On any given game week, long before kickoff and long before the parking lot fills with fans, Bryan “Easy B” Buschke is already at work. His contributions may not always require him to be physically present in the lot, but his fingerprints are everywhere. On banners stretched across tailgate tents. On flyers shared across social media. On shirts worn proudly by fans who feel like part of something bigger the moment they pull one over their head. Bryan’s work is visual, creative, and unmistakable. It sets a tone before the first drink is poured or the first song hits the speakers. It tells people where they are and who they are with.

Bryan is a proud Tailgating Hall of Fame coin holder and a gifted graphic artist whose talents have helped shape the identity of the What the Buc tailgate in Tampa. He is also the designer behind the last two Summer Bash t-shirts for the Tailgating Hall of Fame, projects that reflect not only his skill but his deep understanding of how design can build community. His story is one of creativity, persistence, generosity, and a lifelong willingness to give more than he takes.

Growing up in Wisconsin, Bryan never had a football team he truly called his own. Surrounded by Packers fans, loyalty felt imposed rather than earned. He gravitated instead toward players, collecting sports cards and admiring greatness wherever he found it. Bo Jackson stood above the rest. Bryan wore Raiders gear because of Bo, even though he never really loved the team itself. Football for him was appreciation before allegiance.

That changed in 1997.

Standing in a mall, Bryan caught sight of the Buccaneers new red and pewter logo. Something about it stopped him cold. The colors. The attitude. The identity. A few days later he asked his mom for the shirt, and that single moment became the beginning of a lifelong bond. In a state dominated by green and gold, Bryan chose red and pewter and never looked back.

Being a Buccaneers fan in Wisconsin has never been easy. The Packers logo is everywhere. On bumpers, storefronts, billboards, flags. But Bryan has always embraced being different. He takes pride in standing out, in wearing his colors confidently in a sea of green. When the Bucs shared the NFC Central with Green Bay, he made the most of those matchups, learning players through ESPN highlights and falling in love with the era that included Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch, Mike Alstott, and a Super Bowl run that still resonates with fans today.

Most seasons, Bryan makes the trip to Tampa at least once to see his team in person. Other Sundays are spent watching games with his son, teaching him not just the rules of football but the meaning of loyalty, patience, and joy. He also tailgates regularly in Green Bay, finding openings in the schedule to immerse himself in the energy of game day. Over time, Packers fans and tailgate crews came to know him, expect him, and welcome him. Friends and family now ask him where to go on game day, and as a member of the Tailgating Hall of Fame, Bryan meets them in the lot, shows them around, and sends them inside with memories already made.

There is also a softer, more personal layer to Bryan’s connection with football. His cousin Dan, who passed away in 2017, was a devoted Packers fan. Every time Tampa plays Green Bay, Bryan stops by the cemetery to talk a little friendly smack, just like they used to. Dan has a brick outside Lambeau Field, and Bryan touches it every visit. Rivalry gives way to remembrance, and fandom becomes something deeper.

Bryan’s connection to the Tampa area truly began with the What the Buc tailgate. On his first trip to the city, a parking attendant told him he had to check it out. When Bryan got home, he looked them up and quickly made friends. Once word spread that he had graphic design skills, Cheryl Stewart reached out. Soon, banners and signs designed by Bryan were filling the lot. From Wisconsin, more than a thousand miles away, Bryan found a way to be present every game day. His designs gave the tailgate a visual identity that matched its energy and purpose.

What the Buc is known not just for its scale and atmosphere but for its commitment to community and charitable work. Being part of that culture shaped Bryan. Watching the crew support causes week after week inspired him to expand his own efforts back home. Through design, time, and service, Bryan found ways to give back that felt genuine and meaningful.

Creativity has always been central to who Bryan is. In high school, he gravitated toward graphic arts classes, not because he loved the mechanics of printing, but because he was fascinated by creation. He taught himself design software, ignored grades in favor of learning the tools, and absorbed knowledge wherever he could find it. As an adult, working seasonally as a roofer, he used winter downtime to sharpen his skills, watching tutorials, experimenting, and constantly learning. He remains entirely self-taught, driven by curiosity and discipline rather than formal training.

At just twenty years old, Bryan had an experience that still stands out. He connected directly with creators working on a Muppets toy line for Palisades Toys, offering ideas and feedback. His contributions were significant enough that his name appeared on the packaging. Years later, those figures remain boxed in his basement, treasured not just as collectibles but as proof of what passion and initiative can lead to.

Bryan approaches tailgate design the same way. He listens first. He learns the themes, the rhythms, the traditions. He builds flexible designs that can adapt to changing schedules and sponsors. Some designs get used immediately. Others are saved for the right moment. For Bryan, the goal is not personal recognition. It is helping the tailgate feel like a home.

Beyond football, Bryan’s life is filled with service. He has written and illustrated four children’s books, donating all proceeds to charity. He volunteers as a coach with the Miracle League of Milwaukee, an all abilities youth baseball league that allows children with special needs to experience the joy of the game. His involvement began through a close friend whose daughter has autism. Seeing that family share something they once thought impossible changed Bryan. Now he coaches each summer, often alongside his own daughter, creating bonds that extend far beyond the field.

Bryan is also deeply involved with Family Promise of Waukesha County, an organization that helps families experiencing homelessness regain stability through housing, career training, and support. Each year, Bryan sets a personal fundraising goal, often raising thousands of dollars through drives and events. He does this quietly, consistently, and without expectation of praise.

At home, Bryan balances it all as a father of three. His oldest daughter proudly serves in the United States Navy. He coaches his son’s flag football team. He supports his daughter through her dance competitions. Everything he does reflects a belief passed down from his grandmother, who told him that if you are going to do something, make sure it does some good.

For Bryan Buschke, tailgating is not just about football. It is about creativity, generosity, connection, and being a fan of other fans. Through his art, his service, and his heart, he has found a way to leave every place he touches better than he found it. And whether he is standing in a Tampa parking lot or designing from a desk in Wisconsin, Bryan “Easy B” Buschke is exactly where he belongs.