• 1977 - Coast to coast AP story on the Badger Band. Perform the "Gong Show" with paper bags over their heads becoming the "Unknown Band." Badger Hockey Championship in Detroit. Spring Concert moved to Field House (2,800 in attendance).
  • 1978 - The 5th Quarter is "born" as the upper deck at Camp Randall sways when "You've Said It All" is performed. Band enrollment reaches 240 and size of band established at 200.
  • 1979 - First "sell out" in Spring Concert history. Richard Tucker marches his last game on November 10, setting the record for consecutive performances by a Badger Band member with 50.
  • 1980 - Current Band practice field established.
  • 1981 - Band becomes the "star" of a series of commercials produced by Anheuser-Busch. First bowl game in 18 years, the Garden State Bowl in New Jersey where the Band rehearses in t-shirts and shorts on a snow-covered field. Yet another NCAA Hockey Championship (Duluth).
  • 1982 - Band performs at the opening game of the World Series in Milwaukee. Band featured on PM Magazine and the NBC Nightly News. Band appears at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Loiuisiana.
  • 1983 - Following a lopsided Badger victory in Minneapolis, Band performs 5th Quarter for 30 minutes in the dark after the Metrodome turns out the lights. Badger Hockey wins NCAA Championship in Grand Forks, ND.
  • 1984 - Band performs at the Hall of Fame Bowl in Birmingham, Alabama.
  • 1985 - Band celebrates the 100th 1986 Centennial Concert - Camp Randall Stadium Anniversary of the Marching Band. Over 700 Alumni Band members return for performance at Camp Randall Stadium featuring fanfare trumpets, an original "rain-catcher" sousaphone, a reconstructed replica of the famous Paul Bunyan bass drum, the newly acquired "Sousacycle" and a recreation of the famous original "Strieby" error of 1970. Final game of the season performed in four inches of snow with the benefit of no yard markers. This is forever preserved by the "Spirit of Wisconsin" poster.
  • 1986 - The "Year of the Centennial" brought to close by a spectacular concert in Camp Randall Stadium, May 9, 1986 with 18,000 in attendance. Band "road trip" to Las Vegas where Band performs for 15,000 on Fremont Street and practices in the MGM parking lot. They become the "Toast of the Town." Band performs at first night game in Camp Randall history.
  • 1987 - Spring Concert expands to two nights, Friday and Saturday, with 15,000 fans attending over the two nights.

Navigation