January 9, 2015 at 5:16 p.m.
Fans poised to cheer on Green Bay in playoffs
Fans poised to cheer on Green Bay in playoffs
The Green Bay Packers will host the Dallas Cowboys at noon on Sunday at Lambeau Field, and fans across the state are lathered up and ready to go.
Certified Packers fanatic Jeff Kinnally said with the regular season in the rearview mirror, it's finally time for the real fun to start.
"A lot changes for a playoff game," he said. "It just feels different going into the game because so much more is on the line. Any little mistake and the season could be over. The anticipation for a playoff game builds up more over the course of the week and you think about football more often. It feels like everyone is feeling that way. It becomes a topic of conversation everywhere you go. From work to the grocery store, everyone has Packers on the mind. I feel like you sit on the edge of your seat the whole time the game is on."
So the only question remaining then is exactly how fans choose to view the pending contest. Sure, they could keep it simple by staying home in their slippers, nod off in their recliners with cracker crumbs scattered down their shirts, but this is isn't some regular season game against the Browns. This is the playoffs. This is Ice Bowl 2.0, and that warrants extreme measures.
For many, that means private viewing parties with friends, family and plenty of food. Packers Nation doesn't mess around.
Chad Huebner said he turns his Packers parties into full-blown events. While the game serves as the all-important centerpiece, there's plenty of peripheral fun as well.
"The key for me is having a variety of snacks, food and beverages, along with some pregame activities such as line cards and squares for some cash fun," he said. "Music is a good thing. I have quite a few Packers CDs of Wisconsin bands that have Packers songs. I prefer a Packers party because you can create great traditions with good friends and rotate on who hosts."
Kinnally said he prefers to attend small parties rather than hitting the town. He likes as few distractions as possible and that's hard to find at a bar.
"Keys to a great Packers party are great food, cold drinks, a big and loud TV with great seating and fun people," he said. "At parties, I feel like I can watch the game more. There isn't as much going on around you and you can pay attention to the game and what is happening. When you go out, sometimes there are people who don't care much about the game and are there just for a good time. Most of the time at parties people are there for a good time but most importantly a Packers win."
Alan Gustafson doesn't celebrate like the average fan. As a ticket holder, he spends exactly eight Sundays a year in his endzone seat at Lambeau Field. For away games though, he holds Packers parties of his own.
"Well, first and foremost, you're going need to surround yourself with the two F's - friends and family," he said. "If you don't take care of these two things right off the bat, you're making your job of throwing a great party a lot harder. Your next task at hand is the location. If it's an away game, figure out whose house is going to smell like burgers and brats for a week. We like to pack as many family members and friends into one house as possible, so its crucial to have multiple televisions."
From there, Gustafson's group has its own set of rules for during the game. Sure, all eyes are glued to the multiple screens, but it's an unwritten rule that for every touchdown, everyone gets out of their seats.
"Whenever Green Bay scores, everyone in the house is required to dance to 'Jump Around,'" he said. "We have had so many people doing this dance at one time that the people in my uncle's basement could see the ceiling bow in and out in unison with the people dancing on the first floor."
For Gustafson, the game-day parties are sacred and he'd never even entertain thoughts of switching up his routine. He has no interest in watching at a tavern.
"I cannot stand going to bars for Packers games," he said. "In fact, I refuse to. I like to be able to watch the game with level-headed individuals that I choose to surround myself with, rather than go to a bar and listen to the random person next to me explain why Dom Capers should be fired whenever the defense allows a first down. By going to a Packers party, such as my tailgates or family get-togethers, I eliminate everything that comes with watching a game at a bar and replace it with cheaper food, cheaper drinks and an upgrade to the individuals you have to watch the game with."
Many people love heading down to a local watering hole to cheer on the Packers though, especially this far from Lambeau Field. That's evident by the large crowds that form every Sunday to watch the games.
Erik Wierschke owns Cross Country Bar and Grill in Sugar Camp, one of the most popular destinations for football fans in the area. He said the appeal comes from the large crowds.
