Appalachian State is one weird road trip

[NewsCopy]

UL — Saturday's game at Appalachian State is a must-win for Louisiana's bowl chances, but it's also arguably the team's toughest challenge to date. The Mountaineers, at 8-2, have the best record in the Sun Belt. They are led by the leagu...

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THE Advocate

[AppFan82]

Just a few corrections / clarifications - there are plenty of hotels in Boone. Most visiting teams stay in nearby Banner Elk which is home to the areas best ski slopes. Banner Elk is not quite 30 minutes from Boone if there's lots of traffic (that's a joke! - we have no traffic in the mountains!). It is true that the closest decent sized airports to Boone are Johnson City, TN, Charlotte, NC, and Winston-Salem, NC and that it's a bit of a hike from the decent sized airports to Boone. Boone is one of those places one goes to on purpose.

The other correction I'd make is that the GaState game last year wasn't too bad weather wise. We had a couple of inches of snow in the morning that were cleared from the field way before the game. During the game there was very little accumulation because the temps hit 33*-34*. Yes, it was snowing sideways ... and sleeting ... and windy ... but it wasn't all that cold (by Boone standards). Our grounds crew does a great job of keeping the field clear by blowing what snow there is away each timeout or media break. It's really something to behold. The GaState game was nowhere close to the coldest or snowiest game I've seen in Boone.

I'm sorry that UL won't get to see Boone's finest weather I'm also glad that we shouldn't have much trouble with rain.

Travel safely Cajuns. We'll see you at The Rock!

[fanof71]

Just a few corrections / clarifications - there are plenty of hotels in Boone. Most visiting teams stay in nearby Banner Elk which is home to the areas best ski slopes. Banner Elk is not quite 30 minutes from Boone is there's lots of traffic (that's a joke! - we have no traffic in the mountains!). It is true that the closest decent sized airports to Boone are Johnson City, TN, Charlotte, NC, and Winston-Salem, NC and that it's a bit of a hike from the decent sized airports to Boone. Boone is one of those places one goes to on purpose.

The other correction I'd make is that the GaState game last year wasn't too bad weather wise. We had a couple of inches of snow in the morning that were cleared from the field way before the game. During the game there was very little accumulation because the temps hit 33*-34*. Yes, it was snowing sideways ... and sleeting ... and windy ... but it wasn't all that cold (by Boone standards). Our grounds crew does a great job of keeping the field clear by blowing what snow there is away each timeout or media break. It's really something to behold. The GaState game was nowhere close to the coldest or snowiest game I've seen in Boone.

I'm sorry that UL won't get to see Boone's finest weather I'm also glad that we shouldn't have much trouble with rain.

Travel safely Cajuns. We'll see you at The Rock!

That's not a bad trip from JC across the mountains to Boone, and I agree about the weather, dodged a big bullet there, especially considering Sunday's forecast. Geaux Cajuns!

[BirdofParadise]

Teams stay in Banner Elk because there are no full service hotels in Boone. (Meeting rooms, full service catering etc.)

Courtyard by Marriott is great for basketball and baseball...but it doesn't suit the needs of a football team.

[AppFan82]

Teams stay in Banner Elk because there are no full service hotels in Boone. (Meeting rooms, full service catering etc.)

Courtyard by Marriott is great for basketball and baseball...but it doesn't suit the needs of a football team.

Good point. The only decent meeting room at the Courtyard wouldn't come close to big enough for a football team.

[MelRock]

I was in Boone a couple years back and it is beautiful, wish I was making the trip this weekend.

[ASU3432m]

Hey Cajun fans. If any of you make the trip to Boone, please stop by any of our great tailgates and allow us to return the great hospitality you showed us last year at your place.