Badgers Face Penn State

Coming into Saturday’s game against Illinois, the Wisconsin football team (5-2 Big Ten, 9-2 overall) had struggled on the road. However, a second half comeback helped exorcise the Badgers’ road demons and sets up a do-or-die matchup with Penn State (6-1, 9-2) Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.

Defensively, the Badgers were able to come back on Illinois thanks to timely interceptions by seniors Antonio Fenelus and Aaron Henry as well as another by junior defensive back Shelton Johnson. Sophomore linebacker Chris Borland was again able to make an impact by recording double-digit tackles (18) for the sixth time this season in addition to forcing a fumble. Offensively, Bielema credited senior fullback Brady Ewing as well as junior running back Montee Ball with the offensive surge in the second half.

“Montee Ball was our offensive MVP, as well as Brady Ewing. [Brady] had his best game of the year, he was always at the point of attack clearing space for the backs,” Bielema said. “A lot of times Brady is throwing the key block that the running back is able to read and go for yards.”

Runs by senior quarterback Russell Wilson and Ball capped a comeback win that set up a winner-take-all scenario against Penn State (6-1, 9-2) on Saturday where the victor will advance to the first ever Big Ten Championship game to be played Dec. 3 at Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis.

Let's hope the Badgers are playing in Indy next week.  GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Big Ten releases 2013 & 2014 schedule

Two weeks out from the 2011 Spring Game, and it's already time to start looking ahead—two years ahead, as the Big Ten Conference Wednesday released the 2013 and 2014 football schedules.

After a two year hiatus, the Heartland Trophy will again be up for grabs as Wisconsin travels to Iowa Nov. 2, 2013. The Badgers will then host the Hawkeyes in week two of 2014.

Also worth noting, beginning in 2013, Big Ten teams will have two byes each season, extending the league calendar deeper than in previous years. Wisconsin will host Penn State Nov. 30, 2013 in the season finale, marking the latest home game in Madison since 1899.

By 2013, Badger fans should be pretty familiar with a Nittany Lion season finale. Wisconsin and Penn State will match up in conference finales for the next four years, beginning this season.

Additionally, for the first time since 1992, the Badgers will open up conference play against Ohio State when they travel to Columbus Sept. 28, 2013.

With the Big Ten's new divisions, which begin this season, the Badgers now play in the five-team Leaders Division. This means Wisconsin will play Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State and Purdue every season. The Badgers will play Minnesota each season as well as two other rotating Legends Division teams.

In 2013 and 2014, UW will play a home-and-home against Legends members Iowa and Northwestern.

As for Minnesota, Wisconsin fans better get used to a bitter rivalry in the bitter cold. The Badgers and Gophers will play in the Twin Cities Nov. 23, 2013 and in Madison Nov. 22, 2014.

Let's hope we see victory on the field for the Badgers.  GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010 Badger Football Schedule

Here is the 2010 Badger Football Schedule:
09/04/10
at UNLV
Las Vegas, Nev.
09/11/10
vs. San Jose State
Camp Randall
09/18/10
vs. Arizona State
Camp Randall
09/25/10
vs. Austin Peay
Camp Randall
10/02/10
at Michigan State *
East Lansing, Mich.
10/09/10
vs. Minnesota (Homecoming) *
Camp Randall
10/16/10
vs. Ohio State *
Camp Randall
10/23/10
at Iowa *
Iowa City, Iowa
11/06/10
at Purdue *
West Lafayette, Ind.
11/13/10
vs. Indiana *
Camp Randall
11/20/10
at Michigan *
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Lets hope the Badgers can make a run at a BCS game this year. I was looking for some tickets this season and I found a great website: www.badgertickets.com. I hope to see you all at Camp Randall this fall. GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

