September 4, 2021

Sorry we lost the game, but great to see the stadium packed and everyone jumping around.

(I know: no masks.)

61 comments:

RMc said...

Remember: everyone in that stadium is going to die.

natatomic said...

Do they require proof of vaccination?

Sebastian said...

"(I know: no masks.)"

Smart students following the science: they know masks make no difference, they know outdoor transmission is very rare, and they know WuFlu poses no risk to them. I give them all an A.

Drago said...

There is no problem here!

I saw at least 3 people carrying "Happy Birthday Obama!" signs and as any LLR can tell you, once you invoke the blessed name of LLR/Democratical savior Obama, the virus is rendered moot.

Scot said...

Is there anything better than sitting (or jumping) in a stadium on a nice day & watching Big 10 football? No, there isn't.

rehajm said...

It's wonderful to see humans being humans again but it also means some leftie official was asleep to allow this to happen. It also means some leftie official will be along shortly to shut it all down...

Jokah Macpherson said...

Weird my life used to revolve around that man’s every whim (back when I betted on tweets on PredictIt).

mikee said...

We can assume that every single person in that stadium has been vaccinated with two shots, right? Then what is the problem with a packed stadium?

Yes, every ever born is either dead or dying (exceptions allowed for gods, of course, and the Highlander). One must accept that there is a tradeoff between safety and living, and that a century or so from now, we'll all be pretty moldy in our graves.

WK said...

College football looks like it will be the test. Either these become superspreader events or not. If not, can we assume we are reaching the end of this?

Achilles said...

When was this video taken?

R C Belaire said...

I was planning to comment on this game on the day's open thread, but here we are. It was a good game and WI had their chances. As others have said, it was nice to see crowds again, covid be damned. Mildly surprised that the U of W administration allowed maskless attendance what with all the "panic" over the Delta variant.

Tim said...

I I was a Democrat pushing mask mandates, and I saw all those young people, I would be concerned for 2022.

Narayanan said...

will this go into Facebook primate library?

i may watch later!

Mike of Snoqualmie said...

Both King and Pierce counties (WA) require masks outdoors for events with 500 or more participants, starting Tuesday. No science. The Washington State Fair (a.k.a the Puyallup Fair), in Puyallup, requires masks at all time except when eating or drinking (isn't that nice of them!). The fair is 99% outdoors, even when the events are indoors, in these cavernous fair buildings. Plenty of air circulation that makes infection extremely rare.

Doesn't matter the the public health fascists. The same p.u. officials who thinks giving needles to drug addicts is a good idea. Same ones who endorse low-barrier homeless hotels, where the junkies can inject anything they want in their rooms, and can leave the hotel and score a fix on the sidewalk. There's a Silver Cloud motel being converted to a drug den just across the street from a Kinder Kare site.

Humperdink said...

Not only no masks, but very few hats to protect these willfully ignorant people from actinic keratosis. Where's the enforcement arm of the government?

North Star said...

Video is from today’s home game against Penn State.

Oh Yea said...

Watching closeups of the crowd on TV it looks like a lot of have perfected the technique of just raising and lowering their arms to give the effect of jumping without the exertion.

Chuck said...

I posted on this in your previous café post, Althouse.

I was in Ann Arbor for Michigan's home game versus Western Michigan. And the Michigan Stadium masking policy is virtually identical to the Camp Randall policy. No one is being asked about vaccination status. There is some luxury box and club-level seating in both stadiums; those patrons (indeed all patrons) are directed to wear masks in all enclosed areas. Technically that included restrooms in all levels, and all other similar areas.

I left early when Michigan had pretty much run away and the second units were in before the end of the third quarter. I got home in time to see the last four possessions of the Wisconsin-State Penn game.

And what I saw was much the same in both stadiums. About 1 in 20, maybe less, of the outdoor-seated patrons were masked. A complete and total failure for the stated policies.

