Badgers Fans Shocked As Brett Bielema Walks Away

Badgers fans were stunned by the news of Bielema's departure to Arkansas. This news came before the Rose Bowl, further angering Wisconsin fans. The news that Barry Alvarez will coach the team at Pasadena was less of a surprise. If you take a hard look at the situation at Madison, it becomes easier to understand why Bret took the leap.
The Badgers made the Rose Bowl this year because Ohio State was ineligible. Next season, the Buckeyes will most certainly win the Big Ten Championship game, and our Badgers will more than likely be languishing somewhere below the .500 mark. Last season, the team had lost key players to graduation, and that talent drop off will increase as Montee Ball will be gone next year.

Bielema Took Advantage Of The Timing

Bielema saw the writing on the wall, and took a powder before his stock dropped big time. Why didn't Bielema find a way to recruit well in these past few years, in order to replenish the departing players? Some say it was partly due to the playing and coaching style of Wisconsin football. When a team is focused on the run, hot shot quarterbacks will more than likely avoid the calls from recruits from said teams.
Why spend your college career working under the radar, or in the shadows of a player like Ball, White, or Dayne? Finally, Bielema is a gambler. Most folks know that. Bret took an assessment of the situation in Madison, and decided to go "all in" at Arkansas. Now it's up to Alvarez to find a suitable replacement that will be able to keep the team hot.

Badgers get a new offensive line coach

After each of the first two games of this season, redshirt junior center Travis Frederick said the offensive line was struggling to find its way more than he expected it to, despite working in new regular starters at three positions.
In the aftermath of Bret Bielema’s decision to fire first-year offensive line coach Mike Markuson Sunday, it appears the marching orders have been cleared up a bit: Do things the way that they were done when Bob Bostad was in charge.
Bostad oversaw the Badgers’ frontline for four seasons and was a UW assistant for six years before departing in January. He originally took a job on former offensive coordinator Paul Chryst’s staff before being hired as the offensive line coach for the National Football League’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Bielema said Monday he promoted little-known graduate assistant Bart Miller to “bridge a little bit of what we had last year to where we are now.”
Tuesday, the Badgers began their preparation for Saturday’s home contest against Utah State (2-0) with their second offensive line coach in nine months. That is sure to reset the transition period, even if the transition is now to try to re-apply, rather than learn anew.
“You just have to have a plan, work the plan and plan for the unexpected,” first-year offensive coordinator Matt Canada said Tuesday. “We’re going to drive forward and make the best of a difficult situation, as you would in life when a lot of things come your way.”
Usually, reporters are able to interview up to four offensive players and assistant coaches Tuesday evening, but this week the list was restricted to five players and four assistants. Redshirt senior left tackle Rick Wagner was the lone offensive lineman available and Miller was the only assistant not made available.
Miller is in his second year in the program after serving as a quality control coach a season ago. He played for Bostad at New Mexico in 2005 and graduated in 2007. Miller worked for the National Hockey League’s Chicago Blackhawks for two years before returning to college football as a graduate assistant at New Mexico State in 2010. In his weekly press conference on Monday, Bielema said he would not have made the change if Miller were not so familiar with the program. Wagner reiterated those sentiments Tuesday.
Let's hope it makes a difference.

