So, I've read any number of posts claiming that KSU is not at a disadvantage in recruiting compared to OSU, TCU and Baylor because there are flights into MHK. Let's examine that thesis with actual information.
So, just to start off with driving options here are the google maps driving times from Dallas to the various locations. Now, Dallas is a big area, and it could be an hour or more from one area to another, but just to simplify things we'll use the simple designation of "Dallas" as the origin point.
Dallas to Manhattan.................7 hours, 18 minutes. It can be done, but it wastes most of a day driving each way.....not a drive you take on casually. And, if the recruits are South of Dallas center it adds even more time.
Dallas to Fort Worth..........33 minutes.....you could visit every weekend if you wanted
Dallas to Waco.....................1 hour, 30 minutes......frequent visits easy.
Dallas to Stillwater................4 hours.....makes it possible to drive and spend quite a bit more time on campus the day of arrival. [and OU is only 2 hours, 55 minutes, slightly closer than Austin]
So, Manhattan is the only one of the four options where a flight is probably recommended. Now let's look at flight options.
Southwest Southwest to KC with a drive to Manhattan takes almost as much time as a direct drive to Manhattan by the time you add in a couple of hours driving to the airport and getting checked in, unloading at the other end and renting a car. The cheapest airfare I could find was $320, plus a hundred or more for a rental car with minimal travel time advantage over a direct drive.
American Airlines has two direct flights to MHK: an 8 AM flight or a 3:50 PM flight.
The early flight requires the kid to get up before 6 AM in order to drive to the airport, and have enough time to check in. Probably not a popular option for most teenagers I know. By the time you get up at the crack of dawn, drive to DFW, check in, fly to MHK, deplane, and drive to campus, you have spent the same amount of time as a direct drive to Stillwater, and you have to pay a $385 airfare.
If you opt for the 3:50 flight, you have lost almost the whole first day of the visit, and the airfare is $507. And, you've still spent as much time travelling as a direct drive to Stillwater.
Yes, I know that the those expenses are picked up for official visits, but if you are relying on one official visit to make the sale, compared to probably multiple unofficial visits to the other options, you are WAY behind the 8 ball.
Anyone who claims travel is not a disadvantage to KSU's recruiting totally has his head in the sand.
So, just to start off with driving options here are the google maps driving times from Dallas to the various locations. Now, Dallas is a big area, and it could be an hour or more from one area to another, but just to simplify things we'll use the simple designation of "Dallas" as the origin point.
Dallas to Manhattan.................7 hours, 18 minutes. It can be done, but it wastes most of a day driving each way.....not a drive you take on casually. And, if the recruits are South of Dallas center it adds even more time.
Dallas to Fort Worth..........33 minutes.....you could visit every weekend if you wanted
Dallas to Waco.....................1 hour, 30 minutes......frequent visits easy.
Dallas to Stillwater................4 hours.....makes it possible to drive and spend quite a bit more time on campus the day of arrival. [and OU is only 2 hours, 55 minutes, slightly closer than Austin]
So, Manhattan is the only one of the four options where a flight is probably recommended. Now let's look at flight options.
Southwest Southwest to KC with a drive to Manhattan takes almost as much time as a direct drive to Manhattan by the time you add in a couple of hours driving to the airport and getting checked in, unloading at the other end and renting a car. The cheapest airfare I could find was $320, plus a hundred or more for a rental car with minimal travel time advantage over a direct drive.
American Airlines has two direct flights to MHK: an 8 AM flight or a 3:50 PM flight.
The early flight requires the kid to get up before 6 AM in order to drive to the airport, and have enough time to check in. Probably not a popular option for most teenagers I know. By the time you get up at the crack of dawn, drive to DFW, check in, fly to MHK, deplane, and drive to campus, you have spent the same amount of time as a direct drive to Stillwater, and you have to pay a $385 airfare.
If you opt for the 3:50 flight, you have lost almost the whole first day of the visit, and the airfare is $507. And, you've still spent as much time travelling as a direct drive to Stillwater.
Yes, I know that the those expenses are picked up for official visits, but if you are relying on one official visit to make the sale, compared to probably multiple unofficial visits to the other options, you are WAY behind the 8 ball.
Anyone who claims travel is not a disadvantage to KSU's recruiting totally has his head in the sand.
