Thousands pack Jacksonville Beach for Gator Bowl pep rallies

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. — With less than 24 hours to go before the big game, a Gator Bowl spokesperson said more than 50,000 tickets were sold by Wednesday night.

That’s the most since the 2016 game between Georgia and Penn State.

Organizers are expecting a final crowd of about 60,000 people. They say many of them will be from out of town.

Mark Miller is from Tennessee and he’s been coming to the Gator Bowl for years.

“They can always guarantee Tennessee fans will be there. They will pack out a stadium for sure,” said Miller.

But it’s been a long time since Aileen Westover and her daughter, Mackenzie, made a trip to Jacksonville.

“We came from Charlotte to watch the Hoosiers play a ball game for the first time in a lot of years, and hopefully get win number nine for the second time ever,” said Westover.

Tracey Duke and her son, Schuyler, came together but are rooting for different teams.

“We’re out here because, as mother and son, we went to two different schools. I went to UT and he went to Indiana University, so it is a house divided and we are here to celebrate,” said Duke.

“I am looking forward to mostly being able to rub in my mother’s face that my Alma mater beat her Alma mater in a ball game,” said Schuyler.

For tickets and information about the game, check out the Gator Bowl website.

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