3yardsandacloud
Administrator Emeritus
Additional Information
Coaching Staff
Head Coach:
Official School Bio - Bret Bielema
Assistant Coaches:
Official School Bios - Assistant Coaches
Chryst, Paul - Asst. Coach - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Hankwitz, Mike - Asst. Coach - Defensive Coordinator
Doeren, Dave - Asst. Coach - Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers/Recruiting Coordinator
Bostad, Bob - Asst. Coach - Run Game Coordinator/Tight Ends
Cooks, Kerry - Asst. Coach - Defensive Backs
Mason, Henry - Assoc. Head Coach - Wide Receivers/Asst. Recruiting Coordinator
McCray, Randall - Asst. Coach - Defensive Line
Palcic, Bob - Asst. Coach - Offensive Line
Settle, John - Asst. Coach - Running Backs
Nayes, Bill - Football Operations
Sprague, Jake - GA
Gossens, Megan - Program Assistant
Knoche, Craig - GA
Alexander, DelVaughn - Temporary Asst. Coach
Betlach, Sharon - Program Assistant
Freye, Sandy - Program Assistant
Powell, Lisa - Program Assistant
Sternquist, Josh - Football Operations
Taurisani, Mark - Football Operations
Official School Bio - Bret Bielema
Assistant Coaches:
Official School Bios - Assistant Coaches
Chryst, Paul - Asst. Coach - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Hankwitz, Mike - Asst. Coach - Defensive Coordinator
Doeren, Dave - Asst. Coach - Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers/Recruiting Coordinator
Bostad, Bob - Asst. Coach - Run Game Coordinator/Tight Ends
Cooks, Kerry - Asst. Coach - Defensive Backs
Mason, Henry - Assoc. Head Coach - Wide Receivers/Asst. Recruiting Coordinator
McCray, Randall - Asst. Coach - Defensive Line
Palcic, Bob - Asst. Coach - Offensive Line
Settle, John - Asst. Coach - Running Backs
Nayes, Bill - Football Operations
Sprague, Jake - GA
Gossens, Megan - Program Assistant
Knoche, Craig - GA
Alexander, DelVaughn - Temporary Asst. Coach
Betlach, Sharon - Program Assistant
Freye, Sandy - Program Assistant
Powell, Lisa - Program Assistant
Sternquist, Josh - Football Operations
Taurisani, Mark - Football Operations
Recruiting
Starters Returning: 16 (Offense 9, Defense 7, Special Teams 2)
Letterman Returning: 49 (Offense 22, Defense 23, Special Teams 4)
Notable Returners:
P.J. Hill, FB Bill Rentmeester, WR Paul Hubbard, WR Luke Swan, TE Andy Crooks, TE Travis Beckum, LG Andy Kemp, C
Marcus Coleman, RG Kraig Urbik, RT Eric Vanden Heuvel, DL Jason Chapman, DL Nick Hayden, DL Matt Shaughnessy; LB DeAndre Levy, LB Jonathan Casillas, CB Jack Ikegwuonu, CB Allen Langford, K Taylor Mehlhaff, P Ken DeBauche
Starters Lost: 6 (Offense 2, Defense 4, Special Teams 0)
Letterman Lost: 19 (Offense 9, Defense 10, Special Teams 0)
Notable Losses:
QB John Stocco, LT Joe Thomas, DL Joe Monty, LB Mark Zalewski, DB Roderick Rogers, DB Joe Stellmacher
Incoming Recruits:
Letterman Returning: 49 (Offense 22, Defense 23, Special Teams 4)
Notable Returners:
P.J. Hill, FB Bill Rentmeester, WR Paul Hubbard, WR Luke Swan, TE Andy Crooks, TE Travis Beckum, LG Andy Kemp, C
Marcus Coleman, RG Kraig Urbik, RT Eric Vanden Heuvel, DL Jason Chapman, DL Nick Hayden, DL Matt Shaughnessy; LB DeAndre Levy, LB Jonathan Casillas, CB Jack Ikegwuonu, CB Allen Langford, K Taylor Mehlhaff, P Ken DeBauche
Starters Lost: 6 (Offense 2, Defense 4, Special Teams 0)
Letterman Lost: 19 (Offense 9, Defense 10, Special Teams 0)
Notable Losses:
QB John Stocco, LT Joe Thomas, DL Joe Monty, LB Mark Zalewski, DB Roderick Rogers, DB Joe Stellmacher
Incoming Recruits:
Badgers Past Recruiting Classes
2004 Recruiting Class
**QB David Mortensen (Oak Creek HS) Oak Creek, WI 6-2/205
LB Josh Neal (Pearl-Cohn HS) Nashville, TN 5-10/225
CB Jack Ikegwuonu (Memorial HS) Madison, WI 6-1/190
K Taylor Mehlhaff (Central HS) Aberdeen, SD 5-11/180
