Ask Abe Archives - Athletics

Jill Cunniff ’79 asks Abe: “Does UW-Madison still have a women's gymnastic team? I remember going to my good friends' gymnastic meets in the 1970s but I can't seem to find any information on the women’s current team.”

Answer: No, at UW-Madison, women’s gymnastics is no longer considered a varsity sport, but rather a student organization. In the early 1990s, Athletic Director Pat Richter eliminated five varsity sports — including both men’s and women’s gymnastics — in order to help reduce a $2.1 million athletic department deficit.

Afterward, the teams were given club status, and they practiced in the Red Gym until 1997, when the Red Gym was renovated. Gymnastics then lost its status as a club, and the women’s group did not became a student organization until the 2002–2003 season. The men’s team followed suit the next year, and both teams now practice at an off-campus gym on Madison’s east side.

For more information on the UW gymnastics club, visit their Web site.

Susan Booth ’69 asks Abe: “I attended the 2005 Outback Bowl in Tampa Bay and sat in an alumni section right next to a large group of students. It made me ashamed to be wearing my Wisconsin T-shirt, because the students were chanting a number of inappropriate cheers. These are our future leaders of America, as another grad pointed out. While I don't believe the administration of Wisconsin could stop such behavior, I wonder what is being done to discourage it.”

Answer: Unfortunately, what you saw at the Outback Bowl is common in the student section at every game. However, the UW is leading by example in the Big Ten with the “Rolling Out the Red Carpet” campaign. Developed with the help of students, athletes, staff and alumni, the campaign encourages students to welcome visiting fans and make them feel respected.

A volunteer corps of “Fan Ambassadors” was created to welcome fans with giveaways and relevant information. The campaign also includes speeches from athletic director Barry Alvarez and hockey coaches Mike Eaves and Mark Johnson. Light-hearted public service announcements are broadcast on the stadium’s new video scoreboard, and a billboard was placed on Regent Street.

The UW is committed to resolving this problem before the Big Ten Conference or NCAA need to force new rules into play. More information about “Rolling Out the Red Carpet” can be found at the campaign Web site.

Jonathan Slogoff ’94 asks Abe: “When was the last time that the University of Wisconsin football team beat Michigan?”

Answer: Even from my spot on Bascom Hill, I could hear the roar of the crowd in Camp Randall Stadium on Sept. 24, 2005, when the Badgers upset the 13th-ranked Wolverines in a 23-20 victory. Thousands of fans stayed in the stadium for a jubilant Fifth Quarter after the clock ran out and the atmosphere on campus was electric all weekend long. This was a big victory for the Badgers, because it was the first time they’ve won against the Wolverines since 1994. The game also marked the ninth-consecutive Badger football home win, which tied a school record set in the 1960s. I’m sure it’s a game that will be remembered by Badger faithful for years to come.

Ed Rogan '65 asks Abe: “I have fond memories of the Rose Bowl. Do any for purchase videos exist of the game?”

Answer: Unfortunately, ABC owns the right to televise the Rose Bowl and does not distribute copies of the games. However, there is a video full of clips and highlights titled Rose Bowl '94: The Badger Invasion that can be purchased through the Stratton Gilmore Group for $19.95 plus $4.95 shipping and handling. If you would like to purchase one of these films you can contact cgilmore1@msn.com.

Erwin Vernon '47 asks Abe: “I wonder if my memory (after all these years) is faulty, but I have a vague recollection that the Gene Englund–Johnny Kotz basketball team in the early 40s played in both the NCAA and post-season NIT and won at least one of the two. Is my memory correct?”

Answer: Yes, your memory is correct. The UW men's basketball team won the 1941 NCAA Championship against Washington State, 39-34. Gene Englund and John Kotz were both part of the Badgers leading line-up. Englund scored 13 points that game, which accounted for one-third of the team's total points. John Kotz was awarded the tournament's Most Valuable Player award. Both Englund and Kotz were all-Americans, and the team was coached by Bud Foster. The Badgers have never won a NIT tournament, and have yet to win a NCAA tournament since, but, hey, there's always next year!

Erich Hessner asks Abe: “I attended UW-Madison in the late eighties. I seem to remember that the "wave" first was performed by Badger fans at Camp Randall. I need to verify this, as I have a bet with my wife. If I lose, I will be doing the dishes for a month. Please, prove me to be correct. Thank you.”

Answer: Sorry Erich, the dirty dishes are waiting.

Many theories exist that explain the phenomenon of “the wave,” however none of them state that the first wave was performed by Badger fans. This coordinated crowd craze became popular in the 1980s and is largely credited with starting in one of two places: “Krazy George” Henderson, a professional cheerleader, is said to have led “the wave” during an American League baseball playoff game between the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees on October 15, 1981. Others claim that Robb Weller, former University of Washington cheerleader, started “the wave” during a Washington versus Stanford football game on October 31, 1981. This phenomenon is sometimes called the “Mexican Wave” since it was introduced to the soccer community during the 1986 World Cup in Mexico City.

Judy Kelly '59 asks Abe, “Why was collegiate boxing eliminated at the UW? I recall that there was a serious injury or even death to one of the boxers.”

Answer: Boxing was a successful varsity sport at the UW from 1933 to 1960. The sport often attracted over 13,000 people to the Field house and Wisconsin won eight NCAA boxing titles.

Boxing ended at the UW 22 days after the death of boxer Charles Mohr. Mohr collapsed after a second round knockout by Stu Bartell of San Jose State University during the 165-pound NCAA championship match on April 9, 1960. Mohr suffered a brain hemorrhage and died eight days later. Because of this, competitive boxing was dropped and eventually banned by the NCAA.

Greg Hermus '81 asks Abe: “Has anything been done yet to correct the space problem in Camp Randall due to the new seat backs extending backwards into the row behind the seat? There is not enough space left for people to sit with their knees in front of them and their feet on the floor due to the angle of the seats.”

Answer: At the moment, the UW Athletic Department is looking at results from a post-season survey concerning space problems in Camp Randall. The surveys were given to ticket holders with the new seat backs as well as the fans who sit around them. The athletic department is aware of the lack of space, and is considering options for next year in an attempt to improve the situation.

Jim Lyman '64 asks Abe: “Back in the early '60s when I was trooping up the hills of UW, there was a freshman basketball sensation named Frank Burks. I watched the freshman-varsity game in which he took over and beat the varsity team nearly single-handed. Alas, he could not hold up in the grade department and soon left school. I kind of recall he played for the Harlem Globetrotters for a time. Can you tell us what happened to him?”

Answer: Frank Burks x'62, the freshman basketball sensation you remember, was born September 5, 1939, in Chicago. He attended the UW for two years, where he played on both the basketball and baseball teams. After leaving the UW in 1960, he joined the Harlem Globetrotters. The six-foot-five-inch forward was a Globetrotter for two years, ending his career in 1962. He now resides in Chicago. Burks was the only basketball player from the UW to ever play for the world-famous Globetrotters.

Find out more information about the Harlem Globetrotters.

