Comedian Subsidizing Bus Trip to Kent State Bowl Game

The Water Street Tavern in Kent is giving area college students a fun and easy way to get to the GoDaddy.com Bowl – with the help of a famous friend.

Tavern owner Mike Beder said comedian John Caparulo, a Kent State University graduate, has "donated a significant amount of money to offset the price of the trip for students to see the Kent State Golden Flashes play in their first bowl game in 40 years."

Kent State will face Arkansas State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl on Jan. 6 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, AL.

For one low price, Beder said, "students will enjoy a whirlwind trip that will take them to New Orleans for a Saturday night on the town, and then to Mobile to watch the Golden Flashes in the big bowl game."

The subsidized price of $255 per person includes transportation, hotels, game ticket and commemorative T-shirt, as well as some surprises. Complete details can be found at WaterStreetTavern.com/CapBus.

Beder, who graduated from Kent State in 2000, said he was thrilled to hear of Caparulo’s interest in helping.

“John’s been a good friend to the bar and Kent State for a long time now," Beder said. "The money he donated made a huge dent in the cost of the bus trip. John really looks
 back at his time at Kent State fondly and loved the idea of giving students the opportunity to experience the first Kent State bowl game in four decades.”

Caparulo said he's happy to help out.

"I had a great time at Kent State and would have loved to see Kent State play in a bowl game," he said. "Back then, we were just happy to beat Akron! But I remember not having much money as a student, and that's when gas was only a dollar. So I'm happy to help anyone who wants to go to the game be able to make the trip. Go Flashes!"

Caparulo, who got his start as a stand-up comedian working clubs in Cleveland and Pittsburgh, is best known for his appearances on the late night E! talk show, Chelsea Lately.

On the Nov. 4, 2010, episode of Chelsea Lately, Caparulo announced that he had proposed to fellow Kent State alum Jamie Kelly. The couple were wed where they first met – at the Water Street Tavern – on May 27, 2012. The Ohio natives now reside in Los Angeles, Calif.  

Caparulo will be featured on the Chelsea Lately roundtable on shows airing on Jan. 7 and Jan. 21. For more information on Caparulo, including tour dates, visit www.JohnCaparulo.com.

Tavern hosting Official Watch Party

The Water Street Tavern is the Official Post Game Party Headquarters of Kent State Athletics, as well as its Official Watch Party location. Fans are encouraged to gather at the tavern on Jan. 6 for the Official Watch Party. The doors open at 6 p.m the game starts at 9 p.m. A full menu will be available through the tavern's popular kitchen, Cajun Dave’s. 

Follow bus travelers' exploits via social meda

Can't make the trip but you're Interested in following the exploits of the bowl game bus travelers? They'll be using the hashtag #CapBus in their social media updates.

While the Go Daddy.com Bowl bus trip is open to everyone 21 and over, the Water Street Tavern posted this cautionary message on its website: Although the bus is technically open to everyone, due to the potentially rowdy nature of the trip we anticipate it to be almost entirely “student oriented.”