. He said he has a lucky road tie and a lucky home tie. “The guys are getting tired of seeing them,” he said. He also said he finally found a hotel to stay at in Washington as he will not return to a hotel if the previous time his team stayed there they lost.

Besides being quite hilarious, Rahe was also very impressive. He makes sure his team stays hungry, prepared and humble. During the lunch he said there are no stars on his team. “We just have a bunch of good basketball players who play well together,’ he said. He expressed concerns about his team getting too confident and comfortable with the recent road sweep. “We’re going to get after them these next two days to make damn sure that doesn’t happen.”

Rahe also said that he enjoys coaching in the Big Sky because for his team there is no margin for error. Any team can beat any team on any given night. That is, according to Rahe, what makes every week so much fun.