The Champagne Room

I want to take 5 minutes out from my basketball breakdowns to talk about something that is going on right this minute 145 miles northwest of here on the shores of Lake Mendota.

The Wisconsin Marching Band just finished up their last practice before the final home game of the regular season.

Back in the stone age of the 1970s and 80s before the Badgers went to bowl games this practice was the last practice for the band and for the 4th and 5th year seniors who marched up and down that practice field on so many hot, freezing, wet, and sweaty afternoons and evenings. It is an emotional time for those seniors. So many memories are made, so many friendships forged, and so many experiences are enjoyed during one's time in the band and this was usually the end of the road for those seniors.

When the whistle blows for your first ever tryout practice for the band, Before you even have an instrument in your hands, before you ever play one note of Varsity, and before you eat one rock you are told that Freshmen line up on the left side of the field, everyone else goes on the right.

Four to five years later practice ends and the seniors go back to that same left side of the field. Champagne bottles are brought out onto the field, cigars are lit and the seniors are soluted by the underclassmen and Mike Leckrone. Everyone sings varsity, corks are popped, and champagne is poured over everyone. On what is typically a dark, 40 degree night there is no greater rush than getting a half a bottle of Andre doused on you.

When you talk to band members and ask them how much effort and time is put into being a member of the band they usually give you a half laugh and a quick comment like "well, you know." And, you do know. The sacrifices are 6AM wake up calls on gamedays, shorts only in November. It is having to blow as much hot air as possible through your horn just to keep it from freezing up. It is dips in the lake after a humid August practice, long bus rides, and longer Saturdays in the hot sun.

But one a chilly Friday every November none of that matters, it is memories, it is friendships, it is those magical moments you never forget, and it is pride in your band and in your school. Cheers.