RB Chris Pressley (Woodbury JSHS) Woodbury, NJ 6-2/258
WR Marcus Randle El (Thronton Twp HS) Harvey, IL 5-10/172
RB Bill Rentmeester (Beaver Dam HS) Beaver Dam, WI 6-0/230
**LB Jammar Crane (Garland HS) Garland, TX 6-1/195
CB Allen Langford (Cass Tech HS) Detroit, MI 5-11/185
**S Joe Walker (Notre Dame De La Baie Academy) Green Bay, WI 6-2/200
**WR Jarvis Minton (Mansfield HS) Mansfield, TX 6-1/195
DE Jason Chapman (Bedford HS) Bedford, OH 6-4/240
**LB Nick Sutton (Crockett Vocational Tech) Detroit, MI 6-1/220
**DT Gino Cruse (Desert Vista HS) Phoenix, AZ 6-4/278
TE Dave Peck (Strath Haven HS) Wallingford, PA 6-5/225
**CB Jameson Davis (Hamden HS) Hamden, CT 6-0/185
**CB Antonio Freeman (West HS) Wauwatosa, WI 6-0/185
DT Nick Hayden (Arrowhead HS) Hartland, WI 6-5/275
TE Sean Lewis (H L Richards HS) Oak Lawn, IL 6-7/220
LB Andy Crooks (East HS) Wausau, WI 6-3/234
**QB Bryan Savage (Haverford School) Haverford, PA 6-3/210
DE Mike Newkirk (Ladysmith HS) Ladysmith, WI 6-3/235
OL Kraig Urbik (Hudson HS) Hudson, WI 6-6/315
DL Jamil Walker (Wm Fremd HS) Palatine, IL 6-2/210
**No longer with team
Fun Facts:
The Badger class of 2004 was ranked 37th overall by Scout.com and 39th by Rivals.com. Both rankings placed the class 6th in the Big-10 ...
The class was headlined by 4-star prospect Kraig Urbik (rated as the #24 OL by Scout.com) and 3-star prospects Sean Lewis (#32 QB), Marcus Randle El (#41 CB), and Nick Hayden (#43 DT) ...
Marcus Randle El is the younger brother of former Indiana Hoosier QB and current Washington Redskin WR Antonio Randle El ...
Jack Ikegwuonu has a twin brother, Bill that plays DB for Northern Illinois ...
Josh Neal's father, Marvin, lettered for four years at Wisconsin before playing in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers ...
2005 Recruiting Class
S Jonathan Casillas (New Brunswick HS) New Brunswick, NJ 6-2/200
S Aubrey Pleasant (Montrose HS) Montrose, MI 6-0/220
LB Elijah Hodge (Dillard HS) Ft. Lauderdale, FL 6-0/205
RB P.J. Hill (Poly Prep CDS) Brooklyn, NY 5-11/220
DE Matt Shaughnessy (Norwich Free Academy) Norwich, CT 6-6/235
WR Shane Carter (Troy HS) Troy, OH 6-2/185
CB Prince Moody (Eastmoor Academy HS) Columbus, OH 5-10/192
DE Terrance Jamison (Thornton Twp HS) Harvey, IL 6-4/250
TE Jae McFadden (William T. Dwyer HS) Palm Beach Gardens, FL 6-3/215
**RB Jerry Butler (Washington George HS) Philadelphia, PA 5-9/170
**WR Jarmal Ruffin (Scotland Sch Veterans Children) Scotland, PA 6-3/200
DE Travis Beckum (Oak Creek HS) Oak Creek, WI 6-4/220
DE Jeff Stehle (Paul V. Moore HS) Central Square, NY 6-6/275
LB DeAndre Levy (Vincent HS) Milwaukee, WI 6-3/215
WR Elijah Theus (Kempner HS) Sugar Land, TX 6-1.5/185
TE Garrett Graham (Brick Twp Memorial HS) Brick, NJ 6-4/230
**OL Nate Nurse (Don Bosco Prep) Ramsey, NJ 6-4/260
OL Eric Vanden Heuvel (Hudson HS) Hudson, WI 6-7/340
LB O'Brien Schofield (North Chicago Community HS) Chicago, IL 6-3/220
QB Dustin Sherer (Hamilton Heights HS) Arcadia, IN 6-4/205
DT Dan Cascone (Newtown HS) Sandy Hook, CT 6-3/330
**RB Dion Foster (H L Richards HS) Oak Lawn, IL 5-7/190
OL Andy Kemp (Menasha HS) Menasha, WI 6-5.5/320
Fun Facts:
The Wisconsin class of 2005 was ranked 35th overall by Scout.com and 33rd by Rivals.com. Both rankings placed the class 6th in the Big-10 ...
The class was headlined by 5-star prospect Travis Beckum (rated as the #1 DE by Scout.com), and 4-star prospect Elijah Hodge (#16 LB) ...
Travis Beckum participated in the 2005 U.S. Army All-American Bowl ...
Elijah Hodge is the younger brother of former Iowa Hawkeye and current Green Bay Packers LB Abdul Hodge ...
Shane Carter is the half-brother of former OSU WR great Cris Carter. He was also a high-school teammate of current Buckeye Todd Denlinger at Troy HS ...
Prince Moody is the cousin of former San Diego Charger All-Pro RB Natrone Means ...
O'Brien Schofield is the cousin of former Penn St. and current Seattle Seahawk WR Bobby Engram. He is also cousins with for Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs DE Vonnie Holiday ...
2006 Recruiting Class
OL Brad Thorson (Homestead HS) Mequon, WI 6-4/290
CB Niles Brinkley (Beaumont HS) St. Louis, MO 5-11/180
QB Scott Tolzien (Wm Fremd HS) Palatine, IL 6-2/190
**WR Diondrae Jenkins (Park HS) Racine, WI 6-3/192
RB Josh Nettles (Walton SHS) Defuniak Springs, FL 5-10/171
DE Ricky Garner (Muir HS) Pasadena, CA 6-5/225
S Culmer St. Jean (Lely HS) Naples, FL 6-1/215
CB Maurice Moore (Everman HS) Everman, TX 5-10/165
CB Jay Valai (Coffeyville Heritage HS) Coffeyville, TX 5-9/195
WR Lance Kendricks (King HS) Milwaukee, WI 6-4/213
WR Xavier Harris (Ft. Lauderdale HS) Ft. Lauderdale, FL 5-11/175
**CB Jamathan Lyle (Boulder HS) Boulder, CO 5-11.5/170
OL Bill Nagy (Hudson HS) Hudson, OH 6-4.5/295
OL John Moffitt (Notre Dame HS) West Haven, CT 6-2/290
DT Brandon Hoey (Mounds View SHS) Arden Hills, MN 6-5/295
RB Lance Smith-Williams (Howland HS) Warren, OH 5-11/190
DE Kirk DeCremer (Verona Area HS) Verona, WI 6-5/240
WR Isaac Anderson (Blake School) Hopkins, MN 5-11/168
TE Mickey Turner (Camdenton HS) Camdenton, MO 6-4/240
CB Kimuel Royston (Cretin Derham Hall) St. Paul, MN 5-11/180
OL Gabe Carimi (Monona Grove HS) Monona, WI 6-7/285
WR Daven Jones (Glenville HS) Cleveland, OH 6-0/191
OL Jake Bscherer (Sturgeon Bay HS) Sturgeon Bay, WI 6-7/290
Fun Facts:
The Badger class of 2006 was rated as the 37th best class in the nation by Scout.com and 42nd in the country by Rivals.com. Scout tabbed the class as 5th best in the Big-10, while Rivals ranked it 6th ...
The class was headlined by 4-star prospects Lance Kendricks (#12 WR) and Jake Bscherer (#22 OL) ...
Jake Bscherer participated in the 2006 U.S. Army All-American Bowl ...
Isaac Anderson's father, Melvin, played WR for the University of Minnesota and in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers ...
Scott Tolzien's brother Mike plays football at Air Force ...
Niles Brinkley's father Lorenzo played football for Missouri and in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers. His brother, Lorenzo Jr., played LB at Nebraska ...
2007 Recruiting Class
K Phil Welch (Ft. Collins HS) Ft. Collins, CO 6-3/180
DT Jasper Grimes (William T. Dwyer HS) Palm Beach Gardens, FL 6-1/270
WR Kyle Jefferson (Glenville HS) Cleveland, OH 6-5/170
WR David Gilreath (Robbinsdale Armstrong SHS) Plymouth, MN 5-11/165
CB Otis Merrill (Glenville HS) Cleveland, OH 5-11/170
RB John Clay (Park HS) Racine, WI 6-1/220
RB Zach Brown (Royal Palm Beach HS) Royal Palm Beach, FL 5-11/200
CB Aaron Henry (Immokalee HS) Immokalee, FL 6-0/175
CB Mario Goins (Copperas Cove HS) Copperas Cove, TX 6-0/173
LB Kevin Rouse (Joliet Catholic) Joliet, IL 6-1/220
S Quincy Landingham (Bloomfield Hills Lasher HS) Bloomfield Hills, MI 6-0/205
LB Blake Sorensen (Eden Prairie SHS) Eden Prairie, MN 6-1/205
DE Patrick Butrym (Catholic Memorial HS) Waukesha, WI 6-5/240
QB James Stallons (Dakota HS) Macomb, MI 6-6/175
RB Louis Nzegwu (Platteville HS) Platteville, WI 6-3/224
OL Josh Oglesby (St. Francis HS) St. Francis, WI 6-8/312
WR Nick Toon (Middleton HS) Middleton, WI 6-2/195
Fun Facts:
The Wisconsin class of 2007 was rated as the 41st best class in the country by Scout.com and the 34th best by Rivals.com. Scout ranked the class as 6th best in the Big-10 and Rivals tabbed it as 5th ...
The class was headlined by 5-star prospect Josh Oglesby (#1 OT) and 4-star prospects John Clay (#14 RB) and Kevin Rouse (#11 MLB) ...
Josh Oglesby and John Clay participated in the 2007 U.S. Army All-American Bowl ...
