The logo looks like it stepped out of a halloween horror flick (or Michigan's playbook last year).
It’s one thing to buy season tickets and drive from Chicago to East Lansing seven times a year for the Michigan State football season. It’s quite another to organize an 11 week tour of every Big Ten team across the Midwest, from Minneapolis to Happy Valley.
Yet this fall, Drew Cieszynski intends on doing just that. With three other comrades in football fanaticism, Drew’s Big 10 Football Tour will hit every college town in the conference. They’ll travel from their home base in Milwaukee to destinations as close as Madison (76 miles) and as far away as State College, Pennsylvania (985 miles).
I talked with Drew and his crew to ask them a few questions about the Big 10 football tour, how the hell he can afford to pull off such a trip, and what their predictions are for the Big Ten this year.
Spartan Football: This isn’t the first time you’ve done a tour like this. In 2006 you decided to go to each ballpark in the Major League, and in 2007 you toured all 30 NBA arenas. All the while, you pay for it all out of pocket. What are some of the financial lessons you’ve learned after doing a couple of these?
Drew Cieszynski: I’m not necessarily all that financially wise…As a result of my travels, I’ll probably never own a home, get married, drive a nice car, or retire before the age 90.
Some of the things I’ve done to reduce costs however:
- Staying with friends I’ve met along the way. Saying hello to someone can go a long way down the road
- Buying a GPS was a wise investment as it’s saved me a lot of gas milage as I’m not getting lost as much as I used to
- If you attempt to carry-on baggage that should be checked and make it to the gate with it, they won’t charge you
- I haven’t bought toilet paper in over 18 months as I take the roll with me every time I stay at a hotel
- Avoiding StubHub – they’re fees and shipping rates inflate prices
- Going bald – has saved me a lot of money on haircuts and hair gel
- Communicate – if you’re doing something bold and unique, people will help you
- Get a hotel that offers a shuttle to the games (often in Detroit)
- Don’t be a “diva.” If you don’t use the nice cell phone or pay a lot for cable TV, you’ll find a lot of extra $$$ in your pocket
- Using credit cards that pay you back for expenses
- Driving a car that gets great gas mileage
Spartan Football: I think one of the most interesting things about the tour, and specifically the group of guys who are traveling with you, is that none of you graduated from a Big Ten school. What do you think is the appeal of the Big Ten from guys who weren’t part of that experience as students?
Drew Cieszynski: So many family members and friends that have went and raved about the experience.
Blake Suhar: I was born in Columbus, Ohio. My dad went to Ohio State. I was raised a Buckeye. I have many friends and family that have attended a Big Ten school as well. It was extremely different for me attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee because we had a very good basketball team, but no football program. I envied friends that experienced “game day” on their campuses because I was never able to do that on my campus. I’ve always loved watching and playing football too, and being from the Midwest makes it even larger because football is huge in this region.
Jeff Harris: Being from Iowa the Hawkeyes are like the professional team of the state and I have grown up being a Hawkeye fan my whole life. My old neighbor growing up was Melvin Foster who was a linebacker and played in the Superbowl in 1993 with the Cowboys. I though went to the “other university,” Iowa State (no regrets though ISU was a great school as well just not the same intensity when I went to Iowa games).
Wes Givens: As a fan of college football, there is definitely something magical about Saturdays in the Midwest: the fans, the tailgates, and the game. Plus, there is a great tradition of football at many of the Big Ten schools. It should be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Spartan Football: You’re going to be flying from Milwaukee to Baltimore for the first weekend of the trip, but the rest of it will likely be done on the road. Do you guys have a RV or something as your road trip wheels?
Drew Cieszynski: I drive a 2002 Cavalier. I think our lack of quality vehicles adds to the “realness” of what we’re doing. The “Big Ten Network Tour” took a chartered bus from location to location. What fun is that? We’ll be rolling the dice every day when when we turn the key. We’ll be miserable in a tight cramped space for every Sunday for the next 11 Sundays on the way home and stop at every tacky tourist site to and from our destination.
Blake Suhar: I have a little 4-door 1994 Honda Accord. If it needs to get used it will. I don’t think any of us have a really nice car either, but that doesn’t matter one bit. So long as the transportation gets us to where we need to be, then it’s all good in my book.
Jeff Harris: We do if you consider a Honda Accord as an RV, considering that will be the most spacious car we will be driving in all tour.
Wes Givens: No RV, only a 1995 Chevrolet Lumina.
Spartan Football: You’re going to be traveling to 11 games throughout the season. Which one are you looking forward to the most?
Drew Cieszynski: I’m most looking forward to the 12th game, the Rose Bowl. I know that each of the 11 schools will have their own special niches. The Rose Bowl will be a celebration of our accomplishment and hopefully where we will witness the best of the Big Ten taking down the Pac Ten champion!
Blake Suhar: The following games are ranked 1 and 1 on my list:
- Wisconsin at home, on Halloween, for a night game. If you’ve never experienced Madison, Wisconsin during Halloween then you are missing out; throw into the mix a night game! I cannot wait to see what happens during this trip
- Ohio State to close out the Big Ten Tour. Being from Ohio it will be great to conclude our trip with a wonderful matchup in my home state.
Jeff Harris:
I have only been to Kinnick and Camp Randall so I am looking forward most to the other 9 team’s stadiums the most. I really can’t play favorites yet, considering each school has something different to offer and will hopefully show us on our Tour why their school is the best. Because I know everyone I talk to they all say their school is the best, I know I get to be the judge.
Wes Givens:
I’m really looking forward to the trip to Madison. It’s Halloween weekend, and it should be a great time.
Spartan Football:
You’re going to be in East Lansing for the Michigan State vs. Central Michigan game. The Chips have quite possibly the best college quarterback in the state of Michigan. Any predictions for the game?
Drew Cieszynski:
This is a no-brainer. Michigan State is in the “Final Four” of the Big Ten this year. I predict that the Spartans will go undefeated against all Michigan opponents this year.
Blake Suhar:
As a state, Michigan has a lot to prove this year when it comes to college football. MSU lost some great talent, but also have a phenomenal incoming class. Michigan, well, Michigan has the most to prove of all the teams. And then you have my 2 sleeper teams in Western Michigan and Central Michigan that can, and will upset teams that do not prepare well enough. Top to bottom, Michigan has a very strong representation this year.
Jeff Harris:
I think this is going to be a great game and that is why it is on our tour, but I can confidently say the Spartans will win by the score of 27 – 21. Sorry no blowouts here I think Central Michigan is a good team and I know how the in-state games are a lot more competitive (I have been to many Iowa vs. Iowa State games and if there is one game Iowa State comes to play its against Iowa no matter how good ISU is).
Wes Givens:
It will be interesting to see how Dan LeFevour and the Chippewas play against the Spartans defense. They might be able to score a few points, but I don’t think they can win against MSU on the road.
The Big 10 Football Tour kicks off this weekend as the guys travel to Happy Valley to watch the Penn State Nittany Lions take on the Akron Zips. They will be visiting East Lansing the following week as the Spartans take on the Central Michigan Chippewas at Spartan Stadium. You can learn more about the Big 10 Football Tour by going to their website, www.thebig10tour.com.
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