Wisconsin Badgers' fans 'worst in the Big Ten'
Published: Sunday, October 30, 2011
Updated: Friday, June 15, 2012 22:06
 "Photo: Cody Cousino / Photo editor")
Cody Cousino / Photo editor
OSU fans celebrate on the Ohio Stadium field after the Buckeyes' 33-29 win against Wisconsin Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011.
Fans of the Wisconsin athletics, particularly the football team, have developed an unflattering reputation around the Big Ten that even the most loyal Badgers fans admit to. A legendary Buckeyes' running back attested to the hostile nature of Wisconsin fans as well.
Former OSU back and two-time Heisman trophy winner Archie Griffin said that when he played from 1972 to 1975, Michigan and Iowa fans were the most inhospitable to Buckeyes players and fans.
"When I played, Wisconsin fans weren't bad because we used to beat them all the time," Griffin told The Lantern. "So, it wasn't even an issue. For the most part, the Big Ten is pretty good... But now, they (Wisconsin fans) can be pretty rugged. "
Wisconsin fan Darrick Reilly, 41, traveled from Illinois to support the Badgers at Ohio Stadium on Saturday. Reilly said that he received a warm welcome in Columbus, but added that a similar welcome for OSU fans in Madison, Wis., would be unlikely.
"Some of the student chants are ridculous," Reilly said. "It's a big initiative by Wisconsin to be more friendly to opposing fans, I do know that."
Jeff Detra, 42, also traveled from Illinois to cheer for Wisconsin, and he agreed with Reilly.
"People could get that negative impression from going to a (Wisconsin) game," Detra said. "Some of the chants that the student body does, I could see that."
Reilly said that a community initiative entitled "Rolling Out the Red Carpet," which was undertaken by the University of Wisconsin's Madison campus in 2004, has attempted to quell behavior issues. According to uwathletics.com, "Rolling Out the Red Carpet" attempts to build "new, welcoming traditions for all sports fans."
Ken Werner, 65, of Mukwonago, Wis., said he remains embarrassed by the current state of the Wisconsin fan base.
Werner is a fixture at Wisconsin games — both at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison and at road venues — and is known for his flamboyant game-day attire.
Werner wore a red kilt and matching Wisconsin Badgers-themed vest and bow tie Saturday and said he, too, had been welcomed to Columbus by Buckeyes fans.
"I'm proud of the Buckeye people," Werner said during a pregame tailgate party. "They're courteous, generous and well behaved."
Werner, who said he has attended 250 consecutive Badgers games dating back to the mid-1980s, added that the Wisconsin football fan base was not deserving of equal praise.
"Clearly, our fans are the worst in the Big Ten," Werner said. "I was just talking about this with some other Wisconsin fans here, and a lot of it has to do with drinking. We're embarrassed by it. It's not good."
Werner said he's traveled to every stadium in the Big Ten and has witnessed a widespread change among fans all over America — instead of rooting for their team, fans focus on jeering their opponents.
"Fans are no longer rooting for their team as much as being disrespectful of not only the opposing team, but being disrespectful of the opposing fans," he said. "I'm a target because of what I wear, but its very verbally abusive. It's a sad commentary on college football fandom."
Werner said that of the 56 college football venues he has visited in his life the ‘Shoe is his favorite.
"I tell people that if you want to go to a football temple, it is Ohio Stadium," Werner said. "I get tears in my eyes walking up to it just because it's where the gladiators come to play on a given Saturday."
It is not known whether Werner still harbored good will toward the ‘Shoe and the OSU community after the outcome of Saturday's game, though.
Saturday's back and forth affair between the Buckeyes and the then-No.12-ranked Badgers ended in dramatic fashion as freshman quarterback Braxton Miller connected with classmate and receiver Devin Smith on a go-ahead touchdown to put OSU up, 33-29, with 20 seconds remaining in the game.
OSU held on for the upset victory, its second against a ranked opponent in as many games.
Detra said that win or lose, the experience of traveling to opposing Big Ten schools and respecting each school's traditions was most important.
"It's the tradition of the schools that each school presents," he said. "Just the rivalries and the competition — that's what matters most. Not the negative stuff."
The Buckeyes continue conference play at home Saturday against Indiana at noon.
46 comments
The one thing I know is that Wisconsin probably has the most passionate student section in the Big Ten. Probably because these are the drunkest fans, they get labeled as the worst, which I don't think is fair. Northwestern can't even fill it's student section and they have free tickets.
From what I've seen Badger fans know how to have fun, so what if it's a little over the top sometimes. Maybe our own fans should show some class and not rush the field when we beat teams that aren't even ranked top 10. That was disappointing.
I've never seen a game from the student section, nor do I ever want to, but just because the students chant "f**k you, eat s**t" at each other doesn't make them the worst fans. Is it an unusual tradition that isn't in the best of tastes? Yes, but it's here to stay.
I am convinced that the rest of the Big Ten fanbase would be saying the same thing about most of the good programs in the conference if their stadium was located in the middle of a student-dominated neighborhood. College kids get drunk, rowdy and rude. When you walk by them, they are going to heckle you anywhere.
If you've had something thrown at you, I'm sorry. That's indefensible behavior, but it's an individual act. Individuals can definitely taint your impression of another team's fans. For example I usually make a point to talk to some of the opposing fans just because I like talking sports. When Nebraska came to Madison, by and large my experiences were great. They were friendly and I even met up with a few of them for drinks a second night. There was one fan however who was just raging at my suggestion that Eric Crouch was the worst Heisman trophy winner ever. I conceded that Wisconsin's own Heisman winner, Ron Dayne, should definitely be a part of that conversation, but this guy was relentless. He was to the point of yelling.
But did I base my impression of Nebraska fans on this one unfortunate encounter? No. Everyone else I met was great.
And the same goes for Ohio State. Even though I think Jim Tressel was one of the slimiest figures to ever coach NCAA football, I don't hold that against tOSU fans. My friend (a fellow Badger fan) lives in Chicago with a couple of OSU alumni and they're both great.
Next time you're in Madison, take the time to talk to some people before you make such catch-all statements.
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3. Indiana
4. Minnesota
5. Ohio State
6. Michigan
7. Michigan State
8. Purdue
9. Iowa
10. Illinois
11. Penn State
12. Wisconsin
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