Badger opener was a close call

A win is a win. Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema and numerous Badger players echoed this cliché following Wisconsin’s (1-0 overall, 0-0 Big Ten) 26-21 victory over FCS opponent Northern Iowa (0-1 overall, 0-0 Missouri Valley Conference) Saturday afternoon in the first game of the 2012 season.
However, the Camp Randall crowd wasn’t necessarily pleased with that type of mentality. The usually raucous crowd essentially stood in disbelief when UNI pulled within five points midway through the fourth quarter. Fans appeared lifeless when the Wisconsin offense responded to UNI’s surge with a three-and-out, giving the Panthers the ball back with 5:17 left to play, still only behind by five.
The anxiety was felt in the crowd most when UNI went for a fourth-and-one on Wisconsin’s 41-yard line with just under three minutes remaining. The Panthers had converted on their two previous fourth down attempts, but redshirt junior defensive lineman Ethan Hemer deflected Northern Iowa redshirt freshman quarterback Sawyer Kollmorgen’s pass across the middle, ridding the crowd of its unexpected restlessness.
“There’s a lot of credit that should go to UNI,” Bielema said. “I thought they were probably the best FCS team we’ve ever faced. I could see that before we even played them.”
Senior running back Montee Ball capped things off for Wisconsin following Hemer’s play, as he rushed for 24 yards during the last drive to run the clock out.
“I don’t care if that was UNI or Nebraska, or anyone else that’s left on our schedule,” Bielema said. “[Ball] was going to secure that win and you could tell that.”
Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Rob Havenstein felt the Wisconsin offense brought a bit more life and intensity during that drive.
“We definitely picked it up a bit,” he said of the drive. “[But] the intensity has got to be there every play, every snap, every down.”
The Badgers’ defense looked like an almost entirely different squad in the second half, as Kollmorgen completed clutch passes at will. After holding the Panthers to just three first downs and 47 yards in the first half, Wisconsin gave up 10 first downs in the second. All 13 Panthers’ first downs came off passes.
Let's hope this week isn't so close.

Bielema likes the new playoff system

Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema sounded excited to be a part of college football history with the advent of a four-team playoff that will replace the BCS model beginning with the 2014 season.

Doing the simple math, though, he expressed the one obvious concern that is shared by all of his fraternity brothers in the coaching profession. There is a concern, you ask?

"Yeah, if I'm No. 5,'' he said, grinning. "Everybody used to talk about the No. 3 and No. 4 teams that didn't get to play for the championship. Now they're going to be talking about No. 5 and No. 6.

"I think it's probably legit to say that every year you're going to have teams that can play the excuse game on why they should be there.

"But to have four teams that will have a shot to win it all now is really cool.''

The Rose Bowl will not only be part of the six-bowl rotation for the two semifinal games, but it will be locked into a 4 p.m. (CST) kickoff on Jan. 1 through 2026 (Jan. 2 if New Year's Day is a Sunday).

The Tournament of Roses also announced Thursday that the Rose Bowl would continue to honor a Big Ten/Pac-12 matchup in those years that it's not playing host to a national semifinal.

That type of stability and/or continuity is priceless, Bielema pointed out.

"Of course, we're all a little biased,'' he conceded. "I've been there as a player and a coach. I know the Rose Bowl is a sacred, hallowed ground for college football, especially for the Big Ten.''

The new system will render polls virtually meaningless in their current form, thereby eliminating what has always been a healthy source of debate and controversy for fans, players and coaches alike.

The preseason polls, in particular, were problematic; especially from Bielema's viewpoint. The Badgers were off the radar in 2006, his first season; yet fought all the way back to a No. 5 final ranking.

"I was a new head coach with a new team and people had questions,'' he recalled. "But we finished 12-1 and I felt like we were a BCS (bowl) level team (that had to settle for something less).

"I've always been in favor of ranking teams later in the year because you have a chance then to truly find out who has good teams -- and it's not based on just good projections.''

College football is expected to adopt the NCAA's basketball model for a selection committee, which would include a collection of current athletic directors and league commissioners.

That would eliminate the importance of two BCS staples: the USA Today Coaches Poll and the Harris Poll. There have been reports, too, that the tweaked system will rank teams by tiers; another notable departure from the past.
Let's hope Bucky can make it in to the playoffs. 

Badgers looking forward to this season

Back-to-back Rose Bowl appearances go a long way in building a nationally recognized football brand. But in 2012, the wisconsin football program has the chance to take a final, long-awaited step forward.

After spending years adjacent to the circle that surrounds college football’s “elite” programs, Wisconsin has the opportunity next season to finally anchor itself among the upper echelon of not just the Big Ten conference, but all of college football.

