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It takes real football fans to rig up a full-size motor coach with gridiron flooring, a flat-screen television, leather recliners and mascot images galore to roll up to the big game every Saturday. North Dakota State University in Fargo has a dozen such fans — all co-owners of Rollin' Thunder, a 1992 MC-12 that was turned into an eight-wheeled tailgating machine a little over a year ago. Beth Hughes, systems support specialist at MCI's Pembina plant, is one of the owners, along with her husband, Jeremy. Yet even though she works at MCI, the choice of coach wasn't just a matter of affiliation. "We chose the MCI because it's got a reputation as a real workhorse," says Beth Hughes. And when you put as much work into a coach as the Hughes group has, you want it to last. In addition to the interior flooring laminate, which simulates the Fargodome turf, complete with field markings and end-zone logos, the coach has card tables, recliners, captain's chairs and original coach seating re-covered with custom-embroidered Bison fabric. Outside, the coach sports an elaborate full-bus wrap, replete with the NDSU mascot, green-and-gold team colors and an arch, symbolizing the school's membership in the Gateway Conference.
An ample baggage bay allows the group to tote barbecue grills, coolers, flagpoles, bean-toss games, footballs and other accoutrements of the tailgate experience. Hughes appreciates both how easy it is to make the two-plus-hour trip to Fargo a fun family experience for her two children, and also how the coach contributes to the familial atmosphere at the game itself as people visit and compare tailgating amenities. "It's very exciting to pull into the Fargodome — just the looks you get from people," says Hughes, who, when asked, enthusiastically states that Rollin' Thunder is the best of the half dozen or so private fan MCIs that show up at the NDSU games. "People think it's cool we have the coach." Bisons stomp Gophers Jeremy Hughes, one of the original ringleaders and a driving force behind the group getting the coach, says one of the Rollin' Thunder's most memorable trips so far was a trip to Minneapolis for the Gophers game in 2007. "After coming within one point of knocking off Minnesota in 2006, the 2007 game was anticipated for many months," Hughes said via e-mail. Rollin' Thunder carried about 20 fans about 400 miles to the Minnesota Metrodome that day — and attracted a lot of honking, flag-waving and picture-taking as the coach rolled down I-94. "One car even thought we were the team bus," said Hughes. The Hughes and their pals tailgated before and after the game, which was attended by some 30,000 NDSU fans. The best part of all, according to Jeremy Hughes? NDSU won, 23 to 17. The FYI from MCI editorial staff values your feedback. Please e-mail any suggestions, comments, or ideas for future articles to fyi@mcicoach.com. |
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