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FARGO, N.D. (AP) -- The North Dakota State football team might be coming off a deflating one-point loss to Minnesota, but the team's opponent on Saturday is coming off a four-week road trip that might have been one of the most brutal in Division I-AA this season.
Southern Utah started with a nearly 1,200-mile round trip to Cal Poly. The Thunderbirds ended it about 6 a.m. Sunday, when they returned home to Cedar City after losing 27-7 to Cal Davis. The bus trip home took 13 hours.
"It definitely wears on the guys," said Southern Utah head coach Wes Meier. "That's a lot of time sitting in a seat."
The Thunderbirds (3-5, 0-2 Great West Football Conference) host No. 6 NDSU (6-1, 0-0) on Saturday, hoping to break a four-game losing skid that accompanied the long trips.
"I know how I feel mentally and physically, and it's got to be tougher on (the players)," Meier said. "It takes its toll. We're road-weary."
NDSU is in the midst of its second stretch of three straight road games this season.
"It's all part of college football," cornerback Richard Bowman said.
Bowman said he does not think Southern Utah's long last four weeks will necessarily hurt the Thunderbirds.
"I'm sure they work just as hard as we do," he said. "Every college works hard. I feel like it will be great competition for the both of us."
Meier said the Thunderbirds will be rested -- the players had Sunday and Monday off. "We look forward to having this home game," Meier said. ------ Information from: The Forum, http://www.in-forum.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-10-25-06 1507MDT
