MAKANDA, Ill. _ Carbondale is small-town enough to have Saluki paws painted on its main drag. So a trip to Carbondale's sticks _ at night, down a twisty, narrowing road _ has Loyola's basketball players hearing the banjo twangs from "Deliverance."
From his front-row seat in the team bus, coach Porter Moser jokes about laying down some marshmallows so the Ramblers can find their way back. Forget Missouri _ we're 40 miles from the Kentucky border.
The journey Tuesday to a dinner spot called "Giant City Lodge" ("Southern Illinois Hospitality at Its Best") is no more unusual, though, than the one the Ramblers have taken this season.
A team that hasn't had a winning conference record since 2007 has ruled the Missouri Valley, claiming the school's first regular-season title in three decades. A brainy school less known than Loyola Academy high school in some parts of Chicago sold out its arena for Saturday's game against Illinois State, a 68-61 victory that moved their record to 25-5.
The nav says to take a right at Giant City Lodge Road, but Moser insists it's a left. And he's correct. His sharpshooting players, who entered the weekend ranked No. 1 in the nation at 51.8 percent from the field, have the right guide.
We arrive to be greeted by manager Mikey Kelley, who mentions some canisters of maple syrup contain bourbon.
"Don't you be spiking us!" Moser jokes. "I know you Saluki fans."
The food is prepared upon arrival to maximize efficiency, and it is a feast: perfectly crisp fried chicken, waffles, dumplings, potatoes and gravy, corn and cole slaw. Water is the beverage of choice for Moser, who says he never would drink alcohol in front of a player.
Beneath a mounted elk head, the table talk centers around current college coaches who played in the NBA, starting with Georgetown's Patrick Ewing and Chris Mullin of St. John's. (We did not forget about Bryce Drew and Kevin Ollie, Bulls fans.)
Before the plates clear, a waiter sidles up to Moser and discreetly tells him dessert is not included in the cost of the meal. Would he like to add an offering of cheesecake for his 29-man party? Maybe cobbler? Moser says yes to the cobbler.
The waiter returns: Would he approve a scoop of ice cream for the cobbler?
The table goes quiet. It's a bit awkward, like rummaging through a stranger's wallet to find his ID.
Moser says yes and then cracks: "When we were winning 15 games, no a la mode."
Times are good for the school sandwiched between Lake Michigan and the Red Line. The Ramblers have a coach whom the athletic director describes as "perfect," a man who knows there's more to the job than switching from man to zone defense.
Among his decisions: take a bus or spring for a charter flight? Spend leftover funds on travel or recruiting?
Moser has twice raised $150,000 to take his team on overseas trips and has had six assistant coaches poached by Power Five programs.
This isn't the life of every mid-major coach. But it is the way for Moser, who manages the bottom line while his team hunts for an NCAA tournament bid and his players maintain a collective 3.1 GPA.
