Upper Peninsula Surrenders to Wisconsin After Football Sweep

WISCONSIN — On Saturday, the Wisconsin Badger football team clobbered Big Ten opponent Michigan State 38-0. It's been an impressive run for the Badgers in 2019, who have also notched a 35-14 victory over the Michigan Wolverines and a 61-0 rout over out-manned Central Michigan.

With such dominant performances over three Michigan teams, the Wisconsin Badger Football program's official Twitter account sought to capitalize on the momentum. On Saturday, the Badgers sought the unofficial territorial acquisition of the Michigan Upper Peninsula, which shares a common border with the Badger State.

It's plausible that the Badgers limited their territorial aspirations to the Upper Peninsula, as a takeover of Michigan proper would involve a direct amphibious or air assault. As most college football fans have already learned, Wisconsin's superiority is based primarily on its defense and its prodigious rushing attack.

Sensing a massive Badger buildup at its southern border, the Upper Peninsula was left little choice but to capitulate to its neighbor to the south.

Upper Peninsula Dissed Twice In One Year

In July, PepsiCo, the makers of Mountain Dew soft drink, had some explaining to do after a marketing campaign lumped Michigan's Upper Peninsula — commonly referred to as The U.P., with Wisconsin.

The company was conducting a marketing campaign that features all 50 states. Called "Dew United," the campaign features state names on all bottles of the citrus-flavored soft drink.

In the graphic the company published on Twitter, and also re-used in video spots, the Upper Peninsula shares the same green-and-white design as Wisconsin, as opposed to the red-and-white design as Michigan. It kind of seemed like the thing you'd want to get right if your campaign featured each of the U.S. states.

Faygo, the maker of the soft drinks you find down the aisle from the name-brand ones at your local grocery store, had their own PepsiCo dig:

The marketing arm of Michigan's Upper Peninsula threw down the gauntlet after the company's gaffe:

"Change of plans... @MountainDew do you want to gain a bunch of fans? I triple dog dare you to come out with an Upper Peninsula edition for your #DEWnited campaign," the U.P. wrote on their own Twitter feed.

Seizing the moment in stride, those in charge of social media marketing at PepsiCo acknowledged their geographical gaffe and published an apology on Twitter on July 10. It read:

"Hey, Upper Peninsula: we hear you, and we’re sorry for misplacing you on our #DEWnited map. Give us a chance to right our wrong. Help us fill this special edition label by telling us all of the things you love about the Upper Peninsula (note to self: located in MICHIGAN)"

The company issued a new bottle label just for residents of the Upper Peninsula (why does Michigan get EVERYTHING, PepsiCo, why?) as part of their apology.

Not to be outdone, Wisconsinites got in on the act. Comedian Charlie Berens, who publishes a minute-long news Wisconsin parody news show each week called the Manitowoc Minute had ample fodder for one edition: