The Badger Herald

OPINION & EDITORIAL

Michigan fans should get thicker skin

Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.

Also by Letters to the Editor:

SSFC stipend appropriate (December 11, 2007)
Poor plowing cuts off handicapped access (December 10, 2007)
Cars that actually help the environment (December 10, 2007)
Organic food: Deliciously safe (December 10, 2007)
Diversity deserves attention at UW (December 7, 2007)

by Letters to the Editor

Friday, October 21, 2005

In regard to your article "Michigan fans claim UW students grossly inappropriate at game," I must say that I am dismayed by the bellyaching of Michigan fans about their alleged mistreatment at the hands of zealous Badger fans. I am a Michigan alumnus and a current UW graduate student, and I had ten friends from my undergraduate days up to Madison for the game. They all enjoyed themselves immensely.

When you are a visiting fan at another school, it is up to you to take the initiative and endear yourself to the home crowd. Some of my friends trolled Breese Terrace and, despite carrying stuffed badgers in nooses with them, used their outgoing personalities to make friends among the Badger faithful. The rest of us sat in the student section and met some very cool freshmen in Section N. It's the visitor's job to show they've traveled to have a good time with the locals!

The only aspect of the night that I found idiotic was the fans' apparent focus on Michigan's loss after the game instead of Wisconsin's win, and the preponderance of anti-Michigan t-shirts in the crowd where pro-Wisconsin t-shirts should have been. Football is about cheering FOR your team, not AGAINST the other team. But even this is somewhat excusable, considering most of the students at the game were less than 10 years old the last time the Badgers beat Michigan.

Michigan fans ought to be used to a little abuse. Playing the Wolverines is generally the biggest game of the year for every opponent, and every Big Ten school considers us a rival, even when the feeling isn't mutual. The fans who came here and were disappointed in the conduct of Wisconsin students need to get thicker skin and suck it up.

I hope a lot of Wisconsin students make the trip to Ann Arbor next fall for the game at the Big House, and I hope they're treated as well by the Michigan faithful as my friends and I were here. Thanks again for a great time, UW students, and good luck with the rest of the season!

Robert Shereda is a graduate student in biomolecular chemistry.

Feedback

Show all comments

Hide anonymous comments

scott oakes (October 21, 2005 @ 3:12am):

Right on, my friend. I went to a game at the Big House in 2001 (I think that was the year) to see the Badgers lose a close one to the Wolverines. While there was some good-natured jawing before and during the game, the Michigan faithful were good to us after the game (no doubt, in part, to the fact that they won), and my friends and I were even invited into a few house parties on our lonesome walk through campus back to our car. The best part about Big Ten road games - and I went to many in my day - was the good old bullshitting between home and away fans. In the end, there was always a mutual respect and a common ground found over a cup of stale beer.

Anonymous (October 21, 2005 @ 8:02am):

Robert, consider the fact that some Badger fans have physically assaulted fans of the opposing team. Do you think that Badger fans would care to be treated that way when they go to the other teams home town? Do you think that anyone should care?

It's funny until it happens to you. And then it's F#*%ING HILARIOUS!!!!!!

Anonymous (October 21, 2005 @ 9:21am):

Go, Rob!

Anonymous (October 21, 2005 @ 11:46am):

Everyone here at BTG congratulate Rob on his excellent verbage and proper use of tense. Well done Badger, Badger, Badger, Badger, Badger, Badger

Adam Cuthbert (October 21, 2005 @ 1:24pm):

Has no one experienced having batteries thrown at you at Michigan? Screw that. At least wisco fans have humou.

Anonymous (October 21, 2005 @ 2:03pm):

Good-natured ribbing and taunting and jeering is all a part of the fun and home-field advantage! A real fan would never let it get physical or violent.