Badgers
Chapter VIII - “Trouble at the KK corral” TIME: FALL 2009 SETTING: MANDY, AN ATTRACTIVE ATHLETIC HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL RECRUIT FROM JANESVILLE CRAIG HIGH SCHOOL IN WISCONSIN FINALLY BEGINS HER THIRD YEAR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN. MANDY COMPETES AND WINS A STARTING STRIKER POSITION AGAINST A SENIOR ON THE UW VOLLEYBALL TEAM. HER MAJOR IS ELEMENTARY EDUCATION AND SHE RESIDES AT THE DG ( DELTA GAMMA ) HOUSE ON CAMPUS. MANDY HAD A HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART, MAX, WHO ATTENDED RIPON COLLEGE - AN HOUR AWAY. MAX RECENTLY TRAUMATICALLY DIED FROM A CYCLING ACCIDENT NEAR GREEN LAKE, WI. MANDY WAS RAISED CATHOLIC, AND HAS RECENTLY WALKED AWAY FROM THE CHURCH. MANDY HAS A CLOSE CIRCLE OF FRIENDS INCLUDING ALEX AND JAN. ALEX BECAME THE STARTING QB ON THE BADGER TEAM AFTER AN INJURY TO THE STARTER. JAN IS MANDY’S VERY CLOSE FRIEND AND ROOMMATE IN NURSING SCHOOL. JAN IS ALSO THE MOST TALKATIVE AND ATTRACTIVE DELTA GAMMA (DG) GAL ON CAMPUS. FOLLOW ALONG AS THESE “ BADGERS “ EXPERIENCE ACADEMIC, GREEK, AND ATHLETIC COLLEGE LIFE IN MADISON AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN. MANDY HEY ALEX - GREAT FOOTBALL SEASON. ALEX YES - WE AT LEAST GOT TO A BOWL GAME - COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. MANDY WELL I ACTUALLY MADE IT TO MOST OF THE GAMES. EVEN THE GAMES YOU LOST YOU WERE IN IT TO THE END - VERY COMPETITIVE. ALEX I GUESS THAT WILL BE IT AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR FOR ME AS FAR AS FOOTBALL GOES. MANDY NO WAY - AREN’T YOU GOING TO THE COMBINE? ALEX NO WAY! I’D NEVER MAKE IT IN A MILLION YEARS. THESE GUYS LIVE THEIR WHOLE LIFE DREAMING OF THE NFL. THAT ISN’T ME.
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MANDY BUT BIG BUCKS, STARDOM, FAME, NOTORIETY, AND YOU COULD DO BANQUETS THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. ALEX RIGHT. I’M STILL TRYING TO GET INTO DENT SCHOOL. IT WON’T BE EASY WITH A “C” IN ORGANIC CHEMISTRY. MANDY WON’T THAT BE BUFFERED BY THE “C” COMING FROM THE UW? ALEX YES - MAYBE TO SOME DEGREE. BUT A “C” IS A “C.” THE PROFESSOR WAS ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE. I COULDN’T UNDERSTAND NOR GET WHAT HE WANTED. REALLY SUCKED. MANDY YES, I’VE HEARD EVEN GETTING A “B” IN THAT CLASS IS AMAZING. MOST GET “Cs.” ANYWAY I’M PROUD OF YOU FOR HANGING IN THERE. ALEX WELL I REALLY DON’T HAVE PLANS WHEN I LEAVE HERE. IF I DON’T GET INTO DENTAL SCHOOL, I REALLY DON’T WANT TO GO INTO GRAD SCHOOL IN BIOLOGY OR CHEMISTRY - GOD FORBID. MANDY YOU JUST WANT TO BE A DENTIST PERIOD. ALEX ABSOLUTELY. I FEEL RIGHT NOW MY ONLY CHANCE IS THAT THE INTERVIEWER - IF I ACTUALLY GET AN INTERVIEW THIS SPRING - IS A UW FOOTBALL FAN. MARQUETTE IS MY BEST BET TO GET INTO DENT SCHOOL. MANDY WELL THOSE FOLKS OVER AT MARQUETTE COULD CARE LESS ABOUT UW STUFF, AND DON’T EVEN RECOGNIZE WE HAVE SPORTS TEAMS HERE. MILWAUKEE FOLKS THINK COLLEGE LIFE HERE IS A 4 YEAR BEER BASH. ALEX AND HANGING OUT AT THE KK! MANDY SO WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE KK? DID THEY EVER GET OVER THE TROUBLE THEY WERE HAVING WITH MINORS AND FAKE IDS?
