Because of the religious and conservative lifestyle I maintained for a period of my life, I didn't have my first drink until age 22. It was a watered down Jack and Coke. Sad, I know. My beer drinking at Miami (OH) began about 1 month later, when my ex-girlfriend introduced me to Natural Light. Unimpressed and disgusted, I had no idea that Natty/Nati/Natti Light was so deeply ingrained in Miami's culture. Although an official title didn't exist, there was no question which beer ruled cheap drinking on the Oxford campus.

So after a wild Friday night this weekend in East Lansing where I was reminded of Sparty's love of Busch Light, I figured I would take a look at the most popular cheap beers in the Big 10, with a nod towards some interesting regional flavors.

Penn State: Although I have never partied at State College, I would be intiated into the campus drinking scene with a delicious Natural Light or a Yuengling (huh?). According to Kevin HD of BSD, this awkwardly named Pennsylvania specialty has expanded all over the East Coast, but is still known as "the lager" in PA.

Wisconsin: The whole damn state drinks like fish, but the undergrad campus builds its collective beer gut with Miller Lite or Miller High Life. The only night I went out in Madison, I slept in a van all night because my friends were drinking late, late into the night, and I had a tennis match in the morning. Figures. Also mentioned by the Wisconsin SBN blogger: something called Spotted Cow.

Michigan: Calmest party campus in the Big 10 next to Northwestern, but the Wolverine's still enjoy their Bells and Natural Light.

Iowa: The Hawkeye's love their Busch Light in bunches.

Michigan State: Ditto. The first night I went out with some Spartan friends, one of their buddies got hopped up on Oxycontin and Busch and proceeded to destroy a bike, attack my car, and cry a lot. That Busch Light goes down a bit too easy, it seems. East Lansing houses the wildest Big 10 campus along with...

Indiana: Whole lot of Miller Lite, some classy Icehouse, probably something else which I will learn later. An old school "Sink the Bismark" drinking game was brought to my attention also - Love the name, good English influence.

Purdue: Miller High Life rules this campus and I believe a Neon Cactus was mentioned. Now if someone could explain the difference between Miller Lite and High Life, I would greatly appreciate that.

Illinois: The Illini burst onto this list with a mention of Keystone Light.

We're missing Ohio State, Minnesota, and Northwestern, so I would appreciate some help there. What's the moral of this story? I don't think there is one, but I'm definitely thirsty.

Like young birds: Cheap cheap cheap cheap...