Jean Logan asks Abe: “Was there collegiate hockey at UW-Madison in the early 1960s? I graduated in 1965 and don't remember any hockey games during my four years there. I'm a huge hockey fan now and wonder how I missed it during my years at Madison. I think the hockey program goes back into the 1920s or earlier.”

Answer: Jean, it is not surprising that you don't remember any hockey games during your four years at the UW. What fans now call the “modern era” of hockey didn't begin until 1963. However, the men's hockey team has had quite a history!

There have been references to a hockey club at the UW since 1892, although men's hockey did not become an official sport until 1922. It was at this time that UW joined Minnesota and Michigan to form the WIHL (Western Intercollegiate Hockey League). The hockey team played its first “official” game on January 14, 1922, when they lost to the Milwaukee Athletic Club. Twelve years later, in 1933, men's hockey was dropped because of the depression.

The “modern era” of hockey began in 1963. However, it wasn't until November 14, 1969, that the men played in their first WCHA (Western Collegiate Hockey Association) game. It was in this game, a win over North Dakota 8-4, that the men's hockey program established itself as an official sport once again.

Since 1969, the men's hockey team has gone on to win five NCAA championships. To learn more about the history of men's hockey at the UW, go to www.uwbadgers.com/history.

Jane Pizer asks Abe: “As a ticket holder for 40 straight years, I'd like to provide some fan feedback: can the recorded music in the football stadium be turned down? Our section finds it intolerable.”

Answer: As a tenured ticket-holder, you're well aware that Camp Randall is in the middle of a $107 million renovation project. One of the enhancements to the facility includes a new sound system, which was unveiled this season.

The Athletic Department reports that technicians were at the stadium adjusting sound for a full month before the football season started, though true audio quality could not be calculated until the stadium was filled at the first game. After that matchup against Central Florida, fans complained that the sound system was too loud, so the volume was adjusted down. After the second game against UNLV, fans commented that it was too quiet, so it was adjusted back up a bit. Of course, facilities managers are doing their best to accommodate all patrons, but it takes some work to strike a balance between where fans are seated (the sound system is based at the north end, and there aren't intermittent speakers throughout the stadium) and their individual hearing abilities.

Facilities managers are happy to report that their recent fine-tuning has resulted in few complaints from fans, so they're hopeful that everyone will be able to enjoy the rest of the season in the new stadium environment.

Marian Zincke '94 asks Abe, “I always wondered when and why Wisconsin got rid of the classic “W” (as seen on the Field House), as the official university 'W'?”

Answer: The classic “W” was never removed– it was revamped. The original designer who created the Field House crest is unknown, but in 1985, graphic designer Earl Madden was asked to create a more distinguished logo for the Medical School. Standing near Camp Randall, he looked up and found the ideal design right where it had been sitting for nearly 75 years: on the Field House. Madden transformed the three-dimensional crest into a 2-D image and added color. The crest, adopted as part of the new campus-wide logo, has been trademarked and non-university users must pay a fee. Today, the “W crest,” a familiar campus icon and an enduring symbol of UW-Madison's long tradition of prestige and spirit, is seen throughout campus.

Todd Johnson '86 asks Abe, “What's the real story on Bobby Knight turning down the head coaching job at Wisconsin many years ago? Urban legend has it that Knight interviewed for the job, but when he noticed a member of the interviewing committee dozing off, he figured this wasn't the place for him.”

Answer: The University of Wisconsin had a chance to land Bobby Knight as basketball coach in the 1960s. Knight interviewed in 1968 after John Erickson resigned to become general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks.

The real story is that Knight applied for the job and was one of seven candidates interviewed. After the post was offered to him while he was still in Madison, he requested that nothing be announced until he could return to West Point, where he was coaching at the time, to inform his superiors. Before he had that opportunity, someone leaked the news to the media. Within 48 hours, Knight called back and declined the offer.

Knight remained at Army for three more seasons until he went to Indiana. The same day that Knight turned down the Wisconsin offer, John Powless accepted it. He had been an assistant for five years under Erickson, as well as Wisconsin's tennis coach. Powless held the Wisconsin job for eight years. In addition to Powless, Bill Cofield, Steve Yoder, Stu Jackson, Stan Van Gundy and Dick Bennett all coached the Badgers during Knight's time at Indiana.

Christine Frinak '69, MS '73 asks Abe, “Does the money raised by UW Athletics support the entire university budget or only the athletic budget?”

Answers: According to the UW Athletic Department, the money raised supports only the athletic budget. The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics is a self-supporting operation and receives no state tax dollars, so the donations of alumni, fans and friends are vital to long-term growth. According to the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics 2002 annual report, 14,100 donors gave $7.7 million to UW Athletics. In 2002, the Athletic Department's annual expenditure was $47.4 million.

Kay Adams-Fleig '76, MA'93 asks Abe, “I attended an exciting UW football game in the fall of 1969 — we finally won after a long losing streak. People were chanting “Rose Bowl” in the stands and there were massive amounts of toilet paper hanging from the trees in Tripp Commons. Do you know how many losing games had occurred prior to the victory that afternoon and the name of the team we defeated?”

Answer: On October 11, 1969, the Badgers took the field at Camp Randall Stadium against Iowa. Wisconsin had suffered a 23-game losing streak through the past two seasons, but that night the Badgers defeated the Hawkeyes 23-17 to end the drought. In the fourth quarter, the Badgers came back from a 17-point deficit to win the game.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, thousands of chanting, screaming students marched on the state capitol after the game. The hysterical crowd surged down State Street until it reached the capitol steps, where fans chanted "We're Number One!" The celebration there was followed by another on State Street. Police turned the other way as students blocked traffic, drank beer in the streets and cruised around in their cars with passengers hanging out the windows.

Al Stamm '64, '76 asks Abe, “In the early part of the last century, I believe there was a UW football player named Pat O'Dea. I understand he was a kicker from Australia who set several records. What can you tell me about him?”

Answer: Pat O'Dea was indeed a University of Wisconsin-Madison football player. Born in Australia, he came to be nicknamed the “Kangaroo Kicker” during his days at the UW.

He was a football player at the UW during late 1890's. In fact, his first play ever as a Badger was in 1896 with an 85–yard punt. O'Dea came to make a name for himself by accomplishing such feats as making a 65–yard drop kick field goal during a snow storm in the 1898 game against Northwestern. He was also one of the forefathers of drop kick field goals.

After his record-setting days as a player, O'Dea went on to coach at Notre Dame and the University of Missouri. Apparently he was lost and pronounced dead in World War I only to resurface in 1934 with a different name living in California.

O'Dea has been inducted into the Wisconsin State Athletic Hall of Fame and was also placed into the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame in 1962.

Jerry Kern '71 asks Abe, “When and why did the Badgers stop playing the Gophers the last game of the Big Ten football season?”

Answer: The well-known competition between the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Minnesota is both historic and fierce, and often seems to mark the end of the Big Ten football season for these two teams.

However, because the Big Ten Conference rotates play for each season's football schedule, it seems to be by chance that the Badgers and the Gophers sometimes play each other as a season ender. In fact, the teams ended both the 2002 and 2001 seasons, but not the 1999 or 1998 seasons, playing one another.