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ALEX LOTS OF US BOYCOTTED THE PLACE AFTER WE HEARD - I DON’T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. THE LAWS AROUND HERE ARE SO STUPID. WE CAN KILL THE ENEMY IN AFGHANISTAN BUT CANNOT HAVE A BEER IN DOWNTOWN MADISON UNTIL YOU’RE 21. OUR PARENTS LAUGH AT THESE LAWS. THEY ALL HAD THE BEER BARS WITH 3.2 AT AGE 18. MANDY THOSE DAYS ARE LONG GONE. NOW WE ALL DEAL WITH THE AFTERMATH OF OUR PARENTS GENERATION. ALEX YES, DO YOU ACTUALLY BELIEVE WHAT WENT ON HERE YEARS AGO? THIS PLACE IS TAME TO WHAT IT WAS FORMERLY. MANDY YES MY PARENTS LAUGH AT MOST OF THE STUFF THEY WERE INVOLVED IN YEARS AGO ON CAMPUS. I DON’T THINK THEY REALLY TOOK THIS STUFF SERIOUSLY. ALEX WELL IF WAR PROTESTS, FREE SEX, VERY LIBERAL PROFESSORS, NO DORM LAWS ENFORCED, AND ANYTHING SHORT OF MALICIOUS BEHAVIOR ON STATE STREET WAS ACCEPTABLE THEN, IT ISN’T NOW. EVERYTHING IS PC NOW. THINGS HAVE CHANGED. MANDY I DON’T KNOW. NOT SO FAST! PLAYBOY HAS RANKED THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN THE #1 PARTY SCHOOL FOR YEARS WITH OSHKOSH AND BOULDER A BIT BEHIND. ALEX MADISON SEEMS COMPLACENT THESE DAYS. WE’RE MORE INTO SERIOUS SPORTS, ARTS, POLITICS, AND............ MANDY FAMILY STUFF. I GET IT. BUT MAYBE THAT ISN’T SO BAD AFTER ALL. WE’RE ALL ON OUR WAY TO HANGING CLOTHES OUTSIDE AS MY MOM PUTS IT. ALEX I DON’T KNOW. COLLEGE HAS TO BE SOMETHING MORE. A BETTER EXPERIENCE. LOOK AT OUR FOOTBALL COACHES. WE GET TIRELESS TALKS AND COUNSELORS TELLING US TO NOT SMOKE MARIJUANA, DRINK ANY BEER, AND NOT GET INVOLVED WITH GIRLS.
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MANDY THOSE GUYS ARE JUST DOING WHAT THE UW TOLD THEM THEY HAVE TO DO. PROTECT THE BAD GUYS. ALEX I DON’T KNOW. SEEMS YEARS AGO AROUND HERE DEVIANT BEHAVIOR WAS MUCH MORE ACCEPTED. MANDY THAT DOESN’T MAKE IT RIGHT. ALEX YES I KNOW. BUT WHAT IT DOES IS PUT US ALL ON EGGSHELLS. WE ARE VERY SHORTLY TO BE TREATED AS ADULTS. MANDY I KNOW I’M NOT READY. HECK OUR VOLLEYBALL SEASON KIND OF ENDED ON THE SKIDS. ALEX AT LEAST YOU GALS WERE COMPETITIVE. MANDY WELL OUR COACHES WERE NOT VERY HAPPY. SOME OF THE RECRUITS HAVE NOT PRODUCED, WE CANNOT FINISH A SET LET ALONE A LONG POINT. ALEX YES IT SEEMS WHEN THE SCORE IS CLOSE AT THE END OF A SET THE BADGERS CANNOT FINISH. MANDY I REALLY DON’T KNOW WHAT IT IS. THE OLD FIELD HOUSE JUST WASN’T ROCKIN LIKE I KNOW IT CAN. AT TIMES WE OUT SHINE THE OPPONENT. ONE WEEK WE HAVE MORE KILLS AND LOSE, THE NEXT WEEK MORE DIGS, AND THE NEXT WEEK OUR SERVICE ACES OR BLOCKS ARE FANTASTIC. BUT WE CANNOT PUT THINGS TOGETHER – WE LACK CHEMISTRY. ALEX MAYBE IT IS YOUR CHEMISTRY. IS THERE CONFLICT ON THE TEAM? WHAT ABOUT CAROLINE? MANDY NO CONFLICT REALLY. ALEX DO YOU AND CAROLINE EVEN TALK ANYMORE?