And a Heisman frontrunner coupled with a remarkably deep and talented defense may be just enough to finally bring the Badgers much-deserved validation as one of the conference’s perennial contenders. Wisconsin’s pursuit of becoming an elite program (à la Ohio State) has been a reappearing topic for years — including a recent ESPN college football roundtable — but next season it has the opportunity to capitalize on recent success and establish a spot on the national scene.

Analysts are quick to point out potential issues arising from the exodus of UW coaches this offseason, most notably offensive coordinator Paul Chryst. But the talent returning on both sides of the ball puts Wisconsin in great position for a third-consecutive BCS bowl appearance that could place them firmly among the Big Ten’s best and no longer keep them looming a half-step behind.

This chance at claiming a spot among the country’s best programs begins with one of the most dangerous players lining up in the backfield in all of college football — running back Montee Ball. After piling up simply absurd numbers in 2011 — 1,923 yards and 39 total touchdowns — the senior running back will be the unquestioned centerpiece of the Badgers’ offense next season.

Ball is the rare, once-in-a-decade player who can single-handedly carry the offense as a one-man touchdown machine. Although he’ll have a tough time surpassing the stats he managed in 2011, the senior’s speed and vision out of the backfield alone could earn Wisconsin a couple of victories. Beyond that, Ball’s name staying in the Heisman discussion all season will continue to elevate the image of wisconsin football. Even if Danny O’Brien fails to exhibit the skills through the air he showed as a Maryland freshman in 2010, Ball will be ready to take a starring role in the Badgers’ offensive attack.

Badgers have to replace 3 lineman

Death and taxes might be the only things more consistent than the Wisconsin football team’s offensive line in the last 20-plus years.

 The faces of the players and the coaches change, but still these five very large men, no matter who they are, continue to open holes and protect the quarterback better than any other group in the nation. This notion may be tested this year, though, as the Badgers have lost three starters from last season: center Peter Konz, guard Kevin Zeitler and tackle Josh Oglesby.

Losing three starters is never good for an offensive line and can cause problems in the following year, but so far, that conventional thinking has not applied to the Badgers’ offensive line.

Last year’s offensive line is an example of that. Despite losing three members to the NFL the year before, new players stepped in and Wisconsin made a repeat appearance in the Rose Bowl. If past experience is any indicator, the Badgers might be in for another berth in Pasadena.

One thing that is different from last year, however, is the man molding these gargantuan men. Offensive line coach Bob Bostad left Madison with former offensive coordinator Paul Chryst to become the offensive coordinator at Pittsburgh, but then took off for the offensive line job with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this February.

The man that UW selected to succeed Bostad is former Ole Miss offensive line coach Mike Markuson. Markuson is very experienced, having spent the last 14 years in the SEC under Houston Nutt. Markuson, who was born in Farmington, Minn., said that he was glad to once again be back in the Midwest and working under head coach Bret Bielema.

Let's hope it is a flawless transition.  

Ball and White in the Backfield at the same time?

University of Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema was teasing senior running back Montee Ball during football practice on Tuesday about a potential position switch.

“I was giving Montee some heat,” Bielema said. “We finally found his right position — at fullback.”

The Badgers returned from last week’s spring break and opened the doors to the media for the first time. They also unveiled a backfield at times that included two running backs — Ball and junior James White.

UW fans don’t need to be alarmed about Ball, a Heisman Trophy finalist last year who rushed for 1,923 yards and scored 39 touchdowns, moving to a new spot.

But the UW coaches would like to find a bigger role for White, whose statistics dropped last season as Ball emerged as the team’s workhorse.

White still had solid numbers, rushing for 713 yards and averaging 5.1 yards per carry. But it was a dramatic dip from 2010, when he rushed for 1,052 yards and averaged 6.7 per attempt as a true freshman.

“As a competitor, you want to play more,” running backs coach Thomas Hammock said. “So I think he wants to play more. He’s putting in the work to play more. Obviously, he’s doing enough things to say, maybe we need to put them both on the field.”

