Badgers off to a fast start

There were a number of new faces as the Wisconsin offense took the field for the first time Thursday night, but last year's the explosiveness was in full force as the Badgers racked up touchdown drives on their first five possession en route to a 51-17 victory over UNLV.

Behind the five quick touchdowns, UW took a 37-3 lead into the half. After two more scores out of the gates, the night was over for the first string as UW cruised to the easy win.

"[Scoring early] was great," junior center Peter Konz said. "You always like to score on the first drive to make sure they don't think they're in the game right away."

In the much-hyped debut of quarterback Russell Wilson, the story was no doubt the continued dominance of the Badger running attack.

Led by junior Montee Ball and sophomore James White, UW running backs combined for 232 yards of total offense and six touchdowns. Ball led the way with 130 all-purpose yards of his own, including a team-high 67 receiving yards.

Both tailbacks seemed unstoppable the majority of the night, a predictable result given the competition between the two for the starting position.

"I said I can bring them in and literally flip a coin. As things worked out, it looked like Montee didn't really do anything big but just felt better with him out of the gate," head coach Bret Bielema said after the game. "I think they're both pretty even, they both have strengths over the other."

Picking up where they left off at the end of last season, Ball and White continue to have a complementary relationship on the field. Despite Ball losing 25 pounds in the offseason, the two still seem to bring a sort of "thunder and lightning" approach to the Wisconsin attack.

I like the look of the offense but I am not sure about the defense yet.  GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Badgers look good in Vegas

The Badger offense garnered most of the offseason press, and with ten starters returning from the Big Ten’s most prolific attack, it was most likely deserved. After Saturday, though, it may be time to share some of that hype with the guys on the other side of the ball.

Wisconsin almost completely shut down the UNLV attack in the first half, but the team needed more as it held just a three-point edge. The defense delivered more with a turnover and score on the opening series of the second half that ignited a runaway victory.

“Our main focus was coming out of halftime, we need a turnover, and we need to give our offense a short field so they can score,” junior safety Aaron Henry said. “If we get them the ball inside the 50 or inside the 40 they definitely can do some damage and I think that turnover was crucial in setting them up for the rest of the game.”

On the third play of the second half, junior defensive end J.J. Watt hit UNLV’s receiver, Michael Johnson, from behind, jarring the ball free. Henry, in his first start at the safety position, scooped up the ball and went 20 yards to put his team ahead by 10 points.

“I was chasing down the running back at first, but then when I saw the throw went outside and then I retreated outside and got lucky, I guess,” Watt said. “I didn’t even know I stripped the ball, I was just going for the tackle and all of a sudden I saw Aaron in the endzone.”

Watt finished with three pass breakups and four tackles to go along with his momentum-shifting play. UNLV gained just four yards on their next two drives, and the Badgers rolled to two more scores.

But it was the first half where Wisconsin’s defense really shined.

The Rebels only managed 12 yards on 15 plays, and their only offensive score, a 16-yard TD pass, was set up by an 82-yard fumble return. Much of the credit went to the Badger defensive line that sacked junior quarterback Mike Clausen three times and held UNLV to -9 yards on the ground.

Lets hope Bucky can keep it rolling. GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vegas Baby, Vegas

Look out Las Vegas for Bucky Badger who will be invading Las Vegas when the Badgers face off against UNLV. Although the Badgers are 25 point favorites and that it will be about a 100 degrees outside I'm sure the Badger Fans will be going nuts. The W Club is throwing a tailgate party for 15,000 fans. They believe that it will be largest tailgate for a visiting team in history. And remember what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. GO BUCKY!!!!!!

2007 Wisconsin Badger Football Schedule

Check out the Upcoming Football Schedule for YOUR Wisconsin Badgers! If history repeats itself, Las Vegas better watch out, as Badger fans are already making their plans, buying their tickets and tapping their kegs for the Badgers vs. UNLV game September 8!

Sept. 1 Washington State
Sept. 8 at UNLV
Sept. 15 The Citadel
Sept. 22 Iowa
Sept. 29 Michigan State
Oct. 6 at Illinois
Oct. 13 at Penn State
Oct. 20 Northern Illinois
Oct. 27 Indiana (Homecoming)
Nov. 3 at Ohio State
Nov. 10 Michigan
Nov. 17 at Minnesota

Don't miss the action as the Wisconsin Badgers Football team is (hopefully) Bowl Bound!