While the last 110 years have seen many national sports events, there have been plenty of reasons for Badger fans to celebrate as well, and The Daily Cardinal was there to bring it to you.
We were there from the humble beginnings.
\Wisconsin wins the Championship. Haughty Minnesota is compelled to give up her honors. The score is six to nothing in our favor.""
We were there for a national championship.
""March 30, 1941'Wisconsin's 'rags to riches' basketball quintet here tonight won the championship of the United States by defeating Washington State's powerful Cougars 39-34 in the final game of the NCAA Tournament.
""Guided as if by the hand of fate, these Badgers fulfilled what they considered their 'manifest destiny' in bringing home to the red brick armory the huge golden trophy symbolic of their national laurels.""
We were there for a memorable defeat...
""Jan. 29, 1963'Who doesn't know the story of the Badgers' courageous comeback in Pasadena on New Year's Day? By the fourth quarter a savage Trojan attack led by quarterback Pete Bethard and all-American end Hal Bedsole had brought USC a comfortable 42-14 lead.
""Then the Badgers began to fight back.
""A touchdown pass from [Ron] VanderKelen to [end Pat] Richter and a nine-yard run by Lou Holland which followed a USC fumble put the Badgers two touchdowns behind. But then a Badger pass was intercepted in the end zone and Wisconsin appeared through.
""But not quite. Attempting to punt out of trouble, USC's pass from center went over the head of the punter and Wisconsin had two more points on a safety.
""With the score 42-30 time was all against the Badgers, and in the end proved too much. Wisconsin fought for one more score on a VanderKelen pass, but an onside kick failed and the Badgers next got the ball as the final gun went off.
""It was Wisconsin's third [Rose Bowl] loss, but it was one of the greatest comebacks in Rose Bowl history. Wisconsin certainly had nothing to be ashamed of.""
... and a sweet victory in Tokyo.
""Dec. 6, 1993'For the past two weeks, one question has been on everyone's mind: Will Wisconsin beat Michigan State and go to the Rose Bowl?
""After UW's 41-20 victory over the Spartans, an estimated 30,000 fans got the answer to their question and surged onto the streets of Madison and into Camp Randall Stadium to celebrate one of Wisconsin's most important victories in years.""
We were witnesses to two Heisman Trophy winners...
""Dec. 1, 1954'Wisconsin's Alan Ameche has been named the winner of the prized Heisman Memorial Trophy as the outstanding college football player of 1954.""
""Rose Bowl Issue 2000'In the end, the decision made by Heisman Trophy Voters only confirmed what everyone here in Madison and across the country already knew.
""Ron Dayne was the best football player during the 1999 NCAA football season.
""In a ceremony Saturday night, Dayne humbly accepted the coveted Heisman Trophy at the Downtown Athletic Club in New York.""
... an unexpected Final Four ...
""March 27, 2000'Wisconsin may be the least pretty of Cinderellas in the past 20 years, but she certainly crashed a big party Saturday night.
""Those pesky yet persistent Badgers are heading to the Final Four, a trip they haven't made since they won the national title in 1941.""
...and finally, a Big Ten Championship that I had the pleasure of covering.
""If there were a script for the Wisconsin men's basketball 2001-'02 season and the writer sent it to Walt Disney Studios, it would be thrown away because it would be considered too goofy, even by Goofy's standards.
""However, as the final seconds ticked away in the Badgers' 74-54 victory over Michigan Wednesday night at the Kohl Center, an inexplicable season ended with the fans storming the court and rejoicing in an unexpected glory'a Big Ten Conference Championship.""
It now seems to me that we are in a ""golden age"" of sports at this campus, most of which can be traced back to current Athletics Director Pat Richter and his hiring of current Football Head Coach Barry Alvarez. Alongside men's sports, women's sports, such as volleyball, softball and hockey, have made an impact at UW.
From all of the previous sports editors at The Daily Cardinal, here's to a memorable 110 years of sports coverage and the hope that the next 110 will bring as many memories in Wisconsin athletics as did the previous 110.
