While the arrival of March may signify the coming of spring for some (those, most likely, not living in the state of Wisconsin), it signifies one of the most exciting months in sports for many others…college tournament time. So I decided to get in the spirit of things with a trip to the Cell to catch the semifinal game of the Horizon League tournament Saturday night.
I was prepared to cheer on the UWM Panthers, of course, being a hometown fan. Even though I didn’t actually attend UWM, save from a couple grad classes I took there this past summer, my sister is an alum and I do have a Milwaukee Sweet Sixteen shirt from 2005. Unfortunately, that shirt was in the wash, so I put on a striped grey and white tee and headed downtown.
It turned out, my white t-shirt wouldn’t have done much to help me fit it. For the Panthers, it’s all about the gold. If you’re not in Panther gold, you may as well be a Valparaiso fan. And even the Valpo fans seem to stay away from their eyesore color combo of brown and gold – ug-ah-ly.
The Crusaders’ colors weren’t the only thing that was ugly last night. The game wasn’t pretty either. Fortunately, the Panthers pulled out the 70-63 win. But you can check out the box score and get the game report on some other site; this blog is about the fans, so here’s the skinny on Panther pride…
There’s a lot of it, I’ll tell ya that. And in college sports it manifests itself in a different way than pro sports. Instead of hyping up the fans with promotional plugs and sponsor giveaways, you’ve got the pep band, cheerleaders, spirit squad, and – of course – the students. Multiple all these elements by two and you’ve got yourself a good ol’ college tournament atmosphere.
Pregame consisted of a battle of the bands, of sorts, a back and forth set between the Milwaukee and Valparaiso ensembles playing tunes only pep bands can get away with playing at a sporting event. Seriously, no DJ in 2011 can get away with playing “Born to be Wild” at a basketball game, but over the course of the evening both bands made it work. As tipoff drew closer, Panther foam paws began to pepper the arena.
I sat left of mid court in the upper level. To my right was a family divided – dad and son rooting for Milwaukee; grandpa for Valparaiso, – and in front of me was an alum, his two children, and a small group of extended family – all Panther fans. At halftime a young, student-aged couple took the empty seats to my left. They were also loyal Panther fans, but unfortunately not especially tuned in and thought the 7:30 tip was an 8:30 tip.
All in all, I was in good company. It was a good crowd in the upper level. Focused and spirited. But it was nothing like the student section. From the traditional defense chants to a more complicated and impressive stomp and clap rhythm I was never quick enough to catch with my camera phone, the student section kept things rollin’ all game long. They were on their feet and into the game for all forty minutes. And this is what makes me excited about March Madness.
Leaving the Cell, I spilled out onto Kilbourn Avenue with the rowdy crowd. Call and response chants of “Milwaukee!” “Panthers!” continued out in the streets. Students hung out of school bus windows to high five their fellow fans below. And a rousing round of “UWM! UWM! UWM!” echoed out into the intersection as I made my way back to my car.
I had to smile. All the fandemonium…it’s March Happiness.