Bielema said the Badgers put in a package with Ball and White together in the backfield last season, but didn’t really get to it.

“I believe it was game seven, we put it in,” Bielema said. “Our other stuff was working so well, we never expanded the package.”

One thing that makes the combination possible is both are excellent receivers. Ball caught 24 passes for 306 yards and six scores last season, while White caught 15 for 150.

It might be an interesting season.  GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Badgers start spring practice

As the season changes from winter to spring the unseasonal sounds of football pads are beginning to fill the air.

The unique month-long period of football practices starting in late March and ending in late April granted by the NCAA gives college programs a chance to develop their team’s talent and cohesion. For Wisconsin football head coach Bret Bielema and the rest of the Badgers spring has been long awaited since a crushing 45-42 loss to Oregon in the Rose Bowl to end the 2010-’11 season.  But despite the loss there has been no hangover for the Badgers as they begin spring practices.

“The way the guys have practiced the first two days has been exceptional,” Bielema said. “For as many new coaches as we have here, different terminology, other things being different, this is the best two days we’ve had here since I’ve been coach.”

Spring practice allows teams to develop players that will fill the roles that last year’s starters fulfilled. For Wisconsin it will be critical to find a replacement for departed quarterback Russell Wilson.

Expected to compete for the quarterback job in spring practice are redshirt freshmen Joel Stave, redshirt junior Jon Budmayr and redshirt senior Curt Philips. All have had questions trailing including Stave’s lack of leadership experience as a freshmen and Budmayr’s plague of injuries throughout his career. Despite the doubts, Bielema is confident that his quarterbacks can develop.

“I believe we are looking at a 70-percent completion percentage through two practices, which we’ve never been at that level before with those kind of quarterbacks,” Bielema said.

Also expected to compete once fall practice starts is incoming freshmen and highly touted four-star prospect Bart Houston from Concord, Calif.

Houston played his high school ball at nationally renowned De La Salle High School and won multiple section and state championships in the golden state. Houston is just one of an incoming recruiting class—a class that has continued a tradition of strong recruiting efforts during the Bielema era.

“One of the hardest things for me right now is we’ve come off two Big Ten championship seasons, and we can really do some nice things in recruiting,” Bielema said. “But I only have nine scholarships this year, so you really have to be detailed about who you’re offering, how you prioritize and where you prioritize guys.”

In the upcoming season, the high school football talent of Wisconsin that has led to the rise of the Badgers’ program will be tested by out of state programs this year. The limited number of scholarships that the Badgers have available to offer recruits will force Wisconsin to be more aggressive in targeting and getting the prospects they want.

“Here at Wisconsin, in-state recruiting is the heart and soul of what we do in our program,” Bielema said.

On the injury front, Badger fans have nothing to worry about at the all important running back position, as Heisman trophy finalist Montee Ball is as healthy as ever heading into this spring. Staying on the offensive side of the ball, redshirt junior Jared Abbrederis was described by Bielema as being “restricted” due to injury. On defense, the defensive front goes into spring healthy with the exception of redshirt junior Chris Borland, who tweaked a hamstring during winter workout.

Let's hope bucky can have another successful season.   GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Matt Canada named offensive cordinator

The shape of the Wisconsin football team’s coaching staff continues to take shape as head coach Bret Bielema announced the hiring of Matt Canada as the squad’s new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tuesday afternoon.

Canada spent the 2011 season in an identical role with Northern Illinois, although he has a total of seven years of experience as an offensive coordinator at NIU, Indiana and Butler as well as 11 years as a quarterbacks coach. He faces the task of replacing Paul Chryst at both positions, who led record-breaking offenses at Wisconsin that averaged 31.9 points and 408.6 yards per game over six years.

“Matt has a terrific history as an offensive coordinator and has excelled at developing quarterbacks throughout his career,” Bielema said. “I know he is very excited about running a pro-style offense and handling a game the way we typically have at Wisconsin. I think this is a great hire for us and I can’t wait for him to get to work with our coaches and players.”

