Badgers are ready for Indiana

Coming off of a much-needed bye week following an emotional win over Nebraska on Oct. 1, No. 4 Wisconsin (5-0 Big Ten, 1-0 overall) will finish off the homecoming celebrations with an 11 a.m. kickoff against Indiana. While the Hoosiers (1-5, 0-2) have struggled in head coach Kevin Wilson's first year, they have plenty to play for as they come to Madison intent on making amends for last year's 83-20 embarrassment at the hands of the Badgers.

Although the Hoosiers will no doubt come into Saturday energized, this energy may ultimately prove worthless in the face of what is clearly a significant talent disparity. In their lone win over South Carolina State, Indiana held possession for over 35 minutes, a feat that will almost certainly not repeat itself at Camp Randall. Still, the Hoosiers have been very competitive in conference games against Illinois and Penn State, with plenty of incentive to continue that trend on Saturday.

"I know that the win-loss record isn't that good, but they've been competitive," UW head coach Bret Bielema said at his Monday press conference. "If your team is improving each week, it makes a big statement to me, and they definitely dothat."

But despite the obvious advantage the Badgers have on paper, there is always the added mental challenge of staying focused on the present with two crucial road games at Michigan State and Ohio State lying just on the horizon.

Having already surmounted what many felt was their biggest challenge in the Big Ten opener against Nebraska, the Badgers have to keep themselves from becoming complacent as it would only take a few poor possessions to derail all hopes of a national title. While that fear of complacency is a valid one, this Badger team feels prepared to deal with the temptation head-on.

It is good to see the Badgers are staying focused on one game at a time.  GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wisconsin Badgers take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers for Homecoming

Since Saturday's loss against Michigan State, plenty of people have noted that head coach Bret Bielema's career record against ranked Big Ten teams now stands at 1-8. Minnesota is not ranked this year-not even close, really-but they are Wisconsin's archrival, and Bielema has their number.

The fifth-year head coach has yet to spend his first day at the helm of the Wisconsin football program without having possession of Paul Bunyan's Axe.  Factor in two straight wins to close out the rivalry under the tenure of Bielema's predecessor, Barry Alvarez, and the Badgers check in with six straight wins over Minnesota.

By beating Minnesota every year since 2004, no player currently on Wisconsin's roster has lost to the Gophers. Senior tight end Lance Kendricks said he has no interest in finding out how it feels.

"For me, having the axe ever since I've been here is very special," said Kendricks, who caught a fourth-quarter touchdown that put UW up 24-13 against Minnesota last year. "That's something to be proud of."

Though none of the Badger players have lost possession of the Axe, some of the upper classmen do know what it's like to lose grip on a rivalry trophy. In 2008, Wisconsin carried the Heartland Trophy into Iowa City after a dramatic win the year before, but suffered a 38-16 blowout and watched as the Hawkeyes came to take it away.

"They ran on our sideline and we were getting bumped by fans on the field," said senior strong safety Jay Valai, a sophomore at the time. "It was just a disgusting feeling."

Given the style Wisconsin plays, it should come as no surprise that the Badgers run the ball very effectively against the Gophers. Each of the last ten matchups between the two schools has seen a UW running back compile at least 100 yards on the ground. On top of that, a Wisconsin running back has found the endzone at least twice in eight of the last nine meetings.

Notable rushing performances in recent memory include a 2002 matchup in which Anthony Davis rolled up 301 rushing yards on 45 carries, and last year's game which saw then-sophomore running back John Clay rush for 159 of his 186 yards in the second half.

Clay's second half performance in 2009, along with a timely strip from defensive end O'Brien Schofield helped UW overcome a 14-13 halftime deficit and keep Minnesota's late-game chances to a minimum. Close calls seem to have become the norm in this rivalry.

In 2005, it took a miraculous blocked punt and touchdown for Wisconsin to cap off a ferocious fourth-quarter comeback and claim a 38-34 victory in the Metrodome. The last three years, UW has won by a combined thirteen points. No matter the fashion, the Badgers look run their win-streak to seven and keep Paul Bunyan's Axe in Madison.

"The best part of the rivalry is when the clock is winding down and you're up," sophomore center Peter Konz said. "Even if guys are talking smack, it's down to the final score. You know you did your job when the score reads what it's supposed to read."