UW Keeps the Axe & Becomes Bowl Eligble

The Wisconsin football team erased a 14-point halftime deficit to tie Minnesota 24-24 by the start of the fourth quarter Saturday. The final quarter has posed problems for the Badgers, but that was not the case Saturday.
Back-to-back safeties and a subsequent fumble recovery by the defense led to 11 points on the board for UW within the first three minutes of the final quarter. The Gophers managed to score one more touchdown, but Wisconsin came out on top 35-32 to retain Paul Bunyan’s axe for the fifth straight year and become bowl-eligible with six wins.
“You can’t ever throw in the towel,” said senior linebacker Mike Newkirk, who led the defense with seven tackles and two sacks. “You have to keep going, keep grinding and you can’t get down.”
It sure is nice to see that swagger back into their step. It would be nice for them to end the season with a 4 game winning streak, by the way I am including a bowl win, hopefully anywhere warm. GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Remember the past.

In 2003, one of the greatest games in the history of Wisconsin football was played, and hardly anyone seems to remember it. The Badgers defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 17-10 that wet and windy night in October, ending Ohio State’s 19-game winning streak, and most UW students don’t even know it happened.
It doesn’t seem like it has been that long, only five years since the Buckeyes came in ranked No. 3 in the nation as the defending national champs, and faced a Badger team ranked No. 23.
But in football years, especially student-athlete football years, five years is a long time. Players come and go a the blink of an eye, and the fans sitting in Camp Randall Stadium have to constantly learn new players.
So on the fifth-year anniversary of Wisconsin’s upset win over the Buckeyes, as Wisconsin looks toward this weekend’s Big Ten home opener against OSU, it seems fitting to look back at how it all happened. But be warned, this is not your typical Cinderella story. It was a game full of drama, scandal, sloppy conditions and bad weather.
The Badgers had started off the season 5-1 overall, with a 2-0 record in the Big Ten. Ohio State came in with a 5-0 record and appeared ready to continue its 19-game winning streak. But things didn’t seem to be heading OSU’s way as soon as the team got off the plane. I sure hope that the Badgers can pull another upset this weekend. It would make my day. GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!

Wisconsin to face a Strong Fresno State team

The No. 10 Wisconsin football team (2-0) heads to Fresno, Calif., for its first road game of the season against the No. 21 Fresno State Bulldogs (1-0).
After last season’s dismal record on the road—Wisconsin went 2-4 away from Camp Randall Stadium in ’07—there is a new emphasis on winning away from the state of Wisconsin.
“We’ve definitely got a lot of guys who know how it feels to lose on the road … so we definitely take it to heart,” junior middle linebacker Jaevery McFadden said. “This is definitely more of a business trip. We are going to be all about business come Saturday night.” The Badgers only won one Big Ten road game last year and are looking to change that trend this season. They will have a tough task at hand against the Bulldogs.
Wisconsin joins the very small fraternity of five teams who will play a non-conference game on the road against a Top-25 ranked team.
“We are one of only five teams in college football this year that is going on the road to play a ranked team in their own house,” UW head coach Bret Bielema said. “I think [it] speaks volumes about the program.”
The Bulldogs sport the top return man in the nation in junior cornerback A.J. Jefferson. Bielema emphasized the Badgers’ need to extinguish any big returns and set the tone early while on the road.
“As anyone knows when you are on the road any type of momentum that starts out in the favor of the home team can have an overwhelming effect so we have to start off fast,” he said. “We have to be able to execute.”
Against Marshall last Saturday, Wisconsin faced the nation’s No. 2 and No. 3 return men from last year, and with Jefferson this week the Badgers have ran the gauntlet in terms of playing against the nation’s best in the return game.
“We’ve got our hands full on the special teams phase once again and it has got to be a great day for all three phases,” Bielema said.
Offensively, UW proved it can run the ball—as seen by 404 yards against Akron—as well as throw the ball—with 329 yards against Marshall. The key against Fresno State will be to find a balance between the two early in the game, and use the success of one to fuel the other. Senior quarterback Allan Evridge has proven to be more than capable of shouldering the load, while junior running back P.J. Hill (267 yards), sophomore Zach Brown (123) and redshirt freshman John Clay (125) form a backfield that was quickly named the “Three-Headed Monster.”
Defensively, the play of McFadden has been tough to miss, with a team-high 20 total tackles. On the defensive line, senior Matt Shaughnessy may not have a sack, but has two pass breakups and five quarterback hurries. But to have a truly productive day, the defense will have to stop Bulldogs’ sophomore running back Ryan Mathews.
Mathews is currently third in the NCAA in rushing, with a 163 yards per game. His ability to break the game open on the outside as well as grind it up the middle will make him a formidable opponent.
“They have a really good running back [Ryan Mathews]. He has good balance, you definitely have to wrap him up when you get him,” McFadden said. “We watched the Rutgers game on film and a lot of the yards he got were after contact. We [the defense] are going to have to be on our A-game to stop him.”
The game is at 9:30 p.m. Saturday and will be broadcast on ESPN 2.

GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Evridge Named Starting QB

As expected, Allan Evridge will be the University of Wisconsin football team's starting quarterback when the Badgers open the season Aug. 30 against Akron at Camp Randall Stadium.
Evridge, a fifth-year senior, beat out junior Dustin Sherer and sophomore Scott Tolzien for the starting spot.
``He's definitely got a lot of ability that he's able to use,'' UW coach Bret Bielema said Wednesday. ``And what he's been able to do during these first couple weeks of camp is just separate himself (by) being able to manage and handle the game.
``We want him to make good decisions. We don't need him to be an all-star. We just need to make the plays that are out there (and) make the right throws.''
A transfer from Kansas State, Evridge sat out the 2006 per NCAA transfer rules and spent last season as Tyler Donovan's backup. He appeared in seven games, completing 5-of-12 passes for 66 yards.
Evridge missed part of training camp with a hamstring injury and looked shaky during last Saturday's scrimmage. However, neither Sherer nor Tolzien did enough in camp to move past Evridge, who threw for 1,365 yards and six touchdowns -- both school records for freshman -- at Kansas State in 2005.
Sherer is listed as Evridge's backup.
``Obviously, we listed a two-deep, but really Dustin Sherer, Scott Tolzien and (freshman) James Stallons are kind of in a competition mode even as we speak,'' Bielema said.
``If we had to play a game (Thursday), Dustin would be the guy based on experience.''
Bielema also announced the team's four captains, all seniors: fullback Chris Pressley and right guard Kraig Urbik on offense, and tackle Mike Newkirk and linebacker DeAndre Levy on defense.
Elsewhere on the depth chart, junior Matt Fischer and freshman Philip Welch are listed as co-starters at kicker.
David Gilreath is listed as the starter at one wide receiver spot, while Maurice Moore and Kyle Jefferson are listed as co-starters on the other side.
Jaevery McFadden is listed at the starter at middle linebacker, ahead of Culmer St. Jean.
Freshman Mario Goins is listed as the starter at one cornerback position, while senior Allen Langford and sophomore Niles Brinkley are listed as co-starters at the other corner spot.
O'Brien Schofield is listed as the starter at defensive end opposite Matt Shaughnessy.

Badger Football Ranked 12th In Nation

The University of Wisconsin football team is ranked No. 12 in the USA Today preseason Top 25 coaches' poll, which was released Friday.
The Badgers, who went 9-4 last season, are the second-highest ranked team among Big Ten Conference programs. Ohio State is at No. 3, while Illinois (19), Penn State (22) and Michigan (24) also cracked the Top 25.
Georgia is No. 1, followed by USC, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Florida. LSU, Missouri, West Virginia, Clemson and Texas round out the Top 10.
The Badgers began preseason training camp on Monday and open the season on Aug. 30 against Akron at Camp Randall Stadium.
Fresno State, which will host UW on Sept. 13, is ranked No. 25.

