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Fun Facts: Wisconsin vs. Florida State

The Champs Sports Bowl should be a good time.

by Amanda Ozment

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These guys pretty much helped make Wisco football.

The first time Bobby Bowden led the Seminoles to a bowl game in Orlando was in 1977. About a week later, Bret Bielema celebrated his 7th birthday. Fast forward thirty-one years to the Champs Sports Bowl and the first ever meeting between Wisconsin and Florida State: both teams boast a storied football history, both teams share an unrelenting itch to end their otherwise lackluster year on a high note, and what we really want to know is: if Bucky the Badger and Chief Osceola get into a fight, who wins?

1. If this were 1940, our money would be on Bucky. After all, that was the year that Wisconsin paraded an actual badger along the sidelines as the school's official mascot. Nowadays, though, it's hard to say, lest we forget this unfortunate incident involving a certain mascot getting his posterior handed to him by a bunch of cheerleaders.

2. Bucky seems no match for Chief Osceola and his flaming spear, unless, of course, he wants to try and accomplish what Sebastian the Ibis could not.

3. Assuming a mascot fight doesn't turn into a coaches fight, Bret Bielema may be the key to helping Bobby Bowden surpass Joe Pa's all-time wins record.

4. Be honest—when you look at Myron Rolle the first thing you think is "Rhodes Scholar," right?

5. Wisconsin's Marching Band has been long regarded as one of nation's best. This year, though, it made international news for something else. Maybe it's time to introduce the band to a new "5th Quarter" song list?

6. And speaking of beverage-induced controversy, how about the "Firewater" scandal? Who needs Gatorade when you've got Simply Orange, though?

7. Every coach has a catch phrase, and Bret Bielema is no exception.

8. Bobby Bowden's dadgum reputation precedes him, but we're willing to bet that it won't help him get a room at the Waldorf-Astoria any time soon.

9. Have you ever wondered what it might be like to be in the mosh pit at a House of Pain concert? Here's your answer. That's only at home games, right?

10. Uh oh, looks like it's on.


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