John Dietrich, '80 asks Abe, "Is there any estimate of how many names will be cleared off of the waiting list for season football tickets once the stadium renovation and expansion is completed?"

Answer: The University of Wisconsin-Madison's Camp Randall Stadium was built in 1917 and is the fourth oldest college-owned football complex in the country. The renovation project underway is the first major structural change made to the stadium since 1966.

The current project has a total cost of $83.7 million and is scheduled to wrap up in the fall of 2005. Once the renovation is finished, Camp Randall Stadium will offer, among other features, new football offices, a new video scoreboard, stadium seating bowl changes and increased seating capacity.

This increased capacity, according to the football ticket office, should completely eradicate the football season ticket waiting list that consists of some 3,500 people (who are now consistently being offered tickets as seats become available).

Martin Werner Asks Abe, "Weren't the annual football games against Minnesota played for the little brown jug? Did political correctness change the brown jug to an axe?"

Answer: The Little Brown Jug is actually the trophy of the rivalry between the University of Minnesota and the University of Michigan, and has been since 1903.

The rivalry between UW-Madison and the University of Minnesota is now prized by the Paul Bunyan Axe. This tradition began in 1943 when the UW's National "W" Club presented the University of Minnesota with an axe with a six-foot handle after a devastating 16-0 loss. The Axe's handle is now covered with every game score since that landmark year.

Prior to the Paul Bunyan Axe, the winner of the UW-Madison vs. University of Minnesota football game received the Slab of Bacon trophy. Each year, a sorority from the losing school presented the trophy to the winning school. This tradition was erased in the 1940s by the Paul Bunyan Axe, but the Slab of Bacon trophy still finds its home at UW-Madison football office.

Mark Rein '83, asks Abe: "Many people know about famous football/basketball players and Olympians who have attended the UW, but what about famous body builders? Rumor has it that Cory Everson was once a member of the UW track team. Another rumor has it that Arnold Schwarzenegger attended the UW for a brief period. Are these true?"

Answer: Cory Everson, born Corinna Kneuer in Racine, Wisconsin, attended the University of Wisconsin from 1976-1980. While at the UW, Cory was a very successful member of the UW track team. She won four Big Ten pentathlete titles and made appearances at nationals four years in a row. After graduating from the UW with a degree in interior design, Cory moved to Chicago and started a job as an architect-designer. There, her career direction dramatically changed when she decided to pursue competitive body building. By 1984, Cory won the first in a line of six Miss Olympia titles, the top honor attainable. Cory has now produced fitness videos and books, appeared on hundreds of magazine covers and landed her own fitness show, "Gotta Sweat," on ESPN.

Arnold Schwarzenegger also attended a UW school - but not UW-Madison. According to arnoldschwarzeneger.com, Arnold graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Superior with a BA in business and international economics in 1979. In 1986, after working for the Special Olympics and various other charitable organizations, Arnold was also awarded an honorary degree of Humane Letters from UW-Superior.

Dan Reep '48 asks Abe: "What was the date of the home game that the UW played against Syracuse University in 1940 or 1941? Our high school football team attended and it was my first Badger game."

Answer: The University of Wisconsin took on Syracuse during the fifth game of the season, on November 1, 1941, at Camp Randall Stadium. During this season, Pat Harder set the individual season record for most points scored (72), Harry A. Stuhldreher was coach and the Badgers finished out the season at 3-5-0.

Patrick Rudd ’04 asks Abe: “I am a recent grad and I just moved to North Carolina. I do not care for all of the local college sports and was wondering if there are groups of people who meet to watch Badger games somewhere? I heard Michigan alumni do this.”

Answer: There are more than 100 official alumni chapters in cities worldwide, and many of them gather to watch Badger sports. In fact, there is just such a group in your back yard — the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill chapter. In addition to sports-viewing parties, chapters host annual Founders’ Day events to commemorate the beginning of the UW, raise funds to send local students to college and more. You can find out where all of WAA’s alumni chapters are located online.

Dick Finke '52 asks Abe: "My Wisconsin friends and I are having quite a discussion in our retirement community on the athlete who earned the most varsity letters during his or her time at the UW. We believe it had to be an athlete back in the '40s, or even before, who played football, basketball and baseball. Can you help us solve this?"

Answer: The student-athlete who earned the most varsity letters during his UW career is none other than former Athletic Director Pat Richter '64, JD'71. As you guessed, he lettered three times each in football, basketball and baseball. As a Badger athlete, Richter was also honored as an Academic All-American and received the prestigious Big Ten Medal of Honor. In 1963, Richter was a first-round draft pick with the Washington Redskins, the football team he played with for eight seasons. When he was hired to run the Athletic Department by former Chancellor Donna Shalala in 1989, Richter inherited a $2.1 million deficit, substandard facilities and decaying morale. Obviously, quite a bit has changed since then - under Richter's direction, the Athletic Department eliminated its debt, built the Kohl Center and won 49 Big Ten titles. When Richter retired from the department in 2004, he was the longest-tenured athletic director in the Big Ten Conference. In recognition of Richter's contributions to the UW, he was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award in spring 2006.

Chris Parey ’95 and Patricia Kappeler ’70 ask Abe: “All the Big Ten schools have a rivalry football game. As I understand it, Minnesota is Wisconsin’s main rival. Why don’t we play Minnesota as the last game of the season the way other rivals do? It seems like Wisconsin usually plays Iowa last. Have they become our rivalry game now, and if so, why? Also, with the Big Ten rotating teams off the Badger’s football schedule, when is the first year that Wisconsin and Minnesota will break their streak for consecutive years playing?”

Answer: A win over a long-standing rival can make a 1-10 season seem like a national championship, which is why official Big Ten football rivals meet every year. Every Big Ten team plays eight conference games per season, two of which are always reserved for each team’s rivals. The remaining six games are then rotated through the remaining eight teams, with the rotation shifting every two years. Wisconsin’s official rivals are Minnesota and Iowa. The battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe is legendary among football scholars and novices alike (the Badgers lead the series for the Axe 31-24-3, by the way). However, not everyone knows that the storied rivalry between the Badgers and Hawkeyes was officially recognized in 2004 with a traveling trophy of its own — a brass bull known as the Heartland Trophy. Every attempt is made by the Big Ten to schedule the last game of the season with a conference rival, but it is not always possible. Wisconsin does, however, finish its 2006 conference season with Iowa, and Minnesota wraps up the 2007 and 2008 seasons for the Badger football team.

M.J. Kelley asks Abe: “Can you tell me what jersey number Chris Chelios wore when he played hockey for the UW?”

ANSWER: Chris Chelios was a defenseman for the UW hockey team from 1981 to 1983, and he wore number 21 on his red-and-white jersey. He played for the UW’s national championship team in his last season as a Badger, when Wisconsin beat Harvard 6–2 under the direction of then-coach Jeff Sauer.