I was just checking out prices for the 1st Badger Football Game at Camp Randall. There were tickets starting at $59 each. Sounds like a good deal for the 12th best team in the country. GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fisrt two Badger Home Games are on the Big Ten Network

The first two University of Wisconsin football games this season -- against Akron Aug. 30 and Marshall Sept. 6 at Camp Randall Stadium -- will begin at 11 a.m. and be televised by the Big Ten Network, the conference announced today.
That means times for six of the Badgers' 11 regular-season games in 2008 are set. UW's non-conference game at Fresno State Sept. 13 will begin at 9:30 p.m.; Big Ten home games against Ohio State on Oct. 4 and Penn State Oct. 11 will start at 7 p.m.; and the Badgers' Homecoming game against Illinois Oct. 25 will kickoff at 11 a.m.
The Big Ten today released the game times and TV plans for every home non-conference game during the first four weekends of the season. The non-conference schedule will feature 30 home games televised by ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 or the Big Ten Network, beginning with eight games on Aug. 30.
So it looks like those of us with cable are once again on the short end of the stick. I guess I have three options:

1. Get Satellite TV (Not going to happen)

2. Go to a bar that has the game (10:30 am on a Saturday, I will probably be asleep by dinner time)

3. Go to the game ( A great website to buy Badger Football Tickets is www.badgertickets.com)

GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BIg Time Running Back Commits to WIsconsin

As soon as running back Montee Ball sat down and watched tapes of the University of Wisconsin football team's offense, he knew it was the place he wanted to go.
"Their style of offense is the style of offense I was looking for," said Ball, who is from Wentzville, Mo. "They have huge linemen, they pound the ball, pound the ball — but they also throw the ball, too. It's a balanced offense and that's what I like."
That's why Ball, who initially thought he was going to wait until December to choose a school, ended up making his decision over the weekend.
He gave an oral commitment to the Badgers after an unofficial visit on Friday. His other two finalists were Missouri and Kansas.
Asked what comes to mind when he thinks of Wisconsin running backs, Ball said, "workhorses."
That certainly fits when it comes to the 5-foot-11, 210-pound Ball, who rushed for 4,922 yards on 655 carries (7.5 average) and 46 touchdowns the past two seasons for Timberland High School in suburban St. Louis.
"Very durable kid (with) big-play ability," Timberland coach Craig Collins said. "He's a guy we built our team around the last couple years."
Ball ran the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds at one combine, but most recruiting services list him at 4.5. He makes a living between the tackles, but after working with a personal trainer the past three years, he also became a breakaway threat last season.
"He's your typical Wisconsin-type running back," Collins said. "I think it's a great fit for them. Between-the-tackles type of guy, but he's got good ability to sidestep safeties and good ability to run over people, too.
"Has a great forward lean when he runs. This (past) year, he really showed the ability to break away, which accounts for the big numbers."
Ball rushed for 3,077 yards on 358 carries (8.6 average) and scored 31 touchdowns as a junior. He also caught four passes for 121 yards and a touchdown, helping his team finish 10-2 and advance to the Class 4 quarterfinals.
He is a good student, with a 3.4 grade-point average and already has a qualifying test score. He was recruited by UW defensive coordinator Dave Doeren.
"I've been talking to (Doeren) for about two months now," Ball said. "We already have a strong relationship going. When I went up there and visited, we sat down by the lake and just talked about the place, talked about what I was looking for, talked about my major — business — and all that stuff. We're going to be pretty good together."
That should be good news for UW fans who might remember an early oral commitment a year ago from wide receiver Wes Kemp, who was considered the top recruit in St. Louis at the time.
Missouri never gave up on Kemp and he de-committed from the Badgers and signed with the Tigers. Even though Missouri has had a lot of recent success keeping the state's top players at home, it's a different case with Ball, who doesn't seem a good fit for the Tigers' spread offense.
For now, at least, Ball doesn't see much chance of changing his mind.
"Nope, because when I sat down and watched the film with (running backs) coach (John) Settle, their offense is exactly the style offense we run here at my school," Ball said. "I'm basically moving into the same offense, which is going to be really comfortable."