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MANDY YES. I’M OK WITH THE RICH WELLMAN THING. I’M GLAD HE IS WITH HER THAN ME. I’VE HEARD STUFF ABOUT HIM THAT MAKES ME JUST CRINGE. ALEX LIKE WHAT? MANDY WELL I’VE HEARD THE GUY IS SO POMPOUS. I MEAN HE IS CUTE AND ALL, BUT HE’S ONLY A TENNIS PLAYER. IF HE WAS SO GOOD HE WOULDN’T BE IN THE BIG TEN. HE’D BE AT STANFORD OR PLAYING PRO BY NOW. ALEX I’VE HEARD THE GUY MAY WIN THE BIG 10 THIS YEAR.....AND THEN SEE WHERE HIS EGO TAKES HIM. MANDY ANYWAY NO DOUBT THE GUY IS THE #1 LOOKER ON CAMPUS...BUT I’M NOT A JERSEY CHASER. ALEX I ACTUALLY SAW RICH WALKING INTO THE KK A FEW WEEKS AGO. MANDY WELL UNLESS THIS BAN IS APPEALED HE WON’T BE ABLE TO GO THERE THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF THE 2010 SEMESTER. THE KK IS SUSPENDED FOR THOSE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF THE NEXT SEMESTER. ALEX WELL IT WILL STILL BE THE PLACE TO FIND A MATE THE THIRD WEEK. CHEAP BEER - AT LEAST MILLER HIGH LIFE. MANDY THEIR FOOD IS DECENT IF YOU ARE REAL HUNGRY. BUT I REALLY DON’T WANT TO GO THERE AND SEE RICH AND CAROLINE - OUR TEAM BITCH - AND HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT. WE NEED TO FIND A NEW HANGOUT. WE’LL ALL BE 21 SOON AND WON’T NEED THESE FAKE IDS AND ALL THE BS THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH. ALEX YES I’M ONLY A COUPLE OF MONTHS AWAY. MANDY THEN YOU’LL BE PREPARING FOR THE COMBINE.
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ALEX NO WAY - UNLESS THE BOWL GAME IS OUT OF THIS WORLD, I WON’T BE AT THE COMBINE. I’LL BE FILLING OUT APPLICATIONS TO EASTERN EUROPEAN DENTAL SCHOOLS MOST LIKELY. MANDY GOOD GOD ALEX, ¬SI HAS YOUR ARM AS ONE OF THE STRONGEST. TAKE THAT TO THE BANK. ARE YOU CRAZY? YOU SHOULD BE SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS OUTSIDE OF CAMP RANDALL DAILY. ALEX I’M A BACKUP QB. THAT IS ALL. AND I WON’T BE ANY BETTER IN THE NFL, CANADIAN, OR ANY OTHER FOOTBALL LEAGUE. TRUST ME. MANDY SO ARE YOU EVER GOING TO ASK JAN OUT AGAIN? ALEX NO...I HAVE NO FUTURE UNLESS I GET INTO DENTAL SCHOOL. SHE IS HEADING OFF IN A COUPLE YEARS TO TEXAS WHEN SHE FINISHES NURSING SCHOOL. WHY GET BOGGED DOWN? MANDY OH I DON’T KNOW. EXCUSE ME I’M STILL REELING OVER MAX. AND NOW I HAVE TO DEAL WITH HIS RIPON LOVER HAVING HER BABY IN JANESVILLE NEXT MONTH. GOOD GOD. MAX’S PARENTS I KNOW ARE DOING THE CORRECT THING, BUT HAVING THAT GIRL DOWN THE STREET IS WAY TOO MUCH FOR ME. ALEX AND YOUR PARENTS DON’T LIVE FAR AWAY. RIGHT? MANDY MY MOM AND DAD WILL SEE THAT BABY CARRIAGE THIS SPRING WALK BY THEIR HOUSE. ALEX HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT WILL HAPPEN? MAYBE SHE’LL GO THE OTHER WAY WITH THE BABY. MANDY NO THEY GO ALL OVER IN JANESVILLE. ALEX WHY IS THAT?
