Bucky's Butler Connection

He's the man that has led the Wisconsin Marching Band for over 40 years, but he's also a proud Butler alum: he's Michael Leckrone.
The Wisconsin band director for now over 40 years, Michael Leckrone received both his bachelors degree, and masters degrees from Butler before recieving his PHD from Indiana. After earning his doctorate Leckrone returned to Butler to become band director, but only for three years. In 1969, Leckrone would become the band director at Wisconsin.
In Leckrone's tenure as Wisconsin's band director, the band has been to three rose bowls, been in a Budweiser commercial, and instituted the "fifth quarter." Not to mention the tradition of the spring concert was also created under Leckrone's tenure as band director.
The most current claim to fame is not one that anyone would look fondly upon for the marching band. In 2006, the marching band faced allegations of hazing while on a trip to Ann Arbor, Mich. The allegations led to people at the university calling for Leckrone's dismissal from Wisconsin, including the university chancellor, but Leckrone stayed.
The support for Leckrone was obvious at the next home football game. When John D. Wiley, then chancellor at UW, was announced he was given a resounding boo from the Wisconsin faithful. Just two years later, Leckrone was still the at UW, and Chancellor Wiley was no more.
The hazing allegations would again raise their ugly head at the marching band. In 2008, new allegations would cause Leckrone to take stern action; this time telling the entire band to hit the showers. For the first time in Leckrone's tenure, there would be a football Saturday without a marching band. A week later the band would return for the home game against Penn State.
While Wisconsin's reputation could have been tarnished by the hazing allegations; today they are just a memory. Leckrone handled the heat, and put out the fire. But what does the marching band have to do with Wisconsin sports? Everything.
When Leckrone came to Madison the football team was on a 22 game losing streak. At the time it was hard to get people in the stands, and the band kept them coming. Until the Barry Alverez era, the band was just as big of a draw to Camp Randall as the football team was. Leckrone's tenure is marked with both triumph and tragedy, but it is with out a doubt a major contribution to the Wisconsin athletic programs. So tonight, when Butler takes on Duke in the national championship game every badger fan should be pulling for the Bulldogs, and saying thank you for loaning Michael Leckrone to us for the past 40 years.