Battle For Bascom Preview
Quick preview of the epic Battle for Bascom, Wednesday, December 9, 2009.
http://http://vimeo.com/8092942
Lakeshore and Southeast go head to head on UW’s first snow day in almost 30 years.
http://http://vimeo.com/8129628
A snow day for the record books…
The University of Wisconsin-Madison canceled a full day of classes for the first time in more than 30 years. The announcement came around 7:45 p.m. the night before, prompting students to celebrate in true UW fashion. The day off came right before finals week, allowing many the opportunity to have extra time to study.
There were no books, no papers, no last minutes tests to be had at Bascom Wednesday. Yet, as residents of the Lakeshore dorms and their Southeast rivals surveyed the powdery landscape in front of them, they understood what their new lesson for the day covered: snow-based warfare.
A small group of about 20 Lakeshore residents began gathering in front of the Education Building before 1:25 p.m. Upon arrival, they immediately began to warm up their throwing arms and get used to the chilling cold.
This group was very optimistic about Lakeshore’s chances. Andrew Jaye, University of Wisconsin sophomore and Lakeshore resident, fondly remembered the winning strategy that he and the rest of the Lakeshore contingent employed at last year’s Bascom battle.
“We drove them from the field last year and we’re hopeful to do it again,” Jaye said.
Southeast residents began to arrive shortly after, at 1:35 p.m. They also seemed sure their side would come away with a victory.
Southeast resident and UW freshman Matt Christie said his strategy was more about just picking snow up and throwing it, and seemed just as determined to win.
“I think Southeast has the numbers,” Christie said.
As more students arrived, Lakeshore students began building a protective wall of snow that ran the length of their side of the field. Upon seeing this, Southeast students did the same, provoking some taunting from the Lakeshore side.
This then lead to the first of many rousing choruses of the standard “Eat shit, fuck you” cheer between the two sides.
An ambulance was also at the scene as a precaution, but left 20 minutes into the battle with no injuries requiring medical attention having been reported.
This was an improvement from last year’s battle, where several students suffered wounds requiring professional medical attention.
Just before the battle began, leaders on both sides met in the middle of the field and shook hands.
At the beginning of the fight, Southeast residents made a charge for the middle of the field; however, Lakeshore’s strategy of pushing slowly toward the middle in a strong and unified group proved more successful. After a few minutes, they gained more than two-thirds of the top part of the hill.
The bottom of the hill was the complete opposite story, with the Southeast residents pushing Lakeshore students toward the sidewalk.
The tactical advantages of holding the top of the hill proved beneficial, however, and after 10 minutes, Lakeshore residents covered half of the battlefield, with most of the Southeast forces gathering in the opposite corner.
The battle raged on for more than an hour, with cut knuckles and bloody noses from bludgeoning snowballs on both sides.
Finally, at 3:15 p.m., Lakeshore suddenly pushed toward the Southeast students and dominated the field. At 3:18 p.m., Southeast students surrendered and the Lakeshore crowd erupted in cheers, followed by a hearty round of “Varsity.”
“Lakeshore eats babies!” one Southeast resident retorted following the rout.
UW freshman Tom Bryan said he knew Lakeshore would be victorious all along.
“Even though the Southeast is pretty big, … Lakeshore has got it,” Bryan said.
While Lakeshore students celebrated, Southeast residents dejectedly left the field.
“This is not what I wanted to do on my snow day,” UW freshman Erik Friede said. “It’s a sad day.”
Event organizers Lauren Jernegan and Ben King, both UW freshmen, said they were very happy with the way the event turned out.
King said he planned to contact the Guinness Book of World Records for the next battle, as he believed the fight surpassed the current record of 3,700 attendees.
King also said he thought the outcome of the fight would have been different, being from Southeast.
“We put up a good fight, Lakeshore put up a stronger one,” he said.
Jernegan said she has already talked with UW sophomore Michael Basak, the organizer of last year’s fight, about teaming up to plan another battle the first Saturday after classes resume next semester.
“If we get the participation from last year — combined with that of [Wednesday’s] fight — this will be a truly spectacular event,” Basak said.