Badgers almost play at Lambeau Field

The rumor was intriguing enough that University of Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez sought to substantiate it this spring. Is it true Fresno State officials rejected a multi-million-dollar offer from an independent promoter to move their Sept. 13 home football game against UW to Lambeau Field in Green Bay? Well, sort of. Alvarez said he was told the offer included a $1 million payout to Fresno State, as well as a promise to install FieldTurf at 41,031-seat Bulldog Stadium. Alvarez said an official from the Western Athletic Conference told him about the particulars during the NCAA Final Four men's basketball tournament in April. Alvarez said he subsequently verified it during a trip to the West Coast earlier this month. "I know they really want that game," he said of Fresno State officials. But while Fresno State athletic director Thomas Boeh confirmed the $1 million offer and the promise of a new playing surface for the stadium, he made several points that downplay the apparent significance of the proposal.For one thing, Boeh said this week that his school generates $1 million in revenue from its home football games, so the payout represents a wash. For another, Boeh said the offer to install FieldTurf at Bulldog Stadium amounted to around $800,000. "We just weren't interested," he said. According to Boeh, the Fresno State AD since 2005, multiple offers have been made from multiple third parties about switching the September game against the Badgers to Lambeau Field."It's come up at least twice since '05," he said. "We've never had any interest." The value of the game to the Bulldogs goes beyond the gate receipts. They return 17 starters from a team that went 9-4 last season and fancy themselves as contenders for a Bowl Championship Series berth. The Badgers, meanwhile, are regarded by some as Big Ten Conference title contenders. Fresno State plays two other schools from BCS conferences — Rutgers (Big East) and UCLA (Pacific Ten) — but those games are on the road. Alvarez said it would be intriguing to play a game at Lambeau Field, but he wouldn't give up a home date at Camp Randall Stadium to do so. "How are we going to handle our season ticket-holders?" he asked rhetorically. "We just couldn't move a home game. There's just too many hassles with that."

To say that the Badgers couldn't move a home game because of the hassle sounds like a cop out to me. They should just tell the truth and say that it is more work than they want to do. Hopefully someday the Badgers will play at Lambeau Field. GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008 Badger Football Schedule

The Badgers have an interesting schedule in 2008. They start off with their weak non conference opponents as usual. Then in week 4 they start their "real" schedule with their Big Ten opponents. It is highlighted by a pair of primetime games that are back to back in Madison. I hope the town is still standing after the second weekend. The obvious big matchup is when Ohio St. visits Madison on October 4th at 7pm at night. That will be one Hot Badger Ticket. The schedule is as follows:


August 30*
Akron
Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI


September 6*
Marshall
Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI


September 13*
at Fresno State
Bulldog Stadium • Fresno, CA


September 27
at Michigan
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI


October 4
7:00 p.m.[2]
Ohio State
Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI
ABC, ESPN or ESPN2[2]


October 11
7:00 p.m.[2]
Penn State
Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI
ESPN or ESPN2[2]


October 18
at Iowa
Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA


October 25
Illinois
Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI


November 1
at Michigan State
Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI


November 8
at Indiana
Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN


November 15
Minnesota
Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI


November 22
Cal Poly
Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI

5 Badgers go to the NFL

Former Badger football players Jack Ikegwuonu, Taylor Mehlhaff, Nick Hayden and Paul Hubbard each heard their name called during the annual NFL draft this weekend in New York City and will continue their football careers next fall. Former Badger punter Ken DeBauche went undrafted but signed with the Green Bay Packers later Sunday night.
The Philadelphia Eagles selected cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu, the first Badger to be picked, with the 131st overall pick. The fourth-round selection was somewhat of a surprise after the former first-team Big Ten defender suffered a serious knee injury in January, leaving his professional future in doubt. That injury, along with off-field legal issues and a recent failed drug test, were most of the teams’ greatest concerns regarding the junior cornerback heading into the draft.
In November 2006, Ikegwuonu and his brother were arrested and charged with misdemeanor criminal trespassing and felony residential burglary after stealing an Xbox from a DeKalb, Ill., apartment.
According to a report on profootballtalk.com, after pleading guilty to the misdemeanor charge of criminal trespassing, Ikegwuonu will go through two years of probation and must perform 50 hours of community service. Residential burglary, the most serious charge, was later dropped.
The former Madison Memorial standout led the Badgers with 16 pass breakups last season and finished the year with 24 tackles.
The sixth round of the draft was the busiest for Wisconsin players. Kicker Taylor Mehlhaff, a first team All-American player, was selected 178th overall by the New Orleans Saints. Mehlhaff was the first place kicker taken in the draft and was the second special teams player selected overall.
Mehlhaff finished his Badger career holding three school records, 145 points after touchdowns, 148 PAT attempts and a .979 extra point percentage. He finished second in school history with 295 points and 50 career field goals.
Three picks after Mehlhaff was selected, the Carolina Panthers selected defensive tackle Nick Hayden with the 15th pick in the sixth round. Last season, Hayden finished the year with All-Big Ten honorable mention status. He completed his senior season by totaling 48 tackles, good for sixth on the team and 4.5 sacks.
The final UW player selected in this year’s draft was wide receiver Paul Hubbard. Hubbard, selected 191st overall by the Cleveland Browns, finished last season with 14 catches for 305 yards. Hubbard missed five games after suffering a knee injury when the Badgers played at UNLV last season. The former track star finished his UW career with 53 receptions and 936 yards. He will join last year’s No. 3 overall pick Joe Thomas as Badger alumni playing for Cleveland.

Badgers In Prime Time

The University of Wisconsin football team will play consecutive home games at night this fall -- against Ohio State and Penn State -- on national television.
The Big Ten Conference made it official Wednesday in announcing the conference's prime-time television lineup for the 2008 football season.
The Badgers will host Ohio State on Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 and Penn State on Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. on ESPN or ESPN2.
UW is coming off a fourth straight season with at least nine wins, the longest streak of success in school history. Ohio State is aiming for a fourth straight Big Ten Championship and an unprecedented third consecutive outright crown after reaching the BCS National Championship game the last two seasons.
The Big Ten will be featured in prime time during the opening weekend of conference action on Saturday, Sept. 27, when Penn State hosts Illinois at 7 p.m. CT on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2. The Fighting Illini defeated the nationally-ranked Nittany Lions last season on the way to their first Rose Bowl appearance since 1984.
After the back-to-back dose of the Badgers, the Big Ten's late-afternoon/early-evening appearances will continue on Oct. 18 when Penn State hosts Michigan for a 3:30 p.m. CT game to appear on ESPN or ESPN2.
The Big Ten's final prime-time outing on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 will feature Penn State at Ohio State on Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. CT.
The 113th season of Big Ten football kicks off on Saturday, August 30, with 10 of 11 schools in action -- including the Badgers, who host Akron. The starting time for that game has yet to be announced. I would imagine Badger Tickets for those games are going to Hot.

Badger Football Injuries Could Become A Problem

Last season, injuries plagued the UW football team, injuries that the Badgers were unable to overcome. This spring, the injury plane has once again landed in Madison, except this time, the Badger coaching staff has decided to take a glass-half-full approach to the unfortunate situation.
“The only positive I can see with the injuries right now is we’re developing depth,” linebackers coach Randall McCray said. “Backups are becoming players right now where they’re being counted on at a position that they didn’t think they’d be in four months ago.”
The Badger secondary may currently suffer the most after cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu declared for the NFL Draft after his junior season and both corners Aaron Henry and Allen Langford tore their ACLs at the end of last season.
“We wish (Jack) would have stayed another year,” defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks said. “It probably would have helped him out, but it gives us an opportunity to play some young guys that are going to play for us eventually anyway.”
One of those young guys has been Mario Goins, a redshirt freshman from Copperas Cove, Texas. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out come fall.

