Tiger fans cheer on the football team as they leave for Atlanta

The team began its adventure south this morning at 11, with more than two dozen fans cheering them on.

The team loaded up three buses at the University of Missouri training facility.

“I was in town this morning. I brought my wife to work and thought I’d come over and see the Tigers off,” said Frank Shock.

Frank Shock’s dedication to Mizzou football runs deep, with his own son being a former MU Tiger football player.

“MU football kind of becomes a life for you, and even though your son or daughter or student is not here anymore, you still follow them- its part of your life,” said Shock.

His son is following the team down to Atlanta today to cheer from the stands there.

“I asked him if he wanted to come and he sent me a picture back with his steering wheel with his game ticket,” said Shock.

One graduate student, Cody Minks, told ABC 17 News the cold stopped some of his friends from making it out Friday morning, but regardless, he has been cheering on MU since he was born.

“I’ve been a lifelong Mizzou fan- die hard born and raised so I just wanted to come and wish them the best. Bring back that W from Atlanta,” said Minks.

Everyone seeing the team off Friday has high hopes the Tigers will pull through tomorrow.

“I know they are going to win,” said Anne Derr, MU football fan.

“I think they are going to do very well, and they’ve already done very well,” said Shock.

“I think we can get out of there with a W. I think it will be a close race, and Auburn is obviously has a lot of luck this year,” said Minks.