Does the state of Wisconsin hate us?

[El Duderino]

Hmmmm, everyone i know wants Marquette to win today and i'm not an MU alum.

[jaybilaswho?]

Jay---Will you be my friend?

Jay Bilas will be everyones friend... as long as you weren't on the selection committee. If you were, I would like to show you that a Basketball is, in fact, round.

[OhioGoldenEagle]

Hmmmm, everyone i know wants Marquette to win today and i'm not an MU alum.

Diamond in the rough

[Stretchdeltsig]

As a Marquette grad/alum I have never experienced hatred.  I have experienced envy about our talented basketball team over the years.  Many say that MU has NBA type players that don't play as a team as well as UW.  I have also experienced the claim that MU alums are wealthy, because the tuition is so much higher than UW.  I have always loved Marquette basketball and the school and am proud to wear the gold or MU logo gear through out the year.

[Goose]

msbjim--Tuition is the answer my friend. My friends are embarrassed because most people we live near or associate with are public school supporters. Many feel if you attend private school you are either rich or stupid.

[HouWarrior]

I do not think it is hate at all. Actually it probably is a general lack of respect. It seems to me that the media provides no positive support and we might not flaunt being alums enough. There are times that I am with MU alums and they almost seem to embarrassed to say they went to MU.

Sad part is that 25 years ago UW was much less highly regarded as MU. They obviously have done great job improving and the school and a better job improving athletics. Our athletic (bball) is our greatest advertisement to the rest of the country. That is why I believe we need to make every effort to move up the ball food chain and do so ASAP.

UW was once EXTREMELY lightly regarded. I went to grade school with John Coatta, Jr. son of the UW football coach, in the late 60's. We kidded him mercilessly over his dad's failures!! Yes, Madison kids ragging the son of the UW football coach.

Coach Coatta holds an NCAA record: 0-23, in his first 23 games, at UW. He rebounded to a coaching carreer mark of 3-26-1, before being fired. The rumor was UW hired him over another candidate, Miami Univ.'s Bo Schembechler.

I left Wisconsin 32 years ago, but until Alvarez' resurgence, UW had little more cache' ,here in Houston, than Marquette's (of course, I first have to explain Marquette is not in the UP of Michigan, --lol)

[GGGG]

From liberal, tolerant, Madison you heard this?  SHOCKED I tell ya...SHOCKED

Most likely not from Madison, but from rube-central that surrounds it.

[Litehouse]

Part of it is rivalry, but I think it goes beyond that.  The private school thing is the biggest part, and it carries over to the HS level as well.  Most people in WI think anyone that goes to a private school must be a stuck-up rich kid.

Plus all the people from the UW-Hyphen schools associate themselves with the Badgers as well.  There's no Wisconsin State to balance things out.

[tower912]

It is a Wisconsin thing.   Other than the whole 'way up there?' thing that happens about a third of the time when I say I went to Marquette, anybody with even a slight bit of knowledge of college athletics here in Michigan respects MU.   And a surprising number acknowledge how tough the BEast is in basketball, though they still defend their Spartans and Wolverines.    The only ones who ever take shots at MU are the ND alums.

[CoachRaymondsClass]

It really is sad the way the Wisconsin media, especially the JS (except Rosiak who is balanced) and people of WI treat and react to MU after all the good things that MU does for the city and state.

When I want to go out slumming on the East Side of Milw., I only wear my colors when I'm in the mood for some barroom argument... I know that MU just seems to incite people.

My opinions for this sad 'tude do not reflect well on my home state:
- latent anti-Catholicism (I think there is more of that than you'd might expect)
- outright prejudice about (new code phrase) MU plays "urban ball" versus UW's Bo who plays white kids and wins...they just love that when you pin them down.
- view MU as a rich kids school (envy)

Today's small example was listening to "our" radio station this morning, ESPN Milw., and the sportscasters were defining MU fans snidely as "Dentists and lawyers" will be upset if MU loses. Was that necessary? We ought to be proud of our Dent and Law school grads, but was that funny to characterize MU that way.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I realize that, but you don't have to graduate to be an alum

As a third definition of alumnus (below in navy font), so only somewhat technically.  Because I have Marquette parchment and Walker doesn't (was suppose to graduate in 1991 with Chicos and I but he quit, typical for.....) I would not consider him an alumni.

An alumnus (pl. alumni), according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university."[1] An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student.[2][3] In addition, an alumna (pl. alumnae) is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college, or university".[4] If a group includes both genders, even if there is only one male, the plural form alumni is used.

[Goose]

MU needs basketball to thrive for the school to get respect. UW went from being a "joke" of a school to national scene and it all started with Donna S as the chief. She promoted sports and hired skilled people to make it work. Forget the direct revenues that UW receive from sports the indirect mean more. More out of state and out country students every year.

It is said but more people in USA know Gonzaga than MU. If it were not for AL many business associates out of state never would have heard of MU. For younger group on here Dwade was your AL.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Most likely not from Madison, but from rube-central that surrounds it.

