Penn State students will go for broke, some literally, when they pack their suitcases and migrate south for the Nittany Lions' first-ever Bowl Championship Series game.

Garrett Girouard (junior-crime, law and justice and history) grew up in the State College area and wants to take out a credit card to pay for the trip.

"I'm going to a bowl game no matter what, even if I have to get into debt to do it," Girouard said.

Girouard and his friends also want to secure an RV for their trip.

He is just one of the thousands of devoted students willing to use any means necessary to make the 1,500-mile exodus from State College. Many say they'll do anything because seeing Penn State in a BCS game may be a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

John Nelson (senior-finance and economics) might already be prepared for the two-day drive. Earlier this year, he made the seven-hour drive to Michigan with three grown men squeezed into the back of a Volkswagen Cabrio.

He said he is most looking forward to tailgating in Miami; it would be a fitting end to a season where Nelson said he often got up at 7 a.m. to tailgate at every home game.

"Penn State football this year has taken a decade off my life," Nelson said.

The trip would be his birthday gift, his Christmas gift -- whatever it needs to be, Nelson said.

Student tickets are $85. The university's athletic office will issue wristbands tomorrow and on Thursday it will select a number at random, which will be the starting point for those selected. In order for seats to be located together, students will need to receive wristbands together.

Matt Budura, who earned his graduate degree from Penn State in 2004 in biology technology, said he had planned on getting a ticket through Ticketmaster, but they were already sold out.

"Now I'm going to go on eBay, and I'm willing to spend up to $250, but it'd be really dumb to spend anything more than that," Budura said.

Pam Petitt (junior-biobehavioral health) said she booked a package deal through Premiere Sports Travel because it was the only way that guaranteed her a seat at the game. The package, which includes airfare, hotel and a ticket, will cost her $1,000, she said.

"I'll pretty much be going broke by going to the game, but it's worth it," said Petitt.

Petitt said she had originally camped out with four friends for bowl tickets before the athletic office revealed the plans of the lottery system. She said they had a tent, tarps and sleeping bags at the Bryce Jordan Center.

"I was more disappointed than upset," Petitt said. "We put so much thought and planning into it."

John Beberus (junior-finance) and Jeff Rothstein (junior-finance) said they were trying to go down to the game through a package deal also, spending up to $1,000 out of pocket.

Though both recently turned 21, they adamantly said the Miami nightlife was secondary to the game.

"We've been to all the games this year. We try to go in two hours early to get good seats and watch the players warm up," Rothstein said. "I love seeing JoePa run onto the field with the players."