My dad and I were always 27's. Usually about 60 minutes before kickoff. For some reason that feeling of walking in, looking around, and watching the players warm up never got old.
Last year I showed up to the gate as early as 6 hours before, because I was always standing behind the E in the "boneyard" sign in every game, except iowa (because that game was cold af and I sat with my dad in North). I may do that a couple games this year, but for the most part I'm just gonna show up a couple hours early to get a good spot in the East stadium student section.
6 Hours? Dang! Is it just empty?