Wisconsin

[Viper]

Don't get triggered so easily. Live with the knowledge that you have better taste than they do. And when we are the better team in a year or two, let the MU memorabilia in your office do the talking for you.

that endless highlight video loop in the office lobby during their Finals appearance has left an ugly mark, bro. Haunts me to this day. The insufferable Badger fan. Ugh

[Jockey]

Yeah, I'm not easily triggered.  But they are relentless.  You know, like rodents tend to be.  And so arrogant.

And most of them are actually from the UW-Madison extension, not the UW-boonies.

Understand.

But fans everywhere are relentless. Go down to SEC country during football season for a taste. But, yeah - UW fans are as bad as any.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

I think it's beyond sports too. I remember making my college decision. As someone who had decent grades and lived in Wisconsin the expectation was you go to UW. Even teachers asking "Well, why wouldn't you go to Madison?" Almost making you justify your decision.

A tech school grad once asked me "Why did you go to Marquette?  Twice the price for half the education (of Wisconsin)!"

He was being dead serious.

[wadesworld]

I think it's beyond sports too. I remember making my college decision. As someone who had decent grades and lived in Wisconsin the expectation was you go to UW. Even teachers asking "Well, why wouldn't you go to Madison?" Almost making you justify your decision.

Exactly.  If you live in Wisconsin and don't have ties to Marquette, everyone is stunned and offended if you don't live and die by Badger football (especially) and basketball.  It's absurd.

[MuggsyB]

Understand.

But fans everywhere are relentless. Go down to SEC country during football season for a taste. But, yeah - UW fans are as bad as any.

I assume there are levels of asshatness  Jockey among fan bases.  As others have pointed out this goes well beyond the sports teams, certainly exists at a number of schools, and permeates many campuses.

With regards to Wisconsin it would be interesting to compare some of the top State schools and their vibe like Virginia, UCLA, UNC, California, Mich etc.  It's possible success in sports has exacerbated for some their douchebaggery and hubris. 

[WhiteTrash]

I assume there are levels of asshatness  Jockey among fan bases.  As others have pointed out this goes well beyond the sports teams, certainly exists at a number of schools, and permeates many campuses.

With regards to Wisconsin it would be interesting to compare some of the top State schools and their vibe like Virginia, UCLA, UNC, California, Mich etc.  It's possible success in sports has exacerbated for some their douchebaggery and hubris.

I fully believe that Wisconsin is no different than Alabama, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, etc. Mostly rural without much going on except the state football/basketball team. I've not seen university obsession in places like the Northeast, Illinois, California, Colorado or Texas.  Crazy fandom, especially by non-alums, seems typical in states like Wisconsin, Nebraska, etc.

I'm not making a value judgment about it, just the way it is.

[JWags85]

I fully believe that Wisconsin is no different than Alabama, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, etc. Mostly rural without much going on except the state football/basketball team. I've not seen university obsession in places like the Northeast, Illinois, California, Colorado or Texas.  Crazy fandom, especially by non-alums, seems typical in states like Wisconsin, Nebraska, etc.

I'm not making a value judgment about it, just the way it is.

I went to college in Ohio.  I saw the Buckeye fervor first hand.  Knew tons of MAC alumni and current students who would root against their own school if they played OSU in football or basketball or would skip games to prep for an OSU broadcast.  Not to mention the legions of OSU fans with jerseys from Target or the like.  Walmart Wolverines are much the same in Michigan I'm sure.  And definitely in SEC country.

The main difference between them and Wisconsin that I've experienced is that non-alumni Wisconsin fans have this bizarre infatuation with how INCREDIBLE UW is as an institution.  The Ohio State fans couldn't care less about the academics as long as Day and the Boys win on Saturday, but it always comes up in Wisconsin arguments whether it be recruiting, or digs at Marquette or other B10 institutions

[MuggsyB]

I went to college in Ohio.  I saw the Buckeye fervor first hand.  Knew tons of MAC alumni and current students who would root against their own school if they played OSU in football or basketball or would skip games to prep for an OSU broadcast.  Not to mention the legions of OSU fans with jerseys from Target or the like.  Walmart Wolverines are much the same in Michigan I'm sure.  And definitely in SEC country.

The main difference between them and Wisconsin that I've experienced is that non-alumni Wisconsin fans have this bizarre infatuation with how INCREDIBLE UW is as an institution.  The Ohio State fans couldn't care less about the academics as long as Day and the Boys win on Saturday, but it always comes up in Wisconsin arguments whether it be recruiting, or digs at Marquette or other B10 institutions

Very interesting observation JWags and I would agree with you.

[Uncle Rico]

I went to college in Ohio.  I saw the Buckeye fervor first hand.  Knew tons of MAC alumni and current students who would root against their own school if they played OSU in football or basketball or would skip games to prep for an OSU broadcast.  Not to mention the legions of OSU fans with jerseys from Target or the like.  Walmart Wolverines are much the same in Michigan I'm sure.  And definitely in SEC country.

The main difference between them and Wisconsin that I've experienced is that non-alumni Wisconsin fans have this bizarre infatuation with how INCREDIBLE UW is as an institution.  The Ohio State fans couldn't care less about the academics as long as Day and the Boys win on Saturday, but it always comes up in Wisconsin arguments whether it be recruiting, or digs at Marquette or other B10 institutions

That's the great thing about the Ivy League.  If it wasn't for that league, a lot of people rejected by Madison would have to go to Minnesota or Iowa

[Scoop Snoop]

I fully believe that Wisconsin is no different than Alabama, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, etc. Mostly rural without much going on except the state football/basketball team. I've not seen university obsession in places like the Northeast, Illinois, California, Colorado or Texas.  Crazy fandom, especially by non-alums, seems typical in states like Wisconsin, Nebraska, etc.