Based on my visits to Madison, I'm not so sure.  Not sure I've seen a more lilly-white city in my life that wasn't located in Utah, N.Dakota or S.Dakota.

[GoldenWarrior]

I kind of feel like state and public institutions get more support than private schools because they wear the name of the city or state on their jerseys.  People who grow up in that state or city feel like that team represents more than just that school, it represents the area the school is in and the people from that area.  I believe the earlier mentioned Cinci example, where the city gets behind them no matter what, is a great example of this because people in Cinci generally do not go bonkers for Xavier, but they're willing to for UC.

[SoCalEagle]

msbjim--Tuition is the answer my friend. My friends are embarrassed because most people we live near or associate with are public school supporters. Many feel if you attend private school you are either rich or stupid.

So what you are really saying is that others are jealous? 

Look, in today's world, more than just rich kids go to private schools.  Almost nobody pays the full load at MU or at other private institutions.  Is it expensive?  Of course.  But private education is not just for rich kids. 

If you go to a private (expensive school) you are stupid?  Just to silly to respond to.

By the way, how do you feel about it.  You say your friends are embarrassed, but you aren't, right?

[Muhoops85]

Jay Bilas will be everyones friend... as long as you weren't on the selection committee. If you were, I would like to show you that a Basketball is, in fact, round.

Technically only while at rest

[Jay Bee]

Unholy liberals that are filled with jealously.  Of course the majority envies us.  Such envy takes on the appearance of hatred.  Simply pray for them.

[KenoshaWarrior]

It has a lot to do with the common folk thinking they have more in common with a Wisconsin grad than they do a Marquette Grad.

The average Working Class Milwaukee area WHITE person believes Marquette is
1.All Marquette students are from Illinois
2.Marquette cost 1 million dollars to go to
3.Everyone at Marquette is living off Daddies Trust Fund
4.Marquette has a bunch of Black basketball players that murder puppies.

The average Working Class Milwaukee are white believes Wisconsin Is
1.All students from @ wisconisn are from Wisconsin
2.Wisconsin cost 4 dollars and 50 cents for instate tuition
3.Everyone at Wisconsin is putting in a double @ Allis Chalmers just to afford tuition
4.Wisconsin players are a bunch of hard working guys whose dad works at Ladisch or Mercury Motors and have no athletic ability yet persevere over everything.

The sad part is that I am willing to wager that Marquette Has:
1.Less than 1/4 of the students from Illinois
2.Cost rather comparable to Wisconsin when you include scholarships
3.How many work class people did you know at Marquette: ALOT
4.No black player would want to go somewhere your fans still think it is appropriate to use the term "Colored"

[TedBaxter]

Based on my visits to Madison, I'm not so sure.  Not sure I've seen a more lilly-white city in my life that wasn't located in Utah, N.Dakota or S.Dakota.

You must not have been to Madison in the last 10 years then.  The city of Madison has a large ethnic mix now.

I agree with the one poster about the anti-private school issue's in sports at the high school level. I think some of these younger posters who didn't grow up when there were separate entities are increasingly upset that some private schools have won state basketball championships, especially at the WIAA D3 level.  Go on Wishoops.com's message board and I'm sure there is complaining today because LaCrosse Aquinas and Racine St. Catherine's will meet for the state championship tomorrow.  What they won't say is that all of the other 4 divisions will crown public schools as champions this weekend and football is typically dominated by public schools.  This transfers over to Marquette more and more among the state's fans, but that's my opinion only.

[Goose]

SoCalEagle---I am very proud that I am part of a large family MU alums. Love the place and proud of it and appreciate the experience a great deal. My point on being stupid is that many public school believers think it is stupid to pay private school rates. My comment has nothing to do with IQ, rather how you spend money. I have heard 100 times why would you pay MU rates for your kid when UW is half the cost. A solid argument if you only look at cost. I believe MU brings plenty to the table that UW does not.

Sorry if my point was not stated correctly.

[MUinSF]

Being from Chicago I will only say that there is more animosity for Marquette in Wisconsin than there is for Depaul/Loyola/Northwestern in Illinois.  And this has very little to do about sports as it is a general vibe.

In Illinois, loyally cheering on the state university (-ies) is also nothing like the default option it seems to be in Wisconsin.

[KenoshaWarrior]

You must not have been to Madison in the last 10 years then.  The city of Madison has a large ethnic mix now.

I agree with the one poster about the anti-private school issue's in sports at the high school level. I think some of these younger posters who didn't grow up when there were separate entities are increasingly upset that some private schools have won state basketball championships, especially at the WIAA D3 level.  Go on Wishoops.com's message board and I'm sure there is complaining today because LaCrosse Aquinas and Racine St. Catherine's will meet for the state championship tomorrow.  What they won't say is that all of the other 4 divisions will crown public schools as champions this weekend and football is typically dominated by public schools.  This transfers over to Marquette more and more among the state's fans, but that's my opinion only.

