January 1, 2011
Becky Ross, Communications Manager at FOX Sports Wisconsin, attended the festivities in Pasadena this week along with many other die-hard Badger fans. She passed along a few observations throughout the week.
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Badgers travel to Pasadena
To watch Wisconsin beat TCU
Badger fans are flocking to California -- and you can tell jut by looking around the airport. Red and white Badger gear everywhere you look -- hats, T-shirts, sweatshirts. Wisconsin fans eager to display their pride and not afraid to smile and give a little "On Wisconsin" to a complete stranger in the (long) security line.
It's a diverse crowd to say the very least -- young, old and young professionals or "DINKS" (Dual income no kids). Some will pay top dollar to stay at the team hotel in Pasadena, others will stay with friends and family and some will cram as many people as possible into a random hotel room in LA. Some packed a classic novel into their carry on for the flight; others downloaded the New York Times app onto their Kindle to entertain themselves on the four-hour flight. A few travel alone (hard-core Badger fans!), others with stroller, diaper bag and baby in tow. Many are accompanied by their husband or wife -- some newlyweds, while others have been married for 35 plus years.
If you ask any of the Badgers at the airport where they're from, you'll get a plethora of answers -- Milwaukee, Oshkosh, Minneapolis, Madison, Green Bay -- all in a strong "Upper Midwest" accent. If you ask them where to get a drink of water at the airport, chances are they'll tell you the "bubbler."
A diverse group of people, all from different places and backgrounds but all with something in common. They have all migrated to California to cheer on a team they love. (Many also are excited to escape the cold and snow in exchange for sunshine and 70-degree temperatures.)
They all look forward to the same thing -- red roses (and probably violets on a few of the Rose Bowl Parade floats) and watching Wisconsin beat TCU at the Rose Bowl on Saturday.
Now Available on iTunes: Badger Rose Bowl Playlist
"Jump around, jump around, jump up, jump up and get down
