About four hours into their 12-hour trip home, eight buses of fans, cheerleaders and band members traveling with the Northwest Missouri State University football team wondered where they would spend the night.

The group of about 400 people had spent the morning and early afternoon in Florence, Ala., where the Maryville, Mo.-based team lost the NCAA Division II championship to Valdosta State University.

The team was already home, but a winter storm meant its fans, cheerleaders and band could go no further. University officials asked for some help from their academic brethren at Southeast Missouri State University and got it. Now they're singing the praises of Cape Girardeau.

Northwest athletic director Bob Boerigter was already home with the football team, but he said he called Southeast's athletic director with thanks Monday morning.

"The hospitality was awesome," said Annette Hill, supervisor of Northwest's Student Services Center and one of the 400 stranded travelers. "I asked for one thing and got it 10 times over."

Calls were made and an overnight home was found at Southeast's Student Recreation Center, because the empty campus dorms were still full of students' belongings. The local Red Cross brought in volunteers to help feed them breakfast. Recreation center personnel worked 12 hours to accommodate the weary travelers, winging it all the way.

There was no plan for becoming a shelter for road-weary travelers at the student rec center, said Jason Lipe, assistant director in charge of programs and technology at the facility, but the scenario was one that had been in the back of his and others' minds.

As soon as the call came in that unexpected guests would be arriving, the staff pulled together sleeping bags and exercise mats to create beds. The Red Cross pitched in with cots.

By noon the next day, the recreation center was open again, with no signs of the big sleepover. The Maryville travelers arrived home by about 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Hill said.

If they come through again next year, the Bearcats are hoping their stay won't be so long. And Southeast officials will welcome them back, but they hope the hospitality won't be needed.

"We told them we'd see them again next year," Lipe said. "But we told them if they come back through we'll meet them on the interstate."

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182