Nick Toon's father, Al, is the all-time leading WR in Wisconsin history and was an All-Pro WR with the New York Jets ...
Aaron Henry was teammates with current Buckeye Brian Rolle at Immokalee HS ...
2004 Recruiting Class
**QB David Mortensen (Oak Creek HS) Oak Creek, WI 6-2/205
LB Josh Neal (Pearl-Cohn HS) Nashville, TN 5-10/225
CB Jack Ikegwuonu (Memorial HS) Madison, WI 6-1/190
K Taylor Mehlhaff (Central HS) Aberdeen, SD 5-11/180
RB Chris Pressley (Woodbury JSHS) Woodbury, NJ 6-2/258
WR Marcus Randle El (Thronton Twp HS) Harvey, IL 5-10/172
RB Bill Rentmeester (Beaver Dam HS) Beaver Dam, WI 6-0/230
**LB Jammar Crane (Garland HS) Garland, TX 6-1/195
CB Allen Langford (Cass Tech HS) Detroit, MI 5-11/185
**S Joe Walker (Notre Dame De La Baie Academy) Green Bay, WI 6-2/200
**WR Jarvis Minton (Mansfield HS) Mansfield, TX 6-1/195
DE Jason Chapman (Bedford HS) Bedford, OH 6-4/240
**LB Nick Sutton (Crockett Vocational Tech) Detroit, MI 6-1/220
**DT Gino Cruse (Desert Vista HS) Phoenix, AZ 6-4/278
TE Dave Peck (Strath Haven HS) Wallingford, PA 6-5/225
**CB Jameson Davis (Hamden HS) Hamden, CT 6-0/185
**CB Antonio Freeman (West HS) Wauwatosa, WI 6-0/185
DT Nick Hayden (Arrowhead HS) Hartland, WI 6-5/275
TE Sean Lewis (H L Richards HS) Oak Lawn, IL 6-7/220
LB Andy Crooks (East HS) Wausau, WI 6-3/234
**QB Bryan Savage (Haverford School) Haverford, PA 6-3/210
DE Mike Newkirk (Ladysmith HS) Ladysmith, WI 6-3/235
OL Kraig Urbik (Hudson HS) Hudson, WI 6-6/315
DL Jamil Walker (Wm Fremd HS) Palatine, IL 6-2/210
**No longer with team
Fun Facts:
The Badger class of 2004 was ranked 37th overall by Scout.com and 39th by Rivals.com. Both rankings placed the class 6th in the Big-10 ...
The class was headlined by 4-star prospect Kraig Urbik (rated as the #24 OL by Scout.com) and 3-star prospects Sean Lewis (#32 QB), Marcus Randle El (#41 CB), and Nick Hayden (#43 DT) ...
Marcus Randle El is the younger brother of former Indiana Hoosier QB and current Washington Redskin WR Antonio Randle El ...
Jack Ikegwuonu has a twin brother, Bill that plays DB for Northern Illinois ...
Josh Neal's father, Marvin, lettered for four years at Wisconsin before playing in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers ...
2005 Recruiting Class
S Jonathan Casillas (New Brunswick HS) New Brunswick, NJ 6-2/200
S Aubrey Pleasant (Montrose HS) Montrose, MI 6-0/220
LB Elijah Hodge (Dillard HS) Ft. Lauderdale, FL 6-0/205
RB P.J. Hill (Poly Prep CDS) Brooklyn, NY 5-11/220
DE Matt Shaughnessy (Norwich Free Academy) Norwich, CT 6-6/235
WR Shane Carter (Troy HS) Troy, OH 6-2/185
CB Prince Moody (Eastmoor Academy HS) Columbus, OH 5-10/192
DE Terrance Jamison (Thornton Twp HS) Harvey, IL 6-4/250
TE Jae McFadden (William T. Dwyer HS) Palm Beach Gardens, FL 6-3/215
**RB Jerry Butler (Washington George HS) Philadelphia, PA 5-9/170
**WR Jarmal Ruffin (Scotland Sch Veterans Children) Scotland, PA 6-3/200
DE Travis Beckum (Oak Creek HS) Oak Creek, WI 6-4/220
DE Jeff Stehle (Paul V. Moore HS) Central Square, NY 6-6/275
LB DeAndre Levy (Vincent HS) Milwaukee, WI 6-3/215
WR Elijah Theus (Kempner HS) Sugar Land, TX 6-1.5/185
TE Garrett Graham (Brick Twp Memorial HS) Brick, NJ 6-4/230
**OL Nate Nurse (Don Bosco Prep) Ramsey, NJ 6-4/260
OL Eric Vanden Heuvel (Hudson HS) Hudson, WI 6-7/340
LB O'Brien Schofield (North Chicago Community HS) Chicago, IL 6-3/220
QB Dustin Sherer (Hamilton Heights HS) Arcadia, IN 6-4/205
DT Dan Cascone (Newtown HS) Sandy Hook, CT 6-3/330
**RB Dion Foster (H L Richards HS) Oak Lawn, IL 5-7/190
OL Andy Kemp (Menasha HS) Menasha, WI 6-5.5/320
Fun Facts:
The Wisconsin class of 2005 was ranked 35th overall by Scout.com and 33rd by Rivals.com. Both rankings placed the class 6th in the Big-10 ...
