When You Say W-I-S-C-O-N-S-I-N

The Wisconsin Badgers basketball team pulled off an improbable win against Ohio State, and became the first team to beat the nation's number one team in football and basketball in the same year, since the University of Florida did it in 2006-2007.

I'm not too old to forget my days at the University of Wisconsin-Madison when it was a major accomplishment to win a game of basketball or football against a good team.  Back in 1980, our basketball team was 11-16, finishing ninth in the Big Ten (back when there were only 10 teams in the conference).  Remember Bill Cofield as coach?  Me either -- I had to look that one up.   In football, our record was 4-7 and we finished once again unranked under the coaching of Dave McClain (God rest his soul).  And so my years in college passed by -- enjoying the occasional wins over San Diego State, Minnesota and Northwestern.  It's funny how some things never change...

But for the most part, I felt like I was wandering through an endless desert of mediocrity,  occasionally tasting relief by celebrating championships in men's hockey and cross country.  Well, maybe not cross country.  But I did enjoy hockey.  In 1980, the men's hockey program drew approximately 2,000 more fans each game than the basketball team.

I remember vividly sitting in Camp Randall on a football Saturday as the rain poured down-- the heavens were crying as well -- hearing the sound of rain echo off the aluminum bleachers emptied of most fans.  My rain poncho was leaking as badly as our defense, as a constant stream of water ran down my back, soaking my pants, socks and shoes.   For a Badger sports fan, it was the worst of times.

My parents would remind me that there's more to college than football and basketball.  But for someone who didn't take my studies too seriously until my junior and senior years, I relished the opportunities to watch 300 yard passing attacks and power dunks.  Even if it was by the visiting team.

Fast forward to Saturday's basketball game between the Badgers (ranked #13 by the AP) and the Buckeyes (undefeated and ranked #1).  The Badgers were in deep trouble, having fallen behind by 15 points with 13:16 remaining in the game.  In what will be remembered as one of the Big Ten Network's "Greatest Games" years from now, Jordan Taylor, a junior point guard for Wisconsin, hit a career high five 3-pointers and scored 21 points in the second half to rally the Badgers.  During a 30-8 run, Taylor scored or assisted on 26 of those points by scoring 18 and assisting on another eight points.  When the game clock hit zero, the Badgers had won 71-67, knocking the Buckeyes out of their number one ranking for the second time in less than four months.

As an indication of how far the Badgers have come from the 1980's, neither game was a surprise.  Yes, the Badgers were ranked lower in the AP polls, but if you were to listen to the talking heads on ESPN or listen to sports talk radio, you would have heard them picking Wisconsin to win both games.

It's a credit to the Wisconsin athletic department, coaches, players, fans and donors that Wisconsin athletics have been taken to new heights.  We've been able to recruit better athletes from throughout the United States -- with better practice/playing facilities, and provided more academic/study help -- which has resulted in better results and higher attendance. For example, in 2009-2010:

. Men's basketball led the Big Ten in attendance for the 3rd year in a row
. Men's football has ranked 15th or better nationally in attendance every year since 2002
. Women's hockey has led nation in attendance for 4th year in row
. Men's hockey has led nation in attendance for 12 years in row
. Wisconsin volleyball led the Big Ten in attendance

Overall, attendance in the 10 sports offered by the University of Wisconsin-Madison was over 1.3 million for the year ending in 2010.  Success has bred more success throughout the athletic department, with its annual budget of more than $81 million.

Despite its improvement in men's and women's athletics, my love for basketball and football have garnered most of my attention.  With Coach Alvarez and Bielema heading up the football program, Wisconsin has made it to a post season bowl game nine years in a row, in addition to making four Rose Bowl appearances, the most recent in 2010 (a close 21-19 loss to TCU).  The Badgers are consistently coaching up 3 star recruits to All-American status and Big Ten player (or rookie) of the year.  Bo Ryan has coached the men's basketball team to 12 post season appearances -- reaching the Elite 8 during March Madness and a number one ranking of our own in 2007.  His record in the Kohl Center is an amazing 154-11 since he began coaching the Badgers.

Success at hockey, basketball and football has put Wisconsin in the national spotlight.  It's an illuminating experience that this Badger fan has enjoyed every year.  From September to April, my wife knows I'll be watching (if possible) most Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays; my mother-in-law even knows I'll be watching if Badger football tip off comes during her birthday dinner.

Those empty aluminum bleachers at Badger football games aren't so empty anymore.  Tickets are harder to find and the best seats are costing more than my four years of school at Madison.  The next step for the Badgers  (again with better recruits, coaching and facilities) will be to not only beat the number one team in basketball and football, but to actually be the number one team in basketball and football.

Only God knows if I'll still be alive to see it.