Wisconsin fans @ Memorial Stadium

[Wisconsin33]

I think what contributed to the seemingly baseless poor treatment of Nebraska fans had to do with the hyped up "invasion" that had been talked about in the weeks prior to the game.

 

In the dark ages of WIsconsin Football (late 1980s) Camp Randall used to get invaded all of the time by opposing fans. That's embarrassing for any school. Once Alvarez turned things around, Camp Randall Stadium transformed from a place of sparsely populated bleachers with a few thousand intoxicated partiers and no home-field advantage, to a jam-packed electric stadium filled with that same party culture and a bunch of starved fans that managed to create an environment where the Badgers almost never lose. It was like finally reaching the oasis after spending years and years in the desert.

 

So you see, Wisconsin fans are fiercely protective of that reputation and Camp Randall's tough environment. At the same time, they're also still sensitive to opposing fans who for many years invaded the stadium and made it their own. I suppose it's a bit of lingering small man's complex. You have to remember that Wisconsin has only been on the national scene for about 20 years. Before that we were the conference doormat. We were Indiana. We were the sure win on the slate. We were glorified punching bags and the joke of the conference.

 

Wisconsin fans still remember that, and they don't want to go back to that. We may have a reputation for being poor hosts, but at least we don't have a reputation for being a doormat. Did you know that our Athletic Department has not allowed a visiting band to perform in the stadium since Illinois visited in 1995? It's true! Most Big Ten Bands won't even bother trying to come because of the way they've been treated by fans and in particular the student section. Your band coming last year was as close to a band visiting that I've seen in years. Is it a good thing? Not necessarily, but to many, it's tolerated and is seen as better than "the dark ages." And at this point, it's sort of morphed into our reputation. We may have long since evolved from needing to be nasty to opposing fans, but people come to expect it and it's almost part of a lore of visiting Madison. Something of a forbidden fruit or an open dare or something. You also can't admit that Madison is pretty sweet beyond the football aspect and it's probably the best college town in the country.

 

So you take the recipe of:

 

1 Part - Nebraska fan's claim to fame of sending hoards of traveling fans who like to "invade" stadiums, and in particular, the 40,000 that were being projected to fill Camp Randall.

 

1 Part - Wisconsin fans who are notoriously protective of Camp Randall and creating intimidation and difficulty for visiting teams and since there were supposedly going to be hoards and hoards of Nebraska fans attempting to take over the stadium, and the fact that there was probably a lot of over-compensation in the heckling department to make sure that didn't happen.

 

And you get about what happened to many that night. I can't say that I'm particularly happy that it meant that Nebraska fans got treated poorly, but I can't also say that I'm not at all surprised given those to factors and how talked up the invasion was supposed to be. It was an unfortunate butting of two opposite ideals. You also have to remember that we are used to Michigan, Iowa and Ohio State fans which are pretty terrible visitors in and of themselves and certainly not angels when they host. You'll find that out in time.

[knapplc]

Wisconsin33, just wait until those younger home fans turn into blue-hairs in forty years. You'll be just like us - genteel, friendly, quiet.

 

Memorial Stadium is a nice place to visit. But it can be very peaceful at times.

[95huskers]

Bring your own micro-brews... nothing here compares... bring me some spotted cow.. my neighbors just went to wisconsin and brought me back a couple of cases but they are about gone...

[True2tRA]

Badger fans treat opposing fans like garbage.

 

Husker fans almost always try to "educate" opposing fans.

 

Both are annoying and I am a huge Husker fan!

Plus 1. I did hear about some bad experiences from Husker fans, but also heard some great ones. I think half the bad experience people probably had a bad time because the team got their asses kicked. I also completely agree with your comment about Nebraska fans. I've sat in some spots in that stadium on gameday where you almost feel bad if you stand up and cheer too loudly because you would be the only one doing so. This prim and proper attitude is exactly why you could hear a mouse fart during Husker games. Wisconsin fans drink their beer, sing some songs, but they look like they are having a pretty damn good time. They are new to the whole "winning" thing too as Osborne said. Maybe Nebraska fans will finally find that "attitude" after we all stop getting so used to "winning" and start realizing the Power of Red. Us fans can play a bigger part of a game than people think. I still think people are so used to winning by 40 they've forgotten their role.

[True2tRA]

Nebraska on Gameday is still a magical place to be though. It could be more, but it's still great.

[hskrfan4life]

I know one thing, I'll be loud at the game regardless.

[NUance]

Badger fans treat opposing fans like garbage.

 

Husker fans almost always try to "educate" opposing fans.

 

Both are annoying and I am a huge Husker fan!

Plus 1. I did hear about some bad experiences from Husker fans, but also heard some great ones. I think half the bad experience people probably had a bad time because the team got their asses kicked. I also completely agree with your comment about Nebraska fans. I've sat in some spots in that stadium on gameday where you almost feel bad if you stand up and cheer too loudly because you would be the only one doing so. This prim and proper attitude is exactly why you could hear a mouse fart during Husker games. Wisconsin fans drink their beer, sing some songs, but they look like they are having a pretty damn good time. They are new to the whole "winning" thing too as Osborne said. Maybe Nebraska fans will finally find that "attitude" after we all stop getting so used to "winning" and start realizing the Power of Red. Us fans can play a bigger part of a game than people think. I still think people are so used to winning by 40 they've forgotten their role.

