Writers' road trip takes them to Columbia for the weekend
Published Oct. 26, 2007
After 7,500 miles, dozens of tanks of gas and numerous visits to small towns, College Sports Television's "Going Big" road trip has made its way to Columbia.
Writers Matt Meyers and Mike Ogle are in the midst of a four-month road trip through the Big Ten and Big 12, shooting video of their journey for College Sports Television's Web site.
Meyers, 27, said he and Ogle, 28, have been freelance writers for a while and jumped at the opportunity CSTV offered them.
"They called me and asked if I would be interested in this road trip they were planning, and we said we'd be thrilled to do it," Meyers said. "So we sent in a tape like we were auditioning for 'The Real World,' and we got it."
Although the videos are cut down to give the appearance that the trips are all about fun, Ogle said much of the hard work is involved, because they are doing things every day.
"When you look at the snippets of our trip, they make it seem like a blast, but it's a grind," he said. "We have to work and shoot video and always think of what to do next."
The duo spent Tuesday in Maryville at Northwest Missouri State and Wednesday in Kansas City with former football player Neil Smith. Ogle said they have had some fun experiences.
"In Dallas, we were with Ty and Koy Detmer," he said, referring to the brothers who used to be National Football League quarterbacks. "And we didn't know what do, so we had a challenge. I put on a pillow, and they just threw footballs at me for a half hour."
Both writers live in New York City, but Meyers said it has been nice to see more of the country.
"As New Yorkers now, we have a tendency to live in a bubble and think that everyone views the world the way we do," he said. "But doing this, you realize it's a large country out there."
The pair is on the road for four months straight and won't go home until after the Big 12 Championship Game.
"I don't know what we're going to do for Thanksgiving," Ogle said. "Maybe we'll have it at Waffle House."