While working underneath former Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Doeren at Northern Illinois last season, Canada lead a formidable offense that finished within the top 12 in the country in scoring offense, total offense and rushing offense. Both NIU and UW were two of five teams in the nation to average at least 230 yards rushing and passing last season.

Huskies’ quarterback Chandler Harnish finished ninth in the country in total offense, averaging 328.2 yards per game 2010. And in his four years at Northern Illinois, Canada has also coached two-time NFL All-Pro running back Michael Turner as well current UW running backs coach Thomas Hammock.

Canada employed the spread offense at Northern Illinois and at Indiana, although it appears he is willing to adopt a more traditional scheme to fit Wisconsin’s usual brand of offense.

“I’m truly excited for the opportunity to come to Wisconsin,” Canada said. “It’s a program that I’ve followed closely for a number of years. I’ve always been impressed with their tradition, especially offensively with their style of play, and I can’t wait to be a part of that.”

Canada began his coaching career at Indiana, where from 1992-95 he acted as a student coach and graduate assistant for running backs, quarterbacks and tight ends. In 1996 he coached quarterbacks and wide receivers at Butler but was promoted to offensive coordinator in 1997. From there he joined the staff at Northern Illinois from 1998-2003, taking the reigns as offensive coordinator in 2003.

Canada then returned to Indiana in 2004 to coach quarterbacks and was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2007, remaining in that position until after the 2010 season. Afterward, Canada rejoined Northern Illinois for one last season before making the jump to Wisconsin.

The three quarterbacks Canada oversaw at Indiana - Ben Chappell, Kellen Lewis and Blake Powers - hold the school’s top three spots in single-season touchdowns, yards, completions, attempts and completion percentage. Chappell led the Big Ten in passing yards, completions and attempts in 2010 while setting single-season records in all three categories.

After announcing the hiring Zach Azzani to coach wide receivers Monday, Bielema now has three vacancies along the coaching staff, with openings for tight ends, offensive line and linebackers.

“In this process, I’m putting together a staff that will come from different directions to come together to play football the way Wisconsin has traditionally played,” Bielema said.

Let's hope he has much success.  GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Konz goes to the NFL

Junior center Peter Konz officially announced he will make himself eligible for the NFL draft.

Konz, from Neenah, took 18 credits in the fall — 12 is a full-time load — so he would graduate in the spring and fulfill a promise he made to his mother, Margaret.

"As you've probably heard, I have decided to forgo my senior season and enter the NFL draft," Konz said in a statement. "Because of the support I have received, the degree I am so proud to leave with, the football legacy I helped leave behind, and more reasons than I could even remember, I would simply like to say thank you. "Every last person has made my experience at Wisconsin far beyond what I could have imagined and without you I could never be where I am today."

Konz wrote this letter to UW fans.

He started 31 games at center over the past three seasons. He was a finalist this season for the Rimington Trophy, given to the nation's top center. He was named a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches' Association and Pro Football Weekly.

"I knew when we received the information back from the NFL that Pete would have a tough decision ahead of him," UW coach Bret Bielema said in a statement. "He has been one of the most enjoyable players I have had the pleasure to coach."

"I know being a Badger meant the world to him and his family. I want to thank him not only for all his hard work and effort on the field but for also representing our program and the University of Wisconsin in a first-class manner throughout his career."

Some draft projections have Konz being taken late in the first round or early in the second.

His departure means the Badgers must fill three starting spots on the offensive line since they're also losing two seniors: right guard Kevin Zeitler and right tackle Josh Oglesby.

Let's hope that he is successful in the NFL.  GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Badgers are ready for the Rose Bowl

Many times, football games are billed as potential shoot-outs and then fail to live up to the high-scoring hype.

That should not be a problem on Jan. 2 in Pasadena, Cal.

In Wisconsin and Oregon, the 98th edition of the Rose Bowl features two of the most prolific-and two of the most opposite-offenses in the country.

The No. 5 Ducks (8-1 Pac 12, 11-2 overall) employ a multitude of weapons predicated on speed, speed a breakneck pace and more speed.