Last night I was checking out the 2008 Badger Football Schedule and a game that sparked my immediate interest is the Wisconsin vs Ohio State match up on October 4th at Camp Randall. I sure hope I can be there.

Badger Football is Florida Bound

It's official: The University of Wisconsin football team is headed back to Florida to play in a January bowl game for the fourth straight year.
UW athletic director Barry Alvarez announced Wednesday the Badgers have accepted an invitation to play in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla., on Jan. 1, against an undetermined opponent from the Southeastern Conference.
It's the first time in school history the Badgers (9-3) will have played in four straight January bowl games. They appeared in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla., the past two seasons and played in the Outback the year before that.
It also will be the fifth straight bowl opponent from the SEC and the 19th bowl game overall in school history. GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Badger Football climbs in polls.

Wisconsin’s football team, which was idle this weekend after having completed its regular season on Nov. 17, moved up four spots to No. 16 in the USA Today Coaches Poll released Sunday. The Badgers were also on the rise in the AP Poll, moving up to 19th.
In the new BCS Rankings, Wisconsin moved up to No. 18. After another wild weekend in college football, the top of the rankings were shook up again. Missouri took over the top spot in the BCS, followed by West Virginia, Ohio State, Georgia and Kansas.
The Badgers, who are 9-3 overall and have won four of their last five games, are still waiting to find out which bowl game they will play in.
The coaches voted West Virginia as the new No. 1 team, followed by Missouri and Ohio State. Georgia is ranked fourth, with Virginia Tech and Kansas tied for fifth. The only other Big Ten school in the coaches top 25 is Illinois at No. 14.
The AP Poll has Missouri as the No. 1 team in the nation, while West Virginia is No. 2, Ohio State third, Georgia fourth and LSU rounding out the top-five. GO BUCKY!!!!!!!

PJ Hill may be out.

Bret Bielema is a football coach, not a doctor.
The Wisconsin football coach misdiagnosed running back P.J. Hill’s injury following Saturday’s game against Indiana, saying Hill had suffered a bruised foot, but would still likely play this upcoming weekend against top-ranked Ohio State.
Bielema, it turns out, was mistaken. Hill’s bruise instead is on his left leg, almost exactly in the same place it was broken two years ago. All of which spells disaster for the Badgers. I think Bucky is not going to have a fun trip to Columbus. GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!

Down The Tubes???

It is too early to say the Badger Football season is down the tubes with back to back losses at Illinois and Penn State, but it is not too early to say the Badgers are in serious trouble. It looks like our defense is completely shredded. We can't stop anyone. By the way did I mention the running game that Northern Illinois has. The player the Badgers need to watch out for is Justin Anderson.

The now-featured running back for Northern Illinois, is hardly a household name, yet he has rushed for more yards (868) than Heisman candidates Rashard Mendenhall of Illinois (839), Darren McFadden of Arkansas (822) and Ray Rice of Rutgers (818), not to mention Wisconsin’s own P.J. Hill (825).
What’s more impressive is that the third-year sophomore has essentially amassed this total in a mere 5 1/2 games. When junior tailback Montell Clanton suffered a torn ACL in the second game of the season against Southern Illinois, the Huskies looked to Anderson to take the reins of the running game. In the five games since, Anderson has averaged 157 yards, while scoring four touchdowns (he had three touchdowns in the Southern Illinois game as well).

Badgers Have Reached The Crossroads

You know it’s bad when a head coach gets asked whether or not the season is over after his first loss in almost 13 months. But it’s also hard to blame fans for panicking when they know two true freshmen will be lining up at wide receiver next week, offensive players are falling faster than the fall leaves, and the defense would be hard pressed to tackle a four-year-old running the spread offense. Lets hope that Bucky can salvage their season. GO BUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!