10 commandments of Badger football

It all starts in the middle of summer. Thousands of badgers are online at 8:00 am. This is life or death. It’s time to purchase Badger season football tickets.

For the lucky ones who achieve this great feat, consider yourselves blessed. September rolls around and you can feel it in the air. School’s starting, but no one really cares about that because it’s officially football season. Here at UW-Madison, we have strict rules regarding Badger football. Let’s discuss them.

Thou shalt wake up early

It doesn’t matter if it’s 9 am, and you’re hungover. You get out of bed, put on your Badger gear, and grab a beer. Tailgating starts early, no excuses.

Thou shalt wear Badger gear, and only Badger gear

Red and white, it’s simple. If you’re sitting in the student section at Camp Randall and aren’t wearing red and white, you’re doing it wrong. No one is too cool for school spirit.

Thou shalt love thy camp

Camp Randall is an icon. It’s been there for us through wins and losses, holds us up while we jump around, and most importantly, sells amazing soft pretzels.

Thou shalt count for Bucky

When you see Bucky being lifted into the air after a Badger score, get ready to test your kindergarten math skills by counting each push-up Bucky completes. The max number of pushups Bucky has ever done during a game is 573. There is a person up there sweating their ass off in a giant costume doing mass amounts of pushups. Count for them.

Thou shalt cheer for thy section

When the great section race comes around, you better cheer loud and proud for your section. If your section wins, rub it in your friends faces, and if they lose, better luck next time.

Thou shalt sing religiously

Sweet Caroline, Build Me Up Buttercup, On Wisconsin, If You Want to be a Badger, who cares what song it is. Sing it. 

Thou shalt master the wave

The traditional wave circles Camp Randall once, followed by a slow motion wave, a double-speed wave, a wave split into two that goes both counter-clockwise and clockwise around the stadium, and finally, a reverse direction wave. Master it, and love it.

Thou shalt jump around

Should this even have to be explained? This is the greatest game day tradition in all of college football. It’s almost like House of Pain created this song specifically for Badgers. So when you hear that iconic opening, “get out your seat and jump around!”

Thou shalt watch the 5th quarter

Let’s be honest, most of the student section clears out before the 5^th quarter comes around, but the UW band is iconic, and every Badger should watch at least one 5^th quarter per season.

Thou shalt post-game party

Celebrate a Badger win at State Street Brats with a beer and a brat, and celebrate a loss by being thankful you don’t go to Minnesota.

Happy football season, and On Wisconsin!