How Many College Football Players Travel To Away Games

How Many College Football Players Travel to Away Games

Ever wonder how many players actually get on the bus or plane when a college football team heads out for an away game? It’s not just the starting eleven, that’s for sure! It’s a whole lot more, and it takes some serious planning to get everyone where they need to be. Let’s dive into all the details about who travels, why they travel, and how many make the trip.

The Size of a College Football Roster

First things first, let’s talk about the size of a college football team. Most teams have a large roster, usually around 100-125 players. This number includes everyone from the star quarterback to the practice squad players, and even guys who are injured. But just because a team has this many players doesn’t mean they all travel for away games.

The Travel Roster: Not Everyone Goes

The travel roster, which is the group of players who actually go to away games, is smaller than the total team roster. The number of players that travel usually depends on a lot of things, such as what rules the conference that the college team is in, has, how far the team is travelling, or sometimes the coach’s preference. So, how many players do make the cut for an away game trip?

Typical Travel Numbers

While the exact number varies from team to team and from conference to conference, there are some general ranges we can talk about. Typically, you will find travel rosters of these approximate sizes:

• Smaller travel teams: Some smaller schools or Division II and Division III teams might travel with rosters as small as 60-70 players. This is more likely when the travel distance is very long or the budget is tight.
• Mid-size travel teams: Most big conferences, like the PAC-12, Big 10, or SEC usually travel with 70 to 85 players. This group includes players who will play, some backup players, and those who may be playing on special teams during the game.
• Larger travel teams: For the biggest games, or games in which they are travelling long distances, sometimes teams travel with as many as 90 to 100 players. This number usually includes most of the team, the players who may be getting experience, and some extras who may be needed.

To put it simply, a team that has a total of 120 players may only bring 80 of them to an away game. The others stay behind to practice and get ready for future games or their chance to travel.

Who Makes the Cut for Travel?

So, who gets to go on those exciting away trips? It’s not random! Coaches and staff have reasons to pick specific players for travel:

Starting Players

Of course, the starting players for the offense and defense are a lock for traveling to away games. These are the players who are expected to take the majority of the snaps during the game. Coaches always make sure the starters are where they need to be.

Backup Players

Behind the starters are the backup players. These players need to travel to fill positions on the field when injuries or tired players get pulled out of the game. It’s important to have backups who are ready to go.

Special Teams Players

Special teams are those plays like kickoffs, punts, and field goals. These players are usually very specialized and a specific player will have to play for certain plays. So, the players involved in these very important plays must travel with the team.

Practice Squad Players

Some teams bring a few practice squad players to away games as well. While these players may not play in the game, they are there to help out in practice and get experience in the game day environment. This is a chance for them to learn and grow.

Injured Players

Sometimes, teams will bring injured players to away games, too. Even though these players might not play, they still are a part of the team. They can help out with coaching their other teammates and also be there for support. They can also go to the game to still be part of the team atmosphere.

Other Considerations for Travel Roster

Here are a few other reasons that may influence the size of a travelling roster:

• Distance of Travel: How far a team is travelling affects how many people they may bring with them. A short bus trip to a neighboring state may not require bringing the whole team, while a long plane ride may require it so there is a backup for every position, if needed.
• Conference Rules: Each conference has different rules about team travel. These rules may dictate how many players may travel to away games for each team.
• Budget: Sometimes the budget can be an issue. A team with less money may need to make a smaller travel roster to cut costs.
• Coaches Decisions: Ultimately, it is up to the coaching staff about how many and who travels with the team. They will be making the decisions as to who travels and how many make the trip.

The Logistics of Away Game Travel

Traveling for an away game isn’t as simple as jumping on a bus. It requires lots of planning and coordination.

Transportation

For shorter trips, teams often use buses. For longer trips, they may fly on chartered planes. Sometimes they even need to use both! The team’s travel team works hard to make sure the players and coaching staff have reliable transport to get where they need to be.

Accommodation

Teams usually stay in nice hotels when they travel to games. The hotels are often booked well in advance. The hotels have to be large enough to fit the entire travelling party, and may need specific amenities, such as places to eat, study, and be together.

