LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – While Lubbock has been waiting 17 years for another College GameDay, an Arizona couple has only been waiting one week.<\/p>\n
Cliff and Jenifer Vellucci have followed the ESPN crew for every single GameDay broadcast so far this season. It has been 76 days since the couple has seen their Buckeye, Arizona home.<\/p>\n
The couple is spending about eight hours a day in the car together for their bucket list road trip.<\/p>\n
\u201cI enjoy driving, we have Wi-Fi in the car, so she can work while we\u2019re in the car,\u201d Cliff said.<\/p>\n
The sports fans have put 15,000 miles on their car so far, requiring an oil change and new tires. They have traveled through 28 states, not knowing where they might end up until the Sunday before each game.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s been times where we\u2019ve had to check out of our hotels and sat in Walmart parking lots, just waiting for the X post to hit about where GameDay is going for that following week,\u201d Cliff said.<\/p>\n
They have spent 48 nights in hotels and 27 staying with friends and family, seeing familiar faces at every stop. Jen says it\u2019s a unique way to see more of the country they might never visit otherwise.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou might go to Denver or go to Jackson Hole, but you don\u2019t go to Lubbock, Texas. Who goes to Lubbock? But it\u2019s a beautiful city and there\u2019s beautiful people here,\u201d Jenifer said.<\/p>\n
After witnessing the college football experience at 10 other campuses, the couple said they have never seen anything like the GameDay setup in Raiderville.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a higher level of organization to this than we\u2019ve seen in other places and then the community involvement, normally you can\u2019t get water, you\u2019re lucky if you can find a restroom,\u201d Cliff said.<\/p>\n
Jenifer was impressed by the dedication of Texas Tech fans camping outside the stadium.<\/p>\n
\u201cUsually it\u2019s the night before, they get there about 6 p.m. or whatever. And I thought that was dedication. But this is like, they go out there Monday. I mean, that\u2019s crazy,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Jenifer enjoys seeing the different traditions at every school.<\/p>\n
\u201cChasing the fun of it and meeting the kids in the morning and they\u2019re so excited because maybe it hasn\u2019t come to them like here, it hasn\u2019t been here in a while, so they\u2019re excited,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
While they normally remain neutral, the couple plans to support the Red Raiders for Saturday\u2019s game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019re going to don the, was it guns up? What is it, red gear for the Texas Tech game?\u201d Cliff said.<\/p>\n
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