Badger Pride

JEFF IS A HUGE WISCONSIN BADGER FAN, AND HE IS DOING HIS BEST TO RAISE PROUD LITTLE BADGERS. YESTERDAY, WEARING OUR WI RED, WE TOOK THE KIDS DOWNTOWN TO CAMPUS TO WATCH THE UW MARCHING BAND WARM UP BEFORE THE BIG GAME. IT WAS THE PERFECT FALL MORNING - A SLIGHT CHILL IN THE AIR, GLEAMING SUN TO ADD WARMTH, AND SIDEWALKS FILLED WITH OPTIMISTIC FANS IN RED AND WHITE. AS WE STROLLED OUR LITTLE ONES IN OUR SLEEK (AND NOT SO SUBTLE) DOUBLE STROLLER, I COULD NOT HELP BUT SMILE AS WE RECEIVED COUNTLESS "HELLOS," FRIENDLY GRINS AND COMPLIMENTS OF OUR DARLING LITTLE FANS. YOU COULD SAY WE WERE NOT ONLY FEELING BADGER PRIDE, BUT PARENTAL PRIDE AS WELL.

SATURDAY MORNINGS ON REGENT STREET SURROUNDING CAMP RANDALL ARE QUITE ENTERTAINING. THE PLETHORA OF FANS - HOPEFUL AND HEARTFELT ALUMNI, THE ADVENTUROUS FAMILY, THE CRAZY (AND OFTEN INTOXICATED) COLLEGE KID, AND THE NEVER SUBTLE OPPOSING TEAM FAN - FILL THE STREET WITH AN UNDENIABLE ENERGY. THE IRONY OF WALKING OUR SWEET (INNOCENT) BABES DOWN THE SAME STREET FILLED WITH YOUNG "ADULTS" WHO BLARE THEIR MUSIC WHILE ENGAGING IN PRE-GAME CELEBRATORY ACTS OF TRADITION, DID NOT ESCAPE OUR ATTENTION. HOWEVER, AS THE VARIOUS CROWDS GATHER, YOU CAN NOT HELP BUT FEEL A SENSE OF EXCITEMENT, COMRADE RY, AND PRIDE NOT ONLY IN OUR TEAM BUT IN OUR CITY. WE HAVE GROWN TO LOVE THIS CITY VERY MUCH. AND, AS WE MADE WHAT COULD BE OUR LAST TRIP TO CAMPUS ON GAME DAY, JEFF NOTED ALL OF THE FUN WE HAVE HAD IN THIS TOWN DURING RESIDENCY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO PACKING UP OUR FUTURE CREW AND RETURNING ONE DAY TO MADTOWN, NOT ONLY TO CELEBRATE THE RED AND WHITE, BUT REMEMBER THE CITY WHERE OUR FIRST LITTLE BADGER FANS WERE BORN! (INSERT TEAR.)

PRE-GAME.

POOR JOE DOES NOT OWN BADGER RED YET. (HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?) WE WORKED WITH WHAT WE HAD, AND HE PUT ON HIS BEST GAME FACE IN SPITE OF NOT FEELING WELL. ALREADY SHOWING MENTAL TOUGHNESS AS A FAN.

HITTIN' THE STREETS.


SCOPING OUT HER SURROUNDINGS.

ALAS, A PIC WITH BOTH MY LITTLE ONES. APPARENTLY, I'M THE ONLY ONE EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

RACING BACK TO REPORT OF HER UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL VIEW OF THE MARCHING BAND.

THE LITTLE DUDE LOOKS ON.

BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE.

WHAT DO LITTLE BADGER FANS DO WHILE AWAITING THE NEXT SONG?

DISCOVER A WATER FOUNTAIN AT THEIR LEVEL. YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT COMES NEXT.

GOOD TIMES WERE HAD.

IF YOU COULD IMAGINE THE TUNE FROM DIRTY DANCING...

"NOW I...HAD...THE TIME OF MY LIFE..."

"LETS WRAP THIS UP; I'M READY FOR A NAP."

WHAT A GREAT WAY TO START THE WEEKEND.