‘It’s one of the most prestigious bowls in college football’
December 07, 2017 | Football, Andy Baggot, Varsity Magazine, Bowl Central
Sunshine. Sandy beaches. Palm trees. Great football. The Badgers are headed to the Orange Bowl.
 |
||
|
BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
MADISON, Wis. — Barry Alvarez has seen the Orange Bowl from four different vantage points and a fifth is on the way.
The view has never changed even though the world around him has.
"I love that bowl game," Alvarez said.
He felt that way on Jan. 1, 1966 when, at the age of 19, he made his bowl debut playing linebacker for Nebraska during its 39-28 loss to Alabama.
He felt that way on Jan. 1, 1990 when, at the age of 43, he was the defensive coordinator at Notre Dame during its 21-6 triumph over Colorado.
Alvarez felt that way on Jan. 3, 2008 when, at the age of 62, he sat in the FOX Sports broadcast booth as a TV color analyst and watched Kansas ease past Virginia Tech 24-21.
He felt that way on Dec. 29, 2016 when, at the age of 69, he was inducted into the Orange Bowl Hall of Fame.
Now Alvarez, the Wisconsin director of athletics, is preparing for another jolt of nostalgia in South Florida.
He'll have a prominent perch on Dec. 30 to watch the Badgers (12-1 overall) face Miami (10-2) in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
While the Hurricanes, runners-up in the Atlantic Coast Conference, are making their 10th appearance in their backyard event, Wisconsin, the Big Ten Conference runner-up, is making its Orange Bowl debut.
A year after finishing eighth in the final College Football Playoff committee ranking and being assigned to the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, the Badgers wound up sixth. The higher spot translated to a different destination.
"They've wanted us for a number of years," Alvarez said of the Orange Bowl committee, "and we've been really close a number of years."
Alvarez coached the Badgers from 1990 to 2005, guiding the program from dumpster fire status to one that has won six Big Ten championships since 1993 and qualified for a bowl game every season since 2002.
Since playing and coaching in the Orange Bowl, Alvarez said he's been back to watch friends and former colleagues from Iowa, Nebraska and Oklahoma play in the fabled event that's been around since 1935. Along the way, he's harbored one hope.
"I've always wanted to go back there with one of our teams playing," he said.
"I've got some really close ties there and great memories of the game and the city. I'm really look forward to getting back."
?? Sunshine ?? Sandy Beaches ?? Palm Trees ?? Great Football Next Stop: Miami Varsity Magazine previews #6 @BadgerFootball's matchup against #10 Miami in the @OrangeBowl ???? http://go.wisc.edu/varsity-8-15
— Wisconsin Badgers (@UWBadgers) December 6, 2017
All in all, not a bad birthday gift for Alvarez, who turns 71 on game day and who has close ties to Orange Bowl personnel.
"I have some great friends that are on the committee," he said, calling bowl director Eric Poms "a very close friend."
All in all, a great bounce-back gig for the Badgers, who had visions of an unbeaten season and a CFP semifinal berth dashed by a 27-21 loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten title game.
"Just knowing the guys on this team and the leaders we have, I know that once we start practicing and getting back into the game plan, it will be easy to refocus," UW junior inside linebacker T.J. Edwards said. "That's one thing I'm not worried about."
All in all, a great opportunity for Badgers fans, who've followed their favorite team to Florida 10 times before, but never to this bowl or this site.
"I definitely expect Badger fans to be there," UW true freshman tailback Jonathan Taylor said. "Our fans do a great job supporting us and traveling. When they come they always make noise."
"The seniors mean too much to this team to let it go to waste" You don't have to worry about this group having any trouble finding motivation for one last game together. #OnWisconsin
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFB) December 3, 2017
Alvarez coached the Badgers in nine different bowls in five different states, winning nine of 13 matchups. He always waxed romantic about his four trips to the Rose Bowl and understandably so.
For one thing, being there meant a Big Ten title trophy was being added to the trophy case.
For another, a week in sunny Southern California and a high-profile game staged in the gorgeous foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains is a wondrous experience.
Turns out Alvarez has the same affection for the Orange Bowl as he does the Rose.
"They're very similar," he said.
Alvarez said the Orange Bowl — which hosted 12 national championship games from 1970 to '99 — was the ultimate postseason destination for players like him who grew up enduring dark, harsh winters.
"The thing that I always remember, as a young kid if you're in the Midwest or you're in the North, you think of a bowl game as the sun, warm weather, beaches, palm trees, playing at night," said Alvarez, who grew up in the western Pennsylvania mining town of Langeloth. "I think this epitomizes the bowl experience."
The Badgers list seven Floridians on their bowl roster, but Alvarez guessed that most of the players are getting ready for their first visit to Miami. Taylor, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, is one.
"Definitely want to end on a high note and make some plays for my team," he said.
The Orange Bowl may be a new experience for most in the Wisconsin entourage, but Alvarez believes it will be a memorable one.
"They know how to run a bowl game," he said. "They'll do a great job with hospitality. There's plenty to do for our fans. I'm sure our players will enjoy the experience."
