For most Wisconsin students, going to a football game is about much more than merely standing around and passively watching each play. Cheers are a way for fans to actually participate in the event, and for many, are just as important as the game itself.
'A lot of people I know don't even know what's going on in the game, but they still look forward to the cheers,' said Brian Leitzke, who will enter his fourth and final year as one of the Bucky Badger mascots this fall. 'I know people who go just for them.'
Cheers have indeed become an integral part of the Badger football experience, so it comes as no surprise that many hold just as much history as the actual team.
For example, 'On Wisconsin' was first sung in 1909 during the homecoming game against Minnesota, according to uwbadgers.com. The music was composed by William Purdy, and though Wisconsin was one of the first universities to use it, 2,500 other schools have since written their own lyrics and adopted the music for their school song.
Other storied songs include 'Varsity,' which was written in 1934 by band leader Ray Dvorak, who was inspired by Pennsylvania fans waving their hats after a loss.
'The Bud Song,' which features a polka-like rhythm and ends in 'When you've said Wisconsin, you've said it all,' became popular in 1978 when played continually throughout a comeback win against Oregon. Band director Michael Leckrone instructed his band to play the jingle 'Budweiser, Here Comes the King' and merely replace 'Budweiser' with 'Wisconsin.'
Many other cheers have since been added, and the appearance of each during any given game is dictated by the UW marching band, led by Leckrone since 1969. However, students often take charge themselves.
'The student section is pretty adamant about starting their own cheers, especially the swearing ones,' Spirit Squad Director Josette Scheer said. 'Along with the fans, the band and cheerleaders try to lead the cheers ?? but for the most part, the student section has a mind of its own.'
Since she began working for the Spirit Squad in 1993, Scheer said students have tried to become increasingly creative by adding more and more profanity to the cheers. Attempts have been made to limit swearing, but have ultimately failed.
'Because of the profanity, Mike Leckrone refused to play 'Swingtown' for a few games,' said Leitzke. 'What you get is the entire student section chanting 'We want Swingtown' for the whole fourth quarter. It'll get to the point where the fans sing it themselves.'
Other songs are more appropriate yet no less extreme, such as 'Jump Around,' which ranks among the fan favorites along with 'Swingtown,' according to Leitzke.
To accompany such staple cheers, attempts are continually being made to add new ones. This fall, Leitzke and the other Bucky's will introduce 'Bucky's roller coaster,' which will challenge all students to move their heads along with Bucky to simulate a roller coaster ride.
