Football Fans Enjoy 'Outside Experience' At National Championship
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ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) - While thousands of college football fans packed inside Cowboy's Stadium to see the Oregon Ducks take on the Ohio State Buckeyes for the inaugural college football playoff championship, a different experience transpired outside the game.
"I've been waiting to see if I could hear the crowd go crazy inside before the TV goes crazy," said Garrett Welch.
Welch, a Dallas resident, watched the game with his back to the stadium.
Illuminated by the glow of his propane heater and television, Welch muscled through the cold temperatures and watched the entire football game from his makeshift tent. He did it for his wife Coushatta.
Garrett said his wife is a huge Buckeye fan and wanted to go. With tickets ranging from $300-to-$3,500, he wanted to make sure she still got to experience what could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
"It's not worth it to me. The way they cover football now with TVs, it's a better game if you watch it," said Welch. "On top of that, you're inside the stadium looking at the big screen anyway."
His efforts were a big hit. Florida State University Seminole fan Meghan DeCastro and her husband Daniel bought plane tickets months ago.
"If they go, we'll go to the National Championship. If they don't, we'll be stuck in Dallas. What's the worst that could happen? We got into Dallas and it's cold!" said Meghan DeCastro.
As Florida resident, Meghan and Daniel DeCastro were not prepared for the nearly freezing temperatures.
"This heater is saving lives right now. I mean I had no feeling in my fingers and toes. Pretty happy he let us in the tent," said Daniel DeCastro.
Welch said not being a fan of either team, it was more about making memories than watching the score.
"I'm down to making a good gesture being the one guy not from Columbus, Ohio. So If I can bite the bullet and be out here with the heaters, I'm good," said Welch.
Other fans who remained outside the stadium during the game were waiting for ticket prices to drop.
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