Although I'm very partial to my Philadelphia Phillies games, especially as of late with the tailgating and everything involved, my best experiences actually lie elsewhere.
It's gotta be Wisconsin football games.It's hard to describe with words, really, the feel of Wisconsin gameday. I just have snapshots in my mind of the excitement that came with it.
It's great walking down Dayton Street toward the stone gate leading to Camp Randall with a never-ending sea of red. Passing houses with beer pong conducted on porches, in yard, crammed into car-parks and alleyways only builds the excitement.
Once inside the stadium, despite the inherent pain of finding and keeping a seat, the sight-lines from the student section are some of the best in college. The list of during-the-game-traditions that every student follows is amazing. Between singing "Build Me Up Buttercup" by The Foundations acapella ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mP6Y8kXp7I&feature=related ), clapping sideways along with the opposing team's fight song, and the different hand signals and chants that people come up with for the star tailback of the day (because there's ALWAYS a star tailback at Wisconsin), it seems overwhelming but becomes second nature.
And, of course, there's the Jump Around, the most tiring but mindlessly joyous tradition you'll find anywhere.
I think my favorite part of the experience was the entire post-game. The 5th Quarter is legendary. Essentially, the band goes onto the field following the end of the game's fourth quarter and crazily play for another 15 minute quarter. "Hey Baby," "Tequila," and, of course, "Swingtown" are all in the repertoire for the remaining fans in the stadium to do pseudo-choreographed dances to.
If you haven't seen one, treat yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okHjkUgVdqQ
Finally, the game ends with what is my absolute favorite part (maybe because I graduated and finished with it), the singing of our alma mater, "Varsity." Everyone drapes arms across each others' shoulders and sings out, swaying side to side. It's the one song I'll ever sing at the top of my lungs when I'm outside of my car. And it's beautiful.
There's so much more that goes into it. You just have to be there. Get to a game, sit in or near the student section, preferably in a game around the middle of October when it starts getting a little a chilly, then you'll see that when you say "Wisconsin," you've said it all.
