Badgers head to Pasadena on Christmas Day ahead of Rose Bowl

PASADENA, Calif. -- The Wisconsin Badgers left Madison on Christmas Day to head to Pasadena, California for the Rose Bowl. The Badgers' blow out win against Nebraska got them into their third straight Rose Bowl. They'll take on Conference Champion Stanford on New Year's Day.

Barry Alvarez will coach the team for the Rose Bowl game, after Bret Bielema left the team to coach at the University of Arkansas.

Alvarez currently works as UW’s athletic director but was head coach from 1990 through 2005, a time when he won three Rose Bowl titles.

Back in early December, loyal and optimistic Wisconsin Badgers fans showed up at the Oakcrest Tavern in Shorewood to watch their football team face Nebraska in the Big 10 Championship Game. 

“I was hoping they’d prove themselves worthy of another Rose Bowl trip with the Penn St. and Ohio St. games, which they didn’t do that," Joshua Rathkamp a UW senior said. "So I was hoping they'd do it tonight."

Just minutes after the opening kick off, that optimism turned to pure joy as the Badgers scored a touchdown on their first possession.

“I’m pretty impressed with what’s happening right now," Tim Rathkamp, Joshua's father said.

The Badgers would find the end zone over and over again in the first half as they went into the break with a 42-10 lead.

Tim Rathkamp couldn't believe it.

“I’m still shocked at what I see here, especially after losing their offensive coordinator last year. I’m still shocked at what they’re doing right now," Tim Rathkamp said.

His son echoed the sentiment.

“This blowout, they can’t stop our running game. It’s incredible," Joshua Rathkamp said.

The Badgers blow out win against Nebraska gets them into their third straight Rose Bowl. This time they'll take on Pacific 12 Conference Champion Stanford, which has Dan Davis looking forward to the match up.

“I think they can beat them badly. I think they could romp them," Davis said.

For Joshua Rathkamp, it was a moment to savor the win and think of what will come.

“I can smell the roses. That’s all I got to say," Joshua Rathkamp said.

The Rose Bowl game is at 4:00 p.m. on New Year's Day, Tuesday, January 1st.

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