Adventure of Flying Outweights Drawbacks

Flying is for the weak.

It's for those who value time and convenience over the thrill of adventure.

RVing is for the dedicated, the true college sports fan and it deserves all of the romantic treatment it receives. RVing is an integral part of the Holy War tradition at BC and every student should take part in the tradition at least once before graduating.

Every other year a caravan of RVs leaves BC to make the pilgrimage to South Bend. My advice: Be a part of it. After all, when is the next time your going to squeeze into a crowded RV and drive more than 15 hours just to see a two-win team take on Notre Dame?

Those who chose to fly usually do so because it saves time. After all, spending 30 hours of your weekend in a crowded RV doesn't seem very attractive. But the very point of taking an RV is that it drags out the Holy War weekend experience as long as possible.

It's not just tailgating and going to a game — its road tripping with some great friends. Everybody loves game day. The road trip to South Bend extends the excitement of game day out for another 30 hours.

Even after the postgame tailgate ends, for the loyal fans that RVed to the game, the experience is far from over. Spending that much time in a small space with friends is guaranteed to produce some great laughs and unforgettable stories.

The opportunity for adventure on a road trip is endless. Just think of all the drive-ins and dive bars that you'll inevitably pass on the trek out to South Bend.

On a plane, your food options are severely limited and most of the time the food doesn't taste much better than the cardboard tray it comes on. But for those students RVing, there will be the regular fast food joints to choose from and tons of local diners and restaurants along the way to stuff your face.

You're bound to run into some characters as you chow down at local restaurants that will make for some funny stories down the road.

Some argue that taking an RV is also more expensive than flying. In my experience that is not the case. While taking an RV can get expensive, especially because they aren't the most fuel-efficient vehicles, you obviously eliminate the need to get a hotel room, which can help your group of friends save some serious cash.

From personal experience, flying and RVing are usually pretty similar in price and since the experience of RVing is not something you do everyday, I recommend trying something new and renting an RV.

The other columnist has pointed out that safety should be a concern. Sure, driving to Notre Dame is probably more dangerous than flying. But there are no guarantees either way. Just remember, if you do RV, to be smart. An RV packed with people is bound to get rowdy at some point or another, especially if it's a bunch of college guys pumped for some tailgating. Just remember to stay focused on the road. RVs are huge, and it'll definitely be more expensive than flying if you total it and are forced to pay for an entire new one.

Finally, the sense of satisfaction that you'll feel when you see the first sign for Notre Dame is worth the journey. You'll have traveled through more than a half dozen states. You'll no doubt be exhausted, but it'll be worth it. That exit sign will be like the finish line of a marathon.

But it will just be the beginning. There will still be one of the best tailgates in football and a game of football to go.

Remember, flying is for the weak. Take an RV. You won't regret it.