The day after the Penn State football team's victory over Michigan State, Ryan Progin and his dad booked tickets to the Outback Bowl, more than three weeks before Penn State was officially chosen to play in the bowl.

Progin (sophomore-civil engineering and German), who has been going to Penn State football games since he was 3 years old, spent a portion of his break in Tampa, Fla., with his younger brother, dad and a family friend.

"[My family and I] are Penn State nuts," Progin said.

Progin was one of many who made the trek to Tampa to cheer on the Nittany Lions, who beat Tennessee 20-10.

Progin and posse had planned to stay in Florida for three days, and when booking their hotel, they weren't concerned about being close to the beach, he said.

"We stayed a mile from the stadium because we were trying to save some money," Progin said. "It was like walking from East Halls to Beaver Stadium."

Progin and his family not only soaked up the Outback Bowl atmosphere by staying in close proximity to the stadium, but they made the most of their experience by going to the other Outback Bowl activities.

"We went to the pep rally and the Outback Bowl parade in Ybor City," he said.

"There were all of these high school bands that played in the parade, so that was pretty cool."

Although they didn't stay close to the beach, Progin and his family managed to have a day in the sun at the Outback Bowl Beach Day.

"There was a cheerleader tug-of-war," he said.

"[Penn State] cheerleaders didn't win any of the matches. We were told whoever won the tug-of-war would also win the game, but they were wrong."

Although Progin said he had fun before the game, he said the highlights of break were strictly football-related.

"In Tampa, the best experience of the game was when Tony Davis returned that touchdown, because fans go nuts," Progin said.

"But my other great time was on the way to Tampa. We went to Gainsville, Fla., and checked out [their] football team. My brother got autographs from players, and now they're national champions."

Other students, like Megan Wallace and Tamara Abromitis, traveled to the game after getting tickets in the student lottery.

Wallace (junior-environmental resource management) made the trip with three friends to watch the Nittany Lions.

"I had front row seats for the game," Wallace said. "Just being that close made it amazing. It was like not being at Penn State, but being at a Penn State game -- even though it wasn't our stadium with the Blue Band and the fans. Everyone was being loud and obnoxious, cheering on Penn State."

Abromitis (senior-telecommunications) didn't get to soak in the sun as much as she would have liked, but she said her trip was still fun.

"We went to Discovery Cove, Busch Gardens, swam with dolphins and did a lot of shopping," Abromitis said. "But unfortunately, we didn't go to the beach a lot."

For her, the highlight of the trip was actually outside the game itself.

"Me and my soon-to-be stepsister were drinking around the hotel with Tennessee people," she said. "We trash-talked each other the whole night."

Now that football season is over, Progin already has his hopes up for next season.

"Next year I'm hoping to be in New Orleans for the National Championship game," Progin said.

"My parents got engaged in the 1983 Sugar Bowl, so if we make it to that game, my family will definitely go."