Meals and Nutrition

The players have very specific dietary needs to keep their bodies in peak condition for games. Teams usually have food prepared for their players to make sure they get proper nutrition. This helps them stay healthy and perform well. The meals are often planned to provide the player with carbs, protein, and other nutrients to help the players play at their best.

Equipment

All the equipment the players need, such as helmets, pads, and uniforms need to be shipped to the game location. This can be a huge logistical challenge and requires lots of help. Usually, these items are packed in crates, and will have to be trucked to the destination and then unloaded and ready for the players to use.

Medical Staff

A full medical staff, including doctors and athletic trainers, travels with the team. They are there to take care of any injuries or other medical needs that may come up. They are a crucial part of the team to help the players stay healthy.

The Impact of Away Game Travel

Traveling for away games affects players in different ways. Let’s see how:

Physical Toll

Travel can be physically demanding for players. Long bus rides or flights can lead to fatigue. The change in time zones may also affect the players’ sleep schedules, too. This can make it hard for the players to play at their best. The team has to plan and adjust to help the players get rest and stay healthy.

Mental Preparation

Away games can be mentally tough. Players have to be able to focus on the game while not being on their home field. The coaches will make sure they are mentally prepared to take on the challenges that await them.

Team Bonding

Traveling together can also help with team bonding. Spending time together on the road can help the players form stronger relationships. These relationships can help on the field, too. They become a closer team who can count on each other.

Understanding the Travel Process

To help illustrate how a team gets ready for an away game trip, let’s break down the process:

Pre-Travel Prep

Before the team leaves, there is lots of work that needs to be done. Things such as:

• Finalizing the travel roster: The coaches decide who will make the trip.
• Arranging transport: Buses, planes, and other transportation need to be arranged.
• Packing equipment: All the necessary gear gets packed up.
• Making hotel bookings: The team needs a place to stay.
• Planning meals: The team needs to eat healthy, nutritious meals while on the road.
• Medical supplies: The team’s medical staff ensures they have everything they need.

Travel Day

The day of the trip usually looks like this:

• Early departure: The team usually leaves very early.
• Transportation to the airport or bus: Everyone gets on their rides.
• Travel to the destination: This can be a short bus ride or a long plane flight.
• Arrival at the hotel: The team checks into their rooms.
• Team meetings and practices: Some practice will still happen, even away from the home field.

Game Day

On game day, things get very structured:

• Pre-game meal: A special meal before the game.
• Travel to the stadium: The team heads to the game.
• Game time: The team gets ready to play the game.

Post-Game

After the game:

• Post-game meal: The team eats after the game is over.
• Travel back home: They get on the plane or bus to go back to their campus

Why Not Bring Everyone?

You might wonder why teams don’t just bring everyone. Here are some reasons why not:

• Cost: Travelling with a large group can be very expensive. Hotel rooms, meals, and transportation all add up.
• Logistics: It is hard to manage a very large group when traveling, especially with limited space.
• Need: Not everyone needs to be at every game. Only the ones who can help the team on the field actually need to be there.

Examples of Travel Roster Sizes

To give you a better idea, let’s look at a few examples of travel roster sizes from some well-known college football programs:

These numbers can change a little from week to week, but they give you a good idea of how many players a team usually travels with.

The Role of Support Staff

It’s not just the players who travel. There’s also a large support staff that goes on away trips. This staff includes:

• Coaches
• Trainers
• Doctors
• Equipment managers
• Team managers
• Media personnel

These people are all essential to the team and are there to make sure the players can perform at their best.

Importance of Travel Planning

Good travel planning is super important for a successful away game. When things are organized and well planned, it makes it easier for players to focus on playing. It can also help with travel issues that may come up. Team managers and support staff work very hard to make sure the team can travel with as few issues as possible.

In short, traveling to away games is a big operation. It involves a lot more than just the players. The planning and coordination that is needed makes sure that these teams are prepared for every challenge they may face. This makes sure the players can perform their best and stay as healthy as possible.

So, the next time you’re watching a college football game on TV, remember that there is a large group of people that have to travel in order to make the game happen, and each one has a role in the team’s success.