Chelios was picked by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round of the 1981 National Hockey League draft, and he made his professional debut with that team in 1983. He won his first Stanley Cup with the Canadiens in the 1985–86 season. In 1990, Chelios was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks, and he was team captain from 1995 to 1999. Then Chelios was traded again, this time to the Detroit Red Wings. He won his second Stanley Cup with the Red Wings in 2002 in a victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.

Chelios has represented the United States as an Olympic athlete for more than two decades. His first appearance on international ice was at the 1984 Winter Games in Sarajevo. Chelios was captain of the U.S. hockey team at the 1998 games in Nagano, Japan. In 2002, Chelios led the U.S. team to a silver medal in the Salt Lake City games. At the 2006 Torino Games, he was captain of the U.S. team for the third straight Winter Games, and he became the first four-time Olympian in U.S. hockey history.

Today, Chelios still plays with the Red Wings and has earned the dubious distinction of being the NHL’s oldest athlete at age 44. Over his 23-year career, Chelios has scored 925 points in 1,476 regular-season games, and 137 points in 228 playoff games. In addition to numerous other accolades, Chelios is a three-time recipient of the James Norris Memorial Trophy, an honor presented annually to the league’s most outstanding defenseman. Many fans think “Cheli” is a shoe-in for the NHL Hall of Fame when he retires.

Kathy Rust ’74, MS’85 asks Abe: “My brother had a football doll with #22 on its uniform. He was born in 1948 and I was born in 1950. He has never let me forget that I tore his doll apart. Recently, I replicated the doll, complete with the #22 that it was wearing from the picture we had of it. Was there a famous #22 back in those days? Who?”

Answer: Unfortunately, the director of athletic communications tells me that your brother’s beloved football doll was probably not modeled after any one particular player. The marketing techniques used today to sell jerseys, shirts and dolls with numbers representing popular players weren’t used at that time. It seems that #22 was probably just a random, well-rounded number that was chosen for this specific doll. To review who’s who on this year’s team, check out the UW football roster.

Angela Fischer asks Abe: “I'm a UW-Madison alum and HUGE Badger fan for all of the sports. I'm getting married soon, and I wonder if there is any way to get Bucky to stop in at my reception. I have seen pictures with brides and Bucky, but I'm not sure if the university has something set up for such requests. Have you heard of this at all?”

Answer: As UW-Madison’s most beloved ambassador, Bucky is in high demand. From sporting events to weddings, he seems to be everywhere Badger fans can be found. Bucky is so popular, in fact, that a minimum of six student-athletes is needed to meet all of his appearance requests! The UW Spirit Squad, which includes mascots, cheerleaders and the dance team, schedules Bucky’s special engagements. He occasionally makes stops at weddings and other private functions, subject to his availability, for a fee. You can request a Bucky appearance by calling the Spirit Squad at (608) 262-6703.

Megan Schiefelbein ’04 asks Abe: “I have often wondered but never asked why there are 11 schools in the Big Ten Conference? How did that come about?”

ANSWER: The Big Ten Conference is the nation’s oldest Division I collegiate athletic organization. The conference was founded in 1896 during a meeting of seven Midwestern university presidents. At that time, it was called the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives, and its mission was to establish control and administration of collegiate athletics. The seven charter members of the conference were the University of Chicago, University of Illinois, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, Purdue University and the University of Wisconsin.

According to www.bigten.org, the first official action of the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives was to “restrict eligibility for athletics to bona fide, full-time students who were not delinquent in their studies.” This initiative helped to regulate participation in college sports teams to actual university students, because some team rosters included professional athletes and other non-students.

The early years were tumultuous ones for the fledgling conference. In 1899, it was renamed the Big Nine when Iowa and Indiana joined. Membership remained stable until 1912, when Ohio State was admitted. Then in 1917, Michigan returned to the conference after a seven-year hiatus. Things evened out for a while, but then Chicago discontinued its football program and dropped out in 1946. In 1949, Michigan State was added to the conference’s membership list, and to accurately reflect the number of member institutions, it was called the Big Ten Conference.

Deanna Waltz ’60 asks Abe: “What is Bo Ryan's real first name?”

Answer: Head Badger basketball coach William “Bo” Ryan was born December 20, 1947, in Chester, Pennsylvania. His father, Butch Ryan, coached basketball to under-privileged children in Philadelphia, and taught his son the skills to be a successful point guard. Bo Ryan became a star player in high school, leading the team to a 25-1 record in his senior year. He also lettered in football and baseball and was class president. After high school, Ryan played point guard for Wilkes University in Pennsylvania.

Bo Ryan’s love of the game drove him to coaching. He coached in Racine, Wisconsin and Ashton, Pennsylvania, before accepting an assistant coaching position at UW-Madison. After eight-years with the Badgers, Ryan accepted the head coaching job at UW-Platteville. From 1984 to 1999, he posted a 353-76 overall record and a 82.2 winning percentage, the best in the history of NCAA Division III basketball. He led the Pioneers to eight conference titles and four national championships. In January 2007, UW-Platteville officially dedicated the floor in Williams Fieldhouse: Bo Ryan Court.

After coaching at UW-Milwaukee for two seasons, Ryan became head coach at the University of Wisconsin in 2001. His 2006-07 team is currently enjoying a school-record 13 victories in the Big Ten, a school-record 17-game win streak earlier in the season and its first-ever No. 1 ranking in the Associated Press poll.

Margaret Hillier asks Abe: “Why did the band have to be taken out of their end zone? The atmosphere is completely different with them restricted in their seats and surrounded by fence. I can’t be the only person who misses the wheelbarrow races, the pyramid building, and the general enthusiasm and antics. Isn’t there a way to bring the band back into the end zone?

Answer: Witnesses of Wisconsin's victory over Michigan on Oct. 30, 1993, remember the tragedy that resulted when Badger fans tried to rush the field at Camp Randall Stadium, causing 73 people to be injured, six critically. A week later, UW Marching Band members were moved to the end zone to relieve crowding in the student section.

Then-Chancellor David Ward MS’62, PhD’63 named George Kaiser, a noted Milwaukee business and civic leader as an independent investigator of the crowd surge incident, to develop policies for crowd management, fan behavior, ticket distribution and stadium safety. Kaiser recommended that band members stay on the field until the completion of the Camp Randall renovation in 2005, which included a lower-seating bowl and band seating area in the north end of the stadium in addition to cross aisles in the student section.

The UW now keeps the field as clear as possible. With the move back to their stadium seats, the Marching Band gained several advantages, including a better view of the field and improved communication among band members and director Mike Leckrone. And don’t forget, the antics you enjoy so much still take place on the field during the UW’s celebrated Fifth Quarter.

Art Field ’68 asks Abe: “Which came first — Bucky Badger or the NC State Wolf? It looks EXACTLY like Bucky.”

Answer: The University of Wisconsin first adopted the badger as its official mascot in 1889, but it wasn’t until 1940 that Bucky Badger was born. UW artist Art Evans drew a scowling badger wearing a red and white letter sweater, and at the time, the badger had several other names including Buddy, Bernie and Bouncy. Bucky got his official name at a 1949 pep rally.

