Sitting in the parking lot in Ardmore, Okla....

Last night brought back memories…

I was about five years old when my family went on vacation to San Antonio. We hit all the tourist spots including the Alamo, the Riverwalk and of course one of my favorite Mexican food places, Casa del Rio.

One night, we went to the Riverwalk and got on the riverboat. I was sitting in the front seat by myself, and right after we passed the outdoor theater, a big wave came over the front of the boat. I was thinking, “Cool!”, then I found out otherwise. Our boat… are you ready for this… SUNK! Yes, your read it right, sunk.

It took about an hour or hour and a half for them to send another boat around to pick us up and take us on the rest of the trip. By then, most of the people that were on the boat at the beginning had walked off. We got on and finished the tour. Overall, it was an interesting experience that we laugh about today, but at the time… not so much.

Fast forward to last night, Friday, Sept. 26.

We had just eaten supper at the Sirloin Stockade in Ardmore, Okla. And much like the riverboat when it passed through the live theater, we were watching a movie. And though there wasn’t a wave coming over the front of the bus, there might as well have been. Longer story shortened, that new bus (which was on its first trip) decided to sink out of commission. That’s right… we pulled off into a shopping center parking lot and we waited.

Finally, a few of the coaches took the starters and the rest of the two-deep on to Oklahoma City as about 10 other student-athletes and the rest of the coaches, support staff, radio guys and myself sat in the parking lot waiting. And waiting. And waiting.

Four hours after we first stopped, the replacement bus arrived from Oklahoma City and we finally head to OKC. We arrived at the hotel around 1 a.m., five hours after we were supposed to get to the Crowne Plaza.

We finished the movie we had started when we got back on the bus from supper, and they watched another, too.

Overall, though, the morale in the parking lot was good. A few of the trainers there, along with a few of the players, decided to take up a game of throw the empty Powerade bottle. I think it may have turned into a soccer bottle one time.

“I don’t like this, but there is nothing we can do about it,” said head coach Sam McElroy. “I am a routine-oriented guy, and last night didn’t go like we wanted it to go. But men, that is now behind us. Today, we focus on Southwestern Oklahoma, and if history repeats itself, it will be an all-out war.”

Talking to all the coaches, and Dr. Ron Newsome who has been on 1,000s of road trips, nobody has ever had this situation happen before.

How will the team respond this evening? I don’t think it will make a difference. I’m just glad it wasn’t on the way to Southwestern (now crossing my fingers!).

When we got of the bus early this morning at the hotel, Lucas Vance, the color commentator for the Tarleton Athletics Radio Network, said, “This will be a road trip I never forget. Remind me to never go to Ardmore, Okla. again.”

I am not sure we can hold it against Ardmore, or the bus company. I am glad we didn’t have anyone walk away while we were waiting for the bus like the people did it at the riverwalk.

I do know the boat finally arrived, and the tour, and the whole trip, turned out to be a wonderful experience.

Here’s hoping the same will be said when we get home early in the morning.