Tinker Keck has never missed a Christmas Day at his home in Kansas. Until today, that is.
Today, Keck will be flying over his Goodland, Kan., home in an airplane, as he travels with his University of Cincinnati football teammates to their Dec. 29 Humanitarian Bowl game in Boise, Idaho. UC departs at 3:30 p.m. today via charter and arrives in Boise about 8 p.m. Cincinnati time.
''It will be my first time away from home at Christmas,'' said Keck, UC's junior safety and punt returner extraordinaire. ''But it's not very often you get to a bowl game.''
Keck, who tied an NCAA record by returning four punts for touchdowns this year, is among 95 UC players (including walk-ons) making the trip. Most have never been away from home at Christmas, with UC making its first bowl trip since 1950.
Coach Rick Minter has already given the Bearcats their Christmas, with the players freed for their holiday break from Dec. 21-24. Some players were able to go home, some not.
''Our kids don't understand what it's like to be playing in December,'' Minter said. ''It's like, 'You mean I'm going to miss my Christmas vacation?' Well, yeah. But this is maybe a once-in-a-lifetime thing.''
UC, which begins practices Friday in Boise, is getting a one-day jump on its opponent, Utah State. The Aggies won't leave for Boise until Friday and won't practice there until Saturday, but they also have to travel about 1,700 fewer miles than UC does.
UC went hard in practices from Dec. 13-20, following completion of final exams Dec. 12.
''Practices have been very businesslike,'' said Derrick Ransom, senior defensive end and captain. ''It'll be a fun trip, but the No. 1 goal is to win the game.''
Minter said the players will be treated to a Christmas dinner tonight in Boise, and there will be some presents exchanged.
''You'll have a lot more Christmases,'' Keck said, ''but maybe not more bowl games. That's how you have to look at it.''
Humanitarian Bowl web site
Utah State home page