North Carolina State University’s athletic program started out with a football team in 1892. Over the years, NC State athletic teams have gone by a variety of nicknames, including the Farmer & Mechanics, the Aggies, the Techs and the Red Terrors. Then in 1922, an angry fan wrote the school paper that “the players acted like a wolfpack, and would never be a winner.” The name stuck, and NC State has been the Wolfpack ever since. The university’s mascots are called Mr. and Ms. Wuf.

The “Strutting Wolf” logo bears an uncanny resemblance to our Bucky Badger logo, since he’s posed in a similar stance, with his chest puffed and proudly wearing a red-striped letter sweater. According to the NC State Alumni Association, the Strutting Wolf has been used since 1965 — so Bucky came first!

Gregg Thompson ’72 asks Abe: “How is it possible that some Badger football games report crowds thousands over the seating capacity?”

Answer: Camp Randall Stadium has been the home of Badger football since 1917. Back then, the facility boasted seating room for 10,000 fans. By 1951, capacity rose to 51,000. The next 10 years saw a flurry of stadium construction, and with the completion of the upper deck in 1966, crowd capacity was up to 77,745. The most recent renovation completed in 2005 raised the level to 80,321, where it currently stands.

As you point out, some Badger football games have attracted crowds substantially over Camp Randall Stadium’s capacity. The University of Wisconsin’s single-game attendance record is 83,184, for the 2005 Wisconsin vs. Iowa showdown. The game was a sellout, and the attendance number includes concessions staff, media and any other personnel working inside the stadium during game time.

Cynthia Triggs ’83 asks Abe: “Before every football game, the UW Marching Band pays tribute to our state and national heritage. What is the name of the song the band plays before the National Anthem?”

Answer: Although the UW Marching Band has many memorable tunes in its repertoire, the one you have in mind is a major point of pride. In 1917, UW alumnus Maxon F. Judell asked John Philip Sousa, the legendary “March King,” to write a patriotic song honoring Wisconsin men going off to war.

At the time, Sousa had already composed a march entitled “Solid Men to the Front,” and he changed the manuscript to read “Wisconsin Forward Forever. The use of the word “Forward” in the title is an obvious salute to Wisconsin’s state motto. Poet and UW graduate Berton Braley wrote the lyrics, and the song was dedicated to the faculty, students and alumni of the university.

“Wisconsin Forward Forever”
We’ll march on victorious
Oh Varsity, Varsity fair!
Your name forever glorious
Will hearten us to do the dare.
We’ll march on victorious
The cardinal waving in air,
And Badgers all will answer to the call
And we’ll fight for Wisconsin forever!

Listen to “Wisconsin Forward Forever.”

Sydney Golden ’03 asks Abe: “The wave at Camp Randall is the most unique and best wave I have ever witnessed! When did the slow motion, fast forward, reverse and both-direction wave phenomenon start? I've never seen this style of the wave performed anywhere else (most likely because Wisconsin fans are by far the most coordinated). Do you know where and when this version of the wave originated?”

Answer: You are correct! Badger fans are not only coordinated, they’re also touted as some of the most dedicated, passionate enthusiasts of college athletics nationwide. The antics that take place during home Badger football games — including the wave, Jump Around and the legendary Fifth Quarter — make the Camp Randall experience memorable for Badger Fans and visiting teams alike.

The origin of the wave at sporting events is widely disputed. Some say it was started accidentally at a Canadian hockey game in 1980. Others claim a professional cheerleader named Krazy George Henderson introduced it during an American League Championship Series baseball game in Oakland, California, in 1981. The wave attracted worldwide attention during the Mexican World Cup in 1986.

Wave behavior also varies widely. Not surprisingly the University of Wisconsin is almost always mentioned in discussions of the phenomenon, due to its truly original interpretation. First, Badger fans participate in the classic wave, a normal revolution around the entire stadium. Then, each lap around the stadium adds its own twist, including slow motion, fast forward, reverse and both directions. No one in the Athletic Department can pinpoint exactly when fans in Camp Randall started the wave, but some estimates trace its origins to the late 1980s, and with minor modifications it’s still enthusiastically practiced today.

Kimberly Ekmark '07 asks Abe: "As a recent grad, I was wondering how many tickets are reserved for students during football games."

Answer: The current capacity of Camp Randall Stadium is 80,321, and ranks among the nation's largest school-owned stadiums. Of those seats, roughly 13,500 are reserved for students. That number climbs to around 14,000 if you include the area where the UW Marching Band sits.

Getting a ticket for one of those coveted seats is no easy task. For returning students, a limited number of season tickets are made available in March or April and are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Those seats sell out in about a week. New, incoming students must enter a lottery for their chance at scoring one of about 2,500 tickets.

The entire student football ticketing policy is reviewed every year. Changes are made accordingly, in an effort to give UW students who wants to see their favorite team live get that chance.

Jason Krings '96 asks Abe: "I have a baseball jersey worn by a member of the 1991 UW-Madison baseball team and was wondering who might have worn #18 during that final year."

Answer: Many remarkable athletes donned UW jerseys during baseball's 116 years on campus. Notable players include Harvey Kuenn, Red Wilson, Lance Painter and Jason Schlutt, who wore the #18 jersey you have in your possession.

No, Jason didn't lead the Milwaukee Brewers to their only World Series like Kuenn or enjoy a lengthy career in the major leagues like Wilson and Painter. Jason's claim to fame was as the pitcher of UW-Madison's final baseball game on May 10, 1991. While the Badgers lost 1-0, Jason threw a brilliant complete game one-run, three-hitter — and as a freshman that season was named UW's rookie of the year.

UW dropped baseball — as well as men's and women's fencing and gymnastics — in 1991 as a means to alleviate a multi-million-dollar budget deficit. Wisconsin's overall record in baseball was a respectable 1,445 victories and 1,278 losses, and included five Big Ten Championships.

However, Jason's playing days didn't end after baseball did at Wisconsin. Jason transferred to Central Florida University where, as a junior, he went 9-2. And in 1993 he became a seventh round draft pick of the San Diego Padres — playing in the Padres minor league system, and eventually with the independent Saint Paul Saints. And even though Jason never got called up to the majors, you can be sure that jersey you now own was filled with a field of dreams.

Burts Compton PhD'91 asks Abe: "I've always wondered whether the Bud song played by the UW band during the Fifth Quarter ("When You Say WIS-CON-SIN, You've Said It All!") came before the Budweiser commercial ditty. Which came first?"

Answer: Written by New York composer Steven Karmen in 1970, the advertising jingle "When You Say 'Bud'" provided the inspiration for Budweiser's theme song "Here Comes the King." First played during TV commercials featuring Clydesdale horses pulling the Budweiser beer wagon, the tune can now be heard at various sporting and alumni events across the country.

The UW Varsity Band first performed "You've Said It All," more commonly known as "Bud," during the hockey season of 1972. But it was at the NCAA men's hockey championship in 1973 that the tune hit the big time when it was played by the band in the Boston Garden, in hotel lobbies and in the streets of historic Boston. From then on the song has become a musical and polkaing tradition at all UW athletic and alumni events and even at commencement ceremonies. And no true Badger fan can resist chiming in on "When You Say WIS-CON-SIN, You've Said It All!"