I'm not making a value judgment about it, just the way it is.

I'm mostly in agreement with you, but it varies within areas of a state and from one school to another within a state. For example, residents in a metro area like Kansas City have a pro FB team they are devoted to. My guess is that college basketball is of limited interest to them, but maybe not.

Northern Virginia has... whatever the team's name is now... for pro football and the DC area and its residents live in their own, very private little world. They really do not care about Virginia or Maryland much outside the beltway. As you go west in Virginia, Virginia Tech fans are everywhere. In Richmond, UVA alums refer to their school simply as "the" university. Outside of Charlottesville and Richmond, I doubt that many people cared about UVA's natty. Just a guess, but I suspect the Virginia narrative I just presented could be rescripted for many other states.   

[MuggsyB]

That's the great thing about the Ivy League.  If it wasn't for that league, a lot of people rejected by Madison would have to go to Minnesota or Iowa

Lol.  I think this is part of the problem.

[Hards Alumni]

I went to college in Ohio.  I saw the Buckeye fervor first hand.  Knew tons of MAC alumni and current students who would root against their own school if they played OSU in football or basketball or would skip games to prep for an OSU broadcast.  Not to mention the legions of OSU fans with jerseys from Target or the like.  Walmart Wolverines are much the same in Michigan I'm sure.  And definitely in SEC country.

The main difference between them and Wisconsin that I've experienced is that non-alumni Wisconsin fans have this bizarre infatuation with how INCREDIBLE UW is as an institution.  The Ohio State fans couldn't care less about the academics as long as Day and the Boys win on Saturday, but it always comes up in Wisconsin arguments whether it be recruiting, or digs at Marquette or other B10 institutions

Culture.  UW fans are taught to believe that UW is the best school in the midwest from a very young age.  It is, by all metrics, a great school to attend, but as with many things, culture plays a huge factor.

[Uncle Rico]

Culture.  UW fans are taught to believe that UW is the best school in the midwest from a very young age.  It is, by all metrics, a great school to attend, but as with many things, culture plays a huge factor.

It's the same culture that proudly puts foam cheese on their heads and thinks 7 DUI's is something to be proud of

[Hards Alumni]

It's the same culture that proudly puts foam cheese on their heads and thinks 7 DUI's is something to be proud of

Every state has their own problems.

[Uncle Rico]

Every state has their own problems.

That was a shot at Badgers fans

[1SE]

That was a shot at Badgers fans

From an academic standpoint, UW is probably the 3rd best school in the BIG14 after UMich and NW. But it's a much bigger gap between them and those two than it is between them and the others on their tier (like OSU, ILL, UMN).

[PointWarrior]

My favorite is my UW-directional school friends consider themselves as "graduating  from Wisconsin". 

[buckchuckler]

From an academic standpoint, UW is probably the 3rd best school in the BIG14 after UMich and NW. But it's a much bigger gap between them and those two than it is between them and the others on their tier (like OSU, ILL, UMN).

A real quick google search shows UW number 42 in the US news rankings, and Illinois 47.  That seems pretty close.  Northwestern was 9.  Not so close. 

Northwestern is pretty elite academically.  Wisconsin isn't in the same category. 

[MuggsyB]

From an academic standpoint, UW is probably the 3rd best school in the BIG14 after UMich and NW. But it's a much bigger gap between them and those two than it is between them and the others on their tier (like OSU, ILL, UMN).

It's a much more nuanced discussion but I would say Illinois is very comparable to Wisconsin.  Also, as a whole, the gap between Northwestern and  the presumed 2, 3, 4, schools is probably greater than the gap between 2-4 and everyone else.  And this has very little to do with the "rankings".

[Dr. Blackheart]

Scoop needs a staff psychologist.

[buckchuckler]

It's a much more nuanced discussion but I would say Illinois is very comparable to Wisconsin.  Also, as a whole, the gap between Northwestern and  the presumed 2, 3, 4, schools is probably greater than the gap between 2-4 and everyone else.  And this has very little to do with the "rankings".

Hahaha, yeah, I agree, I just wanted something more than "Wisconsin is closer to Northwestern than Illinois???? Are you serious????"

[The Sultan]

A real quick google search shows UW number 42 in the US news rankings, and Illinois 47.  That seems pretty close.  Northwestern was 9.  Not so close. 

Northwestern is pretty elite academically.  Wisconsin isn't in the same category. 

Sure. But they are completely different types of schools so of course they are ranked differently.

[MuggsyB]

Sure. But they are completely different types of schools so of course they are ranked differently.

100% correct but I just think Buck was comparing the rankings within the B14 and they're similar minus NW.  A pianist or violinist at the Curtis School of Music is at a better school than Harvard, Princeton, and MIT combined for their skillset.

[The Sultan]

100% correct but I just think Buck was comparing the rankings within the B14 and they're similar minus NW.  A pianist or violinist at the Curtis School of Music is at a better school than Harvard, Princeton, and MIT combined for their skillset.

Maybe. Depends on the student.

[MuggsyB]

Maybe. Depends on the student.

It presumably could  turn out worse.   For example, if they don't go into the field of music or have a psychological breakdown.  However, since they go there specifically to become classical and trained musicians, and to work  in those fields, the students aren't there for other academic endeavors.