A Blast

Jim and I joined our friends Matt and Kerri and Eric and Megan for Saturday's Badger game against the Purdue Boilermakers. Before the game, we indulged in drinking, eating, and dancing at the Badger Blast inside the UW Field House.

We arrived shortly after the Field House opened its doors for the pre-game tailgate. Once inside, we set out to get our money's worth in brats, cheese, and beer. While we ate and drank, we listened to the band and watched those people that were dancing. A mascot dressed as a bottle of mustard was the hit of the dance floor; he had some smooth moves! I got a kick out of watching him! Kerri was so impressed by the mustard's dancing that she joined him on the dance floor for a jig!

Later in the event, the UW band and cheerleaders came in to pump up the crowd for the day's game. Bucky made an appearance, of course, as did former head coach and current Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez. Both Matt and Jim were able to pose with Alvarez for pictures.

After the Blast, we headed into Camp Randall, where we watched the Badgers dominate the Boilermakers in a 37-0 shut-out. When we weren't watching the action on the field, we had fun watching the costumed students in the sections to our left. We spotted Cookie Monster, several Waldos from Where's Waldo fame, and many other costumed characters in the crowd. Even Bucky was dressed in disguise for the game; in fact, he changed into a few different costumes during the game. He dressed as a ghost, Batman, and the Joker.

It had been a few years since Jim and I had last attended the Badger Blast; we had forgotten what a "blast" it truly is!