I realized again this week that the worst part of being a student-athlete is the student part.

This feeling is especially heightened when a ridiculous amount of work and studying manages to collide squarely with the middle of an eight-game road trip. Studying and working is hard enough during the season; it is almost impossible on the road.

It is amazing how these things seem to work out.

With that being said, we are on the bus headed to DFW, where we will board a flight to Omaha, Neb., drive to Lincoln and play our biggest conference series of the year to date against Nebraska. We have a 2½-game lead on the Huskers in the league, making this a pivotal weekend for the whole conference race. This is one of those weekends to which we look forward all year.

Everyone is prepared and definitely relaxed, as was evident by the out-of-character food fight that took place between some guys on the team and Coach Smith on the way home from Tuesday's heartbreaking loss at Texas-Arlington.

Coach Smith was out of his seat in the back of the bus for a while, giving Mark McCormick the opportunity to pile most of the trash and uneaten food on Coach Smith's seat. After finding his present, Coach Smith began chunking half-eaten burgers at those he suspected as culprits. So much for innocent until proven guilty.

The whole scene was quite funny to everyone on the bus - except the freshmen, who had the privilege of cleaning the bus once we got back to Waco.

It should be a fun weekend at Nebraska, playing at a great stadium in front of a big crowd for first place in the conference standings. This is the type weekend we prepare for all year, and hopefully our preparation will be evident by our performance.

Ryan LaMotta

6