Backs are sore and eyelids are heavy from sitting in the same position of a full car for endless hours. There is no time to stop for the night, save occasional pit stops. Yet, many say that a drive through seven states is worth it to get to Orlando, Fla., location of the Capital One Bowl.

Some students, determined to see Penn State play in the bowl game, but not quite ready to pay sky-high prices for plane tickets, have decided to take alternative methods of transportation.

Adam Davis (junior-forest science) offered his 1992 Isuzu Rodeo that has "too many miles on it to make the trip" to haul three of his friends to Orlando.

"I was drunk, and I volunteered my car," he said.

Davis is leaving on Dec. 28 and he estimates the trip will take about 20 hours. With such a lengthy trip, he said it might be hard to get along with his friends in the car.

"Things can get interesting when people are in close quarters," he said.

Although they will have to deal with being confined in the car, he said he thinks it will be worth it. Davis said the money they will save from not flying can go toward other activities while they are in Florida.

"You get a bowl game and a vacation in one," he said.

Kristen Hurd (junior-psychology) is traveling with a group of eight. To keep their two cars in touch, the friends are taking walkie-talkies. Hurd said the group is driving to save money.

"Flying was just out of the question," she said.

Other students decided to cut out the cost of the plane and the hotel. Rick Herman (senior-finance) and Kevin Zakorchemny (senior-industrial engineering) are two in a mix of 16 students and alumni who are cruising to the game in a pair of recreational vehicles (RVs). One of the RVs will go to Orlando, but the other will take a side trip to New Orleans.

"We wanted a bowl game for three years, so this is an opportunity to take advantage of going to the South," Zakorchemny said.

Herman, Zakorchemny and three other friends have been to every home and away game this year.

"We're pretty familiar with the whole road trip," Herman said.

The five friends made a pact in the beginning of the season to go to a bowl game no matter where it was, and they decided taking RVs was essential because of Penn State's tradition of RV tailgating. Also, they found that the trip will only cost about $300 per person.

For a slightly cheaper price of $239, one can buy a bus and hotel package through STA Travel in the HUB. Gunjan Patel (senior-animal bioscience) decided to take the bus with her boyfriend and a friend.

"It's like the last game we can go to being students," she said.

She said she plans on making signs to attach to the outside of the bus.

"With all of the Penn State students, it is going to be spirit for 20 hours straight," she said. "And if we win, on the way back it will be just wild."

Yet some students do not find the need to stray from airlines. Joe Baglini (junior-crime law and justice) said he will rest easy in the comfort of a short flight.

"We kind of weighed the benefits of flying versus driving and decided flying would be more convenient and less stressful," he said.

He said the ride will be enjoyable because the large number of Penn State fans in the air will pack a lot of spirit and pride onto the plane.

Most students agree that no matter how they get there, the Southern atmosphere is part of the attraction of going to the game.

"It's a lot of Penn State fans in Florida, enjoying the sun and fun," Zakorchemny said.