Green Bay is already packed with college football fans as the Wisconsin Badgers take on the LSU Tigers on Saturday.
A crowd of more than 80,000 is expected to fill Lambeau Stadium. However, the streets and bars on Friday were mainly filled with purple and gold. It’s a welcome relief for some who lost everything in the Louisiana floods.
“We got four feet in our area,” said LSU fan Laura Wiley.
Wiley and her husband lost their home in the disastrous flooding that hit southeastern Louisiana a few weeks ago.
“Drive for ten, 15 miles and you’ll see everyone's belongings on the roadside,” she said.
LSU fan Kristy Marchand also lost her house and store.
“Everything in that split second was just gone,” said Marchand.
Altogether, thousands of homes and businesses were submerged, and 13 people lost their lives.
“I'm glad I came because I had to have a break,” said Marchand.
While many Tiger fans were expecting an escape from hardship for a friendly rivalry, Wiley and Marchand say they are surprised by the generosity in Green Bay.
Bars like Stadium View are donating a dollar for every brat sold on game day. The Badgers are sending LSU home with a truckload of donations as well.
“I don't know if I can put it into words,” said Wiley. “It's just kind of emotional to see other people give what they don't have to give.”
The Packers as well as a couple other organizations are also in the giving spirit, sending $55,000 to the Red Cross of Louisiana to help them through the disaster.