Here is what Wisconsin had issued before the season:

~ All ticketed fans will be required to wear masks at all times when in an indoor area of Camp Randall Stadium, regardless of vaccination status, unless actively eating or drinking.
~ The indoor mask requirement includes, but is not limited to, restrooms, elevators, suites and club seating areas, Bucky's Locker Room, first aid rooms, Guest Services locations and the press box.
~ Masks will not be required but are strongly encouraged in outdoor public spaces, particularly for unvaccinated individuals. Outdoor public spaces include the entry gates, concourses, concession stands and the seating bowl.
~ For the safety of our guests and our staff, working staff will be required to wear a mask in all indoor areas of Camp Randall Stadium. In addition, all concessions workers will be required to wear masks.
~ These protocols will be in effect this Saturday for our "Badgers are Back (to Back)" event.


The "strong encouragement" meant nothing.

Ann Althouse said...

“ When was this video taken?”

It must be today because at the end you see an official on the field in a mask. When else could that have happened?

Ann Althouse said...


Masks seen at 1:31

mccullough said...

Good to see people enjoying themselves, especially students.

Problem with the Big Ten these days is scheduling conference games. Many of the teams play non-division conference opponents as their first games.

Michigan smartly played a non-conference opponent. Play the non conference games first.

Drago said...

Althouse: "Masks seen at 1:31"

Stone the outsiders!

Dave64 said...

Great to see America back at it! All the games I have watched so far show very little masking. It's a beautiful thing!

Achilles said...

There are a lot of schools doing this.

I am used to nobody giving a shit about the stupidity around here.

It is interesting that it is this widespread.

rcocean said...

Healthy yOung people don't need to wear masks. CV-19 kills old people over 55, and those morbidly obese.

Temujin said...

It was wonderful to see. All around the country.

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

I was out riding my bike and I witnessed a couple wearing old fashioned gas masks... while out for a walk.

wtf?

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Almost 2 years and they couldn't kill it... college football I mean. That must mean they are not a super spreader event. Covid is just going to have to punt.

Follow the science! LOL

madAsHell said...

Looks like a Trump rally!!

Lars Porsena said...

The Feds just dumped 8700 Afghans in Wisconsin. Will there be a special females only section in the stadium next year? They will add to Wisconsin all the cultural vibrancy that the Somalis have done for Minnesota.

Yancey Ward said...

RIP Wisconsin football fans. You will join the Sturgis Bike Rally in the afterlife.

cf said...

glory hallelujah, that was fun to see.

this had me searching for whether UW-Madison had a vaccine requirement and - Huzzah! - the answer is no. A pregame write-up said everyone did need to have a mask and were encouraged to wear them but didn't have to except for areas like the bathrooms.

very encouraging

Meade said...

90% of the Wisconsin students are (non-mandatory) vaccinated. For PSU it’s 80% (mandatory.)

Bryant said...

That made my day!

Iman said...

THAT is a sight for sore eyes!

Joseph said...

I did not see anyone wearing masks in the crowd. I also did not see any black people in the crowd. Is that normal in Wisconsin?

Mark said...

Joseph, yes.

UW got into trouble some years back for photoshopping black people into their marketing.

Wisconsin is overwhelmingly white, excepting Milwaukee and areas of Madison. Badger games have always been a white person thing to do here.

walter said...

Chuck said...The "strong encouragement" meant nothing.
--
Just doing what's necessary to avoid lawfare.

walter said...

Meade said...90% of the Wisconsin students are (non-mandatory) vaccinated. For PSU it’s 80% (mandatory.)
--
Check the expiration dates.

Original Mike said...

"Badger games have always been a white person thing to do here."

Surely that will change now that we got rid of that rock.

Butkus51 said...

All those white people. That must be one dangerous stadium.

Crazy World said...

Love this so much

David Begley said...

Ann: Can you hear the stadium from your house?

iowan2 said...

Problem with the Big Ten these days is scheduling conference games

I think there has been a shift in thinking, for all of Tier I programs.