Paul Reetz asks Abe: "I went to a UW football game in the mid-90s where Bucky Badger was body passed in section O or P and then arrested right afterward. That week, local radio stations had a fundraiser to "Pass the Buck for Bucky" to pay his fines. Where might I find video of this? I would pay to have this for my highlight collection since I was at that game."

Answer: The game you're referring to was a 45-28 Wisconsin win over Minnesota on November 9, 1996. Bucky Badger, aka James Keefe '97, was arrested during the game and fined $141.50 after the student section body passed him up the rows of Camp Randall Stadium. The charges were eventually dismissed after "Bucky" agreed to make a few appearances in the name of community service, but it wouldn't be the last time the mischievous mascot would find himself in a bit of trouble. Bucky was removed from the September 25, 2004 game against Penn State for the same charge, now at a fine of $181. While memorable and perhaps entertaining, body-passing at football games is taken seriously by the UW Police Department and no exemptions are made for any fan, furry or not.

In response to your question, Paul, I was unable to locate video of either incident and would like to ask my loyal readers for help. WAA has a new Web page, Motion W: The UW Videos, where you can find Web videos chronicling life at the UW. E-mail your video of either of these Bucky Badger body-passing occurrences and we'll post it online, along with a reminder that Badgers and Badger fans are best and most safely left on their feet.

Kelly Fitzgerald ’06 asks Abe: “I heard that the 1969 Badger football team wore red or black helmets with a white Bucky logo instead of the W. Was this the only year Bucky appeared on the helmets?”

Answer: You heard right, Kelly. During the 1969 season, the Badger football coaches presented the most aggressive player of the game with the Savage Award. The player was issued a black helmet with a white Bucky logo that he wore in practices and games for the rest of the season. The first time Bucky appeared on UW football helmets was the 1967 season. The team wore red helmets with the white Bucky logo during games from 1967 to 1969, occasionally sporting the traditional white helmets.

Badger football helmets have changed quite a bit over the years. In the early 1900s, the athletes wore close-fitting leather helmets. In 1962, the team introduced a white plastic helmet with a red W on the front and the player’s number on the side. The W shifted to the side in 1970, where it underwent three design changes during the following two decades, along with the move from a white to a red facemask in the mid-1970s. The Motion W was designed as a football helmet in 1990 and since then, all UW sports teams have adopted the signature logo.

For Wisconsin’s opening game vs. Bowling Green in 2005, the Badgers wore throwback uniforms — the helmet, jersey, pants, socks and shoes — that were replicas of those worn during the 1960s. The tribute coincided with the unveiling of the renovated Camp Randall Stadium, with the vintage helmet symbolically linking the modern day craze for Wisconsin football to its rich and storied past.

The Badgers issue new helmets for the entire squad every year. During preseason training camp, the helmets don’t look like Badger helmets — they are missing the Motion W and the red stripes. After the camp is over, equipment managers put on the decals and shine up the headgear. The team hangs on to the old helmets to use during the high school camps they host over the summer.

Bruce Pollock ’69, MS’70 asks Abe: “Who is the Badger super fan at hockey games that leads cheers with his printed signs? He's been doing it for years. What can you tell me about him?”

Answer: The hockey fan you mention is known by many names: the sweater guy, the sign guy, that old guy and, legally, as Phil Dzick.

Phil has been to every football game since 1962, and has had basketball and hockey season tickets since 1971 and 1973, respectively. His legacy began in Potsdam, N.Y., during the 1981 hockey season when, with only 50 Badger fans on hand to cheer on Wisconsin vs. Clarkson in the NCAA Tournament, Phil led a simple “B-A-D-G-E-R-S” cheer.

Nearly 30 years later he’s expanded his cheer repertoire to include “On Wisconsin,” “Let’s Go Red” and the ever-popular “1-2-3, we want more.” He’s become widely recognized at games, and often poses for pictures and autographs shirts for fans during intermissions. You can read more about Phil in this recent Sports Illustrated article.

Steve Ursin ’79 asks Abe: “During home football games at Camp Randall the Badgers in recent years have occupied the sidelines on the (press box) west side of the field. I was looking back at photos of a game played in fall of 1975 and noticed the Badgers’ bench was on the east sidelines. I have been attending UW football games most all my life but cannot recall when they changed sides. Do you know?”

Answer: My recollection is that Dave McClain, head football coach from 1978 to 1985, switched the home sidelines to where they are today on the west side of Camp Randall Stadium. The Badgers had traditionally staked their claim in the west, but were moved during the John Jardine era in the 1970s. Coach McClain had at least two reasons to move back. With all the kickoffs at 1:00 p.m., the bench on the east sidelines was in the sun for most of the game, potentially interfering with the coaches’ view of the field. McClain also felt that opposing coaches might be able to pick up signs more easily from the press box if the visiting team was on the west sidelines.

Mike Schell asks Abe: “Where can I find information about the baseball teams the Badgers had in the 1960s?”

Answer: The 1960s brought about unrest on the UW campus. But on the field, the Badger men’s baseball team was steady as she goes — compiling an overall record of 140 wins, 135 losses and two ties in the decade.

Led by head coach Arthur “Dynie” Mansfield, the Badgers finished .500 or better seven times. And while Mansfield’s teams won Big Ten championships in 1946 and 1950, a title in this decade wasn’t meant to be. But the 1965 squad did set a new school record by racking up 11 Big Ten wins.

In 1961, the team stumbled to a 9-19-1 record, their worst since 1949. However, the Badgers also stumbled upon a young star by the name of Pat Richter. Richter led the ’61 team with seven home runs, four triples, 13 doubles, 85 total bases, 23 runs batted in and a .398 batting average. He went on to earn nine letters in baseball, football and basketball, and eventually was named athletic director. Richter ’64, JD’71 is credited with saving the UW athletic program, and WAA presented him with a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2006.

Frederic “Rick” Reichardt was another Badger standout during this era. In 1964, he became the first Big Ten player to win back-to-back batting titles, and his .443 batting average and 20 stolen bases set Wisconsin school records. After college, Reichardt went on to enjoy success at the Major League level for 10 years.

So while the ’60s left its mark on the nation, the Badgers left their own mark on the national pastime.

Joe Burke MBA’69 asks Abe: “Who was the first All-American football player from the University of Wisconsin?”

Answer: Fullback Pat O’Dea first brought All-American honors to the University of Wisconsin in 1898, and again in 1899. In O’Dea’s era, fullbacks were often called upon for kicking duties, and it was on special teams where he etched his place in UW football history.

A native of Melbourne, Australia, O’Dea earned the nickname the “Kangaroo Kicker” and was known to regularly boom punts in excess of 80 yards. O’Dea also drop-kicked a 62-yard field goal in the 1898 game versus Northwestern (field goals during the time were drop-kicked, not held in place), and he still holds UW records for five of the six longest field goals and the two longest punts. After college, O’Dea went on to coach for Notre Dame and Missouri before retiring from the public spotlight. He passed away in 1962, the same year he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Noel Reierson asks Abe: “I found a photo of my grandfather and teammates and the inscription was ‘University of Wisconsin Basketball Team 1916.’ His name was Paul Millard ’17. Do you have any statistics or details about that team? Would the university be interested in the photo?”

