Freedom Trophy Fitting for Huskers, Badgers

Randy York’s N-Sider

With so many college football rivalries celebrating tradition in their own personal ways, here’s a big thumb’s up to two directors of athletics for finding a mutually reinforcing symbol that reflects the character and culture of the Universities of Nebraska and Wisconsin. It is only fitting that Shawn Eichorst and Barry Alvarez Monday announced the launch of the Freedom Trophy, which will go into the hands of the winning team after Saturday’s game between the Huskers and Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.

It also seems appropriate that two premier college football programs have each won four of their respective eight matchups in the past.  So let that fact be a footnote as two historic programs launch their futures as respected, competitive programs in the West Division of the Big Ten, the nation’s oldest and largest conference.

The most important part of this new divisional rivalry is what will be front and center when the Huskers and Badgers introduce themselves Saturday afternoon on national television. “Trophy games are part of the tradition of college football, and I’m thrilled that we’re going to be introducing one into our rivalry with Nebraska,” Wisconsin Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez said. “The Freedom Trophy brings recognition to two historic football venues and it honors our nation’s veterans. It is something I know the coaches, student-athletes and fans of both programs will embrace for years to come.”

Eichorst: Trophy Salutes Military Men, Women

Nebraska Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst said: “The Freedom Trophy provides us a unique opportunity to annually salute the men and women that have so bravely served in our nation’s wars and defended our country and to further promote the historical connections that both schools’ stadiums have to our nation’s military history. We are pleased to partner with Wisconsin on this endeavor as our football rivalry continues to grow in the coming years.”

The two athletic directors worked together at Wisconsin. A former All-Big Eight Conference linebacker at Nebraska under Bob Devaney, Alvarez was instrumental in supporting a colleague’s career, simply because he has viewed and continues to regard Eichorst as a positive force at the highest level of college athletics. Alvarez believes Eichorst is a “perfect fit” for Nebraska’s culture that puts academic and lifetime achievement on the same pedestal as winning conference and national championships.

Beginning Saturday, the Freedom Trophy will commemorate the first Husker-Badger battle with a trophy that launches a new era for programs aligned in the same West Big Ten Division.

American Flag Highlights Bronzed Stadiums

Harry Weber of Wright City, Mo., designed the Freedom Trophy, which features a bronze football stadium with an American flag extending from the center. One half of the outside of the stadium depicts the North section of Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium. The other half shows the East side of Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium. The stadium and flag sculpture sits atop a wooden base that has dedicated space for future Wisconsin-Nebraska game scores.  Since the Football East-West Divisions in the Big Ten Conference were established prior to this season, the Huskers and Badgers now expect to play each other every year as members of the same Division.

The base of the trophy honors two stadiums that date back to 1918 and 1923 and carry an identical inscription, which says: “The Freedom Trophy pays tribute to the brave men and women who have fought in our nation’s wars. The University of Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium, built on what was once a Civil War training ground, and the University of Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium, dedicated in honor of our nation’s veterans, stand as proud monuments to those who have sacrificed so much in the name of freedom.” 

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