The rematch of last year's NCAA Division I Football Championship game brought thousands of fans to Frisco Saturday.
Hours before they packed FC Dallas Stadium, fans from Sam Houston State, down the road in Huntsville, and North Dakota State, way up the road in Fargo, gathered to celebrate being a part of a National Championship. No Irish to fight. No Tide to roll, but who cares about them? No one in Frisco.
"It's just unreal," said North Dakota State fan Kaela Houchin. "I think we brought around 16,000 people, so just to see us come here all the way from Fargo -- which is how many hours away? It's just incredible."
Fargo is 23 hours away, and some dedicated fans spent that time on old school buses.
"It was everything you'd imagine it would be in an old school bus. Good times, bad times. Heater broke down once. It was worth it," said North Dakota State fan Chuck Schwan.
One thing supporters of both teams agree on is Frisco is a great place to host this game again.
"All the hotels, all the local vendors really opened up there arms to us all," said a Sam Houston State fan who goes by "Lucky."
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"The facilities are absolutely fantastic, " said Mike Fairbarn of North Dakota State. "The town is very accommodating. The fans we're competing against are very good sports about everything and Frisco hosts us well.""It's a great mix. I think Frisco's excited to have both our teams here because they're both enthusiastic crowds," said Rick Hannah, Sam Houston State Alum.
Last year, turnout for the FCS title game broke attendance records, the final count for 2013 is not in yet.
