Sister institution, Red Cross help Bearcat fans

Bearcat fans eagerly left the Northwest Missouri State University ice-caked campus last Friday to enjoy the warmer climate in Florence, Ala., where the football team played in the Division II National Championship.

But for approximately 400 fans, marching band members and cheerleaders, the trip home proved to be yet another challenge. Eight charter buses carrying the group stopped in Cape Girardeau Saturday night due to snow and road conditions.

It could have been a miserable night, but thanks to sister institution, Southeast Missouri State University, and the Red Cross in that city, the Bearcats found shelter, sleep and food before travel conditions improved Sunday morning.

The group ran into the bad weather when they reached the southeast Missouri town at about 11 last Saturday night.

Cathy Barr, manager and travel consultant with Cotter Travel in Maryville, said she was advised to stop due to a report from the Missouri Department of Transportation.

“MoDOT could not keep ahead of the storm or keep the roads open for us to go farther,” Barr said. “We started calling people to see if we could work out something.” She was successful in reaching Northwest President Dr. Dean Hubbard.

Hubbard provided Barr with the name and contact information for his colleague, Dr. Kenneth Dobbins, the president of Southeast Missouri State University, which is located in Cape Girardeau. The university opened its doors and arms.

“When we reached the campus, they were waiting for us,” Barr continued. The group was put up in the campus recreation center where the staff pulled wrestling and track mats onto the floor for sleeping and provided sleeping bags and pillows.

“I cannot begin to express my gratitude to Southeast, to Dr. Dobbins, his staff and to the Cape Girardeau Red Cross,” said Hubbard. “It was comforting to know that our students and Bearcat fans were being cared for in a safe and warm place until the storm passed. From all reports, they did a wonderful job of providing everything the travelers needed.”

The Red Cross brought in cots for the older fans later in the night. The charity’s representatives (including a nurse) as well as those from the university’s residential life staff stayed with the group overnight.

“Everyone was so nice,” Barr said, “All the passengers were very understanding and patient. We were safe and warm, and while it’s not something I’d want to do every weekend, we had a good time and talked about our ‘Bearcat sleepover.’”

On Sunday morning, the Red Cross brought the group a breakfast of cereal, doughnuts and fresh fruit. Southeast staff provided each traveler with a bag containing soap and other toiletries, a towel and a place to shower.

Annette Hill, Northwest Student Services Center Supervisor, was among the fans on one of the buses. “They went above and beyond any expectations I could have had,” Hill said of the Bearcats’ hosts.

“On behalf of the Bearcat Marching Band, our hats are off to those great people who helped us out. Many, many thanks for their hospitality.”

After the welcomed breakfast and shower, the fans were back on the buses and on their way to Maryville by 9 a.m. They arrived in town at about 5:30 p.m. and, according to all, “were very happy to be home.”

For more information, please contact:

Anthony Brown,
News Bureau Manager
E-Mail: abrown@nwmissouri.edu
Phone (660) 562-1704
Fax (660) 562-1900

Northwest Missouri State University
219 Administration Building,
800 University Drive
Maryville, MO 64468

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