Used to be standard across football to schedule 2-3 "tune up" games

But I see this premiere weekend, lots of conference games. Iowa played Indiana, both rated in the top twenty, just by chance because the schedules are set 3 to 4 years in the future. The non conference games are sprinkled through the season as "recovery" breaks.

Dr. Unknowable said...

No, Meade, Penn State does not have mandatory vaccination. My wife, who is a professor at Penn State, has been to a couple of faculty demonstrations on campus asking that a vaccine mandate be imposed. The administration has refused. The 80% number comes from asking students whether they've been vaccinated or not when they moved in (and most students live off campus). Who knows how many are lying, because if you don't claim to be vaccinated, I believe the policy is mandatory weekly testing. (I personally have nothing to do with Penn State so I'm not entirely sure what the policies are. I've read the local paper, the Centre Daily Times.) I believe masks are required indoors on campus. Last year local COVID cases spiked when the students returned.

Dr. Unknowable said...

No, Meade, Penn State does not have mandatory vaccination. My wife, who is a professor at Penn State, has been to a couple of faculty demonstrations on campus asking that a vaccine mandate be imposed. The administration has refused. The 80% number comes from asking students whether they've been vaccinated or not when they moved in (and most students live off campus). Who knows how many are lying, because if you don't claim to be vaccinated, I believe the policy is mandatory weekly testing. (I personally have nothing to do with Penn State so I'm not entirely sure what the policies are. I've read the local paper, the Centre Daily Times.) I believe masks are required indoors on campus. Last year local COVID cases spiked when the students returned.

Curious George said...

Jump Around is a great tradition, if you can call it that. It's not that old. It started in 1998 by accident, the student section jumping to the House of Pain hip hop song that was playing on the PA between the third and fourth quarter. It was noticed, and they have been doing it ever since.

This kind of stuff is why college football is so great.

Meade said...

Dr. Unknowable—thanks for the correction.

MadisonMan said...

but very few hats to protect these willfully ignorant people from actinic keratosis
It was cloudy yesterday during the game, and cool too. Good football weather.

gilbar said...

iowan2 said...
I think there has been a shift in thinking, for all of Tier I programs.
Used to be standard across football to schedule 2-3 "tune up" games

Yeah,
but SOME TEAMS, to remain nameless, STILL schedule "tune up" games with University of Northern Iowa
And That bites them on the ass, Nearly EVERY TIME

Chuck said...

walter said...
Chuck said...The "strong encouragement" meant nothing.
--
Just doing what's necessary to avoid lawfare.


I had a similar, but different, thought. What about the stadium hosts' liability if and when they are the nexus for viral spread?

UW knows one thing; they have been granted substantial immunity from civil lawsuits for liability, per a 2021 statute:

https://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/new-wisconsin-law-provides-immunity-covid-19-liability-limited

I expect that the immunity was conferred on the presumption that institutions like UW would do the right thing preemptively, and take appropriate precautionary steps to stem any viral spread. But they clearly aren't doing that. They are hiding from responsibility. Fearful of the loud power of the Trumpist anti-vaxxer, anti-maskers.

btw, while I was in Michigan Stadium yesterday, I was wearing an M95i respirator mask.

Yancey Ward said...

People rightfully ignore ridiculous laws and regulations, Chuck.

Drago said...

Pro-marxist LLR Chuck: "I expect that the immunity was conferred on the presumption that institutions like UW would do the right thing preemptively, and take appropriate precautionary steps to stem any viral spread. But they clearly aren't doing that. They are hiding from responsibility. Fearful of the loud power of the Trumpist anti-vaxxer, anti-maskers."

LOL!

Maybe its time to revisit this Althouse topic from yesterday: "I ammonitoring this trend of MSM comments that make anything into an occasion to bring up Trump."

JK Brown said...

Will the lure of football money be what kills the COVID tyranny on campus?

