3 parts - Background, Plan, Questions. Some of the questions are best answered by folks with specific knowledge of Mizzou, but others are more general in relation to colleges on game Saturdays..
BACKGROUND:
We've got 3 kids - oldest are current HS Junior and HS Sophomore.
None of our kids are much into watching sports. They're not especially opposed, just not really fans... The youngest, still in middle school, is most enthused about going to baseball games and such with dad - the other two - meh - once in a while...
Still, I thought it would be good to expose them at least once to the atmosphere of state U on a big game (more or less) football Saturday.
Some reasons:
- Even if they're not too excited about going to see MLB games, they might like the buzz of college football.
- *I* really liked going to college football games in my college years (at a public, state university that was doing well in football at the time.)
- If the atmosphere is, for some reason, a huge turn-off to them, then they should probably know that, too, and adjust their college lists accordingly.
I've made the suggestion to them, and they're up for doing it.
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PLAN:
Drive about 2 hours to Mizzou (University of Missouri, our state's flagship) for the 3PM September 24th game against Delaware State.
Either leave the Friday before, missing a couple of their classes, and make it to campus in time for an official tour (supposedly the last time to schedule a tour is Friday at 4PM - no tours on weekends), or skip this and either come down a bit later on Friday (thus not missing any school) or Saturday morning. Return after the game Saturday evening.
Of note - Mizzou is not super high on either of their lists - it will perhaps be a safety school. But the the junior IS quite interested in Michigan, and the sophomore fairly interested in Georgia Tech - both schools where football is a pretty big deal. Delaware State is not really a big game for Mizzou, but hopefully they'll win, and tickets should be easier to come by than for an SEC opponent.
It has been ~30+ years since I've been to a Mizzou game. I'm not an alum, but am somewhat familiar with the school and the area. We did spend a bit of time on the campus only ~1.5 years ago. I don't have a great feel for how some of the logistical issues - parking, crowds, etc, will turn out...
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So, remembering it's a 3pm Saturday game against a minor opponent...
QUESTIONS:
If we don't plan on tailgating, do we need to spring for a pricey parking pass, or will there be free parking (or cheap parking we can pay for on day of game) we can hike/bus in for?
Any specific thoughts on best site to find cheap, but decent, tickets for a game with relatively low demand? (Mizzou's own site? Craigslist? Stubhub? Other?)
As relative outsiders, cheering for Mizzou, but not crazy students, alum, etc, will we feel at home, comfortable in the stands? Do we need to gear up in any way (t-shirts and the like)?
How much will we likely get out of a self-tour of the campus that Saturday morning or the Friday before? Will the campus be whacky because of the game? Are there good resources for a self-tour?
If we want to eat at the campus hot spots on the trip (especially Shakespeare's Pizza), will they be too crowded before/after the game?
Will hotel rates be sky-high the night before?
Any other thoughts on this plan in general, or the specifics? Have others done something like this?
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