Fervor for Wisconsin Badgers football is slipping

Always follow the money.

Almost 3,300 University of Wisconsin fans didn't renew their season-ticket orders for 2009, as you can learn more about from this story.

Is it the economy? Maybe. Is the fact Wisconsin slipped to 7-6 last year? Maybe. Is it the fact the Badgers have home games this year against Northern Illinois and Wofford? Possibly.

The Badgers host Iowa on Oct. 17. The Badgers will be coming off games at Minnesota and Ohio State. If they have lost both, as one could conceivably see happening, who's to say a lot more seats than normal won't be available on the streets of Madison to Hawkeye fans?

It wouldn't be quite the same as Iowa followers holding the Metrodome hostage for three hours, but Camp Randall Stadium would be a brave, new world to conquer.