There is nothing better than a Saturday at UW-Madison in the fall. First there is the Farmer’s markets; then there are the changing leaves; and finally—the best of all—Badger football games. Nothing can beat the sea of red that Wisconsin fans form as they drunkenly walk all throughout Madison. The best part is that the red outfits are not limited to UW students—everyone in the city of Madison is representing their Badger pride. When it gets cold enough, sometimes even doggos would wear tiny Wisconsin sweaters.
As a senior, I feel like there are certain game day rituals that have become second nature for me. Considering the endless morning mimosas and Langdon tailgates, there is truly no better way to do game day than as a Badger. Not only do Badgers have the best tailgating experiences, they also know how to bounce back more than any other school does. Sure, there was an 11 a.m. game, but you best believe everyone will be out having a good time by 11 p.m.
So, what is the key to making it from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.? Everyone has their own ways of bouncing back, but these are the ones that have always helped me:
1. Post-Game Day Nap
Madison turns into a ghost town from 4 to 6 p.m. after an early morning game day. Where do all of these Badgers go? They know the best way to rally later is to take the important post-game nap. There’s just something rejuvenating about being horizontal after hours of watching the game and drinking.
2. State Street Eats
Odds are, you haven’t eaten since early this morning when you popped two Eggos in your toaster and called it breakfast— unless you were an over-achiever and had a breakfast pre-game with eggs and pancakes. Either way, it’s safe to say you probably haven’t eaten in a long time and could use a quick refuel. Whether you’re trying to keep it simple with a Jimmy John’s sandwich, or feeling more like a Disco Fries, getting some food after a long day of cheering will be key to making it back out.
3. Ignore 1 & 2 and Stay at the Bar
So, there’s a reason you still find people in game day gear the night of a game. These people do what they want and don’t need any game day naps or food. Instead, they power through knowing that the best game days are the ones where you’re out with your friends for the entire day. Sure, they’ll order a grilled cheese at KK or some nachos at UU, but they wouldn’t be caught leaving the bar—unless, of course, it was to bar hop.
There is no wrong way to celebrate game day, and every Badger has his or her own tricks to powering through. So, as long as you cheered for the Badgers at some point, your football Saturday was a success.