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Post by reggiewheelerfor3 on Apr 9, 2005 1:44:09 GMT -6
This is an interesting topic. I was born in Madison and grew up watching and enjoying the Badgers, as well as Marquette, mainly because they were the only two state schools that received any coverage. But over the years, I have grown to detest UW-Madison. I have friends who I love to death that attended UW-Madison, but there is a definite arrogance, not necessarilly in the people associated with the school, but in the fact that they think their university is superior to everyone else's...i.e. we have the best party school in the country. It's all very fake and phony, in my opinion.
I do not like any sport affiliated with UW-Madison, except basketball. In recent years, how can you really hate Dick Bennett or Brad Soderberg? Some may have hard feelings about Bo Ryan, and I do to a very, very small extent. But then I remember back to when I was a nobody student and I sent him an e-mail asking if I could interview him for a class. Granted it was late in the spring and he wasn't very busy, but he talked with me for an hour, pretty much just shooting the breeze about basketball. He certainly didn't have to do that. I also grew to be friends with his kids, and Will is on the UW staff now. Congrats Will! I'm a little partial, I guess.
Anyway, sorry that was long, but that's my take.
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Post by buckingham94 on Apr 9, 2005 3:53:19 GMT -6
Some of the responses on this thread are kind of sad to me. I am a Milwaukee native, a current UW student, with one sibling (2 in the fall) at UWM right now, and support both the Badgers and the Panthers (though I cheer for the Badgers a bit harder than I do for the Panthers). Clearly the initial question wasn't aimed at me, but for the sake of another perspective on things, here I go....
I was born in suburban Milwaukee. My father was a Madison grad and a huge Badger fan. My mother was a UWM grad and was pretty indifferent about sports in general. Based on that, I was brought up a big Badger fan. I always wished UWM well, but given the state of the program through most of my upbringing, I didn't really put forth the effort to follow them real thoroughly.
When senior year of high school rolled around, I applied to Madison and Minnesota. I didn't apply to UWM because I was told by my father that he wouldn't pay for me to live on campus, and so I'd have to live at home some more. This was NOT an anti-UWM stance from my dad, it was an anti-spending money stance. I am well aware that UWM is no longer as much of a commuter school as it once was, but apparently my old man didn't get the memo (for the record, as of next year both of my siblings will be living on campus at UWM). I knew all along I wanted to go to UW if I got in because I was a Badger fan, and also because regardless of which school provides the better education, Madison is perceived as the better institution by potential employers down the road, and in such instances, perception is reality.
When I talk to friends of mine from out of state who don't know very much about UWM, I am proud to inform them that UWM is a very high-caliber institution, and Milwaukee's east side is an excellent place to live and spend college. I am extremely excited about the Panthers' success bringing added attention to the school. It makes me very proud of my home state to know that we have two academic institutions of such outstanding quality. That's why it's sort of sad to see the kind of venom spewed by some UWM fans on this board.
I suppose I understand the frustration voiced by some members of this board at the way some UW students look down on UWM. I attribute this attitude not so much to arrogance as to ignorance. The attitude comes about, I believe, because when one grows up in Wisconsin, the goal is to gain admission to Madison, mostly because it's so damned hard to get in these days. Gaining admission to Madison is viewed as kind of an achievement award for getting good grades in high school. It just simply isn't as hard to get into UWM (there is no possible argument against this, it is a fact) and so getting into UWM doesn't have the same luster as getting into Madison does.
Again, I am NOT saying that UWM isn't a great academic institution. It is merely hampered by this perceived inferiority, which really doesn't have much basis in reality. Again, it's ignorance, not arrogance.
Both are terrific schools, both have their merits. So, at the risk of sounding corny, can't we all just get along?
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Post by Kroener3535 on Apr 9, 2005 8:38:13 GMT -6
I am a huge Badger fan except when UWM plays them in Basketball...in the state of Wisconsin you are bred to be a Badger fan....but my shortcomings as an athlete in high school led me here and gave me a passion for UWM Athletics...but I go to all the UW football games and root as hard for their Basketball team...But it is nice to step out of the shadow a little bit because I do believe that Badger fans overlook UWM as a contender or a valuable opponent...but I harbor no ill will towards Madison....great institution, great athletics, great city
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Post by uwmbballjunkie on Apr 10, 2005 0:19:52 GMT -6
Growing up in Wisconsin, your forced to be a Badger football fan simply because of lack of any other Wisconsin choices. The games are great fun, and the tradition tied to it is deep. I never really liked their basketball program, even before I became a UWM student. Before I went to UWM, it was always exciting when they did well, but now I wouldnt really mind if they sucked. To sum it all up, I have no real emotional connection with UW sports. This is the only time I'd actually label myself a fair weather fan. If they're doing well, I'll pay attention.
