Wisconsin vs. Michigan--Right After the Game

For the first time since 1994, the Badgers finally defeated Michigan! As many UW fans have suffered since, especially with so many close losses (the last four have been decided by a total of just 18 points), this was extra sweet. Following is an excerpt of what it was like on the field and in the locker room after the game.

My boss, another co-worker and I were on the UW side of the field, about the 20 yard line. We watched the final few minutes from there. I was told, should we win, to grab QB John Stocco and have him answer a few questions from the TV media right there on the field, since it was a late game and deadlines were coming up.

Let me tell ya, those last few minutes were unbelievable. First Wisconsin forces Michigan to punt. We recover and proceed to march all the way down to the four-yard line. After two incomplete passes (holy cow, they passed?!), Stocco ran a draw play for a touchdown to put the Badgers ahead, 23-20.

Boy, I was excited yet so nervous. Like other times in the past, I was worried the Wolverines would pull some amazing comeback with only 24 seconds left and break so many hearts like they have before. (Let me add an aside here and say that game was one of the loudest I've ever heard at Camp Randall, probably second-best overall. I could barely hear the people standing next to me because it was so loud!) So what happens? Chad Henne throws a 24-yard completion to Jason Avant, and things looked really scary, but three plays later (the last of which Henne fell as time expired), UW had won. Yes, we had finally won!

So the coworker and I stormed the field with the team (yes, we were worried about fans rushing, but fortunately they did not), and somehow I had to find Stocco in the mob of players. I saw a No. 7 rightaway, but it was DeAndre Levy. Eventually, I did find Stocco, and I felt bad for pulling him away from the celebration. I took him to about the 30-yard line on the visitors' side, and suddenly about 10 or more cameras surrounded him and fired off one question after another. After about 20-30 sec., I pulled him away and we went to the locker room. God, it felt great to be on the field, soaking it in. I barely heard the marching band play "Varsity."

Inside the locker room seemed like we had just won a national championship. There was so much hugging (I hugged and did the manly half handshake, half hug thing to just about everyone staff member), and I was half-hoping that some champagne would be sprayed about (obviously I knew that would never happen). Coach Alvarez's postgame speech was full of elation and emotion. Everyone could tell how happy he was to beat Michigan. I felt privileged to be in there. (I won't go into other details as to protect the sancticty of the locker room.)

It's hard to imagine another regular-season game that will be so full of celebration. Thankfully, I was a part of it, and I will always cherish the memories.