Waking up on a Sunday morning in a hotel room. What’s new about that for me?

This time, it isn’t in Kansas City. Instead, it’s a long, long way in the opposite direction.

After the long day in Scott City, there was no way I was going to drive all the way back to Russell. It was 150 miles home, 45 miles to Oakley and I-70, and then another 105 east back to Russell. Instead, I went 35 miles in the other direction to Garden City and took up a room at the brand new TownePlace Suites on the northeast edge of town on Kansas Highway 156.

Beautiful hotel. Everything is modern and energy efficient. Full sized fridge and a microwave. For me, the best thing of all is the full-sized work space, which is often hard to find at hotels. It’s the same sized space I have at the Courtyards in Kansas City where I’ve been staying. I’m taking today as a recovery/work day before going back to Russell tomorrow afternoon.

It got better last night after I got to Garden City. I ordered a pizza from Papa John’s, and just as I got in my car to leave the hotel to pick up my food, LSU finally scored a touchdown to take a 10-7 lead over Ole Miss in Baton Rouge. By time I picked up my pizza, the Rebels looked like they were going to kick a field goal and send the game into overtime. But as I got back to the hotel, the Bayou Bengals intercepted to hold on.

I was very upset LSU’s students stormed the field after the win. That should not happen at LSU. The Bayou Bengals won national championships in 2003 and 2007, and yes, while Ole Miss was ranked #3, LSU should expect to beat Ole Miss in Baton Rouge. This isn’t the early 1960s when the Rebels had all-white powerhouse teams under Hall of Fame coach Johnny Vaught. This isn’t an LSU team coming off six straight losing seasons under Mike Archer and Curley Hallman. Nick Saban said it best a long time ago: LSU fans shouldn’t rush the field because they should expect their teams to win big games.

At least the goalposts did not come down this time. That’s the good news. But LSU now faces a $5,000 fine from the Southeastern Conference for the idiots who stormed the field. If I were LSU, I would go to the student ticket gate at the Alabama game and make everyone put in at least $10 if they want to get past security. If not, too bad, go home and watch the game on TV.

Just found out Smith Center will be playing at o:30 a.m. Friday in their first match at the Class 2A state volleyball tournament in Emporia. The Lady Red will not have to play back-to-back matches on day one. They’ll play Wabaunsee first, then Chase County at 11:30 and Central Plains at 1:30. The key will be the Wabaunsee match. Both teams are 33-6, and the Lady Red won the coin flip to be the fourth seed, which means they avoided back-to-back matches. Smith Center already lost to Central Plains in Hoisington last month, so it will be a significant underdog there.

The NFL got started at 8:30 a.m. with the Lions-Falcons game in London. Now the noon kickoffs, and we’re stuck with the Chiefs and Rams or a game which is just as unappetizing, Ravens-Bengals. Blah.