The Wisconsin Alumni Association hosts UW–Madison friends and fans for an exciting pregame tailgate
A thousand Wisconsin Badgers fans, alumni, and friends packed the Resch Expo on Sunday, Sept. 6, for the BADGER HUDDLE, the Wisconsin Alumni Association’s official pregame party ahead of the Badgers’ showdown with the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame at nearby Lambeau Field. The celebration turned the expo hall into a home away from home for traveling Badgers, mixing tailgate food, Badger spirit, and a few surprise guests.
Oneida Nation dancers open the festivities
The Huddle kicked off with a performance from Oneida Nation tribal dancers, a nod to the deep ties between the Oneida Nation and Green Bay football history. Members of the Oneida youth group performed Earth songs and smoke dance songs to start the program. They also honored the legacy of Tom Skenandore, an Oneida tribal member who became the first paid professional football player in Green Bay history.
[Photo: Oneida Nation Tribal Dancers open the HUDDLE program.]
Bucky, the Spirit Squad, and the UW Marching Band bring the energy
The UW Marching Band, the UW Spirit Squad, and Bucky Badger arrived to a roaring welcome and performed Badger favorites including “On, Wisconsin,” “If You Want to Be a Badger,” and “Varsity” to get the crowd on its feet.
[Photo: Bucky Badger, the UW Spirit Squad and the UW Marching Band perform for the crowd at the BADGER HUDDLE.]
Josh & Jase crash the Huddle
Adding an unexpected international flavor to the afternoon, British social media influencers Josh Cauldwell-Clarke and Jason “Jase” Riley — known simply as Josh & Jase to their millions of followers — stopped by the Huddle to mix it up with Bucky Badger and soak in their first American tailgate. Dressed head to toe in Badgerwear, the pair danced along to “Jump Around” and posed for photos before heading over to Lambeau Field. “One thing Wisconsin people know how to do: tailgate, mate,” said Jase.
[Photo: Josh and Jase ham it up at the HUDDLE.]
Josh and Jase weren’t just there for the tailgate atmosphere; they were on hand to help promote the “We Give Blood” challenge, a nationwide competition between all 18 Big Ten schools, presented in partnership with global health care company Abbott. The friendly rivalry encourages fans, students, and alumni to donate blood amid a national shortage, with the winning school earning a $1 million grant to support student and community health initiatives. Wisconsin took home the top prize in 2025 with 15,476 donations, funding programs ranging from a new on-campus challenge course to expanded peer wellness coaching and the launch of Wisconsin ArtsRx, a mental-health-focused concert series.
History on display
The UW Archives and UW Libraries teamed up with their Notre Dame counterparts to display the schools’ shared history of more than 100 years. The main exhibit, hosted at the Packers Hall of Fame inside Lambeau, brought together the campus histories behind the teams. Archivists brought part of the display to the Huddle, to the delight of many fans.
Eichorst and Dayne fire up the crowd
University of Wisconsin athletic director Shawn Eichorst took the stage next, energizing the room and introducing special guest Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne ’17. Other VIPs were on hand, including Sue ’79, MFA’82 and James Patterson.
[Photo: Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst fires up the Badger Huddle crowd.]
Ready for the big game and the season
Wisconsin Alumni Association chief alumni officer and executive director Sarah Schutt closed out the event, thanking the crowd for attending. “Alumni and friends brought their full Badger spirit to the BADGER HUDDLE, and it was a joy to kick off the season at Lambeau with so many dedicated fans,” said Schutt. The DJ closed the program with “Jump Around.” Then it was off to the game across the street at Lambeau Field. And although Wisconsin didn’t come home with a win, fans came away fired up for the season ahead.
