The UW Badgers played their last Big 10 football game last week in 30 degree weather and 25 mile an hour winds. I was considering sitting home and watching the Badgers in the warmth of my own home but Grasshopper No.4 talked me into venturing down to Madison with Dominic and Tommy.
Dominic is an old fan. He has attended several games and really gets into the games. He also enjoys the UW Band. But Dominic has a younger brother Tommy that is always trying to emulate his older brother. Grasshopper No.4 has been promising Tommy that this year he would get to see a Badger game like his older brother. So off we went. An old man. A young dad. A young Grandson who is a veteran of UW football games. And then, there was Tommy.
What can you say about Tommy? He has the beguiling smile. He is fun loving. He has a sense of humor. He also has a very short attention span (I emphasize the word short). But here he was with his big brodder (brother) at a UW game. He noticed that the bridge over University Avenue swayed as we crossed it. He notice all the sovenier stands. He would not look over the railing as we climbed higher into the stadium because he is afraid of heights. But we did get to our seats just before the "run-on" of the Band. I don't think he saw much because the lady in front of us kept standing up.
After the "run on" we headed for the food stand. A few hot dogs and hot chocolate were consumed by all except Tommy. He had licorice. Later there were some baskets of nachos and cheese. Tommy deferred to one long string of candy that had to be three feet long. Is there a connection between candy and short attention spans?
By half time, the cold of the day was creeping into everyone's soul. The game was lousy as the Badgers fell behind Minnesota 20-7 at half time. Tommy could not feel his toes in his tennis shoes. The agreement was if anyone got "bone-chilling" cold, we would leave. So just after the half-time Band performance, Tommy's toes triggered the "lets go home" contract.
Wouldn't you know that the Badger football team would play better in the second half and actually come back and beat Minnesota by 4 points. We missed all the excitement that might have kept us warm.
The outcome of the game really doesn't matter. Dominic was miffed because Tommy caused us to leave early, but it does't matter. Missing a great Badger comeback doesn't matter. Hey, we got to share a family moment as Tommy went to a Badger game for the first time. Shelby Junior would say, "a memory was created"..
And Tommy? He is pleased that he was part of the whole endeavor. As far the Badgers winning and losing? Who cares!
And so it goes. The college football season is winding down and next year will represent another opportunity to get excited about a potential championship. But never again can we say that Tommy will be attending a UW football game for the first time. He is now a seasoned fan.
Love,
Dad
Cricket #2 still talks about his time spent with all the UW faithful. Once the sugar ran out the world got really cold.