Border-Battle Tailgaters Brave The Cold
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - More than 53,000 fans filled TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis for the coldest game of the season.
Temperatures were in the teens, but it felt like five degrees outside thanks to the wind chill.
Folks tailgating before the game set up tents, propane tanks and heat lamps to help stay warm, along with lots of hot food.
No matter the conditions, Gopher and Badger fans didn't let Mother Nature take away from the biggest border battle of the season.
"People look forward to this game all year," said Wisconsin fan Ben Greene.
Tailgating started six hours before game time, and fans did their best to stay warm. In Suzanne McLean's case, the quest for warmth was a dangerous one. A portable heater caused a near-wardrobe malfunction.
"I got a little too close … I melted my pants." McLean said.
The extreme cold got everyone moving and fired up.
"With this kind of energy out of the fans, I think we got it," Greene said.
It was confident Badger fans versus hopeful Gopher fans like Kelly Michael, who desperately wanted Paul Bunyan's ax back.
"That's what we hope for," Michael said. "All we want for Christmas."
Unfortunately for Gopher fans, Wisconsin went on to beat Minnesota 20-7, their 10th-straight win against their border rivals.
