What's a Jacket Fan to do?

that can be read “conference” or “national”. Both apply. If that makes me crazy, then gosh darn it, I’m just crazy.

is the substantial travel cost associate with somewhere that far. Other than that, I’m definitely with you.

1. Yes. My fiance and I are die hard. We’re getting the kids there.
2. No.
3. I’d rather see Tech win any game than see any other team period.
4. Probably not.

I’d rather see Tech anytime, anywhere. That’s why I drove straight through to Shreveport with my 3 year old and my mom, deathly ill with the worst case of bronchitis I’ve ever had, slept in the parking lot of the hotel until they let us check in, slept for a couple hours in a bed and then went to tailgate.

Let it never be said I’m not die hard.

And then turned around and drove home the next morning, still very ill, but got the chance to run into the band on the Mississippi river, which was very cool.

However, if we wind up somewhere we can’t easily drive to, it won’t matter. We simply can’t afford airfare for 6 people.

Other information, we have four children, 3 under the age of 12, so any super long road trips are out.

I’m sad. I really thought Tech was gonna pull this one out. :(

1) Would I see one of “my teams” play?
2) Do I mix well with the “non-my-team” fans we will be around (they’re “my kind of fans”)?
3) Am I excited to visit the destination city (would I do other things than just the game)?
4) Do I have family I can see?
5) Is this the cheapest option?

Assuming Tech would play in the Sun Bowl (against, say, Utah) and the ACCCG in Charlotte is between VPI and Clemson. I would answer those questions for myself thusly:

Charlotte: 1-No 2-No 3-Yes 4-No 5 – No [Score = 1 of 5 = 20%]
El Paso: 1-Yes 2- ? 3-No 4-Yes 6 – Yes [Score = 3.5 of 4 = 70%]

So, for me personally, even though El Paso is not as exciting as Charlotte, going to the Sun Bowl against a team we haven’t played in my time while saving a bit of money grades out better for my potential enjoyment than does going to the ACC Championship Game to hang out with a city overtaken by rival fans of a significantly different culture than mine.

If you do go to Charlotte, bring a ton of generic orange…..or RealTree camo.

You guys will enjoy Charlotte. It’s a city with the kind of “downtown” that is extremely walkable, and it’s outdoor mall called “The Epicenter” is a fun place to hang out, see a movie, get food, etc. Good mix of cultural food. I liked it when my major did an academic conference there a few years ago. We never took a cab or anything…just walked everywhere. It was ideal for that. I’m sure a game will be plenty of fun. VPI and Clemson are two of the most ravenous and electric fanbases in the ACC…if a wee bit redneck compared to the average GT fan. Just be sure to watch GT on TV somewhere and be loud and proud!