Like many students, Alec Ingold will be going home for Labor Day weekend. A native of Green Bay, Wisconsin, the sophomore fullback is getting the chance of a lifetime to play in front of a hometown crowd in one of the most storied stadiums in the country.
“It’ll be something special,” Ingold said of Saturday’s game. “I can’t really put it into words how I feel cause I’ll probably get choked up, but it’s gonna be a really, really special experience for me and all the guys that have family coming to that game. It’s gonna be really interesting and really fun.”
A three-sport star at Bay Port High School, Ingold wrestled and played baseball in addition to football. His versatility as an athlete that came from playing multiple sports has also helped him play multiple positions since he arrived in Madison. A quarterback and safety in high school, Ingold was initially recruited by the Badgers to play linebacker. After injuries to both Corey Clement and Taiwan Deal left the team thin at running back last season, Ingold, then a true freshman, stepped up and proved that he could perform.
“I’ve played the laundry list of positions,” Ingold joked. “Hopefully I’ve found my home now.”
Running backs coach John Settle thinks that Ingold is no joke, though.
“It’s allowed [Ingold] an opportunity to become a total football player,” Settle said. “The more you can do, the more you learn the game, seeing things from the perspective on the other side of the ball, I think it gives him an edge.”
Ingold is well-rounded in both athletics and life in general—freshman teammate Cole Van Lanen described him as a role model.
“He kinda came in and was the guy that didn’t know anybody, but now I’ve got him, and I’ve had him over the last year, so I’ve gotten to meet a lot of people,” Van Lanen explained. “He was like my gateway here, so it hasn’t been a hard transition for me; it was really nice.”
Outside of football, Ingold can be found on the Terrace at open mic night or enjoying a meal at Capriotti’s or Glaze. When he gets back to his apartment, he can usually be found watching Netflix with friends.
“I’m an avid Netflix guy,” Ingold said. “I like all the superhero shows, ‘The Flash’, ‘Superman’, ‘Batman’. I watched ‘Game of Thrones’ all summer, and I finished all six seasons in like two weeks.”
When he’s watching football, Ingold is a passionate Green Bay Packers fan who also admires Russell Wilson.
“I’ll cheer for the Seahawks every once and awhile, but never when they’re in Green Bay,” Ingold said.
In terms of players who he models his game after, Ingold particularly looks up to one former Badger fullback who now plays for the San Diego Chargers.
“The new Derek Watt, professional athlete, he’s a pretty cool guy to model after,” Ingold said. “Just seeing how he’s grown up and into the NFL, even though I only got to know him for a year, he’s a really special guy who I aspire to be like.”
Ingold will get his first chance to cement his own mark as a member of the long line of successful Badger fullbacks in a place close to his heart, and in front of his family. Lambeau Field is known as a magical place for football players and fans alike—and Alec Ingold is hoping to make a little magic of his own.