The class was headlined by 5-star prospect Travis Beckum (rated as the #1 DE by Scout.com), and 4-star prospect Elijah Hodge (#16 LB) ...
Travis Beckum participated in the 2005 U.S. Army All-American Bowl ...
Elijah Hodge is the younger brother of former Iowa Hawkeye and current Green Bay Packers LB Abdul Hodge ...
Shane Carter is the half-brother of former OSU WR great Cris Carter. He was also a high-school teammate of current Buckeye Todd Denlinger at Troy HS ...
Prince Moody is the cousin of former San Diego Charger All-Pro RB Natrone Means ...
O'Brien Schofield is the cousin of former Penn St. and current Seattle Seahawk WR Bobby Engram. He is also cousins with for Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs DE Vonnie Holiday ...
2006 Recruiting Class
OL Brad Thorson (Homestead HS) Mequon, WI 6-4/290
CB Niles Brinkley (Beaumont HS) St. Louis, MO 5-11/180
QB Scott Tolzien (Wm Fremd HS) Palatine, IL 6-2/190
**WR Diondrae Jenkins (Park HS) Racine, WI 6-3/192
RB Josh Nettles (Walton SHS) Defuniak Springs, FL 5-10/171
DE Ricky Garner (Muir HS) Pasadena, CA 6-5/225
S Culmer St. Jean (Lely HS) Naples, FL 6-1/215
CB Maurice Moore (Everman HS) Everman, TX 5-10/165
CB Jay Valai (Coffeyville Heritage HS) Coffeyville, TX 5-9/195
WR Lance Kendricks (King HS) Milwaukee, WI 6-4/213
WR Xavier Harris (Ft. Lauderdale HS) Ft. Lauderdale, FL 5-11/175
**CB Jamathan Lyle (Boulder HS) Boulder, CO 5-11.5/170
OL Bill Nagy (Hudson HS) Hudson, OH 6-4.5/295
OL John Moffitt (Notre Dame HS) West Haven, CT 6-2/290
DT Brandon Hoey (Mounds View SHS) Arden Hills, MN 6-5/295
RB Lance Smith-Williams (Howland HS) Warren, OH 5-11/190
DE Kirk DeCremer (Verona Area HS) Verona, WI 6-5/240
WR Isaac Anderson (Blake School) Hopkins, MN 5-11/168
TE Mickey Turner (Camdenton HS) Camdenton, MO 6-4/240
CB Kimuel Royston (Cretin Derham Hall) St. Paul, MN 5-11/180
OL Gabe Carimi (Monona Grove HS) Monona, WI 6-7/285
WR Daven Jones (Glenville HS) Cleveland, OH 6-0/191
OL Jake Bscherer (Sturgeon Bay HS) Sturgeon Bay, WI 6-7/290
Fun Facts:
The Badger class of 2006 was rated as the 37th best class in the nation by Scout.com and 42nd in the country by Rivals.com. Scout tabbed the class as 5th best in the Big-10, while Rivals ranked it 6th ...
The class was headlined by 4-star prospects Lance Kendricks (#12 WR) and Jake Bscherer (#22 OL) ...
Jake Bscherer participated in the 2006 U.S. Army All-American Bowl ...
Isaac Anderson's father, Melvin, played WR for the University of Minnesota and in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers ...
Scott Tolzien's brother Mike plays football at Air Force ...
Niles Brinkley's father Lorenzo played football for Missouri and in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers. His brother, Lorenzo Jr., played LB at Nebraska ...
2007 Recruiting Class
K Phil Welch (Ft. Collins HS) Ft. Collins, CO 6-3/180
DT Jasper Grimes (William T. Dwyer HS) Palm Beach Gardens, FL 6-1/270
WR Kyle Jefferson (Glenville HS) Cleveland, OH 6-5/170
WR David Gilreath (Robbinsdale Armstrong SHS) Plymouth, MN 5-11/165
CB Otis Merrill (Glenville HS) Cleveland, OH 5-11/170
RB John Clay (Park HS) Racine, WI 6-1/220
RB Zach Brown (Royal Palm Beach HS) Royal Palm Beach, FL 5-11/200
CB Aaron Henry (Immokalee HS) Immokalee, FL 6-0/175
CB Mario Goins (Copperas Cove HS) Copperas Cove, TX 6-0/173
LB Kevin Rouse (Joliet Catholic) Joliet, IL 6-1/220
S Quincy Landingham (Bloomfield Hills Lasher HS) Bloomfield Hills, MI 6-0/205
LB Blake Sorensen (Eden Prairie SHS) Eden Prairie, MN 6-1/205
DE Patrick Butrym (Catholic Memorial HS) Waukesha, WI 6-5/240
QB James Stallons (Dakota HS) Macomb, MI 6-6/175
RB Louis Nzegwu (Platteville HS) Platteville, WI 6-3/224
OL Josh Oglesby (St. Francis HS) St. Francis, WI 6-8/312
WR Nick Toon (Middleton HS) Middleton, WI 6-2/195
Fun Facts:
The Wisconsin class of 2007 was rated as the 41st best class in the country by Scout.com and the 34th best by Rivals.com. Scout ranked the class as 6th best in the Big-10 and Rivals tabbed it as 5th ...
