MADISON, Wis. — A historic matchup of college football took place in Wisconsin Saturday afternoon, with nearly 100 years in the making.
Wisconsin and Alabama faced off for the third time. Their beef stems all the way back to 1928, when Wisconsin won against the Crimson Tide at Camp Randall 15-0. Their second matchup didn’t take place until 2015 in Texas, where Alabama prevailed 35-17 at the AT&T Stadium. Saturday’s match circled back at Camp Randall Stadium for a tiebreaker.
The Crimson Tide swept over with a score of 42-10. Two turnovers and a missed field goal turned into three Alabama touchdowns. Despite the loss, it’s the second year for Badgers coach Luke Fickell. He’s trying to turn Wisconsin back into a Big Ten football champion.
Fans on both sides showed energy about the competition bringing them together.
That included a pair of friends who have known each other for over 25 years. One from Alabama and one from Wisconsin. They said it was a no-brainer to plan for the game when the two were scheduled to meet at Camp Randall.
Mo Canady made the nearly 820-mile trip up from Hoover, Alabama to watch his favorite team take on the Badgers. He’s not only an Alabama fan but also a Green Bay Packers fan. Canady said his friend is making sure he gets the full Wisconsin experience.
“It’s great. I mean, we’ve had a great time together. We have gotten to have fun around here. We went to Badger Bash,” said Canady. “I just love the experience of playing games and seeing all the traditions at other college football stadiums and campuses.”
Canady said the energy at Camp Randall is the memory of a lifetime.
“It’s very historic. It really is. I love it,” said Canady. “I love the conference games. When the conferences play against each other, I just think that’s fantastic. I mean, you can see the atmosphere here is electric, just as I knew it would be. And to be here, it’s very historic, and it’s going to be really fun to welcome Wisconsin to Alabama next year.”
Canady is staying with his friend, Deb Kusmec, who is a die-hard Badgers fan. Her children are Badgers graduates and her husband works at the university. She said they have seen games in Tuscaloosa, so it was only fair to invite Canady to see a game in Madison.
“Just so that they know the hospitality of Wisconsin and how much we really try to make people feel welcome,” said Kusmec.
Canady said watching college football up close is a learning experience he hopes inspires more fans to make the commute for camaraderie and culture.
“College football is just such an experience. It’s just such a cultural experience,” said Canady. “It just really adds to the culture and the enjoyment and the excitement. And the Wisconsin fans have been great to us.”