"Their normal no huddle is very fast-paced, up tempo," UW head coach Bret Bielema said. "Then they have an extremely quick one where you can really see they've caught not only defenses but referees in difficult situations."

Bielema and defensive coordinator Chris Ash will likely have to decided whether to stay in the base 4-3 defense or play more nickel through the game. In the base, senior linebacker Kevin Claxton plays on the strong side, while freshman corner back Peniel Jean is the nickel corner. Bielema said the NCAA rules on substitutions should help Wisconsin.

"There is a rule in college football ... that if they sub you have an opportunity to sub as well," Bielema said. "You just have to make sure the officials are on the same page as you."

I know the Badgers are underdogs but let's hope they can beat the Ducks.  GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Badgers face Oregon

Many times, football games are billed as potential shoot-outs and then fail to live up to the high-scoring hype.

That should not be a problem on Jan. 2 in Pasadena, Cal.

In Wisconsin and Oregon, the 98th edition of the Rose Bowl features two of the most prolific-and two of the most opposite-offenses in the country.

The No. 5 Ducks (8-1 Pac 12, 11-2 overall) employ a multitude of weapons predicated on speed, speed a breakneck pace and more speed.

"Their normal no huddle is very fast-paced, up tempo," UW head coach Bret Bielema said. "Then they have an extremely quick one where you can really see they've caught not only defenses but referees in difficult situations."

Bielema and defensive coordinator Chris Ash will likely have to decided whether to stay in the base 4-3 defense or play more nickel through the game. In the base, senior linebacker Kevin Claxton plays on the strong side, while freshman corner back Peniel Jean is the nickel corner. Bielema said the NCAA rules on substitutions should help Wisconsin.

"There is a rule in college football ... that if they sub you have an opportunity to sub as well," Bielema said. "You just have to make sure the officials are on the same page as you."

I hope Bucky can pull it off in Pasadena.  GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Badgers looking to OSU after the stunner at MSU

In the wake of one of the most agonizing defeats in school history, the dreadful memories of Saturday's loss to Michigan State still linger for the Badgers. Yet, as difficult as it is to continue moving forward, it is imperative that Wisconsin maintains its focus as they invade Columbus to take on Ohio State this Saturday.

UW head coach Bret Bielema addressed the team's disappointment and urged the players to continue fighting.

"I told [the players] you should never get used to this feeling,"Bielema said. "This feeling should hurt. It's something we need to get rid of and shake out tonight. If you ever accept it, then it's going to happen more than you ever want it to."

Even after a shaky performance and an unsuccessful comeback, senior quarterback Russell Wilson remains optimistic about his team's ability to overcome this adversity.

"The main thing is staying positive, keep working hard like we do everyday and keep leading," Wilson said. "There's a lot of great opportunities for us and we have a great opportunity to play Ohio State."

Last season, the Badgers upset the then-No.1 Buckeyes 31-18 before a raucous Camp Randall Stadium, a pivotal victory en route to a share of the Big Ten title and a trip to the Rose Bowl. On Saturday, the Badgers won't have the comforts of home.

While the Badgers have won three of their last five meetings in Columbus, the most recent trip resulted in a 31-13 loss. The Badgers dominated in first downs 22-8 and total offense 368-184, but Scott Tolzein threw three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns.

The Badgers are all too familiar with the consequences of missed opportunities, so it is essential they convert when they have their chances, especially against a tough defense, ranked 16th in the nation.

"Ohio State has got a lot of athletic ability up front all the way to the back end of the defense," Wilson said. "The main thing is capitalizing on opportunities just like any other game."

The controversy encompassing Ohio State this summer has been well publicized, as it was revealed several former Buckeyes received improper benefits while former head coach Jim Tressel lied to the NCAA about having any knowledge of the transactions. Tressel has resigned, but the image of the program has been besmirched.

But even with all the negativity, Ohio State has remained competitive, coming off its biggest victory against upstart Illinois, 17-7, last weekend.

