Brigid spends an afternoon with the Wisconsin superfans

By Brigid Mullen

In today's culture of athlete worship, not enough attention is given to the fans. If not for them, who would fill all of the seats in a stadium? How would owners generate enough money to pay the athletes? Who would care about the Super Bowl? Hell, there probably wouldn't even be a Super Bowl ...or SI on Campus. What a sad sad world it would be.

	With "I love Bucky" painted on her chest, it only made sense that Brigid should meet the Badgers mascot. Photo courtesy of Brigid Mullen
	RELATED • Photo Gallery: Check out Brigid at the game

Thankfully we don't have to worry about that. Some people even dedicate their lives to following a team, going to all their games and making sure that everyone around in their section knows why the team is the best. This past Saturday, I had the privilege of tagging along with a group of Wisconsin superfans as they gave me an inside look at the world of pre-gaming, body-painting and exactly what to scream at the other team to get inside their heads.

The day began by meeting up with the guys at their apartment around 10a.m., just as they were finishing up their "smut and eggs" (you can probably figure out what that consists of). We began playing drinking games on their prize winning 'Wiscopoly' Board, which went on for about two hours before I had someone paint "I heart Bucky" on my chest just in time for the 1p.m. tipoff.

Although I used my SI credentials to obtain a press pass, the second-level press seating wasn't doing it for me, so I joined back up with the guys who were nice enough to save a front row seat in the student section for me. Woohoo! For the record, it's about 20 times louder and more fun down there. Not only do all of the players look enormous, but they were nice enough to sweat on me! I immediately wiped it off with a tissue that I put in my purse so it could be framed later and put into my personal sports shrine at home.

I learned how to dance obnoxiously and yell things like "sit down scrubs!" at the guys on the opposing bench. Some people may frown on us for yelling at the other teams, and though I don't support swearing and things of that nature, I do feel that if you don't like it, go home. We are trying to help our team win and that's all there is to it.

The day ended with Alando Tucker scoring his 2000th point in the Badgers 74-62 victory against Iowa. In the pressroom afterwards he, his teammates, and Coach Bo Ryan could not have been happier. Bo Ryan stated that, "He scores in ways from 10ft in that I haven't seen many guys do."

As for the superfans, well they went home to change for the hockey game later that night...

Be sure to check back soon because I'll be onsite in Spring Break central reporting back with everything from which of your favorite athletes are partying it up to the best in bikini contests and more.