Western Michigan, Wisconsin Fans Arrive at the Cotton Bowl in The American Dream City

By Ryan Hunt

Posted on January 02, 2017, January 02, 2017

Chants of "Row the Boat" and "Bucky Badger" were loud and proud as fans poured into The American Dream City to see No. 15 ranked Western Michigan and No. 8 Wisconsin in the 81st Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on January 2, 2017.

Several tailgaters and fans were enjoying the beautiful weather outside AT&T Stadium before the noon kickoff, with strong representation from both Wisconsin and Western Michigan.

The Broncos and Badgers are making their first appearances at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl and are meeting for only the fifth time in series history.

The Broncos (13-0, 9-0 in the MAC) come to Arlington after winning the MAC Championship, defeating Ohio University, 29-23, to claim their second football conference title (1988).

Wisconsin (10-3, 7-2 in the Big Ten) finished the regular season with a hard-fought 38-31 loss to Penn State in the Big Ten Championship last night. The Badgers are making their second appearance at AT&T Stadium. Wisconsin lost to Alabama, 35-17, in the AdvoCare Classic to kick off the season in 2015.

The Broncos are led by senior wide receiver Corey Davis who became the all-time Football Bowl Subdivision receiver in yards with 5,068 yards. He is the only player in FBS history with 300-plus catches, 5,000-plus yards and 50-plus receiving touchdowns. He made the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Watch Lists and is a Biletnikoff Award Semifinalist.

Wisconsin is 17-4 in their last 21 games dating back to last season. The Badgers have amassed six 10-win seasons in the last eight years. Senior running back Corey Clement has rushed for 100-plus yards in seven of the Badgers' last eight games.

The Classic is being televised on ESPN, marking another national television appearance for the City of Arlington. The American Dream City has been in the national spotlight for a number of sporting events in recent years.

AT&T Stadium in Arlington hosted a College Football Playoff Semifinal Game on Dec. 31, 2015 and the first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship on January 12, 2015.