I work attend many conferences on street gangs each year and all i need to say is that Madison is the WORST when it comes to gangs.  The constituents of Madison turn a complete blind I to what is going on in their city as some sides of Madison are infested with GD's. 
The part of Madison that UW and the people of wisconsin try to present is nothing near the reality of the poverty and gang violence that is in madison.   The same people who always clammer for social justice in Madison are to busy stroking themselves off when they should be helping out their fellow man.

Marquette students are at least active in the community with Hunger cleanup, service learning, and funding catholic schools in crime ridden parts of the city

[Hards Alumni]

Time for a little perspective.

I am from Wisconsin.  I grew up here.  I have lived in Milwaukee, the Fox Valley, and in Madison.  I have seen Badger fans of all ilk.  

There are many reasons people don't really care about Marquette.  None of them are political.  Really, thats asinine.  

As a teenager in Wisconsin there is only one football team to cheer for.  The Badgers.  Unless you want to be ostracized you watch and follow and root for the Badgers.  Then when it comes time for basketball season, you have a choice.  You can cheer for the team that has the state's name on it, the same team you cheer on in football, and the same team that a great majority of the people who went to college in Wisconsin cheer for... or you can cheer for that small private school in Milwaukee and buy all new gear for basketball season.

The decision is simple for 95% of the people.  Wisconsin all the way.  

Now, as a Wisconsin resident, in my teenage years I wanted to go to UW.  It was a great state school, that is inexpensive and it was where my favorite teams played.  I got wait listed with really good grades, ACT, and activities.  I wouldn't get a response from UW until APRIL that said I had gotten in.  By that time, I had visited that small private school in Milwaukee in a sleet storm in February.  I walked around through the union.  Through the cramped all men's dorm rooms at OD.  I looked around the seemingly ancient health sciences building on 16th street.  And it just felt right.

Two days later I decided to attend MU, and I never regretted it for a moment.

The real reason that people don't know, or have disdain for Marquette in the state of Wisconsin is that they are inundated with Bucky from the day they are born until the day they graduate high school...  Unless they are lucky enough to have a family member that went to Marquette.

My opinions for this sad 'tude do not reflect well on my home state:
- latent anti-Catholicism (I think there is more of that than you'd might expect)
- outright prejudice about (new code phrase) MU plays "urban ball" versus UW's Bo who plays white kids and wins...they just love that when you pin them down.
- view MU as a rich kids school (envy)

This is flatly ridiculous.  The Fox Valley is prodominantly Catholic... and I have never heard a negative WORD in Madison or Milwaukee that was anti-Catholic... and not being Catholic myself, you'd think I'd be privy to those types of conversations.

The UW people I know don't care that MU has black players, and that UW has white players.   They care that they win basketball games.  I think that Marquette fans (in general) make a bigger deal about UW being a bunch of 'stupid farm boy hicks' than UW fans do about MU having a bunch of 'ghetto stupid thugs'.  Its a crutch that we pull out and I am sick of it.

I can tell you, as a person who went to public school that I never envied a single private school kid.  Xavier HS was the local private (catholic!!) school, and we played them in all of our sports.  Many of them were our friends, and we teased them about their uniforms and many things... but we never envied them.  As the son of two educators I can tell you that anyone can attend Marquette, not just the rich kids.

Just hoping to provide a little balanced insight here rather than some of the ridiculous claptrap that is being posted above.

[Hards Alumni]

I work attend many conferences on street gangs each year and all i need to say is that Madison is the WORST when it comes to gangs.  The constituents of Madison turn a complete blind I to what is going on in their city as some sides of Madison are infested with GD's. 
The part of Madison that UW and the people of wisconsin try to present is nothing near the reality of the poverty and gang violence that is in madison.   The same people who always clammer for social justice in Madison are to busy stroking themselves off when they should be helping out their fellow man.

Marquette students are at least active in the community with Hunger cleanup, service learning, and funding catholic schools in crime ridden parts of the city

This is the kind of garbage that I am talking about.  Does Madison have its problems like every city of its size?  Yes!  Is Milwaukee still one of the (if not the most) segregated cities in the US?  Yes.  Please don't pretend that UW students aren't involved in community service.  I live here, and I can tell you that is just insincere.

I am not saying Madison is the Utopia it purports to be, because it isn't.  But I will give Madison some credit for trying to take steps to reduce the problems that other cities just leave sit for decades.

[MUinSF]

As a third definition of alumnus (below in navy font), so only somewhat technically.  Because I have Marquette parchment and Walker doesn't (was suppose to graduate in 1991 with Chicos and I but he quit, typical for.....) I would not consider him an alumni.

An alumnus (pl. alumni), according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university."[1] An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student.[2][3] In addition, an alumna (pl. alumnae) is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college, or university".[4] If a group includes both genders, even if there is only one male, the plural form alumni is used.

Grammatically, it would be impossible to consider Walker an alumnus -- but only, I'm sorry to say, because the singular forms are alumnus and alumna. The definition quoted above doesn't mean that we call a single male alumnus an alumni, just that a class of 15 women and one man is identified as alumni rather than alumnae.