University of Wisconsin

:For the University of Wisconsin system, see University of Wisconsin System.

Sports

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The school's sports teams are nicknamed the Wisconsin Badgers. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A and in the Big Ten Conference; its men's and women's hockey programs compete in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.

Related Topics:
Wisconsin Badgers - NCAA - Division I-A - Big Ten Conference - Hockey - Western Collegiate Hockey Association

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Football

One of the most popular sports at the Wisconsin is college football. Playing at the 80,000-plus capacity Camp Randall Stadium, the Badgers have always drawn large crowds and a loyal following.

Related Topics:
College football - Camp Randall Stadium

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Rivalries

The Wisconsin Badgers are very competitive in the Big Ten Conference. Their most notable rivalry is the annual college football game between the Wisconsin Badgers and the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers for Paul Bunyan's Axe, which is the longest-running rivalry in NCAA sports.

Related Topics:
Big Ten Conference - College football - University of Minnesota - Paul Bunyan's Axe - NCAA

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Mascot

The signature mascot is an anthropomorphized badger named Bucky who dons a sweater affixed with the University of Wisconsin athletic logo (currently the red "Motion W"). Beginning in 1890, the university's first Bucky Badger was a live, tempermental and unruly badger who was quickly retired. Although the nickname of the Wisconsin teams remained the "Badgers," it was not until Art Evans drew the early caricature version of Bucky in 1940 that today's recognizable image of Bucky was adopted. In 1949, a contest was held to name the mascot, but no consensus was reached after only a few entries were received. In reaction, the contest committee chose the name Buckingham U. Badger, or "Bucky" for short.

Related Topics:
Anthropomorphized - Badger - Bucky

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