Mr. Buckingham U. Badger

Mr. Buckingham U. Badger

A few words on Bucky by a loyal student

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Got Milk?

Badger blog from a genuine UW student

A book about Mr. Buckingham U. Badger

Badgers in the wild

Something to ponder

John Ellenson

http://www.rschooltoday.com/grantsburg/johnellenson

Created by: John Ellenson

jcellenson@yahoo.com

Badgers in various forms have been recognized as the school 
mascot for decades. The version currently known as Bucky, 
sporting a cardinal and white letter sweater, was first drawn in 
1940 by artist Art Evans. At that time, the badger went by names 
like Benny, Buddy, Bernie, Bobby and Bouncey. Art Lentz, the 
department's publicity director, had the idea to bring the mascot 
to life. 
The original badger mascot was too vicious to control. On 
more than one occasion, the live badger escaped handlers 
before a sideline hero recaptured the animal with a flying tackle.
It was decided in the interest of fan and player safety that 
Wisconsin's mascot be retired to the Madison Zoo. The Badger 
Yearbook replaced the live badger with a small raccoon named 
Regdab (badger backwards) and passed it off as a "badger in 
a raccoon coat." In 1949, a student in the university's art 
department, Connie Conrad, was commissioned to mold a 
papier-m�ch� badger head. Gymnast and cheerleader, 
Bill Sagal, of Plymouth, Wis., was directed by homecoming 
chair Bill Sachse, to wear the outfit at the homecoming game. 
A contest was staged to name the popular mascot. The winner 
was Buckingham U. Badger, or Bucky. The name apparently 
came from the lyrics in a song which encouraged the football 
team to "buck right through that line."

UW Facts 
Established 1848 
Total Enrollment in 2001: 41,219 Men: 19,769 (48%) 
Women: 21,450 (52%)
Wisconsin Residents: 26,093 (63%)

Freshman Class of 2001 Demographics Applicants: 20,330 *record high*
Admitted: 5,919 (29%)
50% from top 10% of graduating class
87% from top 20% of graduating class

2001 Tuition In-State: $3,170/year
Out-of-State: $13,920/year
UW-Madison has the second-lowest tuition in the Big Ten

Budget $1,511,681,813 State Support $399,324,792 (26.4%)
Percentage of state support in 1973: 44%
Federal programs and projects: $367,405,672 (25%) 
Gifts, grants and segregated funds: $270,758,337 (18%)
Percentage of overall UW System budget: 48.4%

National Rankings Voluntary Support Among Public Universities: First
Number of Peace Corps Volunteers: Second 
Public Universities: Eighth (U.S. News & World Report) 
UW Hospital and Clinics ranked among the top 3 percent of the nation's major medical centers in 12 medical specialties

34 graduate departments are rated among the top 10 in the country 
Fun Facts 
Bucky Badger's full name is Buckingham U. Badger.
Annual tuition in 1900 was $20. 
Graduating law students toss white canes over the goalpost at Homecoming. Legend has it that if they catch the canes on the other side, they'll win their first case.
The Marching Band started wearing their caps backward after a Badger win in the 1920s to symbolize looking back at their victory. 
Freshmen were forced to wear green Eton caps in 1901 as part of a dress code.
One in every 790 living Americans has at least one degree from UW-Madison. 
The university has 10,649 acres of land and some 850 buildings. 
17 Nobel Prizes and 24 Pulitzer Prizes have been awarded to UW faculty or alumni. 
More than 30,000 doctorates have been awarded by UW-Madison. Few institutions in the world can match that record.