Coach DeWitt,

I guess it does not surprise me that schools might be choosing to change their athletic schedules to help combat the rising gasoline prices. I know that is starting to happen at other businesses. Where I work several people are starting to carpool. We are seeing more using the Kansas City metropolitan bus system too. I also hear people talk about purchasing more gas efficient autos. The gasoline prices are coming down but I think the dramatic rise over the last year is making a lot of businesses and individuals alter their consumption habits.

I would hate to see schools have to change their schedules to the point of eliminating traditional rivalries or lessening competitive opportunities, but somehow they need to address the additional costs. I have also heard that we may be facing increased natural gas expense this winter as high as 70%. If additional revenue is not an option, then perhaps some cost savings can be realized from changing schedules. I know it is probably not possible at all schools and I think it is tougher to do for a sport like wrestling. Football and basketball teams in Kansas City would really not have to schedule a game outside of KC until playoff season. Rockhurst High School might have to get a little creative to schedule a full football season with KC schools. I believe that wrestlers need more varied competition during the season.

Everyone probably realizes this but on 9/9/05, the IRS announced that the standard mileage rate was being changed from 40.5 cents per mile to 48.5 cents per mile for the period 9/1/05 to 12/31/05. This can help companies provide a little more assistance to their employees who do business travel for the rest of the year and also help those of you who use deduct business travel on your personal tax returns and use the standard mileage rate to do that instead of actual costs.