The Blugold spirit is taking Eau Claire by storm, according to second-year healthcare administration student Jimmy Fake. 

Homecoming always has a bigger turnout than the average football game, but this year, Fake said the massive numbers of people tailgating are all thanks to him.

Fake looked into fraternities when he began his freshman year at UW-Eau Claire, but said none of them were quite his style. He decided to take matters into his own hands.

“I looked at the frats and stuff at the BOB at the beginning of freshman year, but I couldn’t get behind their policies,” Fake said. “They’re totally infringing on our Eighth Amendment right. No beer at the function is 100% cruel and unusual punishment.”

His interest in the rights of students was spurred by the introduction to criminal justice class he took his first year to cover an Liberal Education requirement. Fake said the knowledge he gained from that class, in addition to his annoyance at the lack of Eau Claire nightlife, spurred him to create his own fraternity.

“I pulled a whole C+ in that class. Starting my own frat feels like my calling, you know?” Fake said. “The healthcare major is just for my dad. If he cuts me off, I won’t be able to afford the good beer anymore.”

Fake said he was disappointed at the homecoming attendance last year, and he knew he needed to do something about it. His love of Busch Light became his inspiration.

“I was looking at a can of Busch Light one day, and it just came to me,” Fake said. “That’s when I decided my frat chapter Delta Kappa Sigma Ligma was going to have the ultimate tailgate. Last one standing wins it all.”

The “ultimate tailgate” began at midnight the day of homecoming and ran until 11:59 p.m. that night. It was a competition where the last competitor still partying would win a full academic year’s supply of Busch Light.

First-year undecided student Whitney Notreal said the moment she heard about the competition, she knew she needed to participate.

The school spirit around campus has been underwhelming, according to Notreal, and she wanted to be part of the change.

At 12 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7, Notreal opened her first beer of many. She said she knew the competition would be tough, but she was ready to take it on.

“I cracked open my first cold one right when the clock struck 12,” Notreal said. “I kept a tally all day of every game I played. It added up to 27 games of pong, 13 games of Boom Cup — I only got b—- cup twice — and 15 games of beer darts.”

As she watched competitors drop out, Notreal said she thought she had the competition in the bag. By 10:30 p.m., she was one of only two competitors standing, literally.

“I was chilling on the lawn sipping my Natty and thinking about how I was going to hide all that Busch in my dorm when I saw this guy lurking around the corner of the house,” Notreal said. “I wanted to keep going, but I was so wiped. The clock hit 11, and I was conked right in the frat’s front lawn.”

Fake said he saw Notreal sleeping through the living room window and came outside to award the victor, but when he walked up to the mysterious man in his front yard, he was taken completely off guard.

“I asked him his name and year and stuff, and he told me he doesn’t even go to UW-Eau Claire,” Fake said.

Mason Fictitious said he was shocked to find out he won the competition since he didn’t even know it was happening.

“I was just wandering around on Friday night sipping my beer and saw a whole bunch of people playing games, so I thought I’d join,” Fictitious said.

Fictitious said he had no idea why everyone was dressed in blue and gold, but decided to go with it because he kept being handed free beers. 

“I mean, it’s an honor to win and stuff,” Fictitious said. “I’m not really sure how I’m going to get all that beer back to my mom’s house but shout out to Sigma Ligma.”

Price can be reached at [email protected].