No frequent flyer miles for these Cougs

Remember the 2000 season? LaVell Edwards final year? Sure you do. It's hard to erase that type of season from the memory. There were the lowest of lows -- the home losses to Mississippi State and SDSU -- and the highest of highs -- the amazing comeback at Virginia and the original late-game fourth-and-forever play to beat Utah.
But one other thing dominated the discussion that season.
Travel.
Week 1: BYU travels 1,830 miles to Jacksonville to play Florida State.
Week 2: BYU travels 1,790 miles Charlottesville, Va., to play Virginia.
Week 6: BYU travels 1,830 miles to Syracuse, N.Y., to get plastered by the Orangemen.
Eight seasons later, BYU is harboring BCS hopes. And talent, experience and coaching aren't the only things on their side. The schedule is pretty friendly as well.
BYU leaves the state of Utah just four times this fall and two of those trips are to the neighboring state of Colorado. There's also the short jaunt to Seattle to play the UW Huskies. Those three trips combined add up to fewer miles than any one of the East Coast trips taken by the 2000 squad.
The fourth trip is a flight to Dallas/Forth Worth, a trek of less than 1,000 miles to play the Horned Frogs.
BYU will play eight games in the Beehive State -- six in the friendly confines of LaVell Edwards Stadium, one in Salt Lake and one in Logan.
Certainly the jet lag and general fatigue that plagued the 2000 squad won't be around this season.
Another factor: The 2000 team opened with three straight road games. BYU's only consecutive road trips in 2008 fall on the final two weeks of the regular season with short trips to Air Force and Utah. And this year's team leaves the state only once in the first six weeks with four home games and the pseudo home game at Utah State.
Those travel factors could be key to getting BYU over the top and over those pesky 1-2 starts. Take a glance at the schedules for the power teams from the BCS and you'll see 7-8 home games and road trips that span no more than a state or two.
Travel takes a lot out of a team. But that's not a worry in 2008. So if/when BYU finishes its undefeated season, don't forget to thank those quick in-state bus rides and short flights.