State didn’t score a plus with the opponent, as anytime you play a team outside the power five, unless maybe it’s Boise State, you won’t elevate your program much by winning, but if you lose, you’ll be seen as being on the mid-major level. Thank John Swofford for the Notre Dame “addition” that cost the ACC a tier one spot.
But the location is a plus in my opinion. I know how bad traveling to Florida is around Christmas, but you can’t beat the St. Petersburg location. St. Pete and the area around it (excluding Tampa) is pretty nice. I spent a week at Holmes Beach last month, and it’s only 30 minutes south of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. You won’t find a better place down there for R&R than Anna Maria Island; they have spacious sandy beaches without the congestion of Myrtle Beach.
If you’re driving down, I highly advise taking I-295 around Jax to I-10 west, and take it all the way to I-75; they’re working on 301 between I-10 and Ocala, and you’ll make better time on the longer interstate route to Tampa instead of the 301 shortcut. The main thing is to avoid I-4 and Orlando.
Good luck to the Pack.
I agree with all of this. And at least it’s not EZU.
