As if the stakes for Saturday's Big Ten matchup weren't already high enough, both schools announced Monday that they will be competing for the newly conceived Freedom Trophy for the first time when the Cornhuskers travel to Camp Randall Stadium to take on the Badgers.
The Freedom Trophy, designed and sculpted by Harry Weber of Wright City, Missouri, 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 (built in 1917) and the other half the East side of Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium (1923). The stadium and flag sculpture sits on top of a wooden base that has dedicated space for future Wisconsin-Nebraska game scores. With the Big Ten establishing East and West divisions for football prior to this season, the Huskers and Badgers will now play each other every year as members of the West Division.
“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,” said Wisconsin Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez in a press release. “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."
Since 1901 both teams have played against each-other eight times, with each of them winning four games.
