By Robert Paul
Last Saturday, I went to Madison to watch the Wisconsin vs Oregon football game. It was a thrilling experience and the first college football game I had attended. The Camp Randall grounds were clean and small but the layout was organized and well-maintained. Taking in the sights before the game began, I took some pictures of the grounds. A standout is the historical “arch”; on one side of the statue is a young, brave soldier, and on the other is an older, battle-worn veteran soldier. The arch is called the Camp Randall Memorial Arch and symbolizes the Civil War roots of the grounds as a military training site where the young soldiers arrived to train and left Camp Randall with wisdom and experience.
During the entirety of the game, I rode an emotional roller coaster of ups and downs. The game kicked off at 6:30 p.m. It was on NBC, meaning it was on national television, which established how important the game was. The 5-4 Wisconsin played against the nation’s number-one team, the 10-0 Oregon Ducks. Wisconsin entered the game as 13.5-point underdogs, but they had the home advantage. People expected Wisconsin to get blown out, but they did not.
In the first quarter, Oregon struck first on a field goal on their opening drive. The Wisconsin offense stalled with three three-and-out drives. The Ducks led 6-0 after the first quarter. But, in the second quarter, the Badgers offense seemed as if they had figured it out, scoring a field goal on their first drive of the quarter. The defense was outstanding as usual, holding the Ducks to 0 points in the second quarter, and allowing the offense multiple opportunities to take the lead. By the end of this quarter, the Badgers took the lead with a passing touchdown from Locke to Pauling.
During halftime, the atmosphere in Camp Randall was jolting, as the Badgers were leading 10-6. The third quarter was also a success for the Badgers, the defense forced the Ducks to punt on their first drive of the second half. The offense responded by marching down the field for a field goal. The drive, however, was sound football, the offense had the ball for almost nine minutes and amassed 16 plays and 62 yards. It burned the clock efficiently. Before the start of the fourth quarter, it was time for tradition. The stadium was roaring with the “Jump Around” music, about 80,000 people jumped around along with the music. Even Oregon players joined the fun. It demonstrates that there is something magic about football and the Wisconsin Badgers.
After the boost to all fans, players, and coaches, the Ducks showed why they are the number-one team in the nation. The Ducks scored a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, tying the game 13-13. The Badgers offense had multiple chances to win the game in the fourth quarter, but they could not get it done, with two three-and-out drives. Oregon took advantage of it. During the Badgers’ second punt, Oregon’s Gary Bryant Jr. made an excellent return to WIS 43. Oregon rushed their way to the perfect field goal to take the lead, 16-13.
The Badgers attempted to win the game late in the fourth quarter but turned over on downs deep in their territory. The Ducks tried to strengthen their win with a touchdown but settled for a field goal. They ran a trick play where the holder ran with the ball, almost converting it, but failed to do so. The Badgers had the ball for the last drive. On the second play of the drive, the pass was intercepted by Matayo Uiagalelei, thus cementing the Badgers’ loss. However, Wisconsin took the game until the end against the number-one team in the nation, and not many teams can say the same. But it was disappointing enough that someone had to pay for the loss. The next day, Luke Fickell, the Badgers head coach, announced that they had fired Phil Longo, the offensive coordinator.
Overall, the experience was better than I hoped: the roaring crowd, the “Jump Around” tradition, walking through downtown, and the waves of fans dressed in red and white, all contributed to an exciting atmosphere. However, after the game, the traffic was horrendous. Then again, it is normal for all fans to suffer through the traffic after sporting events, whether college or professional sports. Overall, the experience was excellent. Attending a college football game is a good experience that everyone should have.
thecometeer