GREEN BAY, WI--The Browns mobile cheering section called the Fox Sports Ohio Fan Express made its second road trip of the season as it travelled to the fabled football grounds of the frozen tundra of Green Bay, Wisconsin. The luxury charter bus decked out in orange and seal brown, along with murals of Browns fans decked out in all their regalia, took to the highways all the way to Green Bay for the Browns/Packers game on Oct. 20.
As it did on the first trip to Baltimore, the Fan Express drew plenty of attention on the highways going through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin with honks from passing cars. Some with thumbs up and some with other signals--not all positive. One of the most unique encounters came at a remote rest area in Wisconsin when the bus stopped for a break. An older man in Packer gear saw the Fan Express and approached several of the Browns fans and asked, "Hey Browns fans, who is the Browns greatest player?".
The common answer was 'Jim Brown'. The man then responded, "I played against him."
It was Packers Hall of Famer Fuzzy Thurston, 79, who played guard for the Packers on their NFL Championship teams from 1959-67.
The Fan Express was filled with Browns fans, mostly from Ohio, along with Fox Sports Girls Sara and Bridget. Also, Fox Sports Ohio's Ron Glasenapp and Joe Wozniak made the trip. Megan Rock, from the Browns Backers office, also travelled to Green Bay.
On the nine hour bus ride, the Fox Sports Ohio girls asked Browns trivia questions and gave away Fox Sports and Browns swag.
"Who was the Browns fifth-round draft choice in 1969?" Bridget asked. After several wrong guesses, Mark from Akron blurted out 'Fair Hooker' and won the prize.
The Fan Express arrived in Appleton, Wi. at 'The Clubhouse' Sports Bar in time for the Browns Backers Bash that was being hosted by the Fox Valley Browns Backers.
Rich Bower, president of the local Browns Backers explained his passion for the Browns.
"I was born and raised in Chagrin Falls and I have always been a Browns fan," he said. "I came here in '92 and all you here around here is abut Green Bay. My wife is a huge Packers fan. On Sundays, she's upstairs watching them and I'm downstairs watching the Browns."
Mike, vice-president of the Fox Valley club lives in Neenah, Wi. but is transplanted from Amherst, Ohio.
"This event was huge for us," Mike said. "The turnout was more than we could imagine."
Fans from Dallas, Los Angeles and even Great Britain attended the event.
The Browns were staying at the same hotel as the Browns Backers get-together and several front office members stopped by. Former Browns tackle and current radio analyst Doug Dieken was in attendance, signing autographs and doing what he does best--telling stories.
Former Browns linebacker/fullback Tarek Saleh was signing autographs at the Backers Bash. Saleh played with the Browns from 1999-2001 and lives in Wisconsin after playing football at the University of Wisconsin.
"I love the Browns," Saleh said. "I wasn't a star player and the Browns and the fans have treated me great. Now, I'm just a big fan of the Browns."
Kevin Hoyt from the Southern California Browns Backers made the trek from Orange County to see the Browns play the Packers.
"When I first saw this game on the schedule, I wanted to come to see this stadium and the history here," Hoyt said.
After the Backers event, attention was turned to Sunday's game. The Fox Sports Ohio Girls hooked up with the Fox Sports Wisconsin Girls and visited Lamer's Dairy and tailgated with Browns and Packers fans prior to the game.
Even though the Browns played a clunker of a game and lost 31-13 to the Packers, those that attended said they definitely will travel with the Browns Fan Express again.
"The trip was awesome," John from Cleveland said. "This is a great way to hook up with the best fans in the world and watch the Browns play on the road."
"When I heard about the Fan Express, I immediately signed up to go," Adam from Canton said. "Just the money you save in gas by riding the bus is enough to cover the ticket. I definitely will ride the bus again."
He said he travelled to Dallas last year, but the Fan Express is the way to go.
"It was a great experience and I will definitely want to go on the Fox Sports Express bus again," Ron from Ashtabula said.
The Fox Sports Ohio Girls were impressed with the Browns fans.
"We had a great time," Sara said. "We've had some really great experiences on the Fan Express.
"We have the best fans in the NFL," she said. "Even though we lost, it feels great to be a Browns fan."
The Fan Express is set to travel to Kansas City and Cincinnati and is already lining up trips for 2014.
Don't miss the next trip!
