Happy Anniversary, Badger Observer!
What Badger Observer has done in nearly 365 days, and click for a NEW offer for afforable, local, independent coverage of Wisconsin football, volleyball and men's basketball
OK, OK, I’m off by one day, but there’s a good reason.
Tuesday is Badger Observer’s one-year anniversary. I started this site as a way to continue reporting and telling unique stories of Wisconsin football, volleyball and recruiting. Coverage of coach Greg Gard and his men’s basketball program was added in the fall.
Thank you to all of you who have supported Badger Observer in the first year, for jumping on board this adventure. It’s meant the world to me for fans to still trust and want to read my reporting despite a tumultuous 2025 in a professional sense. I hope you all continue for the ride.
It’s an achievement to continuously produce content day in and day out during this time for media, and I’m celebrating by … dropping the price of the site!
So I realized that I cannot permanently reduce costs on Substack below $5/month or $50/year. But I created this link (https://badgerobserver.com/oneyear) where people can subscribe for $2/month or a flat $20/year.
Why? I’ve always believed reporters should be paid for the hours of traveling, talking with sources, writing, editing, publishing content, but I also always wanted the site to be an affordable place for Wisconsin fans. With economic times right now, I feel this is an appropriate rate to be compensated, yet monthly costs are less than a fast food meal or drink from your favorite barista (or bartender).
And in full disclosure, I’ve taken on a day job since the beginning of the year to help make ends meet with our family. Check the numbers of content Badger Observer’s published since Jan. 1 (134), that hasn’t taken away from what’s been produced when covering spring football, volleyball, recruiting and recent men’s basketball practices.
Monday starts a HUGE week for Badger Observer. There’ll be live content from Big Ten football media days in Chicago a day later. We’ll have stories and interviews from Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell, the program’s three representatives (wide receiver Chris Brooks Jr., outside linebacker Sebastian Cheeks and safety Matt Jung) and more that will run throughout the following days.
That all leads up to Wisconsin fall camp practices commencing next week, and the Badgers will also have their local media day prior to that. Big Ten volleyball days is next Monday, and Wisconsin’s alumni match will be August 8 (the latter for sure I anticipate being at).
For those who haven’t yet become a paid subscriber, I hope this new deal will entice you to give the outlet a try, even for just a month.
OK, now some of the stats
Badger Observer’s published 281 pieces of content since July 28 of last year, which divided by 365 days, comes out to over five articles per week. That’s right around the initial goal of the site when it was first launched.
The current number of total subscribers (paid plus free) is currently 836 as of Sunday morning. The one word that immediately comes to mind with that is gratitude.
You always strive for more and more eyes reading or watching your site, but I’m extremely proud and extremely grateful of that number. And what’s been great and promising is seeing that both paid and total subscriber numbers continuing to increase over time. Sometimes there are large numbers that decide to click that subscribe button, such as in late December when we wrote about Isabelle Hoppe’s decision to sign with Wisconsin and also talking with her and other incoming Badgers freshmen volleyball players at Under Armour Next’s volleyball camp.
But it’s been steady regardless. You also always want more paid subscribers, but I’m also hoping the aforementioned anniversary deal brings in more eyes.
Other fun stats:
States traveled since starting Badger Observer: 5 (Wisconsin, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota)
Number of football recruits watched in a game setting last fall: 12
Jaunts to Milwaukee to cover Wisconsin volleyball and basketball: 3
Amounts of Culver’s consumed on the road: actually unknown
What’s ahead for Badger Observer
Year Two starts with Big Ten football media days Tuesday, as mentioned earlier. More expansive fall camp previews will run later this week and into early next week. Then we’ll break down preseason practices and provide plenty of video content with availabilities from coach Luke Fickell and various position groups who chat with reporters.
There are tentative plans to attend at least four games away from Camp Randall Stadium, which includes the Sept. 6 matchup against Notre Dame.
Plenty of volleyball coverage will ensue with the alumni match, previews and analysis leading up to the season-opening weekend of Aug. 21-22 with the AVCA First Serve in Milwaukee. Wisconsin takes on Kentucky and Louisville at Fiserv Forum, and expect Badger Observer there both days. We’re striving to be at as many home matches as possible inside the Field House.
Anticipate football recruiting coverage to reach an all-time high with the 2027 class. I’ve been plotting out which in-state (and out-of-state) recruits to watch since last month. This could shape up to be the most commits (and overall recruits) I’ve watched live since I started with running back Julius Davis in 2018 as part of Bucky’s 5th Quarter.
Also expect Badger Observer to continue expanding upon volleyball and basketball recruiting.
The site goals are to proceed with steady growth, at the absolute least. Our goal is to have 1,000 total subscribers by the beginning of the Sept. 6 football season-opener against Notre Dame. Would love your paid patronage, but we’ll have plenty of free content in the coming month as well if you want to become a free subscriber.
A win-win in spreading your company’s reach and helping support independent journalism
Become a sponsor! It doesn’t take much to get on the site. If you’re a business owner and looking for a way to get in touch with Badgers fans and promote your company/brand, let me know! I got pitches, and sponsorship opportunities I’ve been putting together are very cost effective!