AVOCA -- Around 100 fans lined up before dawn decked out in their Penn State gear. With blue and white balloons welcoming them to check in for their flight at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, their destination is Jacksonville, Florida for Saturday's Taxslayer Bowl.
"I mean it's going to be exciting to see Penn State play Georgia, go down to Florida, and enjoy hopefully some warm weather and hopefully see Penn State play a great game," said Jamie Henzes of Clarks Summit.
The only time Penn State has played the University of Georgia was when it won the Lions' first national championship in the 1983 Sugar Bowl.
Long time fans like Frank Siderowicz of Eynon were there and to almost every Penn State bowl game since.
He said, "My wife and I, we've been to the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Fiesta Bowl and others. We enjoy it, it never gets old."
But these fans haven't had a chance to go on a real bowl trip since 2012. That's when Penn State was hit with NCAA sanctions and a bowl ban.
The Lions did get to return to the post season last year after the NCAA lifted those penalties. That was the Pinstripe Bowl, a car trip to New York City.
Eileen Minor of Thompson Tours said, "Last year, there wasn't as much of an interest because people could really get there themselves because it was in New York City."
Minor organizes trips like this for her Thompson Tours in Moosic. She and her business missed these warm weather bowl trips.
She added, "It's a good bowl. It's Florida. It's warm. Next year, we're going to be in the national championship!"
This wasn't the best of years for 7 and 5 Penn State. However, fans are looking toward the future and are thrilled to be traveling with the team once again with the NCAA sanctions in the rear view mirror.
"I think we came out gracefully given the fact that the sanctions were really hard on us," said Natasha Vega, a Penn State student. "And of course we're Penn State, so we're going to make it through."
Penn State and Georgia meet up in the Taxslayer Bowl at noon on Saturday. The game is airing on ESPN.