USC's move to the BIG 10 will have major implications for both the university's 23 varsity sports, fans, and student-athletes. The new schedule means there will be more flights to far-flung cities than the USC team has previously had to deal with. This year, football teams will play at least three games approximately 2,000 miles apart. USC has been chartering planes for bigger teams such as football, but there could be more charters in the future, said Kelly Gray, a travel agent in charge of USC Athletics' flights. speaks.
Kelly Gray: “There's a big 10 move, so if that's something that happens, it's probably going to happen more with other teams. I think probably. We'll see soon.”
Gray is working to provide USC with a list of options for many cross-country flights in the fall, including the possibility of charters. Charters are more flexible and require student-athletes to work around busy, rigid schedules. But this often means pumping in air and exhaling carbon dioxide from planes that don't need to fly.
Educational institutions may seek compensation for privileged use of private travel. For example, they can pay carbon offset fees, Gray said in the deal with USC.
Gray: “No one mentioned that to me. If they had to do it to someone else, I don't know. Some airlines allow you to redeem your published tickets online or elsewhere. I know that when you make a reservation, if you check this box, you'll be able to edit that combo, such as paying a certain fee to offset your emissions. I don't know how they do it. But no one's saying anything about it.”
USC football's Big Ten debut is several months away. What Gray is currently working on is official recruiting visits for future Trojan athletes. She is her first point of contact regarding her travels. She plans everything from taking her kids to Los Angeles to touring the city and bringing them home. Athletics departments spend a lot of money on these visits. And they too come with multiple layers of carbon costs.
Gray: “We have official visits almost every weekend for football, in April, every weekend in May, every weekend in June, and then we start again in September. And then the 16th and 19th of May. , it's going to be a bigger weekend where I'm going to book about 20 luxury SUVs for the football department and take the kids all over the place.”
The most energy-efficient cars on the road aren't premium SUVs.
Gray: “I mean, it's a certain look, they're not going to make it like a Toyota Corolla sedan. That's the way they did it. And I've only been back here for almost two years. It's only been a while, but Annie has a whole program and it's very effective. You know, she knows what she's doing.”
Annie is Annie Hanson. Head coach Lincoln Riley brought his colleague to the University of Southern California when he signed. Part of his deal is having his private jet available to him 24/7. But USC is famous, or infamous, for its football funding. The Big Ten's coverage deals with CBS, FOX and NBC will likely put even more advertiser money into the pockets of athletic departments. They are already taking great steps to make the University and Coliseum more sustainable. We look forward to great success for the Big Ten Trojans on the field and in their green endeavors.
