MONROE - The tradition of the Monroe Badger Days event was not lost as several Wisconsin coaches paid tribute to the late Forrest Kubly, who died Oct. 1, 2011.
UW men's hockey coach Mike Eaves, women's basketball coach Bobbie Kelsey, men's basketball coach Bo Ryan, football coach Bret Bielema and Matt Lepay, the voice of the Badgers, lauded Forrest Kubly for his support to Badgers' sports as the 59th annual Monroe Badger Days came to a close at the Ludlow Mansion Tuesday night.
"When I think of Forrest and his passion those memories will always be there," Lepay said of Forrest Kubly.
Pat Kubly, whose father, Ray, started the Monroe Badger Days event, said Forrest, who was his uncle, would be looking down on the Badger Days event and smiling.
It was Forrest's last wish to listen to the Wisconsin-Nebraska football game as the Huskers made their Big Ten debut. Forrest died late in the game with the Badgers well in control en route to victory. The Badger Days event is now sponsored by Colony Brands and serves as a fundraiser for the Wisconsin Athletic Department.
"Even though he was unconscious, maybe he knew what he was listening to," Pat Kubly said. "He was a super Badgers fan."
UW coaches exchanged jokes and gave updates on new facilities and incoming recruits.
Eaves updated Badger backers on a young team returning that will play Minnesota on Feb. 17, 2013 at Soldier Field. He also updated the crowd on the La Bahn Arena, which will feature hockey, swimming, practice and training facilities. The complex will seat 2,400 for women's hockey games and have 400 standing room only seats.
"We will get the keys to the rink Oct. 1," Eaves said. "We call the football office 'The Wow Room.' You come into this new arena and you go 'Wow.' We have practiced off campus for 40 years. Those teams that used to use that in recruiting against us won't be able to anymore."
Ryan shared a story when he was first coaching in the state and he was invited to Monticello.
"I was promised money, food and lodging," Ryan quipped. "I didn't think the back of a truck was lodging and three-day old fish was a meal."
UW Athletic Director Barry Alvarez wasn't at Badger Days. He was reportedly on his way home from an alumni meeting in Cuba.
Ryan joked that the microphone broke up and Alvarez was really visiting Cuba City. Ryan gave an update on his squad's new locker room and video room.
Bielema, who has guided the Badgers to back-to-back Big Ten championships, and the first ever Big Ten championship game title, gave fans a preview of this year's team that will include Maryland transfer quarterback Danny O'Brien and Heisman trophy candidate Montee Ball.
Ball tied Barry Sanders' single season touchdown record (39) last year. Ball needs just 18 touchdowns to set the all-time NCAA record.
UW men's hockey coach Mike Eaves, women's basketball coach Bobbie Kelsey, men's basketball coach Bo Ryan, football coach Bret Bielema and Matt Lepay, the voice of the Badgers, lauded Forrest Kubly for his support to Badgers' sports as the 59th annual Monroe Badger Days came to a close at the Ludlow Mansion Tuesday night.
"When I think of Forrest and his passion those memories will always be there," Lepay said of Forrest Kubly.
Pat Kubly, whose father, Ray, started the Monroe Badger Days event, said Forrest, who was his uncle, would be looking down on the Badger Days event and smiling.
It was Forrest's last wish to listen to the Wisconsin-Nebraska football game as the Huskers made their Big Ten debut. Forrest died late in the game with the Badgers well in control en route to victory. The Badger Days event is now sponsored by Colony Brands and serves as a fundraiser for the Wisconsin Athletic Department.
"Even though he was unconscious, maybe he knew what he was listening to," Pat Kubly said. "He was a super Badgers fan."
UW coaches exchanged jokes and gave updates on new facilities and incoming recruits.
Eaves updated Badger backers on a young team returning that will play Minnesota on Feb. 17, 2013 at Soldier Field. He also updated the crowd on the La Bahn Arena, which will feature hockey, swimming, practice and training facilities. The complex will seat 2,400 for women's hockey games and have 400 standing room only seats.
"We will get the keys to the rink Oct. 1," Eaves said. "We call the football office 'The Wow Room.' You come into this new arena and you go 'Wow.' We have practiced off campus for 40 years. Those teams that used to use that in recruiting against us won't be able to anymore."
Ryan shared a story when he was first coaching in the state and he was invited to Monticello.
"I was promised money, food and lodging," Ryan quipped. "I didn't think the back of a truck was lodging and three-day old fish was a meal."
UW Athletic Director Barry Alvarez wasn't at Badger Days. He was reportedly on his way home from an alumni meeting in Cuba.
Ryan joked that the microphone broke up and Alvarez was really visiting Cuba City. Ryan gave an update on his squad's new locker room and video room.
Bielema, who has guided the Badgers to back-to-back Big Ten championships, and the first ever Big Ten championship game title, gave fans a preview of this year's team that will include Maryland transfer quarterback Danny O'Brien and Heisman trophy candidate Montee Ball.
Ball tied Barry Sanders' single season touchdown record (39) last year. Ball needs just 18 touchdowns to set the all-time NCAA record.
