One annual challenge many out-of-state students face during Thanksgiving break is whether or not to attend the Iron Bowl game.

Per tradition, the Iron Bowl is played during Thanksgiving weekend. For some, this tradition is the most exciting game of the season, while for others it’s just another chance to sell their student tickets and stay home with their families.

Since this year’s Iron Bowl is taking place two days after Thanksgiving, some out-of-state students feel they aren’t given enough time to spend with friends and family if they want to be back in time for the game.

Lauren Anderson, a sophomore majoring in international studies, said last year she had to catch glimpses of the Iron Bowl at the airport and buy Internet access to stream the game on the plane traveling from Danville, Calif., to Tuscaloosa.

Anderson said she’ll actually watch the game at home this year because, with no Monday classes, she’ll have an additional day to spend in California.

“I go home for such a short time, and I can’t miss class, so I’ll spend my break from Wednesday to Monday,” Anderson said. “Last year, I went from Wednesday to Sunday with two travel days, so I’m really only home for three days, but it’s definitely worth the $500.”

Anderson said with such a short break, it’s hard to realize you’re even on a break at all.

“I think we should have a full week off for Thanksgiving so more people could go home and enjoy spending more time with their families,” Anderson said. “It’s a hard time of year; the weather gets gross and you start to get homesick. I think it would be very beneficial to the students.”

Alex Norton, a junior majoring in elementary education, said she always planned on selling her Iron Bowl ticket because it’s one of the only times she is able to see her family for Thanksgiving.

Norton said she bought her plane ticket early this year knowing she would be sitting right in front of the TV with her dad as the game starts.

“The plane tickets to Fairfax, Va., were around $400 to $500, but the money I’m getting from selling my ticket is paying for a portion of that to help my family, since it does add up pretty quickly,” Norton said.

Norton said she takes any chance she gets to go home and see her family.

“Most of my friends have week-long breaks, but I really can’t complain since I go to school so far away,” Norton said. “I chose to come here, so I’ll take what I can get.”

Sarah Shoemaker, a sophomore majoring in exercise and sports science, said she will be going home to Long Island, N.Y., until Friday night.

“I will be back for the big game because I am a part of the UA Student Recruitment Team and we host the football recruits on game day,” Shoemaker said.

Shoemaker said if she wasn’t in the organization, she probably would not have come back for the game, at least until her senior year, since the airplane tickets are so expensive during the holiday season.

“Thanksgiving is my family’s biggest holiday, and I have not been home since August, so I am not passing up the chance to spend time with my family, even if it means missing one of UA’s biggest traditions,” Shoemaker said.