The second tour date of the HLN Student Section Challenge brought me to Milwaukee and the Panther Student Section. Milwaukee upended their in-state rival Green Bay by a final a score of 71-51.
While analyzing UWM's student section I was reminded of my four-year college experience; day after day of absolutely randomness. And in the Panther Student Section on Saturday randomness was the only word to describe some of the things I saw.
Random sightings: A guy in a welders hat... a guy in a "pimp" hat... a 10-year boy wearing his weight in Mardi Gras beads...a minimum 15 Big Lumber look-a-likes (must be all that Wisconsin cheese)... three guys sitting next to each other wearing Bobcats, Sonics and Timberwolves jerseys...and one student sitting in the exact middle of the section wearing a bright pink t-shirt. He looked like a crocodile at an alligator rally (Family Guy reference).
Finally, the student sections' hatred for Green Bay forward Randy Berry. They hazed Berry the entire game and when the six-foot nine-inch senior fouled out in the fourth quarter with zero points, the students erupted as if Ricky Franklin hit a game-winning shot.
When asked why Berry, one of the front row students replied, "I honestly have no idea."
Also in the front row was Steve Franz, an obvious leader of the Milwaukee Student Section (see video below). Steve's attire was a good representation of the section on Saturday as he donned a bandana, yellow tinted aviators, beads, and a Panther tie that looked like he used for a napkin while eating some late night pizza.
So well done Milwaukee, you easily score a perfect 10 in the uniqueness category and in the words of Fall Out Boy, "Thanks for the Memories"
Coming your way next Loyola... be ready!
Stay crazy, Horizon League.
-Mike
Remaining Challenge Tour Dates Jan. 21: Butler at Loyola Jan. 23: Butler at UIC Jan. 30: Loyola at Wright State Feb. 6: Detroit at Valparaiso Feb. 13: Butler at Cleveland State Feb. 16: Cleveland State at Green Bay Feb. 20: TBA at Detroit (BracketBuster Game) Feb. 27: Detroit at Youngstown State
