Seniors Evan Nuessner and Seth Banks loaded up in Nuessner’s red Jeep at 5 a.m. Jan. 6 and hit the road to Arlington to attend the Cotton Bowl. Tickets were purchased on StubHub the night before, and they set off in hopes that the tickets would be there when they arrived to cheer on the Razorbacks.
“I was a little skeptical about how easy it would be to get the tickets,” Nuessner said. “When we got to Dallas, StubHub was set up at a hotel near the stadium. All I had to do was show my ID.”
After getting their tickets, Nuessner and Gates simply enjoyed the experience.
“The best part of the trip was the trip itself,” Nuessner said. “It was our first big road trip as 18-year-olds. Our parents let us free for the weekend, and they trusted us to go it alone.”
Friday, Jan. 6, featured the 76th annual AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic at Cowboys Stadium, featuring the Arkansas Razorbacks (10-2, 6-2 SEC) and the Kansas State Wildcats (10-3, 7-2 Big 12).
Many other students also packed up and started their journey south watch the Razorbacks play.
“I plan on leaving this morning and we have 10 seats,” said senior Josh Paxson who received the tickets as a Christmas gift.
For Paxson the game wasn’t the only thing he had planned down in Texas. His was going to enjoy some quality family time and get some shopping done at the outlet malls.
For many of the students attending the Cotton Bowl, some were more excited to just having the privilege to go to the stadium, which was over one billion dollars.
“I’m mainly looking forward to my first time at Cowboys Stadium and watching my favorite college team nonetheless,” said sophomore Brock Dassero.
Dassero was one fan in the midst of 80,000-plus other college football fans. Even English teacher Susan Felder got caught up in the excitement.
“The experience was very exciting and very loud, louder than any game I’ve ever been to. The Jumbotron was unreal. I would catch myself just watching the screen,” said Mrs. Felder. “I really enjoyed the camaraderie of the Arkansas fans. You didn’t have to know anybody, but you were like best friends.”
The Razorbacks ended up defeating the Wildcats 29-16. Arkansas tied a school record for recording the most wins in a single football season with 11 wins and 2 losses.
