The trip began at 5:32 a.m.

Actually, our trip to the NIU-Wisconsin game started on Wednesday when we got our tickets.

Better late than never.

From that time on, all of our minds were on the game.

Mike, Clint and myself made the trek to the University of Illinois last season so we began the mental preparation that is required to cheer for your team on the road, especially as the underdog.

A buddy from three doors down, Nick, also came along to complete the foursome.

On Friday night we made the mandatory trip to Wal-Mart to pick up the essentials.

Charcoal, wings, brats, steak, chips, salsa, ice, as well as other odds and ends to make the trip perfect.

My roommates and I headed off to the bar at midnight in celebration of my 21st birthday.

Since it was after 12:00 a.m. I was legally 21. What a wonderful feeling.

We planned on leaving for Wisconsin at 5:30 a.m.

After doing things that people over 21 do, it was off to bed for me while the roommates engaged in a fierce game of Madden 2003 for Playstation 2.

At 5 a.m. the alarm made the most hideous noise I had ever heard.

Up and at ’em.

After loading up the food, beer and grill, we made the mandatory stop at 7-Eleven and we were ready to go.

Since I drive an El Camino, one car for the four of us was obviously out. So, my El Camino and Nick’s Baby Blue Skylark departed for Madison around 6:15.

Mike wasted little time catching up on lost sleep.

In my rearview mirror, I could see Mike’s head wedged between the seat and the window of Nick’s Skylark. What a picture.

Clint and I managed to stay awake for the whole trip and reminisced about our road trip to Illinois last year as well as our chances later that afternoon.

The verdict … keep it close and gain some respect.

We arrived at Madison, and after 20 minutes of driving around side streets, found a place to park.

First things first, the NIU flag that was rigged up to a broom stick was proudly placed above our camp.

After meeting up with a few other NIU fans, we began to settle in.

The grill was lit, the brew was cold and my three best buddies and I took our positions in our chairs.

No more than five minutes later we were approached by a woman decked out in Wisconsin wear.

She informed us that we couldn’t have charcoal grills in the parking lot. After a few choice words and some quick thinking we agreed.

Or so she thought.

After she was out of site we took the lid off and continued.

All was well and good for the next few minutes until she came around again.

This time we saw her coming and quickly threw the lid on the grill.

She walked by without a look.

The third time we weren’t quite so lucky.

By this time we had a steak, brats and burgers on the grill.

The Weber was smoking like a chimney.

We were caught.

I made a quick escape to the front of the car and left my colleagues to handle the situation.

Quick thinking by my buddies allowed us to move the grill 50 yards down the lot to some rocks just off the parking lot.

At least someone up north treated us good.

By now it was time for our mile and a half walk to Camp Randall Stadium.

Along the way to the stadium we passed bar after bar decked out with Wisconsin memorabilia. The town loves its Badgers.

Kind of reminded me of DeKalb, right?

Upon entering the stadium I was simply amazed by the site.

Never in my life had I seen so many people in one place to watch a football game.

It was beautiful.

We took our seat and immediately began the process of looking for new ones.

Staring directly into the backsides of 320-pound offensive linemen wasn’t our idea of watching a football game.

The ticket lady wasn’t kidding when she told us we were getting “restricted view seating.”

We settled into our seats in the north end of the stadium seven rows off the field … in the heart of the student section.

Fun, fun.

As the game went on and the pressure mounted, things got a little more rowdy.

The fab four were screaming their lungs out for the Huskies and the other 76,996 were cheering for the Badgers, or so it seemed.

The more we cheered the more compliments we heard.

Let me tell you, there is nothing like the feeling of 5,000 college students calling you and your buddies [butt] holes.

In unison, the cheers started.

Not only were they chanting [butt] hole at us, they were pointing too.

They left no doubt about their feelings toward us.

We took it in stride and even began our own trash talking when NIU pulled ahead in the fourth quarter.

Never in my life have I heard 77,000 people sound so quiet as when Michael Turner punched one home to give the Huskies the lead in the fourth quarter.

Unfortunately, the revenge was short lived as Wisconsin came back and stole my and my buddies hearts.

We made a quick exit from Camp Randall and sat dumfounded, knowing we had witnessed another one get away from the Huskies.

But, come next year when the Huskies go on the road, my buddies and I will follow religiously, knowing full well that heartbreak could be on the horizon. We are NIU fans.