The foundation is in place; now it’s your turn to add the finishing touch.
Last winter, Pennsylvania native Terrelle Pryor had a choice to make. Being the No. 1 high school football recruit in the country, Pryor forwent national signing day to create his own special holiday, the day he would announce whether he’d become a Buckeye or a Wolverine.
Like many of you, at the time, that bothered me. Why is Wisconsin not in the mix to land this sure-thing, future Heisman candidate? The Badgers could obviously use a stud quarterback. It’s not like they’re some mediocre program, either; they’ve won a pair Rose Bowls in the past 10 years, and now they’re a perennial Top 25, even Top 10 program. Plus, Madison is the ultimate college town. It can’t be the weather; Columbus and Ann Arbor aren’t exactly Los Angeles.
I just couldn’t understand.
But as I sat in the press box Saturday and looked to my left, it finally dawned on me: UW isn’t a football school, it’s a party school. Games in Camp Randall Stadium have transformed from sporting events to social events, where the scores of the contests have become irrelevant subplots to many.
It’s time for that to change.
Two summers ago, I worked with a kid who went to Indiana University.
“I can’t wait for tailgate season,” he told me as the days started to get shorter.
“Uh, don’t you mean football season?” I asked.
“Nah, no one actually goes to the games,” he said. “Our team sucks. We just tailgate.”
If that were the case here, I’d understand. But you and I both know that that’s about as truthful as Brett Favre’s retirement plan. Under Bret Bielema, this team is 23-5 in two-plus seasons including a perfect 16-0 home record during that stretch. In other words, you have something to cheer about.
Start taking advantage of that luxury.
Oh, and I’m fully aware of the debacle that occurred Saturday; I know you couldn’t get to your seat because the athletic department thought it would be a good idea to fill up the student section one person at a time. But don’t kid yourself; this problem existed before the Thundering Herd came to town.
You were the ones who complained about the new lottery system. I agree; it makes no sense! But how can you complain when you mosey your way into the stadium during the fifth possession of the game?
If you care about this football team, you’re shooting yourself in the foot. What if Pryor — or any other big time recruit, for that matter — turned on ESPN or the Big Ten Network last season and saw an embarrassing student section 60 percent empty at kickoff and only 80 percent full after the first quarter? Would you choose Madison if Ohio State and Michigan were on their hands and knees at your doorstep?
Didn’t think so.
But this isn’t just about recruiting; there happen to be some football-related issues that correlate as well. During the first quarter Saturday against Marshall, the Badgers looked more like the Little Giants than the No. 11 ranked team in the nation. But had 13,600 of their fellow students been screaming louder than your middle-school girlfriend at her first Backstreet Boys concert during introductions, could that have made a difference? I certainly wouldn’t bet against it.
Down 7-0, the UW defense had their heels on the goal-line, with the Herd flirting at the one. Could a full student section — which was virtually on top of the play — have caused a false start or a bad snap? Again, not an outrageous possibility.
Instead, Marshall punched it in to take a 14-0 lead. And I’ll tell you what, if Wisconsin spots Penn State, Illinois or Ohio State — the next three squads to come to Madison — a pair of touchdowns, don’t count on celebrating a victory after the game.
If you have student tickets, don’t be selfish; show up on time. If you’d rather party, I’m not one to judge, but sell your tickets ahead of time! I walk down Dayton Street in a button down and khakis with my iPod on so I don’t have to listen to all the fun I’m missing. I get it. But there are plenty of people who would have their keys out, ready for kickoff if only their names were picked in July.
Again, this has been an ongoing trend at least since I set foot on campus 25 months ago. Don’t pretend like the athletic department’s asinine policy Saturday was the sole reason for the surplus of empty seats.
It wasn’t.
Game days are arguably the most fun you’ll have as a UW student. Kids at Harvard and Yale can’t even fathom what goes on starting at 8 a.m. here in Madtown. But unlike them, you have a Top 10 football team to cheer for. And guess what, the kegs, funnels and beer bongs will still be there after the Badgers win.
I promise.
Derek is a junior majoring in economics. He’ll be in Fresno Saturday, where the Bulldogs’ student section will undoubtedly be full. He’ll also be blogging live, so if your TV isn’t working, make sure to check out The Badger Herald’s “Extra Points” sports blog at badgerherald.com/blogs/sports for up-to-the-minute coverage of the game. Oh, and Derek can be reached at [email protected].