The class was headlined by 5-star prospect Josh Oglesby (#1 OT) and 4-star prospects John Clay (#14 RB) and Kevin Rouse (#11 MLB) ...
Josh Oglesby and John Clay participated in the 2007 U.S. Army All-American Bowl ...
Nick Toon's father, Al, is the all-time leading WR in Wisconsin history and was an All-Pro WR with the New York Jets ...
Aaron Henry was teammates with current Buckeye Brian Rolle at Immokalee HS ...
Behind the Numbers
A Dish Best Served Cold
Wisconsin is feeling their oats. Fresh off a dominating win over the mighty Hoosiers, the Wisconsin Badgers will invade Ohio Stadium with the confidence of a rooster that has just seen the sun rise and is certain he is the cause.
The Buckeyes too will be confident after their impressive showing at Beaver Stadium. So perhaps confidence is not what will separate these teams on Saturday.
Both teams have good reason to think they can win. The Wisconsin defense played their best game of the season just last week, as did the Ohio State offense. OSU's defense has been leading the nation all season, while Wisconsin's offense is ... ok, they're just pretty good.
But Wisconsin also has the confidence of history on their side. They can point to three straight successful trips into the Horseshoe. They can even point to a now famous, autographed photo of a former quarterback that claims that they own the Horseshoe. And so can the Buckeyes.
That is why I believe that the most important numbers for this match-up for the Buckeyes are Zero and Three. That is there record in their last three home games against the Badgers. That is simply unacceptable.
Zero and Three.
If you know anything about Jim Tressel, you know that he will not let that stand. If you have been paying any attention at all to this year's Buckeyes, you know that they will protect The House that Harley Built from the barbarians who sacked it just three years ago.
Zero and Three. That's all you need to know.
So Who are These Guys?
Many Buckeye fans have been wondering this week if Badgers seen against Indiana last week are an improved football team, or just a lucky one. Was Kellen Lewis just off that day, or is Bucky the Badger finally living up to her preseason hype?
There are two numbers that we can use to answer that question. They are ZERO and THREE! It does not matter if they are now living up to their potential, because we are THE Ohio State University and we are going to kick their butts anyway!
For those who want a deeper answer, there is one other number that can be used to answer the question. It provides a similar answer to the first, albeit a bit less psychotic. The number is 2. That is the number of high-quality athletes on the Indiana offense.
Any team with good enough athletes to contain Kellen Lewis and James Hardy can stop Indiana. Wisconsin was just the first team that had the requisite athletes and enough intelligence to use them to contain the two men who comprise Indiana's entire offense. Good for the Badgers. They earned it.
So you see, the Badgers did in fact play their best game of the season against Indiana, but it doesn't matter. Ohio State has more than two weapons.
Rushing Defense?
Unfortunately for the Badgers, one of the many-more-than-two weapons that they will face on Saturday answers to the name Beanie. But that's Mr. Wells to you, Bucky.
Let's look at the numbers to see what we can expect from the OSU ground attack on Saturday. We can use Differential Statistical Analysis (DSA) to predict rushing totals the same way we can use it to predict scores. (all numbers use D-IA games only)
Alternatively,
Performing the same calculations for Wisconsin gives us predictions of 76 and 95 yards respectively. Whichever prediction you use, Ohio State appears capable of outrushing the Badgers by 100 yards. (All prediction rounded to the nearest yard)
These numbers suggest that Ohio State can certainly rush the ball well enough to be confident of victory on Saturday. But a look behind the numbers reveals something even more promising.
Wisconsin built their rushing defense statistics by totally shutting down their weaker opponents. Against average-to-good rushing offenses, the Badgers were just plain bad.
In fact, the Badgers gave up over 22% more rushing yards to good teams than those teams averaged against everyone else. And they were remarkably consistent in doing so. They have not had a single good showing against a good rushing team.
Differential Statistical Analysis (DSA)
While the match-up of Beanie Wells vs. the Wisconsin Rushing Defense suggests that Ohio State will surpass what DSA predicts for this game, the numbers are provided here so that we can come back after the game and see by what margin the Buckeyes surpassed the DSA prediction.
Score
Total Offense
Scarlet Colored Glasses
As DSA predicts an outcome that is in line with the opening spread offered by the bookies, and as so many people seem to think that the spread is a bit high; some might suggest that my analysis has a distinct Buckeye bias. Some might even accuse me of losing my objectivity.
Yeah, so what.