Wisconsin Badgers Homecoming

An opportunity for students, alumni and the community to come together, the University of Wisconsin Homecoming 2009 began with kick-off events last Friday and will conclude with the Badger Huddle and football game against the Iowa Hawkeyes Saturday.
“The main vision of UW homecoming is the celebration of being a Badger,” said Whitney Bauer, Homecoming Committee executive co-chair.
Whether a current student or an alumnus, this year’s “Bucky’s Game Show Challenge” has offered many events to come together with other Badgers. One new event, the AV Club’s Jarringly Obscure Trivia, was the most successful so far this year, according to both Bauer and Karyn Christianson, Homecoming Committee executive co-chair. Many students attended in self-made groups, in addition to the established competing student groups.
I remember homecoming as a great time for all went I attended UW. The one thing that would top it all off would be a victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Badgers O-Line is the Deal

With four returning starters on the offensive line and three talented tailbacks, it's no secret the University of Wisconsin football team would like to return to its power running roots.
"That's what the coaches are trying to stress," sophomore center John Moffitt, the only new starter, said in the spring. "We're going to be a grind-it-out team, get it done on the ground."
The Badgers feature three seniors who are three-year starters on the offensive line. Right guard Kraig Urbik, right tackle Eric Vanden Heuvel and left guard Andy Kemp have started a combined 85 games. Urbik leads the way with 39 straight starts and was a consensus second-team All-Big Ten pick last season.
Sophomore Gabe Carimi started all 13 games at left tackle in an impressive first year that saw him earn mention on several All-America freshman teams. He might have the biggest upside of anyone on the line.
Moffitt moved to center in the spring after starting six games at left guard.
"Really, there aren't going to be any newbies coming back to start," Vanden Heuvel said. "We shouldn't have an experience issue and that's a big thing for offensive linemen. We'll all come in with game experience."
The best UW teams have featured dominating offensive lines. UW coach Bret Bielema was asked if the offensive line would be a strength on this year's team.
"I think it needs to be," he said. "You've got three seniors. You've got guys that have played a lot of football here and I really like the development of John Moffitt."
Still, this line needs to prove it can be as dominating against top-flight competition as it has been against weaker teams.
In last year's three regular-season losses, to Illinois, Penn State and Ohio State, the Badgers averaged 75.3 rushing yards. They rushed 102 times for 226 yards (2.2 average) and two touchdowns.
In the nine regular-season wins, they averaged 243.6 rushing yards. They rushed 444 times for 2,192 yards (4.9 average) and 26 touchdowns.
Moreover, allowing sacks continued to be a problem. For the second straight year, the Badgers ranked 10th in the Big Ten Conference, allowing 33 for 225 yards in losses.
Bielema liked the changes in the spring under new position coach Bob Bostad, the former tight ends coach who switched jobs after Bob Palcic left in January for UCLA.
"If you really watch what goes on during our individual periods and the way those guys work, the way they go about their business, they're a lot more repetitive about getting off the football," Bielema said.
"Basic fundamentals, a little bit different footwork with Bob. ... I really have seen a significant increase in the way we've been able to move people off the football from an offensive line point of view."
All the talk of running the ball this year is music to the ears of the linemen. But it won't happen unless the line continues to progress.
"You've got to put it on yourself and just make it happen," Vanden Heuvel said.
With the three seniors leading the way, that should not be a problem.
"This is the last year for me, Kraig and Kemp," Vanden Heuvel said. "We've got a very talented line coming in this year. We have to be an extremely powerful force in driving the offense.
"With the quality and number of running backs we have, and the line we have, running the ball shouldn't be a problem. It's something we've really got to work on, kind of coalesce into a working unit."
GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Freakfest and Homecoming all in one day.

On the heels of an inspired performance in all aspects of the game, Wisconsin will work to keep momentum in its favor when Indiana comes to town Saturday.
The Badgers (7-2, 2-2 Big Ten) are set to face the Hoosiers (5-3, 2-3 Big Ten) on Homecoming and Halloween weekend.
In last year’s game against Illinois on “Freakfest,” the relevant boos and scares were on hand as Wisconsin stumbled out to a 21-3 defeat. Rest assured, according to linebacker Jonathan Casillas, it shouldn’t happen again. I hope everything goes smooth for the Badger football team and for everybody attending the State street festivities. Please remember that you don't need to get tear gassed to have a memorable night. GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!