An open ended stadium perhaps, but a bowl stadium? All that COVID is going to settle like a fog in the bottom of the bowl. Hospitals overrun, administrators issuing tracking apps, bodies piled up like cordwood on the quad. All for some sniffles in college age students. Perhaps there was alcohol. 50 proof and above ethanol-based liquors kill the virus in the mouth and throat before it can get a good purchase.

Tomcc said...

Agree that it's a welcome sight that people are enjoying sports events in person, again. Covid is still with us, but no one is guaranteed a risk-free life. Consider what's best for yourself and don't be stupid.
"I was wearing an M95i respirator mask." Only one?

Yancey Ward said...

It is also time for Chuck to give us an update on the vaccination and health status of Patrick Reed. So far nothing but crickets from Chuck.

Chuck said...

Yancey Ward said...
It is also time for Chuck to give us an update on the vaccination and health status of Patrick Reed. So far nothing but crickets from Chuck.


Yes, I agree. But I'll do that in the Goldenrod Café open thread, since we're getting away from Althouse's post on football crowds. See you over there. I've got something substantive on Reed.

walter said...

When asked if he was diagnosed with COVID-19, Reed said, "They never tested me. I don't know.''

Pressed further, Reed added: "I obviously got tested when I was leaving, and I tested negative. So that's always a positive. But, and really when I went into the ER [emergency room] and with the scans and everything they have done, did on my lungs and everything, their main priority was to make sure that we fought this pneumonia in both lungs because of how fatal it can be.''

Reed said he was vaccinated but did not disclose when or if fully vaccinated.

In a message he posted on Twitter on Wednesday, Reed said: "Just to answer some questions. My primary diagnosis was bilateral pneumonia. I was vaccinated for COVID-19 so I'm not sure if I had the delta variant but I'm just happy to be here. The pneumonia had infiltrated my lower lobes of my lungs. I'm so fortunate for the care that I received.''

Chuck said...

Yancey Ward said...
People rightfully ignore ridiculous laws and regulations, Chuck.


My questions for the Regents at UW-Madison and at Michigan:

~ You have "strongly recommended" that all patrons wear masks at all times at your football stadium; why? You agree that mask-wearing by all would have significant public health benefits, right?

~ When you made plans for public safety at the stadiums, what sort of public compliance did you expect in response to your "strong recommendation"?

~ Can we agree on the simple fact that the exhortation to voluntary mask-wearing was a near-complete failure? We saw the same things, right? That is, almost no one wearing masks.

~ Is what we saw on Saturday the 4th an acceptable situation to you? Why or why not? What are your own university public health experts telling you about what we saw last Saturday?

~ Can you say what further action you might take in response to last Saturday's widespread rejection of the voluntary masking "recommendation"? What might cause you to reappraise the voluntary aspect of masking?

MadisonMan said...

Follow the science Chuck. How often is a disease spread in open air?
You seem overly invested in controlling the behavior of others. Why? There's a word for people who think behavior control will affect the trajectory of a virus: Hubris.

Chuck said...

MadisonMan said...
Follow the science Chuck. How often is a disease spread in open air?
You seem overly invested in controlling the behavior of others. Why? There's a word for people who think behavior control will affect the trajectory of a virus: Hubris.


Hence, my questions.

So I'll add another couple of questions to my list of questions for the Wisconsin and Michigan regents:

~ Q. Mr. MadisonMan doubts that there is any "disease spread in open air." Do you and your university public health experts agree with that? Is that true of college football stadiums where the seating is outdoors but where tens of thousands of people are packed closely together, lined up in semi-enclosed areas, and sharing enclosed restrooms? Why have you "strongly recommended" masks for all patrons in all areas including outdoor areas of the stadium? Is it your position that while it may be an imperfect remedy, mask-wearing would nonetheless be a meaningful measure to help slow the spread of virus?

~ Q. Would you agree after Week One of the 2021 season, that given the extremely poor compliance seen on with the "strong recommendation" for masks in outdoor seating areas, and given the good compliance seen among persons in the box seating areas, the fact of a masking mandate was the single most important difference in effective mask-wearing rates among your stadium patrons?