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There was something missing besides a field goal or two for the Badgers, who lost 20-17.
The scene had just about everything.
There was a national television audience. There were more than 80,000 red-clad fans screaming for Bucky.
There were cheerleaders and tailgating and television timeouts and all the things we’re used to.
And, there was plenty of music — loud, raucous, recorded music.
But it just wasn’t the same without the University of Wisconsin Marching Band.
No pregame show. No halftime performance. No Fifth Quarter.
Never mind that television coverage shows us talking heads and highlights instead of the marching band. The band has been a part of the fun at Wisconsin home football games since the 1920s.
It’s the same band we see most every spring in the La Crosse Center helping raise money for charity and on Wisconsin Public Television during its fundraising campaign.
The University of Wisconsin Marching Band has a heritage of spirit and musicianship and excitement.
Unfortunately, because of some boorish hazing, the band also has a heritage of over-the-top behavior.
The band was put on probation by the chancellor in 2006 for naughty behavior on a road trip.
On Friday, Michael Leckrone, director of the marching band since 1969, caught wind of more allegations — alcohol-fueled hazing that involved inappropriate sexual behavior.
So Leckrone and other university officials met with the band on the eve of the big game and told them they were being benched.
As always, it only takes a few morons to ruin it for the 300-plus members of the band.
There’s talk of an investigation into the bad behavior, and whether it violated band or university rules of conduct.
It’s a shame that officials have to waste their time on such nonsense.
Leckrone told The Wisconsin State Journal on Saturday that the behavior involves a small number of students.
“I think there’s a counterculture that really operates outside of the band structure that feels like this is the cool thing, this is what being part of the band is. We’ve stressed that’s not the case at all.”
When Leckrone announced the decision Friday to silence the band, he said he believes “I hit them between the eyes with a sledgehammer.”
“You get 18- or 19-year-old kids who don’t always use the best adult judgment,” Leckrone said. “They think it’s part of the organization. I think it’s a hard thing to break down.”
It may be hard to break down that type of heritage, but it’s certainly possible.
And, sometimes, a sledgehammer is the appropriate tool for getting across the message.
The Badgers host another prime-time game Saturday against a nationally ranked opponent — Penn State.
Let’s hope the band and the university act swiftly to toss out the off-key idiots and get the band back on the field hitting all the right notes.