Answer: Your gramps played forward on an intercollege basketball team, Noel, and you’ll be happy to hear they were the league champions in 1916. His eight-member team representing commerce (or business) students won the series 4-0, against teams from agriculture, engineering, law and Letters & Science. They didn’t rack up many points per game (the three-point shot wasn’t counted in college hoops until 1980) but they could hold their heads high with victories of 16-9, 9-4, 16-6 and 18-2. The lawyer hoopsters, on the other hand, were held scoreless for three of their four games. In addition to basketball, the UW offered intramural (intercollege and interfraternity) leagues in baseball, football, ice hockey, soccer and bowling when your grandfather was a student.

And you bet the university would be interested in that photo. You can e-mail it to University Archives at uwarchiv@library.wisc.edu or mail it to 425 Steenbach Library, 550 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI 53706.

Charles Hamm ’77 asks Abe: “Does anyone know where I can find a roster of players and the coaches for the 1973 hockey team — the year the Badgers won their first NCAA title?”

Answer: I don’t about anyone, but yours truly can answer your question, Charles.

Check out this March 21, 1973 news release published by Wisconsin Athletic Communications. It has all the details you need, including the Badgers roster, original box score, attendance and more.

Plus, for the Hockey Fan Phil faithful, old Abe was able to dig a little deeper into the UW hockey archives where I stumbled upon a few other icy gems. Visit the Men’s Hockey Stats & Polls Web page and you’ll find documents containing all-time rosters (1963–2006), all-time year-by-year stats (1963–2006), game-by-game scoring (1988–2006) and detailed player and team stats (2000–present).

Dick Zielinski ’72 asks Abe: “What is the oldest sport on campus?”

Answer: Rowing is Wisconsin’s and the nation’s oldest intercollegiate sport, dating back to 1852 as a contest among Ivy League men. UW oarsmen started to make waves in 1874, and they have since won more national titles than any other Wisconsin team, snagging trophies in 1951, 1959, 1966, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1986, 1990 and 2008. Badger rowers have benefited from long tenures among the head coaching staff: Norm Sonju (1946–1968), Randy Jablonic (1968–1996) and Chris Clark (1996–present), and from a state-of-the-art rowing facility, constructed in 2004 on the site of the former boathouse along the Lake Mendota shoreline. All those erg tests have paid off — Wisconsin rowers have competed on every U.S. Olympic squad since 1968, and four Badgers have gone on to row for Oxford University as graduate students since 2002.

Scott Hanna ’84 asks Abe: “Recently I read that the Bucky Wagon is going green by becoming an electric-powered vehicle. Now that it will no longer be leaking oil, will it once again be allowed back onto the football field? I miss it very much. I hope it doesn't go the way of the Portage Plumber.”

Answer: You read right, Scott. Engineering student teams are renovating the historic vehicle, and there’s a good chance it will be invited back to Camp Randall once its green makeover is complete. Owned and operated by the Wisconsin Alumni Association, the restored 1932 La France fire engine was used to deliver Bucky and the Spirit Squad onto the field before home football games until 2001, and since then for a limited number of community and campus events such as Homecoming. The “Little Engine That Could” lost steam for good in 2008, and its replacement parts were expensive and hard to find. So WAA partnered with the College of Engineering and its automotive project teams to apply their award-winning innovation to a Badger tradition.

The electric-powered Bucky Wagon will be greener and safer, with power hydraulic brakes and power steering, while maintaining the vehicle’s iconic exterior. WAA hopes to be back behind the wheel for Homecoming 2010, in time for the association’s 150th anniversary celebration.

UW alum asks Abe: “What popular football player wore #25? I have an old jersey with #25 on it, but there’s no name on the back. I’m wondering whose jersey this might be.”

Answer: In the 120-year history of Wisconsin football, numerous popular players have donned the number 25 jersey. Without knowing the year in which your particular jersey was worn, however, not even Abe can say for certain who wore it.

But Abe can tell you who is considered the best player to ever wear the #25 jersey. That would be running back/kick returner/punt returner Ira Matthews, who played for the Badgers from 1975 to 1978. According to the book, Badgers by the Numbers, available for sale at the Badger Marketplace, Matthews was arguably the most dangerous return man in UW history. In fact, he led the nation in kickoff return average (29.6) in 1976 and punt return average (16.9) in 1978. He also led the team in rushing as a senior. Matthews went on to play three seasons in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders.

Lori Haines ’04, MS’07 asks Abe: “I’m heading to the upcoming outdoor hockey game in Camp Randall in February. Have the Badgers ever played outdoor hockey there before?”

Answer: Well, Lori, the simple answer is no, they’ve never played outdoor hockey at Camp Randall. But if you were to ask me if the Badgers have ever played outdoor hockey on campus (and I’ll pretend that you did), then I’d get to say yes!

Men’s hockey officially became an intercollegiate sport at the UW in 1921. A rink was laid out, flooded and frozen on the lower end of campus south of the Red Gym, or what is now Library Mall. But with the Badgers completely reliant on Mother Nature to guide their schedule and their play, smooth ice was a rare gift. A write-up on the 1929 season from the Badger yearbook reads, “Consistently warm weather kept the Madison ice in mushy condition almost throughout the winter … Most of the Badger advance work had to be done by individuals taking the puck down single-handed.”

In 1933, due to the Depression, hockey was suspended at the UW and wouldn’t return as an intercollegiate sport at the university until 1961. The Badgers made the Dane County Coliseum their home ice from 1967 until 1998, before moving into the Kohl Center.

The 2010 Culver’s Camp Randall Hockey Classic on Feb. 6, 2010, marked the second outdoor game in recent history for Wisconsin men’s hockey. On Feb. 11, 2006, 40,890 fans showed up at Lambeau Field to watch the Badger’s skate to a 4-2 victory over Ohio State in the Frozen Tundra Hockey Classic.

Nils I. Larson ’58 asks Abe: "What does the U stand for in Buckingham U. Badger’s name? I have always known his first name was Buckingham, but never knew about the U."

Answer: Thanks for asking, Nils. Bucky’s full name is featured on this year’s edition of The Red Shirt™, and other alumni have been wondering the same thing. Despite his affiliation with an institution of higher learning, where U usually stands for university, the U in Bucky’s full name doesn’t stand for anything. After becoming the University of Wisconsin’s official mascot with the start of intercollegiate football in 1889, our spirited Badger answered to several B names including Buddy, Bernie, Bobby, Bouncy — and Regdab (badger spelled backward) — until a naming contest was held in 1949. The winner was Buckingham U. Badger, or Bucky, for short. The nickname worked particularly well when singing the lyrics to a song that encouraged the football team to “buck right through that line.”

Several readers asked Abe about the origins of mascots performing push-ups after a touchdown. Megan Brown ’07 asks Abe: “What college mascot started the push-ups after a touchdown tradition? I always thought that was Bucky’s thing, but I was watching Wisconsin crush Indiana and the ESPN announcers kept mentioning the University of Oregon’s mascot, Ducky, doing push-ups.”

