Badger homecoming game 2013

I couldn't help but notice how picturesque the trees were that lined the streets as I ventured from State Street Brats to the stadium. Have they always been that alluring? Even my actual walk to the stadium was more enjoyable than before. Seeing everyone clad in their Badger red, be they ridiculous outfits or not, is something you can easily fail to cherish when you see it so often. Walking through the Camp Randall Memorial Arch carried with it an aura I had failed to ever recognize.

It's like crossing a threshold into a world of greater intensity once you near the entrance gates. I decided it would be most fitting to buy myself a student section ticket, so I ventured to my seat in the lower half of section K, and the next three hours was simply as good as it gets. Melvin Gordon lived up to his superstar billing every bit as much in person as we've all been witnessing through the tube. I've said it a few times now, but he needs even more touches.

Offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig has gotten into the habit of giving James White his token handful of carries each game, and they just feel like wasted plays. White is a good player and he can break big runs with great O-Line blocking, but Gordon can hit a homerun at any time.

From a fan's perspective, that dimension of Gordon's game makes watching him a compelling spectacle -- if you turn your head for a second, you'll miss an yard touchdown dash. The front seven on the defensive side was special, and Dave Aranda's creativity was a marvel to watch from the stands. We looked over and saw the student section. It was unreal — it was more than goosebumps. It was more than a confidence builder and I really wish I could come up with a better way to describe it.

The song became a hit in , reaching No. There are several origin stories of how "Jump Around" ended up on Camp Randall's playlist. The one Kluender remembers is of a UW athletics marketing department intern named Ryan Sondrup, a tight end for the Badgers who got injured and could no longer play. Sondrup was tasked with coming up with a list of popular songs to be played during lulls in play. He remembers Sondrup showing up at Wando's all excited. He got some coins from the cash register. There was a change of energy, though, so we figured — let's put that one on the list.

After that homecoming game, the UW marketing department played "Jump Around" at the following game and the reaction from the student section was the same.

The season ends. Was that just a moment in time? They continued to participate and the tradition started. It hasn't been an unbroken string.

In while the stadium was undergoing extensive renovations that included adding luxury suites, the campus administration told Kluender not to play the song at the home opener. All rights reserved. Madison, Wisconsin USA. Skip to main content. Home UW Homecoming. Andy Manis. Back to Search Results. Info Community Calendar Special Events. Event Categories Spectator Sports. Website Visit Event Website. Share via Twitter.

Share via Linked In. Share via Email. You may also like…. Slideshow: Scenes from Homecoming