"First off, we have 14 televisions," he said. "That's probably the big reason. Then of course, we have lots of games and giveaways. We have lots of different things going. When you have more people around during a game, whether you're there live or you're at an establishment that has the game, it's going to be a lot more fun. People are hyped up and the more people around having fun makes it even better."
Mike Hastreiter owns Bucketheads in downtown Rhinelander and the Woodpecker, just outside of town on County Highway K. He said it's much more convenient to watch the game at a bar.
"I think people realize now that it's a little bit easier to go to a bar now and watch the game," he said. "Everyone does drink specials now and they give out free food. They clean up the mess when you're done, so you don't have to worry about it. When you watch a game at your house, you might have those guests that linger, especially on a Sunday. At the bar, you can leave when you want, you sit where you want and it's just very convenient. There are so many promos and gimmicks now, that it's probably cheaper to go out and watch at a bar than it is to stay at home."
That convenience extends beyond specials and gimmicks though. Hastreiter said going out for the game also means easy viewing and more options.
"At the Woodpecker, we're right on the snowmobile trail, so people who want to come out for the game can come that way," he said. "They can come before or after and do a sleigh ride too. We have a sleigh ride that starts from there. We have TVs at the bar area and the dining area, so you can watch the game no matter where you sit. We also pump the audio through our Bose sound system, so there's great sound quality throughout the game."
That doesn't mean they're short on the promos though. At both Woodpecker and Bucketheads, patrons participate in the flag game. Every time an official throws a flag during the game, a new name is drawn and the winner drinks for free until another flag is thrown. Add that to the usual pools, free food at halftime and a complimentary shot every time the Packers score, and it's easy to see why so many choose to go out.
Ultimately though, no matter what viewing option fans choose, it's just noise. The real focus is on the game. Gustafson said when he's fortunate enough to be at Lambeau Field, it's a point of pride to create what he considers the best home-field advantage in the NFL.
"If there's one thing the fans in the stadium understand, it's the difference between the playoffs and the regular season," he said. "Our job as ticket holders is to make the opposing teams huddle a bad dream, and their pre-play calls at the line a living nightmare. We cheer just as loud as the self-glossed "12th man" in Seattle and the crazy Chiefs fans in Arrowhead. We just choose not to let everyone know about it.
"During the regular season, fans will go crazy in certain situations. You know, a key third down, a goal-line stand, a two-minute drill for the opposing team to name a few. However, when it's the playoffs, there isn't time to save your voice. You need to let the opponents know every series where they are playing."
There's a lot of buzz surrounding Sunday's game which pits two of the most historic franchises and largest fan bases in the NFL against each other. Confidence is high in Titletown, and everyone has an opinion.
Kinnally said if everyone is healthy, he thinks the Packers will roll.
"I predict that it is going to be a great game, like a present day Ice Bowl and hopefully the same outcome," he said. "If Aaron Rodgers plays well and his injury doesn't effect him, and our defense shows up to play, I think it will be a good day to be a Green Bay Packers fan."
Huebner is so confident, he's already looking ahead to next week.
"Without being a homer, I predict 27-24, with a missed field goal during the game by the Dallas kicker," he said. "Bring on Seattle. I want sweet revenge."
Gustafson said weather will play a big role, but it's ultimately going to come down to which team is more fundamentally sound.
"Dallas hasn't beaten Green Bay in a playoff game since the 1995 season. They aren't going to start here. And how can we forget about the weather? It's perfect for Lambeau Field. Jordy Nelson once said that when its 10 below, both teams are suffering, but when its 10 above, the Packers definitely have an advantage. We have a 10 degree day predicted with the Cowboys being a dome team from the south, so I expect the weather to play a big role. However, to simplify how to win this game I'm going to paraphrase a quote from Matt Millen, 'This game will always be about blocking and tackling.' If we do this better than the Cowboys, this game will all come down to one thing. Can Eddie Lacy outrun DeMarco Murray in a head-to-head matchup? If that answer is yes, we'll be looking forward to an NFC Championship game."
With kickoff looming, there's only one guarantee though. Eyeballs in living rooms and taverns across the state will be glued to televisions from the first play to the final whistle.
Andy Hildebrand may be reached at [email protected].
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