This game is personal to me. Not the game of football. Not the Buckeyes, though I do take the Bucks pretty seriously. I mean the game against Wisconsin ... any game against Wisconsin.
Perhaps this will make more sense if I start by telling you why Saturday's win over Penn State was special for me. The number that made that game special to me was 102.
Saturday was my grandfather's 102nd birthday. He always said he would live to 120, but alas I'm sure he was high-fiving Woody as Malcolm Jenkins trotted into the end-zone to put Penn State away.
He never talked about it, but he was abandoned as a child. He raised himself on the streets. Imagine the type of man you would expect such a child to become. Now imagine someone just that tough, but the opposite in every other way and you have my grandfather.
Blue collar to the core, he was the ironworkers' union president (though I never heard that from him). He did not smoke or drink and I never heard him swear, and yet he was the most popular man in his union (though I never heard that from him). He worked with his hands all his life, yet managed his affairs well enough that he drove a Cadillac in his retirement years.
I tell you this only so that you will know he was a great man; because what I want you to know is that he was a great Buckeye. I became a Buckeye at his knee:
First, sitting on the floor in front of him, watching his old black-and-white TV while he taught me names like Kern, Stillwagon and Brockington;
Later, sitting next to him in the 'Shoe, watching Griffin, Greene, Colzie, Cusick, Myers, Middleton and my so many others including my hero, Randy Gradishar.
It is because of my grandfather that the ramp entrance raises the hair on the back of my neck. It is because of him that Script Ohio brings a tear to my eye.
I always think about him this time of year; not just because he made me a Buckeye, not just because 10/27 is his birthday, but also because of the events of this month in 1984.
On October 13, 1984, my younger brother and I sat in the South Stands and watched Keith Byars and an awesome offensive line crush Illinois and a 24-0 deficit for a 45-38 win. That was the last game I ever attended at the 'Shoe while the man who first took me there was alive.
A week and a half later we got the news that he'd had a heart attack. It wasn't his first, and he was the toughest man I'd ever known. I wasn't all that concerned.
I was sure he would be out in a few days, just like before. But he meant the world to me, so in spite of a full-time job and a full load of classes at OSU; I made time to see him in the hospital.
That Saturday, my thoughts were with my grandfather as I watched the Buckeyes play. I was concerned about the game too, as it was an opponent that had beaten us in 2 of our last 3 meetings. An opponent that had utterly no business getting the better of us for more than a series of downs. It was Wisconsin.
As I watched Lachey and Lowdermilk and other future NFL linemen struggle with boys that shouldn't have been on the field with them, I wondered if my grandfather was watching the game too. I would find out later that he was. I would find out later that, as I sat watching the final seconds, as the camera zoomed out with Keith Byars lying dejected on the Camp Randall field, my grandfather was lying in his hospital bed, his heart literally ... literally breaking for his Buckeyes.
To my own dying day I will believe that it was the heart attack he had that day that killed him. He hung on for two more days, long enough for my sister to fly across the continent to say goodbye, and died on Monday, October 29th, 1984. You will probably be reading this on Halloween or in November. But I wrote it on the Monday, October 29th, 2007: Twenty three years, 1200 weeks exactly, a shade more than half my life, after he went to the Big Horseshoe in the Sky.
So pardon me for being a little irrational about the Wisconsin game.
If I could have picked one team to NOT have the Buckeyes struggle against since his death, it would be them.
OSU is only 5-4 in Ohio Stadium against Wisconsin since my grandfather died. They will not sink to .500 against the stinkin' Badgers. They ... will ... not.
Saturday, as I sit in front of my Hi-Def Plasma and think about that little black-and-white that first showed me the Buckeyes, I want the team that ruined my grandfather's last Buckeye game to feel one millionth of the pain that they caused me. It is by far the cruelest thought I have ever had.
Wisconsin is feeling their oats. Fresh off a dominating win over the mighty Hoosiers, the Wisconsin Badgers will invade Ohio Stadium with the confidence of a rooster that has just seen the sun rise and is certain he is the cause.
The Buckeyes too will be confident after their impressive showing at Beaver Stadium. So perhaps confidence is not what will separate these teams on Saturday.
Both teams have good reason to think they can win. The Wisconsin defense played their best game of the season just last week, as did the Ohio State offense. OSU's defense has been leading the nation all season, while Wisconsin's offense is ... ok, they're just pretty good.
But Wisconsin also has the confidence of history on their side. They can point to three straight successful trips into the Horseshoe. They can even point to a now famous, autographed photo of a former quarterback that claims that they own the Horseshoe. And so can the Buckeyes.
That is why I believe that the most important numbers for this match-up for the Buckeyes are Zero and Three. That is there record in their last three home games against the Badgers. That is simply unacceptable.
Zero and Three.
If you know anything about Jim Tressel, you know that he will not let that stand. If you have been paying any attention at all to this year's Buckeyes, you know that they will protect The House that Harley Built from the barbarians who sacked it just three years ago.
Zero and Three. That's all you need to know.
So Who are These Guys?
