Does the state of Wisconsin hate us?

[MUMac]

EXTREMELY well stated on the private-school thing carrying over to the HS level. No doubt there are people in southwestern WI who are big-time jealous of La Crosse Aquinas' success in HS basketball, despite the fact I think the public schools actually have the bigger advantage in the surrounding small communities if they do things properly.

You mean like some of the "name" HS coaches who have a love fest with bo and the badgers that are some of the more frequent posters on the badger boards?  The ones that we frequently quote or link to here in disgust?

[TedBaxter]

You mean like some of the "name" HS coaches who have a love fest with bo and the badgers that are some of the more frequent posters on the badger boards?  The ones that we frequently quote or link to here in disgust?

Yeah, like the one that was the analyst for the Division 5 game on TV this afternoon.  He posts negatively towards Marquette on one of the Badger boards.

[Coleman]

My 2 cents...

Football has a lot to do with it. Its a football state...people grow up with the Packers on Sunday and Badgers on Saturdays. They choose their loyalties based on football and then it just carries over to the basketball season.

Race is an issue, although not a major one. I do remember hearing the same thing from fans of Marquette, however, about our "white guys" when we had Diener (from Fond du Lac) and Novak (from Brown Deer)...for example, "its cool to see Marquette be successful with some white guys from Wisconsin." Heard that a lot. Right or wrong, people like seeing that, and enjoying cheering for the underdog white kid in what is widely considered a sport dominated by African Americans. I call it the "Hoosiers Syndrome" (movie, not Indiana University). So, watching Wisconsin, the average white guy is probably a little excited seeing these slow, stiff kids play good team defense and actually be successful on a consistent basis. I'm not saying I agree with it, but it is what it is. In the same way, inner city kids in Milwaukee probably identify with the kind of ball Marquette plays. There are just waaaaay more white people in Wisconsin.

Private vs. public thing might have something to do with it too, but I really think football is the driving factor.

I think what sets us apart from Northwestern, DePaul, Loyola, etc. is that we are successful. There isn't a lot of hate for those teams in Illinois the same reason there isn't a lot of hate for the Detroit Lions in the NFL. Marquette is good and challenges Wisconsin for recruits and prestige. So Badger fans gonna hate. Let them.


When Walker (and D Wade) gets that piece of paper with Marquette on it, I'll call him a fellow alumnus. Until then, he hasn't earned it.

[MUMac]

Yeah, like the one that was the analyst for the Division 5 game on TV this afternoon.  He posts negatively towards Marquette on one of the Badger boards.

Yep, he is one of the more pissy and arrougant posters.  Really, the coach of Benton?  Wow, big stuff.

[Eye]

You mean like some of the "name" HS coaches who have a love fest with bo and the badgers that are some of the more frequent posters on the badger boards?  The ones that we frequently quote or link to here in disgust?

Wasn't referring to any coach specifically, but you don't have to look hard at all to find coaches that are in love with Ryan and WI-Madison and anti-anything MU.

[MUMac]

Wasn't referring to any coach specifically, but you don't have to look hard at all to find coaches that are in love with Ryan and WI-Madison and anti-anything MU.

Especially in the southwest part of the state.  Just ask Dick Bennett how kind and lovable those saps are.

[Skatastrophy]

Especially in the southwest part of the state.  Just ask Dick Bennett how kind and lovable those saps are.

Madison-area SW?  Are there any cities in the actual SW part of the state?  I thought it was all wasteland west of Madison until you get to... Portland, OR?

[Eye]

Agreed on Bennett, too. The fact that he and Ryan came up through the state (Eau Claire, Point, Green Bay and Platteville/Milwaukee) big-time helps their respective causes.

I did a radio interview with Bennett about 10 years ago. He is an extremely nice man and was very nice to a 20-something interviewer when he didn't need to be.

That being said, I was at a banquet last year where he spoke. He talked about taking chances being something one should strive toward on and off the court, yet his style obviously was geared toward not taking chances. Nobody else in the room saw the irony (free ticket, wouldn't pay to hear him speak as much as I think he's a fine human being), just applauded like lemmings.

While I'm thinking of it, I'm always amazed how much people in this state think the WIAC is unquestionably the best thing in the country in D3. I have no idea if it is or isn't, but nobody I know has ever done the work to prove the point. It's just an unquestioned axiom that everyone knows the WIAC is a great D3 athletic conference. Kind of like most around here have this unquestioned axiom that the Mini 11 is, was and always will be a great D1 athletic conference. Some years and some sports it is; some years and some sports it isn't.

[Eye]

I'd guess there isn't a municipality west of Madison and south of La Crosse in five figures in terms of population. Other than La Crosse and Onalaska, I'd guess the same thing would apply west of Madison and south of Eau Claire, either.

[The Lens]

I think the race thing is way overblown. It goes back WI's religious and political beliefs.  The German / Protestant beliefs have a problem paying for education when the government gives it to you for free.

In Chicago you tell someone you went to MU, Loyola, DePaul, etc and people think wow you and your folks Made some big sacrifices for a good catholic education.

