I know that I've blogged about my love of sports a lot in the past. But it's been a while and clearly it's time for one again. Oh, and it's timely, because I'll be spending tomorrow night at the UW-Indiana basketball game. (8 pm CT on ESPN/ESPN3) I love watching the game however I can, but there is just something about experiencing a game live. And there is nothing better than being part of the Badger student section, The Grateful Red. (For football they're Bucky's Bleacher Creatures.)
The culture of the games and particularly the student section is special. The band is right in the student section and unlike some other arenas (MSU's Breslin Center...I'm talking to you) they don't pipe in music. The band provides it all. Sing-alongs and songs you damn well better know the dance moves to. In the student section (at least the lower 2 tiers) you stand the entire game. If you sit at all, it's during timeouts. And usually then you're dancing along to whatever the amazing Michael Leckrone has the Varsity Band playing. You cheer and chant along. And yes sometimes you must chant things that are not so PC. "Bo owns Izzo" (That would refer to Bo Ryan's domination of Tom Izzo in Madison. Or "Izzo-rated." (Oh so clever we are.) We also chant when an opposing player fouls out...you know to remind them to "Sit down you bum." And sometimes when we feel like we're doing more than our fair share of the work cheering and being enthusiastic...we'll gently prod the rest of the crowd with "Stand up, old people."
You learn the words to "If You Want to Be a Badger" and "Varsity" pretty quickly. Growing up going to games I've been hearing "Time Warp" my whole life. I had no idea what is was originally from until I was in grad school. Oh and I also grew up singing what was originally a beer jingle in "You've Said It All" Here's the original commercial...here's the Varsity Band's version. And you get classics like Sweet Caroline and Build Me Up Buttercup too.
There's just something about the atmosphere and "group think" that I love. Maybe it's just me, but I've always found the basketball fans to be pretty knowledgeable about the game. They know what's going on. I can't bring you with me to a game, but I've spliced a few clips from the last game I was at: UW's drubbing of the then #5 ranked MSU. Let's just say they were not #5 after the game :)
You learn the words to "If You Want to Be a Badger" and "Varsity" pretty quickly. Growing up going to games I've been hearing "Time Warp" my whole life. I had no idea what is was originally from until I was in grad school. Oh and I also grew up singing what was originally a beer jingle in "You've Said It All" Here's the original commercial...here's the Varsity Band's version. And you get classics like Sweet Caroline and Build Me Up Buttercup too.
There's just something about the atmosphere and "group think" that I love. Maybe it's just me, but I've always found the basketball fans to be pretty knowledgeable about the game. They know what's going on. I can't bring you with me to a game, but I've spliced a few clips from the last game I was at: UW's drubbing of the then #5 ranked MSU. Let's just say they were not #5 after the game :)
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