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dutchpthr
Junior
ain't much if it ain't dutch
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Post by dutchpthr on Apr 10, 2005 11:27:32 GMT -6
this is a very interesting topic, and i really think it depends a lot on how you were brought up or introduced to college sports if you will. for me i have lived in WI all my life as well, now i have actually never been a big badger fan not for any particular reason other than i just did become one. being that my dad is not from here (from another country, can you guess what one from my name? ) he really never tried to get me to watch or follow the badgers, and actually i really didn't get into to much college sports until i was in high school anyway, so i really spent more time watching the NFL and major league baseball than any thing else. now do i hate the badgers or anything like that, no not in the least but at the same time i don't go out of my way to root for them, and when i am asked by people if i am a badger fan i say that i am a panther fan first above all else. with regrads to them specific sport programs i wish football well and until we get another major football program in the state it will i think always be that way, now hockey, well i am not a real big fan of that sport anyway so i really don't care much about it, and basketball i am pretty indifferent as long as they aren't playing us but when the badgers play MU i hope that the badgers win by at least 30. ;D i think that it just realy depends on the type of way that you were introduced to sports growing up, but to say that every person from this state is a badger fan and that i just the way it is, is very uninformed IMO, yes lots of people in the state are badger fans but not everyone is, liek you really think peopel from MU are badger fans after they get done cheering for the golden eagles? i don't really think so.
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Post by luckypanther on Apr 10, 2005 13:17:53 GMT -6
I, like most of you, have lived in Wisconsin my whole life. I will admit that I root for all Wisconsin basketball teams. I want Wisconsin teams to go the farthest and be the best just because they are from Wisconsin. Now when UWM plays Madison or any other Wisconsin school, of course I root for the Panthers but any other game on any other day, I root for the Wisconsin team to win the match-up. (Yes, even though I had Wisconsin losing in my bracket, when game time rolled around,I was kinda hoping they would win)
It's just like in high school sports. You want the teams from your conference and your area to really represent because it gives your area press time and recognition. It's the same when Wisconsin teams do well. Look how much recognition Wisconsin basketball (UWM, Madison, Marquette, even Green Bay) has gotten lately with our teams being successful. I just think that it is right for us to root for our home team and hope they do well.
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Post by mqtgoldenchickens on Apr 10, 2005 20:54:50 GMT -6
Nope, I do not root for the Badgers (unless they are playing Marquette) . I grew up out of state, I love sports, played all of them from kid through high school and turned away a scholarship to play DII football because of a torn up knee. I chose UWM over Marquette based on programs, professors, students, and location. I know most people that have grown up in this state are bred to root for the Badgers regardless if they could even get into a community college or not. I have met a few Badger fans that I like, some that I don't. That is common with any big college where ever you are- some fans have a perspective and some are total homers. I feel their football program is overrated, but has made huge strides from where they were in the 80's (or any other time for that matter). Regardless of my opinions on that, this is about UWM. UWM is getting out from under the shell of Madison and Marquette and coming into its own. To the 28,000 students (second largest in the state and 2.5 times the size of Marquette) and thousands of alumni around the city, state and world- Fight! Fight! For UWM!!!
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Post by coacheinerson on Apr 11, 2005 4:26:39 GMT -6
The only thing that the Badgers have that I want is a D-1 football team. Other than that, I'm just frustruated by how overrated their school is, how underrated ours is, and how they take all the credit for all of the good academic programs in our school that they have nothing to do with.
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Post by dunzz on Apr 11, 2005 11:22:46 GMT -6
this thred needs to end. the major consensus of UWM fans.
Go Badger Football Badger basketball plays us therefore we want to beat them.
some people think Badgers are overrated, but then again Badger fans and the big ten are under ratted in the national sence. thats what some people think.
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Post by lang on Apr 11, 2005 11:41:13 GMT -6
Growing up 30 minutes from madison I have been a badger fan since i was a little kid. I think the mentality about everyone is a badger fan in this state proabablly comes from pretty much everywhere but the southeast corner of the state. I think the main reason is tradition. Lets face it UWM has only been d 1 basketball for a little over 10 years. Even Marquette was a mid major- granted they have a championship but before moving to the big east next year they were not in a big conference.
So who do i root for. This year it was a simple choice in basketball UWM. Losing to us really wouldnt hurt them that bad, and UWM beating them would have been huge for this school. The other big draw for UW is that they are the only D1 football program in the state.(This blows my mind in such a footballl hungry state) For this reason alone they are on a different level than UWM and Marquette and will always be. This is what makes it possibel to be a fan of both colleges
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Post by coacheinerson on Apr 11, 2005 16:40:27 GMT -6
Yeah, despite my frustruation towards Madtown, I still find myself rooting for them in fall... darnit...
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Post by Ron Mexico on Apr 11, 2005 16:57:21 GMT -6
I've never rooted for the Badgers in anything. The only WI school/team I have any loyalty to is UWM. Although I generally wish well to the Brewers or Bucks, none of them would ever be my "team".
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Post by DunneDeal on Apr 11, 2005 16:59:03 GMT -6
Oh I do Cheer for Wisconsin Football, always have. And Until UWM has a program other than club. I'll cheer for Wisconsin to do well, and still cheer on UWM to whoop on MU
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mwu
Sophomore
I am U-Dub U-M
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Post by mwu on Apr 11, 2005 17:24:35 GMT -6
Oh I do Cheer for Wisconsin Football, always have. And Until UWM has a program other than club. I'll cheer for Wisconsin to do well, and still cheer on UWM to whoop on MU what could be better than playing for a keg?? and yes, anti-MU, all the time. never have liked em, never will.
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Post by NeedMoreFans on Apr 11, 2005 19:35:24 GMT -6
Oh I do Cheer for Wisconsin Football, always have. And Until UWM has a program other than club. I'll cheer for Wisconsin to do well, and still cheer on UWM to whoop on MU The only way to get a football team at UWM that is a step above the club team is to support the club team. Do so by voting for student org #230 in the elections tomorrow and wednesday. Wisconsin needs another college football team!!!
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