By Jim Misunas
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

If you’re looking for a way to get to the Jan. 3 Fiesta Bowl, N.R. Weber has an economical solution.
Weber has secured a tour bus through Village Tours of Wichita for round-trip transportation from Great Bend to Glendale, Ariz. for $163. A quick overnight stay at America’s Best Value Inn in Winslow, Ariz. costs $45, plus tax. Passengers must acquire their own Fiesta Bowl ticket. Game tickets for the Kansas State-Oregon Fiesta Bowl are available at the website fiestabowl.com.
“I knew the reputation of Village Tours and they have been very easy to work with,” Weber said. “My wife, Dani and his son, Nick, have helped with the arrangements.”  
It costs $8,100 to rent the 50-passenger bus, which has room for additional passengers. Weber has gotten the word out about the trip through the website gopowercat.com, which promotes Kansas State athletics. Weber said a wide range of fans have signed up and many are season-ticket holders.
“Response has been really good, but we’ve still got some room for additional passengers,” he said. “We’re telling people to find a friend or someone else to go. We will leave some space to move about on the bus.”  
Weber has been a football season-ticket holder for more than 20 years at Kansas State and has attended many of the Wildcats’ bowl games. His sons played football at Claflin High School.
“We’re a big K-State football family,” he said. “The idea came about when some of the people we tailgate with at Kansas State mentioned they would be interested in riding a bus to the bowl game to keep the cost down. I figured I might as well check it out.”
Weber said fans from Great Bend, Hoisington, Claflin and rural Barton County have reservations for the bowl trip, which will leave at 8 a.m. Jan. 2 from Baker and 12th in Great Bend. The bus will arrive in Winslow, Ariz. at 11 p.m. The bus will arrive at the Fiesta Bowl at noon Jan. 3. The bus begins the journey home shortly after the Fiesta Bowl is completed Jan. 3. The bus is scheduled to arrive in Great Bend at 6 p.m. on Jan. 4.
Two full-time bus drivers are hired to share the driving responsibility. The bus takes a rest stop about every four hours.
“It’s a family-oriented trip. The nice part is you don’t have to worry about driving and that gives you the chance to visit with the other K-State fans,” he said. “Fans have been able to buy their own tickets pretty easily.”  
Weber said Heisman Trophy finalist Collin Klein and the No. 6 ranked Wildcats (11-1) have been a treat to watch.
“They’ve provided us with a lot of fond memories. I’d rank Collin Klein right up there with Michael Bishop at quarterback,” he said. “Collin has done a fabulous job all season. It’s been a great season. For a little while, it looked like we might be going to Miami, Fla. for the national championship.”
Anyone interested in more information, can call Weber at 620-587-3539 or 620-791-7148; or email nrjweber@hotmail.com.