Much has been made in the bowl/travel threads about the difficulty (and expense) of getting to this bowl. So, my question is simple: are you going to the game?

If you're not going, why?

Travel? Cost? Holiday Plans? Tired of Losing? Location? Your chance to make your feelings known...

Bowls should not be in places where I can't fly while living in one of the most populous states in the country. Another sign of the bloated bowl system.

This bowl is in a very bad location for a fanbase/region that is quite poor. You're looking at a minimum of $1,300 for the trip when you factor in just lodging and flights. That's waaaay out of the price range for our average fan.

If you know how to travel cheap, it's not that bad. Of course, that definitely means not flying, especially to this location. At about 2,000 miles round trip, with a car that gets good gas mileage, you're looking at about $220 in gas. If you use Priceline and are willing to stay outside of downtown areas that are twice as expensive, you can get 3-star hotels for $50 or less per night. This comes up to less than $500 for the whole trip and then if you can find a few people to share the costs, it's really not bad at all, only a couple hundered per person. But I guess it just matters if you can deal with the driving. That can be part of the fun, in my opinion.

Surprising amount in the "undecided" camp right now. What will sway you off the fence?

This is sounding too much like Presidential politics...

I think I am officially a no. I tried talking friends into pressuring me into going ("But honey, I have to leave you and the baby for 3 days to drink and gamble and watch football because my friends will call me lame if I don't."), but none of them bit. And in the meantime family issues have intervened, so I'll be on my couch with a beer instead. I am going to do the Tickets for Kids thing, though, and I get partial credit for that, right?

True. But you've got to admit that Shreveport is significantly harder to travel to than, say, Tampa or New Orleans. It's got a tiny regional airport that you can only fly into via Atlanta, Dallas or Las Vegas. Cost aside, you're looking at a time-consuming and inconvenient flight. On a local scale, this would be like having a bowl game in Parkersburg.

Or, if you go the Little Rock or Jackson route, you've got a 4-5 hour car ride waiting once you land. Not saying we shouldn't do it (I encourage everyone to go!), but that's tough on the average, working class "Bobcat Family Pack" season ticket holder.

All that aside, if you're able to, get to Shreveport. Win or lose, bowl games are a blast. Can't go? Please donate a few to the Ticket for Kids deal. I'd imagine the AD will need all the help it can get to cover costs for this game.

I think all of you should seriously consider coming to the game.  Yes, Shreveport has only a regional airport, but here are some ideas in no particular order.  Dallas has a big airport and it is about 3 hrs. from DFW to Shreveport.  So, you rent a car.  Most have unlimited mileage these days.  As for me, I'm staying at the Residence Inn Airport which is just off I-20 (the hwy. you will take all the way from Dallas to Shreveport).  That hotel gave me 2 rooms with breakfast (and, of course, their free happy hr.) for $118.15/night + tax for a queen rm. w/sleeper sofa, kitchen, etc.  It is almost walking distance from Independence Stadium, but anyway just a short drive.  Check around for other hotels--you can get a good rate.  

I am not beneath flying "stand by" but I have not done that since the drawn out take your shoes off era began.  Buy your tickets late if necessary to get them cheap.  Show up at the airport (if that's possible, or go online) and wait on an opening--then name your price.  There is a misconception about when to buy airline tickets (and hotel rooms for that matter).  When that plane takes off, or when that night passes at the hotel, an empty seat  or vacant room revenue are gone forever.  Therefore, rates go down--not up--when it gets closer to gametime.

You probably have some Ohio events planned by your alumni assn., but whether you do or you don't, show up at the "Louisiana Boardwalk" -- it's on the Bossier City side of the Red River, but all easy to find, and still all just off I-20.  ULM is having a pep rally at around 5PM Thursday night before the game.  You would be welcomed and there's food, drink, etc. 

Need more reasons?--I've heard some seats are going for as little as $17 on some websites (start with Stubhub I guess) that is, if you have to buy them.  They say there is not a bad seat in the stadium, and (unfortunately) it won't be a sellout, so you can probably move around and pick your favorite open seat.  (I really doubt they will have any goons keeping you from moving from one section to another.)  The weather that time of year is not bad, even though it did snow one night--it's not the kind of snow that will keep you from driving or run you out of the stadium (besides, you all have the experience to deal with that).  Matter of fact, we here in La. would be downright giddy if it snowed.   Based on recent years' weather (warming, if you will) I don't think we have anything to fear other than rain, and I'm not worried about that.  I'm sort of an "almaniac" and I can tell you the usual weather from Christmas Day through sometime past New Year's Day is pretty laid back, but I won't jinx it any further.  CBS Sports picked our game as one of their top 10 bowl games.  Depending on where you stay, there are at least 2 shuttles running to the game (and your hotel just might give you a ride).  The shuttle is $5/person round trip.  Parking at the stadium is more, but you won't have to pay to park for a shuttle.  The 2 shuttles I know of are from Mall St. Vincent (the biggest shopping mall there) and one is from the Boardwalk area.

Just do it!

I'm not going because of several factors, but mostly because it just seems like a hassle to get there, as well as the deflated feeling our fan base has (me included) about the last half of the season. I have the time, flexibility and money to go but still have little desire to make the trip.

Shreveport is a pain to get to. Flights are really expensive and I don't feel like having 12 hours worth of travel by the time I drive to the airport, fly to somewhere, then have a 3-4 hour drive to get to Shreveport. I'm sure they do a nice job welcoming both teams to town. I wish there was an easier way to get there.

I am going to go to Vegas instead for 3-4 days for around half of the cost of Shreveport, with significantly less hassles getting there. I felt the same exact way about the trip to Boise last year.

I'm jealous of my brother. He is a UC grad. He has a 6 hour drive to Charlotte for his bowl game. I'd be going anywhere I could drive to in 1/2 day.

OK, thanks for sharing. This being the case, we will not be enjoying your postgame criticism of the players/coaches.  Somehow I expect you will be heard from.  Winningest group of seniors in Ohio history, beat Penn State and CBS' 9th rated bowl and you may not even watch.  I can counter your apathy with my own enthusiasm, very high, and by the way I will be there with wife.  Perhaps you could follow colobobcat66's lead and buy some tickets for kids?

Sure wish the alumni office/athletic department would plan to have charter flight(s) like when we went to Mobile.  That was a 1st class trip.  Plane, hotel, bus transportation, entertainment, gift(jacket) and game ticket.

I unfortunately just started a new job and do not have the finances to make the trip. I have already planned to watch the game at a bar in Dayton with several other OHIO alumni. I am very excited about this game and hope to see our seniors go out with another bowl victory. I don't get how any true fan can not be excited about this game. It is a chance to salvage the season on national television in a respected bowl game.

Have to work or else I would.  Headed to Norman the next day for hoops.