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MANDY BECAUSE THERE IS FLAT OUT NOTHING ELSE TO DO IN JANESVILLE. ALEX WELL I THINK WE ALL HAVE TO DEAL WITH STUFF. YOUR FAMILY WILL JUST HAVE TO DEAL WITH LITTLE MAX I GUESS. MANDY ALEX I THOUGHT YOU WERE A REAL FRIEND. NOW YOU ARE ACTING LIKE ALL MALES - CRIPPLING JERKS. ALEX I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN TOUGH. MANDY YOU JUST DON’T REALIZE WHAT I’VE BEEN THROUGH. MY GOD TO LOSE A GOOD FRIEND AND BOYFRIEND YOU’VE KNOW SINCE PRESCHOOL. THIS WASN’T JUST A BREAKUP, THIS WAS A DEATH. AND ON TOP OF THAT, MAX IS REINCARNATED WITH THIS BITCH OF A GIRLFRIEND HE APPARENTLY HAD. ALEX MANDY, I FEEL YOU REALLY NEED COUNSELING. BIG TIME. MANDY NO - I JUST NEED TO ESCAPE WISCONSIN. I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN MY OTHER VOLLEYBALL SCHOLARSHIP OFFER AND GONE TO UCLA. BUT OH NO, I HAD TO STAY AROUND HOME, DATE THE GUY I’VE KNOWN FOREVER. NOW MY LIFE REALLY SUCKS. I’M MAD, DEPRESSED, WITHOUT A GUY AND NO HOPE OF EVER FINDING ONE IN THIS SHAPE. AND OUR VOLLEYBALL TEAM WENT FROM BEING RANKED TO NEARLY THE BIG TEN CELLAR. ALEX WELL LIFE DOESN’T ALWAYS TREAT US FAIRLY. WE MAY HAVE LITTLE CONTROL OVER OUR LIVES ANYWAY. WE DON’T KNOW. MANDY WELL I HAVE NOT BEEN TO MASS EXCEPTING WHEN I GO HOME TO JANESVILLE BECAUSE OF THIS. I ALMOST FEEL THAT THE WORLD HAS DEALT ME A BAD BLOW. ALEX MANDY, YOU WERE INTENDING TO BREAK UP WITH MAX ANYWAY. HE WAS NO LONGER YOUR BOYFRIEND. BOTH OF YOU HAD MOVED ON. THIS WHOLE BIKE ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WITH OR WITHOUT YOU TWO AS BOYFRIEND GIRLFRIEND. QUIT FEELING GUILTY. 8
MANDY I SHOULD HAVE BROKEN UP WHEN WE BECAME FRESHMAN AND WENT OFF TO COLLEGE. NEITHER OF US HAD THE GUTS TO ADMIT WE DIDN’T LOVE ONE ANOTHER ANY LONGER AND WE WERE JUST TRYING TO PLEASE OUR PARENTS. ALEX THAT PROBABLY IS NOT A VALID REASON TO CONTINUE TO SEE SOMEONE ON A ROMANTIC LEVEL. WE ARE NOT ASSIGNED MATES. THIS ISN’T INDIA WHERE ALL SUBJECTS ARE MARRIED BY THEIR FAMILIES. MANDY I CANNOT STOP CRYING. YOU ARE A GUY ALEX. YOU JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND FEELINGS THAT GIRLS EXPERIENCE. YOU HAVE SO LITTLE INSIGHT. RIGHT NOW I’M SO SCREWED UP THAT NONE OF MY FRIENDS, PARENTS, THE BADGER VOLLEYBALL TEAM, AND MY PROFESSORS WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH ME. I’M A MESS AND I DON’T WANT TO GO TO A PSYCHIATRIST OR COUNSELOR. JUST DON’T. ALEX WELL I HAVE READ THOSE STUDIES THAT SAY YOU ARE JUST AS WELL OFF TALKING TO YOUR BROTHER AS YOU ARE A SHRINK. YOU ARE NOT THINKING OF DOING SOMETHING STUPID ARE YOU? MANDY NO WAY! I’M NOT THAT STUPID. I HAVE MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS. I’LL GET THROUGH THIS. MAYBE I’LL JUST CHILL FOR A BIT, HANG OUT AT THE KK SINCE IT’S JUST DOWN THE BLOCK. WHO KNOWS? WHAT IS SO BAD FALLING IN LOVE WITH A GUY THAT WANTS TO HAVE FUN? THAT IS WHAT ALL THE OTHER GALS IN SORORITIES HERE ARE DOING. ALEX YES SOME ARE. MAYBE YOU AND I TAKE LIFE TOO SERIOUSLY. IF WE DON’T WIN AN ATHLETIC EVENT, OR WE GET A BAD GRADE, OR DON’T END UP IN THE ARMS OF THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER MATE THEN WE ARE DEPRESSED. WE BOTH NEED TO CHILL. MANDY IT’S NO DIFFERENT AT THE PANHELLENIC COUNSEL. THESE FOLKS TAKE GREEK TO THE EXTREME. I MEAN IT’S OK TO VOLUNTEER, ASSIST OTHERS, AND ALWAYS HELP ONE ANOTHER IN NEED....BUT WE ARE ALSO IN GREEK TO HAVE A BIT OF FUN, FELLOWSHIP, AND COMRADERIE. MAYBE THE KK IS THE ANSWER.
