Jump Around is hands-down the best tradition at Camp Randall, maybe even in all of college football. But for redshirt sophomore Chikwe Obasih, another game-day tradition provided his favorite moment during the recruitment process.
“Hearing the student section sing ‘Buttercup’ just gave me chills,” Obasih said. He attended his first Badger game during his recruitment, even though he attended high school in Brookfield, Wisconsin. The 6-foot-3 defensive end said he felt a lot of pressure to come to Madison because of the strong Badger ties that his high school, Brookfield Central, had, including NFL players Joe Thomas, Brad Nortman and Steve Johnson. But Obasih didn’t buckle to this pressure.
“I took my time, visited other schools, and realized that this was the place I wanted to go,” Obasih said. He highlighted the strong academics, the gorgeous campus, and the way the entire state supports the football team as the reasons he chose to become a Badger.
Obasih began playing football in fifth grade and participated in several other sports including track, soccer, baseball and basketball. The first sport he played was soccer, beginning at five years old and continuing for eight years.
As a high school freshman, Obasih played football, basketball and track, but gave up basketball after his first year because he was losing too much weight due to conditioning. However, he said that if he hadn’t played football he would have wanted to be a basketball player.
“When you get really good, people can see your good-looking face and the girls know exactly who you are,” Obasih said. “Football you’re kinda behind the helmet so all they get to see is the spandex and the legs.”
Obasih was a power forward during his basketball days and described himself as an excellent defender and a true rebounder. He also argued that he had some shooting range.
“People may disagree with me but I know I made at least one career three in organized basketball. At least one,” Obasih said.
His love for basketball extends beyond playing the sport as he views Shaquille O’Neal as a role model. Obasih said that he hopes to emulate the career Shaq had, both on the court and off it, citing his work as an entrepreneur.
“Shaq’s my guy. Without a doubt. Just that magnetic and electrifying personality, always making people laugh,” Obasih said. “He’s doing a lot of things, like those car commercials where he has to fit into a tiny box.”
He also mentioned Shaq’s acting prowess in the movie “Kazaam,” which he described as a must-see.
“He’s awful. God awful. But it’s hilarious to watch him and to watch him smirk when you know he messed up a line,” Obasih said.
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Off the field, Obasih is a huge movie fan and avid videogame player, especially “Mario Kart: Double Dash!!,” where he uses the combination of Baby Bowser and Toad. Movie-wise, he watched all of the “Lord of the Rings” movies this summer, but said he wouldn’t watch them again on the account of being “too long.”
After redshirting his first year, Obasih made a big impact his redshirt freshman year, recording eight tackles and 1.5 sacks. The Badger faithful can be thankful that Obasih came to Camp Randall and was moved by the choir that is the UW student section.
