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With football season quickly approaching & Fall Camp well underway, I have been kind of thinking about where I’m at with Wisconsin Badgers football, which started in October 2022 with the firing of Paul Chryst.
Normally, this time of year, I have attended an open practice, I’m full into the practice reports & know the two-deep by heart, have gone over the strengths & weaknesses of the team, etc. of the UW Badgers football team. I’d be fired up about the big games on the schedule (home or away).
This year? Nothing really. I still find myself a bit detached ever since Coach Chryst got fired in 2022.
I’ve barely read or listened to anything about camp. I couldn’t tell you basically any of the new players on the team outside of Tyler Van Dyke. I don’t have any idea who looks good & who’s been struggling, or who might start, etc..
The system – combined with some of the decision making by Athletic Director Chris McIntosh – has broken me as far as being a psychotic uber-fan. I just don’t care to that level anymore.
I will still try to make my way to Madison for a home game or two, cheer hard for them to win (virtually or at the game), offer whatever commentary that I am feeling at the moment, etc. because the Badger experience remains something that I value, but compared to where I was even two years ago, it just doesn’t matter as much anymore.
Strangely enough, at this point if I have a good day in Madison – whether it’s for a game or practice – & I enjoy the atmosphere, then that’s good enough for me.
A couple of years ago it was inconceivable for me to feel like this at any point.
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