B1G Champs

Last year the Badger women's Volleyball team surprised a lot of people with a run that finished in the Championship game and a runner-up spot.

That put a lot of expectations on this year's edition, and Friday night the team reached it's first goal - a B1G title - the first outright crown since 2001.

They played Purdue in their final home and last regular season game of the season, and throughout the game it was difficult to understand how Wisconsin (#2 Nationally) could handle the #18 team so handily.

It was a straight set win for the Badgers in front of a raucous sold-out crowd in the U.W. Field House.

The game was exciting - with each set full of jaw - dropping digs that kept points alive and amazing kills that finished off scores.

Unfortunately, it took me all season to get to a volleyball game in person, and I'm glad I finally did.

Women's collegiate athletics have been great fun to be a part of here in Madison.

And, by "part of," I mean fan.

Especially of the Badger women's Volleyball and Hockey teams.

The teams play at a high level and put on exciting games.

The athletes are truly student - athletes in the fullest and best sense of the word and are very easy teams to cheer.

Memories of Badger athletics in my lifetime started with some occasional tales of gridiron heroes during the 1970s who achieved notoriety and success while playing on teams who were still trying to find consistent victories on the field.

Just the "Fifth Quarter" was the real draw to Badger Football back then - as fans loved the free-wheeling Wisconsin Marching Band performance after the game more than the game that preceded it.

It was in the early 1990s when the school's athletic fortunes seemed to turn - first with football under Coach Barry Alvarez, then men's basketball a little later with Stu Jackson leading to Dick Bennett who created the teams fans cheer today.

Looking on from a perch under the rafters in the corner of a rocking Field House - it's great fun now to be a Badger fan and enjoy the ride.

Yet, it's good to pause and enjoy the triumph and promise in women's volleyball and the football team's win to advance to the B1G Championship game in Indianapolis next weekend, and really enjoy the accomplishments while not getting dragged down when they don't meet our very lofty hopes.

Let's smile and applaud and cheer as the Wisconsin student - athletes give us memories and accomplishments to cheer.

Well done, ladies, congrats on your Big Ten title!