By car, the trip from New Brunswick, N.J., to Morgantown, W.Va., takes a little over six hours. For the West Virginia football team, though, that trip took 18 hours last weekend — and that was by airplane.

‘We had an interesting trip coming home,’ West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez said.

A few hours after defeating Rutgers, 40-0, last Saturday, the Mountaineers boarded a Planet Airways charter ready for a relaxing, happy flight home. Then, something went wrong.

According to a press release from West Virginia Sports Information Director Shelly Poe, the problems started when workers on the ground in New Jersey filled the jet with too much fuel.

Then, the pilots learned they would have to file a new flight plan with the Federal Aviation Administration.

Then, the crew was required to take a break because of the length of the delay.

Finally, after six hours sitting on a crowded airplane with no air conditioning, the team was allowed to deboard.

The players retreated back to their hotel before heading back to the airport for another flight early the next morning.

Rodriguez said that flight was also delayed for more than two hours because of a problem with the aircraft’s steering system.

‘It was a first-time experience for everybody,’ Rodriguez said. ‘It was actually the first time for the pilots to have to sit in a plane for six hours with no air conditioning.’

Many West Virginia staff members rented cars at 4 a.m. to return to Morgantown, but the team touched down at the airport in Clarksburg, W.Va., at 4:45 p.m Sunday.

Rodriguez decided to let his team take the day off Monday after the incredible, 354-mile journey home.

‘I’d hate to imagine what would have happened if we lost the game,’ Rodriguez said. ‘Somebody would have probably went postal.’

The day off Monday gives the Mountaineers one less day to prepare for next week’s opponent — 1-5 Syracuse.

The Orangemen, coming off their first loss to Temple since 1983, have no wins against a Division I-A opponent this season.

“I’m just happy that next week is a home game,” Rodriguez said.

He said the long trip will force his team to scramble to get ready for the Orangemen with one less day of practice.

‘Hopefully,” Rodriguez said, “this was just a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Syracuse (+7.5) at West Virginia

Saturday, Noon, ESPN-Plus

West Virginia could have been stuck in New Jersey all week, and it still would trounce the Orangemen.

Syracuse’s pathetic run defense will be forced to contend with WVU tailback Avon Cobourne, who has put up 1,005 total yards and nine touchdowns in six games. The Mountaineers have scored 35 or more points in four games and will look to jump on the hapless Syracuse defense.

Pick: West Virginia 56, Syracuse 24

No. 9 Iowa State (+8.5) at No. 2 Oklahoma

Saturday, 3:30 p.m., No TV

Finally, a chance for gifted Iowa State quarterback Senaca Wallace to shine in front of a national audience.

Two weeks ago, Missouri quarterback Brad Smith ran for 213 yards against the Sooner defense — and Wallace is a better and more experienced player. Anybody who saw his highlight-reel, 12-yard touchdown run against Texas Tech knows his talent.

An upset win against Oklahoma will propel Wallace to the front of the Hesiman race.

Pick: Iowa State 28, Oklahoma 24

No. 7 Notre Dame (+3) at No. 18 Air Force

Saturday, 10 p.m., ESPN

According to ESPN’s College Gameday, this is the game of the week. Chris Fowler, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit make up the ESPN pregame crew that travels to the best game every week. And Saturday, the trio makes its way to Colorado Springs, Colo., for the first time. An Air Force win over the Irish could finally put the Falcons on the national radar.

Notre Dame has been great in close games, winning late in the fourth quarter against Michigan and Michigan State. There seems to be some magic associated with the Irish, but their highly-ranked defense will struggle with the option attack of Air Force that has put up 100 points in the last two games.

Pick: Air Force 38, Notre Dame 21

No. 21 Mississippi (+10.5) at No. 24 Alabama

Saturday, 3:30 p.m., CBS

Eli Manning became the first member of his family to beat Florida in a stunning upset last weekend in Oxford, Miss. His brother, Peyton, was 0-4 against the Gators in his career at Tennessee.

Eli Manning and the Rebels now go to Tuscaloosa to face border-rival Alabama. The Crimson Tide came within two points of ending Georgia’s bid for a perfect season two weeks ago.

Ole Miss comes into the game with an inconsistent defense that allowed 38 points and more than 400 yards of offense to lowly Vanderbilt before shutting down the Gators.

Pick: Alabama 42, Mississippi 38

No. 22 Washington (+ 7.5) at No. 19 Southern California

Saturday, 3:30 p.m., No TV

This should be a high-scoring battle of talented quarterbacks in Los Angeles as USC’s Carson Palmer and Washington’s Cody Pickett face off.

Pickett has already thrown for 2,251 yards this season and is only 319 from the school record for a season. The highly-touted Palmer has actually thrown for less yards (1,633) and touchdowns (nine compared to Pickett’s 13), yet Palmer is the one still mentioned as a Heisman candidate.

Each team comes into the game with a 4-2 record, and a win for either side would put it in line to challenge Oregon and Washington State for a Rose Bowl berth.

Pick: Southern California 35, Washington 27

Published on October 15, 2002 at 12:00 pm