
2 minute read
NEWS AND NOTES
Wisconsin Heads Home with the Hardware After 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bowl
With a new head coach on the sidelines and a new starting quarterback at the helm of the offense, Wisconsin ended its season in a customary Badgers football way – with a bowl game victory. After racing out to a 17-7 halftime lead and withstanding an Oklahoma State fourth quarter comeback, the Badgers held on for a 24-17 victory in the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bowl in Downtown Phoenix.
The win was Wisconsin’s eighth in its past nine bowl games as the Badgers concluded the 2022 season with a 7-6 record, its 21st straight winning season. “Like I said, I’m not sure I knew exactly what to expect completely tonight, but I know what I’ve seen over the last three and a half weeks, that they wanted to be here, they wanted to prepare,” said Wisconsin Head Coach Luke Fickell, who was hired in Madison on November 27. “This is what I envisioned from afar that (Wisconsin) was all about…They want to be here, they want to do it together and they want do it the right way.”
Fickell, the consensus 2021 National Coach of the Year at Cincinnati, roamed the sidelines alongside interim head coach Jim Leonhard. Together, they led a stifling defense that allowed just 52 rushing yards and picked off Oklahoma State’s Garret Rangel twice – the latter sealing the victory with under three minutes to play.
Bowl Season’s only Big Ten vs. Big 12 matchup posted a 6% increase in viewership on ESPN over last season’s contest.
Michigan and TCU Team Up to Build Beds for Kids in Need

During their week in Arizona, the Wolverines and Horned Frogs took time away from their practices to give back to the Phoenix community. Players and coaches worked with Sleep in Heavenly Peace to build 50 beds for local children who are currently without their own bed to sleep in.
“It means a lot for us to come out here and help in Arizona, even though this isn’t our community, and do community service,” said TCU running back Trent Battle.
Partnering with the players were Fiesta Bowl and SHP staff and volunteers. Some SHP kids even came to help the teams build beds, bringing to life the organization’s mission that “No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town.”
50/50 Raffle
The Fiesta Bowl’s annual 50/50 raffle kicked off during the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe and closed at the start of the fourth quarter of the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. The final jackpot came to $161,042.38!
The 50/50 raffle benefits the Empowering Diversity Scholarship presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and the Fiesta Bowl Organization. The scholarship fund was created to support Arizona minority residents in their educational goals. In 2022, 20 recipients were awarded a scholarship to pursue general education development (GED) track or their college degree.
To learn more about the Empowering Diversity Scholarship and the 2022 recipients, click here