College football tailgating is different at every school. One of the many things that make tailgating in Madison unique is the lack of parking lots and abundance of neighborhoods surrounding the stadium. With this comes traditions that are unique to Madison. One of these is the Badger Short Bus Brigade.
During my senior year at Wisconsin, I lived in one of the neighborhoods surrounding Camp Randall. Parked a few doors down from my house was this red Wisconsin shortbus. I was always curious to who owned it and what the story behind it was, but never sought out the answers. I would occasionally see it in action on gamedays, carrying fans all around campus. It looked like a lot of fun. In 2010, I returned to my first Badger game since the 07 season and was shocked to see the bus back in action. 
Like a mythical creature, it was there and then gone in a matter of moments. I had to know more about this tailgating tradition! In doing research for the 2011 tailgate tour, I was determined to find out who and what this bus was all about. Through a lot of googling and sifting through link after link, I stumbled across the Badger Short Bus Brigade. So here is the scoop on this Wisconsin Tailgating Tradition. The bus is owned by Dain, Paul, 
Tom, Tom, and Brian (Brian wasn’t there so he isn’t pictured)
I will let them explain what the Badger Short Bus Brigade is, so watch this quick video.
When I first saw the Badger Short Bus in 2007, I didn’t realize that it was its inaugural season. Since, I graduated and moved away from Madison, the legend of the short bus has grown. It is known throughout campus as something to lookout for on gameday. As I stood outside the bus watching the guys pick up more people, there were cheers from the crowd as they drove by. With every stop they made around campus they would pick up friends, alumni, and badger fans they had yet to meet! Like all Wisconsin football games, if you are a badger you have 80,000 new friends on gameday! Here are some scenes from riding around on gameday with the Short Bus Brigade.
This bus picked me and my friends up outside State Street Brats around 9am. For the next hour or so, we drove around campus making new friends and picking up fellow fans and taking them to their tailgate.
Some friends brought food with them! With an 11am kickoff, bloody marys, breakfast pizza, and red jello shots are the best way to prepare for gameday!
When seated inside the bus, you have the best views of all the tailgates going on throughout Madison!
Some tailgaters will have passengers on the bus partake in their gameday traditions.
As new riders boarded, there was no shortage of hi fives!
While riding around, it was impossible not to have a good time!
Wherever your end destination may be, the Badger Short Bus Brigade will get you there! They are a Tailgating Tradition on Madison’s campus and I can’t wait to hopefully see them at a road game next season!
Thanks again to Dain, Paul, Tom, and Tom, for letting me spend my gameday on the Badger Short Bus. If you are interested in taking a ride on the short bus, you can find The Badger Short Bus Brigade online http://www.badgershortbus.com/ or on Twitter @badgershortbus
On Wisconsin!
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