Deis was one of about 50 students who lined up waiting for the ticket office to open Wednesday, Dec. 5,  to purchase student ticket packages to the game.

He and friends Billy Menkhaus and David Knadler arrived at 6 a.m. and a couple of hours later, dove into a dozen doughnuts while they waited.

For Menkhaus, the trip marks his second to New Orleans in support of a UofL team within a year.

“I’m ridiculously excited,” he said.

Sophomore Glen Bertram arrived at the Student Activities Center at 5:30 a.m. and claimed the first place in line to wait.

Although he admitted three hours into his wait that he didn’t have to arrive quite that early, Bertram noted that “it was better to get here early.”

Student packages include tickets to the game, round trip bus transportation and hotel room.