Wake up early enough to pre-game
It’s no surprise the pre-game drinking scene is a big part of what makes Badger gamedays. Keep this in mind when taking part in Friday night’s festivities —you don’t want to go overboard and wake up Saturday needing a Herculean effort to down a beer. Early season non-conference games typically garner an 11 a.m. kickoff, but Saturday’s season-opener against Northern Iowa won’t start until 2:30 p.m. Don’t use too much of that extra three hours sleeping.
Eat at Mickies Dairy Bar
Whether it’s eating off a hang-over or gorging before the big game, Mickies Dairy Bar is the ideal place to start off your game day. The portion sizes are beyond generous—you could share a meal with a friend and still get your money’s worth. Get there early because the line can extend around the block, but it’s worth the wait for their signature dish: the Scrambler.
Participate in every cheer
Camp Randall is considered one of the toughest places to play in the Big Ten, and its student section plays a factor in the Badgers’ homefield advantage.
Be a part of that raucous crowd as much as possible. You might not know every cheer right away—and some might seem inappropriate—but there’s no better way to learn than jumping right into the madness. Reiterate the PA announcer’s first down calls, be ready for the wave, and...
Save some energy for Jump Around
If there is one tradition that defines the fan experience of UW football, it’s Jump Around. Every fourth quarter begins the same way in Madison—with the student section race, a two-second buildup to the pre-song climax and one glorious downbeat that precedes ten thousand fans shaking Camp Randall while they sing every line to the 1992 classic from House of Pain.
Fans and players alike feed off the energy from this Badger tradition and help to give Wisconsin one of the best homefield advantages in the nation.
Stay for the 5th quarter
Just because there are zeros on the clock doesn’t mean the game day experience has to end. Tens of thousands of fans stick around Camp Randall for the 20-minute postgame party to dance and sing along to staples such as “Varsity,” “On Wisconsin” and “You’ve Said it All,” courtesy of the UW Marching Band.