In Milwaukee (I'm talking Milwaukee not the sticks) and people just think you wasted your money when UW system offers so many cheaper options.

IMO it's a German, Protestant and even Socialist (Milwaukee had a number of good socialist mayors) thing.

[Hards Alumni]

I'd guess there isn't a municipality west of Madison and south of La Crosse in five figures in terms of population. Other than La Crosse and Onalaska, I'd guess the same thing would apply west of Madison and south of Eau Claire, either.

Platteville, and no, I didn't look that up.

And there are easily others.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Yeah, like the one that was the analyst for the Division 5 game on TV this afternoon.  He posts negatively towards Marquette on one of the Badger boards.

What username?

[ChicosBailBonds]

IMO it's a German, Protestant and even Socialist (Milwaukee had a number of good socialist mayors) thing.

There's no such thing as a good socialist.   

[Coleman]

I think the race thing is way overblown. It goes back WI's religious and political beliefs.  The German / Protestant beliefs have a problem paying for education when the government gives it to you for free.

In Chicago you tell someone you went to MU, Loyola, DePaul, etc and people think wow you and your folks Made some big sacrifices for a good catholic education.

In Milwaukee (I'm talking Milwaukee not the sticks) and people just think you wasted your money when UW system offers so many cheaper options.

IMO it's a German, Protestant and even Socialist (Milwaukee had a number of good socialist mayors) thing.

I think you may be on to something. In Chicago and St. Louis Catholic education is highly valued. Not so much in Wisconsin. In fairness, Wisconsin has really good public schools, and UW is a public Ivy.

[Eye]

Platteville, and no, I didn't look that up.

And there are easily others.

Which would be? Sorry, just not believing you.

[whodem]

What username?

Bud Foster

[Coleman]

Which would be? Sorry, just not believing you.

Monroe has 10,000+

And there are about 10 others with 2,000-10,000. All of these towns would have their own high schools.

Not to mention the towns west of Madison in Dane County like Middleton and Verona, ...I'm not even including those

[Hards Alumni]

Which would be? Sorry, just not believing you.

Grow up, use google for yourself.

[KenoshaWarrior]

I think the race thing is way overblown. It goes back WI's religious and political beliefs.  The German / Protestant beliefs have a problem paying for education when the government gives it to you for free.

In Chicago you tell someone you went to MU, Loyola, DePaul, etc and people think wow you and your folks Made some big sacrifices for a good catholic education.

In Milwaukee (I'm talking Milwaukee not the sticks) and people just think you wasted your money when UW system offers so many cheaper options.

IMO it's a German, Protestant and even Socialist (Milwaukee had a number of good socialist mayors) thing.

Great point. 

[warrior_rugby15]

I think you may be on to something. In Chicago and St. Louis Catholic education is highly valued. Not so much in Wisconsin. In fairness, Wisconsin has really good public schools, and UW is a public Ivy.

+1

Being from the SW side of Chicago, you have to go to a Catholic / private school to get a good education. Maybe not so much for K-8, but definitely for HS.

[KenoshaWarrior]

Trust me in order to get a good education in Milwaukee you also need to go the Parochial or Charter route.

I am going to go out on a limb and say that even Milwaukees best schools (King, Riverside, and Arts) perform worse than even scuzzy suburban schools like West Allis Central, Cudahy, and St. Francis

[Stronghold]

Monroe has 10,000+

And there are about 10 others with 2,000-10,000. All of these towns would have their own high schools.

Not to mention the towns west of Madison in Dane County like Middleton and Verona, ...I'm not even including those


I believe Prairie du Chien could be thrown in there. And yes even towns with ~1000 people or more they will have their own HS in WI.

[Coleman]

Trust me in order to get a good education in Milwaukee you also need to go the Parochial or Charter route.

I am going to go out on a limb and say that even Milwaukees best schools (King, Riverside, and Arts) perform worse than even scuzzy suburban schools like West Allis Central, Cudahy, and St. Francis

Reagan's a very good Milwaukee Public School.

[jtrash37]

You need new friends. Embarrasssed? That is ridiculous. I love saying telling people, when asked, I went to Marquette. I feel nothing but pride and enjoy their reactions when they find that out. Even at bars its never turned into fisticuffs or anything, just playful ribbing of the other's school being inferior.

+1,000,000  
I unapologetically wear MU gear every day there is a game, usually something MU almost every day....t shirt after work, sweatshirt over my tees, etc.  I could not be prouder of MU and my graduating from there.

Also, WI has an unbelievable number of Pseudo alumni from UW-Madison via the UW system or NO college who randomly spew their allegiance to Bo and Bucky.  I have many friends who've graduated from UW-GB and even THEY ally with UW-Madison first....completely silly IMHO.  These are usually some of the most vehement MU haters in athletics....it's funny to me, and I've lived in WI for 39 years.

[Stretchdeltsig]

I am shocked that people on this log brought up "race".  Get with it people, this is 2012.  We are all one people!