Larry Miller ’89, MA’93 asks Abe: “At football games, Bucky does a push-up for each point Wisconsin scores. Some University of Oregon fans claim that Bucky stole this tradition from their duck (an ironic complaint, as Oregon’s mascot is a blatant copy of Disney’s Donald Duck). When did Bucky start doing push-ups? Did he steal the idea from Oregon, or vice versa?”

Answer: Bucky’s been pumping out push-ups on the board since 1991, but he can’t stake a claim on the tradition. Other mascots, including the University of Houston’s Shasta the Cougar, put their noses (or beaks) to the floor after every score on the football field. Credit is due to the student in the duck suit for doing the occasional one-armed push-up, but you’ve got to give points to Bucky for pushing up his 35-pound head.

Ducky and Bucky are both busy mascots this year, with Oregon and Wisconsin finishing the season 2 and 5 in the final BCS rankings. Ducky topped Bucky in total number of push-ups during the regular season (2,757 to Bucky’s 2,342), but the Badger wins the prize for single-game push-ups: 573 during Wisconsin’s 83–20 rout over Indiana on November 13, versus the Duck’s 506 push-ups during Oregon’s 72-0 win over New Mexico on September 4. Plus, the calisthenics are far from over: Bucky heads to the Rose Bowl and Ducky makes his first-ever appearance in the BCS title game in January 2011.

Dean Marquardt asks Abe: “What did the winning football team get as a trophy for the Minnesota-Wisconsin rivalry before the axe?”

Answer: Before Paul Bunyan’s Axe, there was the Slab of Bacon, a relatively short-lived trophy passed between the Badgers and Gophers from 1930 to 1943. It ended when the trophy was “lost” and neither school claimed to know its whereabouts. But good riddance to it — Minnesota led the series 11-3 at the time of its disappearance. This ambidextrous piece of wood had hooks on both ends so the trophy would display either a W or M depending on which hook you hung it, and had the scores of the games engraved on its back. After it disappeared in 1943, it wouldn’t be seen again until Paul Bunyan’s Axe turned 46 years old in 1994, when it was happened upon in a storage room during a renovation of Camp Randall Stadium. It currently resides in the Wisconsin football office. Oddly enough though, the scores of the games from 1943 to 1970 were engraved on its back when it was found. Maybe some mysteries are better left unsolved.

Jill Cunniff ’79 asks Abe: Bill Olson ’67, JD’72 asks Abe: "As a young Badger football fan in the early 1970s, I bought a red vuvuzela at Camp Randall, though it wasn't called that at the time. Do you know who sold the noisemakers and if they were banned from Badger sporting events?"

Answer: Noisemakers join a large list of items, such as weapons and beverages, that fans are prohibited from carrying into Badger athletic facilities. To qualify the vuvuzela as a noisemaker, marketed as “Stadium Horns” in the United States since the 1960s, would be an understatement.

Although the origin of these tubular horns is often disputed, they have come to be associated with South Africa and derive their name from the Zulu language. Anyone watching FIFA’s 2010 Soccer World Cup (football to the rest of the world) would have been unable to ignore the incredibly loud presence of these instruments at soccer matches.

The Athletic Department’s decision to ban vuvuzelas is easy to understand. A single instrument is loud enough to cause hearing loss, and dozens or even thousands of the instruments could ruin a sporting event. They’ve also been banned at some European soccer stadiums.

While I can’t say who sold you your Badger vuvuzela in the ’70s, I can say the Athletic Department is unlikely to allow them back anytime soon. But if you don’t like the ruling, you could always toot your horn in protest.

Emily Jo Bisek ’10 asks Abe: “How many gallons would it take to fill the Kohl Center? How many gallons to fill Camp Randall?”

Answer: Answer: For this, I’m breaking out a Badger fan favorite: 4/3Πr^{^}3

The Kohl Center ice rink is 97 feet wide and 200 feet long and 1.25 inches thick. It would take just over 13,857 gallons of water to cover the Kohl Center floor, which doesn’t answer your question, but does tell you how to make an ice rink.

I’ll use that fan favorite equation to calculate the volume of the entire arena. The Kohl Center is effectively half a sphere with the top sliced off. Its radius is roughly 200 ft.

And, of course, you remember that 1ft³ H₂O = 7.48051948 gallons H₂O. So, I'll spare you the rest of the math: it would take just over 109,670,143.5359 gallons of water to fill the Kohl Center.

As far as Camp Randall goes, you aren’t the first person to suggest flooding it with water.

In 1978, UW’s student Pail and Shovel Party (you’ll remember that group as responsible for the first Statue of Liberty on Lake Mendota) made a never-fulfilled campaign promise to flood Camp Randall and hold mock naval battles. If the Pail and Shovel Party had gone through with the plan, how much would it have taken?

The volume of Giants Stadium in New York, with room for 80,242 fans, is 64,500,000ft³. Camp Randall holds almost exactly the same number with 80,321 seats, and therefore, should have a comparable volume: 482,493,506 gallons of water. I don’t think the football team would like it, but the swim team would thank you.

Margaret Dickman ‘05 asks Abe: How long has ‘Jump Around’ been an end-of-third-quarter tradition? How did it get started?"

Answer: A great question, with a fresh answer from The New York Times.

Cindy Maragos asks Abe: “Has the Wisconsin athletic letter (‘W’) always been the same style as it is today? Go Bucky!”

Answer: While we’ve always been fond of the letter W here at the University of Wisconsin, we haven’t always been consistent with our typeface. I assume you’re referring to the Motion W, the letter that appears on the sides of football helmets. That particular graphological innovation was created in 1990 by Rick Suchanek, an artist who worked for Rayovac. Suchanek had submitted it (among more than a dozen designs) to then-football-coach Barry Alvarez, who wanted his team to have a new logo to inspire a new tradition of winning. The Athletic Department purchased the rights to the Motion W, and it first appeared on helmets in 1991. Its use has since spread to other sports.

Prior to that, the UW’s football helmets had a similar design (see the model at right), but the W was a simpler, blocky character — similar to what you might find in a font like Superstar or Academic. That letter put the W in UW through most of the 1980s.

Before that, the block W had a little bit of an outward curve, and it was set within a red oval — a design perhaps inspired by the New York Jets logo. In the very early 1970s, the Badgers wore red helmets with a Bucky stencil, and in the 1960s, the team’s W was simple and sans serif, rather like the capital W in the font Futura or Helvetica. Instead of putting that letter on the left and right sides of the helmets, however, the Badgers of that era — the ones who went to Rose Bowls in 1960 and 1963 — wore their W fore and aft. In the 1950s and earlier, the helmets were unadorned.

Buckingham U. Badger, by the way, wore a sans serif W on his sweater from 1940 (when the Bucky logo was designed by California commercial artist Art Evans) until 2003. With this letter, he could face either left or right. When the university decided to update Bucky with the Motion W, he looked much better when he faced to his left. You'll almost always see him facing this direction today.