^ What he said. +1

[dubsker]

I think what contributed to the seemingly baseless poor treatment of Nebraska fans had to do with the hyped up "invasion" that had been talked about in the weeks prior to the game.

 

In the dark ages of WIsconsin Football (late 1980s) Camp Randall used to get invaded all of the time by opposing fans. That's embarrassing for any school. Once Alvarez turned things around, Camp Randall Stadium transformed from a place of sparsely populated bleachers with a few thousand intoxicated partiers and no home-field advantage, to a jam-packed electric stadium filled with that same party culture and a bunch of starved fans that managed to create an environment where the Badgers almost never lose. It was like finally reaching the oasis after spending years and years in the desert.

 

So you see, Wisconsin fans are fiercely protective of that reputation and Camp Randall's tough environment. At the same time, they're also still sensitive to opposing fans who for many years invaded the stadium and made it their own. I suppose it's a bit of lingering small man's complex. You have to remember that Wisconsin has only been on the national scene for about 20 years. Before that we were the conference doormat. We were Indiana. We were the sure win on the slate. We were glorified punching bags and the joke of the conference.

 

Wisconsin fans still remember that, and they don't want to go back to that. We may have a reputation for being poor hosts, but at least we don't have a reputation for being a doormat. Did you know that our Athletic Department has not allowed a visiting band to perform in the stadium since Illinois visited in 1995? It's true! Most Big Ten Bands won't even bother trying to come because of the way they've been treated by fans and in particular the student section. Your band coming last year was as close to a band visiting that I've seen in years. Is it a good thing? Not necessarily, but to many, it's tolerated and is seen as better than "the dark ages." And at this point, it's sort of morphed into our reputation. We may have long since evolved from needing to be nasty to opposing fans, but people come to expect it and it's almost part of a lore of visiting Madison. Something of a forbidden fruit or an open dare or something. You also can't admit that Madison is pretty sweet beyond the football aspect and it's probably the best college town in the country.

 

So you take the recipe of:

 

1 Part - Nebraska fan's claim to fame of sending hoards of traveling fans who like to "invade" stadiums, and in particular, the 40,000 that were being projected to fill Camp Randall.

 

1 Part - Wisconsin fans who are notoriously protective of Camp Randall and creating intimidation and difficulty for visiting teams and since there were supposedly going to be hoards and hoards of Nebraska fans attempting to take over the stadium, and the fact that there was probably a lot of over-compensation in the heckling department to make sure that didn't happen.

 

And you get about what happened to many that night. I can't say that I'm particularly happy that it meant that Nebraska fans got treated poorly, but I can't also say that I'm not at all surprised given those to factors and how talked up the invasion was supposed to be. It was an unfortunate butting of two opposite ideals. You also have to remember that we are used to Michigan, Iowa and Ohio State fans which are pretty terrible visitors in and of themselves and certainly not angels when they host. You'll find that out in time.

 

ZZzzzz

 

You're about 100 badger fans too late. You were doing good before you wrote an essay full of lame excuses for your fellow balcony-pukers' sh**ty behavior. Anyway, I'm with TO. You guys act like scrubs who just figured out what winning was... because you just did. I look forward to you guys leaving here wrecked and demoralized.

 

I'm not hatin' by the way. Somebody had to take the place of the Puffs.

[Saunders]

One thing for sure, is that if a Wisconsin player is injured on the field, you won't hear people yelling "Shoot him like a horse!!!"

[Apathy]

It's like anywhere...some people are mellow and cool drunk...others are obnoxious and want to fight.

 

What if I'm mellow, but enjoy the occasional tickle fight? Is that ok?

Victim #6 is that you? What too soon?

[Chaddyboxer]

One thing for sure, is that if a Wisconsin player is injured on the field, you won't hear people yelling "Shoot him like a horse!!!"

Really? No sh#$? Fans were yelling that in Wiscy??? Cripes.....

[GSG]

It's like anywhere...some people are mellow and cool drunk...others are obnoxious and want to fight.

 

What if I'm mellow, but enjoy the occasional tickle fight? Is that ok?

Victim #6 is that you? What too soon?

 

[Saunders]

One thing for sure, is that if a Wisconsin player is injured on the field, you won't hear people yelling "Shoot him like a horse!!!"

Really? No sh#$? Fans were yelling that in Wiscy??? Cripes.....

Yup.

[Chaddyboxer]

One thing for sure, is that if a Wisconsin player is injured on the field, you won't hear people yelling "Shoot him like a horse!!!"

Really? No sh#$? Fans were yelling that in Wiscy??? Cripes.....

Yup.

This is an example of why Wisconsin is becoming the one team I want us to beat to a pulp. They are #1 on my sh#t-list in the BIG10.

[Count 'Bility]

One thing for sure, is that if a Wisconsin player is injured on the field, you won't hear people yelling "Shoot him like a horse!!!"

Really? No sh#$? Fans were yelling that in Wiscy??? Cripes.....

Yup.

 

Oh I'm sure you'd hear a few hundred Huskers saying the same thing at Memorial. 200 over 90,000, that's a pretty low percentage, but pretty audible when it's quiet. We have our idiots too.