"They look more and more like the traditional Ohio State as they get further in the season," Bielema said. "Their defense is playing extremely well with that swagger."

While a shot at the BCS title is gone, the Badgers still dictate their own destiny in the quest for the Big Ten title.Bielema has witnessed teams stuck in a hole claw their way back to become conference champions. In 2003 as Kansas State's co-defensive coordinator, Bielema's team lost three straight games against Marshall and conference rivals Texas and Oklahoma State, leaving them 4-3 overall but 0-2 in the division.

"One of things I really benefitted from my experience at Kansas State was I had a great two years of learning divisional play within a conference," Bielema said.

"[Kansas State head coach] Bill Snyder said if we take care of our business, we can get in the conference championship game and get to a BCS bowl. Everyone was looking at him like he had three heads."

The team rallied together and not only won the rest of their games, but shocked No. 1 Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship, desecrating the Sooners 35-7 for the conference title and earning a trip to the Fiesta Bowl.

"I think the biggest thing is what kind of kids you have in your program," Bielema said. "I expect this group to bounce back as they did late in the fourth quarter and put everything into this preparation."

Let's hope Bucky can turn it around in Columbus.  GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Badgers Beat Nebraska

If Russell Wilson becomes the third football player at the University of Wisconsin to win the Heisman Trophy, it will be because of performances such as the one against Nebraska last week, not any promotional ideas hatched by the school's athletic communications department.

Wilson's performance on national television in prime time on Saturday night has thrust him near the top of most Heisman polls, which are becoming a cottage industry.

The Heisman polls are too numerous to mention, but many have Wilson in the top three, along with two other quarterbacks, Stanford's Andrew Luck and Oklahoma's Landry Jones.

The UW athletic communications department has started a Twitter campaign for Wilson's Heisman chances (@RussellManiaXVI). But don't expect Wilson to be checking it out much, since he doesn't have a Twitter account.

"No, I don't follow it too much," Wilson said after practice on Wednesday night. "Brian (Lucas), the media relations guy, let's me know. That's kind of cool. I don't have Twitter, though, myself."

Fresh off the push he got nationally from the 48-17 victory over the Cornhuskers, Wilson appeared Tuesday on the ESPN television show, "Pardon the Interruption," and also Dan Patrick's nationally syndicated radio show, which also is simulcast on television.

Barry Alvarez said getting Russell Wilson was like winning the lottery, I would have to agree with him.  GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Badgers not overlooking Beavers

Holding strong after a season-opening trouncing of University of Nevada-Las Vegas, the Wisconsin football team is looking for similar success against the Oregon State Beavers Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.

While the Badgers opened their season under the lights with a dominant 51-17 win over UNLV, Oregon State struggled against the Sacramento State Hornets and fell, 29-28.

In light of the Beavers’ loss, the Badgers are bracing for a fired up OSU squad.

“I expect them to be riled up for a [No. 8] Wisconsin Badger team, coming into Camp Randall, trying to quiet everybody down,” center Peter Konz said. “They’re still a Pac-12 team. They’re still the upset team that everybody talks about. We’re not forgetting anything about that.”

“I expect them to be fired up,” wide receiver Jared Abbrederis said. “I think if I would lose a game, I would want to come out there and give everything I had in the next game. I feel like they’re going to come in here and be a new team. I think they’re going to show people who they really are and what they can do. We have to ready for them. They’re going to be a good opponent for us.“

Instead of consistently focusing on what the other team is doing, Wisconsin is intent on focusing on their preparations the same way, week in and week out.

“I like the way our guys have practiced all week,” head coach Bret Bielema said. “No matter if we’re playing Oregon State, Northern Illinois, after that South Dakota — I think our guys have really bought into it doesn’t matter what happens on the other side of the ball, it’s about what we do, how we prepare.”

Last week, Wisconsin made a statement in a 51-17 win with 499 yards of total offense while only allowing 292 on defense.

I am confident that the Badgers will put on another impressive showing.  GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!