In the Arizona desert, a sea of red emerged.
Hoosier football fans from all over the country have traveled to Tempe to watch something that has not been done in 14 years - witness their school and alma mater play in a bowl game.
"I booked my hotel the day I found out they were going to the bowl game," said Jeff Garfield, a 2004 IU alumnus.
Prior to the Insight Bowl kickoff, fans began the day tailgating in various parking lots around the stadium. From wearing buttons of "Hep" to playing Sink the Biz, IU fans were in full stride of enjoying the pre-game festivities.
Luke Friedman, a senior, drove from Bloomington with several other friends to Tempe in a trip that lasted 27 hours on the road.
"Arizona is awesome," Friedman said. "We drove through snow in Texas. Snow in the desert. Are you kidding me?"
But nothing can beat this day, he said. Having seen so many fans travel to the game, his excitement level is riding high and can't wait until kickoff.
"There's, like, five Oklahoma State people here," Friedman said. "I can't wait to yell at them once we get in the stadium"
