Without question the last 10 years has been the most impressive decade in Badger sports history.
The basketball team danced in the Final Four, took home five different Big Ten championships and won 11 games in the NCAA Tournament. Football finished a season six times ranked in the AP top 25 and the hockey team earned its first national championship since 1990.
Calling it a decent decade is like calling Morgan Freeman’s voice “nice.”
Fortunately, all signs point to the “teens” being even better than the “aughts” for UW supporters — and yes, I apologize for using those ridiculous titles.
With all three major programs still going strong, here are a few accomplishments Badger fans should be rooting for in the coming decade.
Football Steps Up — Taking the Wisconsin football program from perennial doormat to consistent Big Ten force earned Barry Alvarez a bronzed statue in his honor and a permanent place in Badger lore. For current head coach Bret Bielema to repeat history, he must boost Wisconsin to the next level as well — meaning a consistent threat for a Big Ten Championship and BCS bowl berths.
Strong recruiting and a bounce back season in 2009 suggest this scenario is extremely feasible.
It’s pronounced WIS-con-sin — Supposed communications professionals continue to assert the Badgers are from Madison, WES-con-sin. Once again proving all announcers are idiots.
Perhaps if UW makes a play for a national title in football Bob Griese will finally get it right. Then again, probably not.
Final Four Appearance — Bo Ryan currently leads the greatest-coach-to-never-to-reach-the-Final Four pool. Most fans from Wisconsin appreciate just how good a coach he is, and it would be nice for the rest of the country to realize it too.
Return to the Field House — Last on this wish list, and unfortunately, the least likely to come true, is seeing the basketball team return to the Field House for one game a season.
This has been a pipe dream of mine for a while, and in the spirit of New Year’s wishes that have little basis in reality — such as all the fatties thinking they are going to lose weight at the SERF — I am going to promote it one more time.
First, a little history.
The Badgers moved from the Field House to the Kohl Center in 1998. Since taking up residence at the Kohl Center, the men’s basketball team has compiled a 153-16 record on its home court, at one point winning 38 in a row.
Obviously home court advantage is not lacking in Wisconsin.
Still, the Grateful Red can’t keep up Duke levels of energy for each game, and blowouts against the likes of Cal Poly and IPFW would put even the most diehard hoops fan to sleep.
Enter the Field House.
For one game a year — and we are talking a non-conference opponent who won’t bring much buzz to the Kohl Center — put the basketball team back in the cozier confines of the Field House. Like the Camp Randall Hockey Classic, open all tickets to the public and make it first-come, first-served.
Imagine the impact of such an event.
The most intense fans would show up, packed like sardines into an old-school gym right on top of the court. Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium has been lauded as one of the top home courts for several decades now, and part of it is the high school gym atmosphere. Noise has nowhere to go and lunatics literally surround the opposing team.
The Badgers may not need much more of a home court advantage, but some extra intimidation never hurts.
More importantly though, the novelty of the night would win over fans instantly — especially those ever important alumni boosters. Along with 5th quarter, sieve chants and Jump Around, Wisconsin could boast about starting another impressive tradition.
UW could host a “Turn Back the Clock” night each year.
Dress the players in throwback uniforms — don’t worry Trevon, I’m sure you can still wear shorts below the knees — invite elder Badgers for a pregame ceremony, honor the 1941 National Champions at half time; you know, make a giant PR event out of it.
I mean really, who wouldn’t want to see one more game in a packed Field House?
Crashing back to earth like Tony Romo, however, there is an obvious obstacle in the way of an otherwise awesome idea.
Money.
The Kohl Center seats 17,230. The Field House tops out at 11,500. Just suggest to the athletic department the loss of nearly 6,000 seats of revenue and my guess is you would be booted from the room quicker than Lady Gaga changes clothes.
Plus, the Kohl Center is a veritable mine for advertising. It’s not long until we see the Grateful Red student section sponsored by Culver’s.
There’s a good chance we will see Bo Ryan coach zone defense before the basketball team returns to its roots.
Like all New Year’s resolutions, this one can best be described as wishful thinking.
Reality’s a bitch.
Michael is a senior majoring in journalism. Think he is onto something? Or is his dream of a return to the Field House simply delusional? E-mail him at [email protected]
