Sugar Bowl (Ohio vs. Arkansas)

We left Chicago late Sunday night (Jan. 2nd) and drove all night to get to New Orleans. I wasn't so sure about the driving all night thing, but we made it work and Harrison slept for 11 hours of it, so we might have to travel that way more often! We got to New Orleans around lunch time and checked into our hotel. We then headed downtown for some of the pregame festivities.
We had dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe and then there was a free concert right outside. It was fun, but cold! Jeff wouldn't really smile for any pictures, but we tried anyway.
Then we headed over to Bourban St. It was a lot of fun. Jeff and I decided that we are much better off out there from 8-10 at night (when we were there) then the midnight crowd. It was crazy, but we had a great time. People were everywhere, even up on balconies throwing beads into the crowds.
We did spend some time in a piano bar. Amazing entertainment. We couldn't stay long though. After about 20 minutes we got bounced out because we weren't drinking. Oh-well, we had a good time still and loved the music!
Then on Tuesday we got going early. Our hotel was on a Navel base and so we went out to see the ships in the morning. Harrison loved it! The ships were huge, even I was amazed!

My little sister was there with us. Such a trooper, she came along to watch Harrison so we could go to the game and enjoy some of the sights, kid free!
"Big ship...heavy!"
Then we headed back downtown and walked through a park while Jeff waited in line for the famous New Orleans Beignets.



We are hooked on Beignets after this trip. Hopefully we can get back and try more!
Harrison would have been happy just having these for lunch!
Listening to them play the steamboat after we got some Jambalya for lunch!
Walking along the pier.
Then we dropped off Harrison and my sister and headed back for the game. It was awesome! I have been to quite a few football games in my life, but the superdome was amazing and the atmosphere of a bowl game was awesome.
My sister and her husband came too. So a quick background. My sister Destiny met her husband in Hawaii. He is originally from Arkansas and a huge Razorback fan. I met Jeff in Utah and he is from Ohio. He is a huge Buckeye fan. My sister and I didn't really have any links to college football so we followed our husbands. They love to banter about their teams, but being from different conferences (Ohio is Big Ten and Arkansas is SEC) they never had a chance to see there teams compete. While when this game came up we decided that we all had to go. After some ticket drama, we finally got seats and the plan was made.
Merry Christmas to us!
Destiny and Tom
Our view from the 50 yard line. We were high, but had a great view of the field.
Pregame.

The first half of the game was awesome. We were up 31 to 13 and had seen some great action. We were looking forward to coasting to an easy victory. So we enjoyed the half time show.

The famous dotting of the I.

Then the second half got interesting. All of the sudden we had a game on our hands. Destiny and Tom had been pretty quiet, but as Arkansas kept scoring, the crowds got louder. With about 5 minutes left at 31 to 26, I was horse, felt like I was going to throw up and was shaky!
Coach Tressell looked a little concerned too...(in the sweater vest and gray pants)
And after an amazing last 2 minutes of a blocked punt and an interception, Ohio State won! Thanks goodness, I don't think we would have lived it down.

People kept asking us how we knew each other. I guess most people don't come to a game with fans from the other team. But that is family for you.
I think we all had a great time and it was the great ending to a long vacation! Go Bucks!