By Charlie Leffler
University to offer 200 tickets to GMAC Bowl
Christmas will come early for 200 University of Louisville students, thanks to the U of L Athletic Department.
The University of Louisville is providing free tickets and transportation to 200 students who wish to attend the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, on December 18. This year’s GMAC Bowl matches up Louisville (7-5) against Marshall (10-2).
Buses will leave from Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium at 5:00 a.m. the morning of the game, and will return immediately following the game.
Nearly 200 travel packages, including game tickets, may be obtained on a first-come, first-serve basis with a valid student ID at both U of L Ticket Office locations: on the third floor of the Student Activities Center or near Gate 2 of Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.
For any student football fan who does want to drive to Mobile or who cannot afford the trip, this presents a rare opportunity. Basically, the only expense for students will be food and drinks, and for those student who wish to party, the bus trip home will provide a safe and secure ride back to Louisville.
Buses will arrive in Mobile in time for fans to attend a pregame combination pep rally-buffet dinner. For $10, Cardinal fans will be fans will be able to attend the pep rally and dine on a selction of Cajun cuisine.
“It’s a great deal if you can go to a bowl game for free anywhere, especially if it’s U of L football,” said sophomore economics major Lance Emerson. “Getting up at five a.m., thats the only bad part, but I imagine the way down there’s going to be pretty fun. Probably people are going to party on the bus all the way down there and on the way back if we win. It’s definitely worth it.”
The GMAC Bowl will matchup two of the top quarterbacks in the country: Louisville’s Dave Ragone and Marshall’s Bryan Leftwitch, both expected to be the first quarterbacks selected in next year’s NFL draft.
Ragone is the University of Louisville record holder for most wins by a starting quarterback during his career. He also was voted the Conference USA Offensiving Player of the Year for a record third consecutive time.
Leftwitch, a Heisman finalist, passed for 4,019 yards this season with 26 touchdowns. He is the MAC career leader in passing yards with 11,654 and 85 touchdowns. His career quarterback rating is 151.82.
Marshall is 2-0 in bowl games under Leftwich, where he has gone a combined 58-100 for 797 yards and five TDs.
