October 16, 2010

Out and around in Madison, Wisconsin on the day of the big football game...

... which maybe you're watching right now.

It was a perfect day for biking, clear, low 60s. We biked around the Capital City Trail and turned right instead of left as we came across Monona Bay, under Monona Terrace, where we locked up our bikes so we could scarf down some burgers and frites at Sardine:

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Well-fed and well-rested, we pedaled over to the square and then down State Street and over to the Memorial Union Terrace, where we got some Babcock Hall ice cream and went to sit outside and soak up the pre-game atmosphere:

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It was a bit of a wreck. I blame the Buckeyes!

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What the hell! Did they bring their own beer — in bottles! — Miller Lite and Coors Lite?! Come on! It's pitchers and plastic cups on the Terrace. And what's this?

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Look closely! They drink beer and guzzle 5-Hour Energy in berry and grape flavors. Run yourself down with alcohol and then pep yourself up again with that awful glop?

That was more than an hour before game time. I hope whatever energy is left is on the Badger side. So far, it looks good, but we're not there yet.

UPDATE: YAY!!!!!!!!!!! We won!

36 comments:

Humperdink said...

As a Penn State alum, I am rooting for the Badgers. I can't stand OSU. That being said, the big lead Wisconsin enjoyed is slowly evaporating.

DADvocate said...

It could be a big win for the Badgers. They're winning right now.

wv - noquil - the antidote to Nyquil.

traditionalguy said...

Wish we could be there. A fall day and with a BIG football game to enjoy at leisure is the ultimate of a good day.

Humperdink said...

Hooray, the Badgers just scored again....leading 28-21.

Humperdink said...

Make that 28-18, I got excited.

As my whimsy leads me.. said...

I can hear the gnashing of teeth all over Columbus. But the University of Kentucky beat South Carolina! So tomorrow in choir, I'll be cheerful, and everyone else....well, maybe they'll still pull it off.

Toy

traditionalguy said...

The Badgers are winning...the Badgers are winning...the Badgers are winning. Wowee, what a great day for Madison!

campy said...

Hamilton beat Bowdoin today for their first win of the season! Go Continentals!

(That's my older daughter's alma mater. My own lost as usual.)

Lincolntf said...

Ron Dayne!

I only mention him because he's the only Badger I've ever seen play who was worth a damn.

kjbe said...

If they hold out FTW (!), my husband wants to go downtown. I'm not so sure that's a good idea.

BTW, we were undergrads and in the stands the last time the Badgers beat a #1.

Big Mike said...

Up 31 - 18 with 4 minutes to play. I think Wisconsin will move up in the coming week's polls.

Lincolntf said...

Yup. It's a whuppin'.

Congrats to the Badgers and their insanely expensive mascot.

Howard said...

I think you're spot-on with your assessment of the likely origin of those bottles. Hopefully they saved a couple for the sad, hung-over drive back in the Cousin Eddie-model RV.

Humperdink said...

Interception.....game over!!!

Humperdink said...

As an aside Ann, my son is also a Penn State graduate. He travels to quite a few away games. The worst treatment he ever received was at the Penn State - Wisconsin game in Madison a few years ago. He was the guest of a Wisconsin graduate with whom he worked.

Lincolntf said...

Gee whiz, I had recently heard that Madison was 90% white. Apparently the remaining 10% are on the University football team and have been relegated to generating income for the University by performing at various sporting events.
How very enlightened and inclusive of them.

David said...

The environment-let's clean up the environment.

But let's make someone else pick up our trash.

David said...

"[Hamilton is] my older daughter's alma mater. My own lost as usual.)"

Oh, so you went to Wesleyan.

But even they beat Hamilton this year.

garage mahal said...

Huge win for Bucky. Holy shit.

Bartender Cabbie said...

Now who is truly the number one team in the land? The BCS is a sham.

Unknown said...

The first picture could be from a beach at Montego Bay. Oh boy, wouldn't The Blonde love to be bound for there come January. 'Tis not to be this year, sad to say.

You have a lot of slobs at Madison, Madame. I thought the Lefties were into respecting the environment and Mother Earth; leaving a place looking like that is a disgrace. Granted, a lot of other campi look like that on Game Day, but still...

PS I know it once again marks me as a lowbrow, but what is a 'frite'?

former law student said...

I thought Miller came in plastic bottles, if the patio there is a glass-free zone.

former law student said...

frite = "freedom fry"

Bartender Cabbie said...

Is "campi" a word?

AST said...

That trash is from all those South Side Chicagoans who came up to party for the weekend.

Christopher said...

This is what us Nittany Lions have been reduced to this season--figuring out which other Big 10 teams we hate the most so we can root against them.

So--congrats!

Penny said...

BYOB is always a "steal of a deal"...Until you have no place to sit, fool.

Or perhaps you assume the restaurant owners were paying their bills just so you could plop your fine ass into the chair they will be paying off for the next twenty years?

Penny said...

But the barmaid thanks you for that buck you left her!

Humperdink said...

Christopher said...

"This is what us Nittany Lions have been reduced to this season--figuring out which other Big 10 teams we hate the most so we can root against them."

Yeah Christopher, the prospects for us Nittany Lion fans are grim for the rest of the season. This could get ugly. Our schedule is not easy.

It's time for Joe to go.

Robert Cook said...

I remember when I was in college--in a small college town where the University dominated--game days were lovely, because it seemed nearly everyone went to the home games. I don't care at all for sports and find football particularly unendurable, so I never went to a game. I enjoyed the feel of the seemingly deserted campus and surrounding town...one would hear a faint roar coming at intervals from the direction of the stadium, while otherwise surrounded by the absence of people.

One could pretend to be the last person on earth, a pleasant thought to me, (given that I knew it was merely a fancy).

MadisonMan said...

It's time for Joe to go.

Heresy!

I'm glad the Badgers won, but would I pay to see them? No. I wouldn't pay to see PSU either (my alma mater) either. Burned out on football early in life, I guess.

But I AM paying to see the Packers at Lambeau later this year. First time for that.

DADvocate said...

Apparently the remaining 10% are on the University football team and have been relegated to generating income for the University by performing at various sporting events.
How very enlightened and inclusive of them.


It would be so much better if these, often average or sub-par, students took out loans and were in debt up to there eyeballs at graduation rather than get a degree debt free.

Humperdink said...

Madison Man said

"Heresy!"

I am burned out on Joe. It's way past time for him to retire. I was a huge supporter, but not now. Recruiting is the key and he doesn't do much of that now.

I think Joe's holding out for his son Jay to take over. Hope this does not happen.

We don't have a coach, we have a legend. We need a coach.

AllenS said...

I've never been to a Badgers game, but some day I will. Not this year, too many things to do. What a game!

Lincolntf said...

Top level athletics are one thing that Universities actually get right, in my opinion. They treat it like a business, and therefore the real world rules apply. Not so in other areas of Academia.

And if you go to one of these schools, graduation is nearly assured.

#1 Navy 98% (Graduation rate for football players)

#2 Boston College 96%
#3 Notre Dame #95%
#4 Stanford 94%
#5 Wake Forest 93%
#5 Duke 93%
#5 Air Force 93%

Most schools/programs, however are no where near that level of excellence.

Original Mike said...

We went to the game. Hell of a time!