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ALEX ALL I KNOW IS THAT YOU CAN GET A DRAFT FOR A BUCK FIFTY...AND THERE ISN’T MANY OF THOSE PLACES LEFT. MANDY OK SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? ALEX FOR YOU, IT’S OFF SEASON WORKOUTS, STUDY AND PLAY HARD, GET OVER THE MAX THING, AND SUPPORT MAX’S GIRLFRIEND WITH THE NEW BABY. YOU JUST HAVE TO DEAL. MANDY GOT IT. I’LL JUST KEEP UP WITH MY EDUCATIONAL CLASSES. AND I’LL BE THANKFUL FOR JAN MY SUPER GREAT NURSING COLLEGE ROOMMATE WHO JUST PRESSES ON. YOU KNOW SHE IS INFATUATED WITH YOU ALEX. ALEX WELL I REALLY LIKE HER, BUT I AM SO SERIOUS OF A GUY THAT IF ANYTHING SERIOUS HAPPENED.....WELL I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT HER AND A FAMILY. MANDY YOU NEED TO GET A GRIP. JUST BECAUSE THE UW RUNS THE BALL MOST OF THE TIME DOESN’T MEAN YOU CANNOT TRY OUT FOR THE NFL - ESPECIALLY IF ¬SI SAYS YOU HAVE AN NFL ARM. AGAIN GET A GRIP. ALEX YOU’RE RIGHT. I NEED TO THINK ABOUT THIS A BIT. I WAS BASING EVERYTHING OFF MY OWN AND MY FAMILY’S ASSESSMENT THAT I WILL NEVER MAKE MONEY AS AN ATHLETE. 99% OF COLLEGE ATHLETES MAKE ZERO MONEY AFTER COLLEGE IN ATHLETICS. MANDY I’M NOT GETTING WEALTHY PLAYING VOLLEYBALL. IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW MANY DIGS, SERVE ACES, BLOCKS, ASSISTS, OR SETS I DO. WHEN I GRADUATE IT IS OVER HERE IN MADISON. I MOVE ON TO ADULTHOOD. I WILL NOT MAKE MONEY AT VOLLEYBALL. EVEN THE FEW VOLLEYBALL GALS IN THE OLYMPICS....WELL MOST MAKE VERY LITTLE IF ANYTHING. ALEX WELL I’VE GOT A MOLECULAR GENETICS TEST IN THE MORNING...FOR WHICH I NEED TO ATTEND A STUDY GROUP AT WHITE STARTING SHORTLY.
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MANDY THAT PLACE IS SO CROWDED AND LOUD. I CANNOT STAND IT. I STILL GO OVER TO THE STUDY AREA AT WATERS. ALEX YOU ARE KIDDING. THEY STILL LET YOU IN? MANDY I FLAT OUT MISS THE PLACE. I HAD THE DORM DIRECTOR COMPUTER IN MY KEY CARD SO I CAN GET IN. ELIZABETH WATERS IS REALLY LIKE HOME TO ME. REMEMBER I’M AN ALUMNI AND THEY CLEARLY SAID ALL ALUMNI CAN RETURN AT ANY TIME. ALEX BUT THE COED THING...IT REALLY KIND OF WRECKED THE MYSTIQUE OF WATERS. MANDY THE UW STILL HAS COLE. THE FACT THAT GUYS ROOM IN WATERS ISN’T THAT BIG OF A DEAL. SOME ARE DECENT LOOKING. ALEX WELL I’M GETTING THIS TEXT FROM SOME OF THE FOOTBALL GUYS WHO HAVE BEEN TALKING TO COACHES TODAY. THEY SAY THE RUNNING GAME WILL BE THE DECOY FOR MY ARM IN THE BOWL GAME. MANDY THAT IS COOL. HERE IS YOUR CHANCE. NO ONE IS EXPECTING ANYTHING FROM YOU WITH OUR RUNNING GAME. ALEX OH HERE COMES JAN. MAYBE I’LL ASK HER OUT FOR A BEER AT THE KK IF SHE’LL GO FRIDAY NIGHT. MANDY I’M SURE SHE WILL. ALEX WE WILL ALWAYS BE FRIENDS EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE A GUY. CATCH UP WITH YOU LATER.
END - BADGERS VIII
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