Many Buckeye fans have been wondering this week if Badgers seen against Indiana last week are an improved football team, or just a lucky one. Was Kellen Lewis just off that day, or is Bucky the Badger finally living up to her preseason hype?
There are two numbers that we can use to answer that question. They are ZERO and THREE! It does not matter if they are now living up to their potential, because we are THE Ohio State University and we are going to kick their butts anyway!
For those who want a deeper answer, there is one other number that can be used to answer the question. It provides a similar answer to the first, albeit a bit less psychotic. The number is 2. That is the number of high-quality athletes on the Indiana offense.
Any team with good enough athletes to contain Kellen Lewis and James Hardy can stop Indiana. Wisconsin was just the first team that had the requisite athletes and enough intelligence to use them to contain the two men who comprise Indiana's entire offense. Good for the Badgers. They earned it.
So you see, the Badgers did in fact play their best game of the season against Indiana, but it doesn't matter. Ohio State has more than two weapons.
Rushing Defense?
Unfortunately for the Badgers, one of the many-more-than-two weapons that they will face on Saturday answers to the name Beanie. But that's Mr. Wells to you, Bucky.
Let's look at the numbers to see what we can expect from the OSU ground attack on Saturday. We can use Differential Statistical Analysis (DSA) to predict rushing totals the same way we can use it to predict scores. (all numbers use D-IA games only)
OSU typically rushes for 206 ypg.
Wisconsin typically holds opponents to 85.6% of their average rushing yards.
Combining these numbers gives us a prediction of 176 yards of rushing offense for Ohio State.
Wisconsin typically holds opponents to 85.6% of their average rushing yards.
Combining these numbers gives us a prediction of 176 yards of rushing offense for Ohio State.
Alternatively,
Wisconsin holds opponents to 143.375 ypg rushing.
OSU typically gains 35.7% more than opponents usually give up.
Combining these gives us a prediction of 195 yards rushing.
OSU typically gains 35.7% more than opponents usually give up.
Combining these gives us a prediction of 195 yards rushing.
Performing the same calculations for Wisconsin gives us predictions of 76 and 95 yards respectively. Whichever prediction you use, Ohio State appears capable of outrushing the Badgers by 100 yards. (All prediction rounded to the nearest yard)
These numbers suggest that Ohio State can certainly rush the ball well enough to be confident of victory on Saturday. But a look behind the numbers reveals something even more promising.
Wisconsin built their rushing defense statistics by totally shutting down their weaker opponents. Against average-to-good rushing offenses, the Badgers were just plain bad.
In fact, the Badgers gave up over 22% more rushing yards to good teams than those teams averaged against everyone else. And they were remarkably consistent in doing so. They have not had a single good showing against a good rushing team.
Differential Statistical Analysis (DSA)
While the match-up of Beanie Wells vs. the Wisconsin Rushing Defense suggests that Ohio State will surpass what DSA predicts for this game, the numbers are provided here so that we can come back after the game and see by what margin the Buckeyes surpassed the DSA prediction.
Score
Ohio State: 23-26 points
Wisconsin: 9-10 points
Wisconsin: 9-10 points
Total Offense
Ohio State: 345-363 yards
Wisconsin: 216-241 yards
Wisconsin: 216-241 yards
Scarlet Colored Glasses
As DSA predicts an outcome that is in line with the opening spread offered by the bookies, and as so many people seem to think that the spread is a bit high; some might suggest that my analysis has a distinct Buckeye bias. Some might even accuse me of losing my objectivity.
Yeah, so what.
This game is personal to me. Not the game of football. Not the Buckeyes, though I do take the Bucks pretty seriously. I mean the game against Wisconsin ... any game against Wisconsin.
Perhaps this will make more sense if I start by telling you why Saturday's win over Penn State was special for me. The number that made that game special to me was 102.
Saturday was my grandfather's 102nd birthday. He always said he would live to 120, but alas I'm sure he was high-fiving Woody as Malcolm Jenkins trotted into the end-zone to put Penn State away.
He never talked about it, but he was abandoned as a child. He raised himself on the streets. Imagine the type of man you would expect such a child to become. Now imagine someone just that tough, but the opposite in every other way and you have my grandfather.
Blue collar to the core, he was the ironworkers' union president (though I never heard that from him). He did not smoke or drink and I never heard him swear, and yet he was the most popular man in his union (though I never heard that from him). He worked with his hands all his life, yet managed his affairs well enough that he drove a Cadillac in his retirement years.
I tell you this only so that you will know he was a great man; because what I want you to know is that he was a great Buckeye. I became a Buckeye at his knee:
First, sitting on the floor in front of him, watching his old black-and-white TV while he taught me names like Kern, Stillwagon and Brockington;
Later, sitting next to him in the 'Shoe, watching Griffin, Greene, Colzie, Cusick, Myers, Middleton and my so many others including my hero, Randy Gradishar.
It is because of my grandfather that the ramp entrance raises the hair on the back of my neck. It is because of him that Script Ohio brings a tear to my eye.
I always think about him this time of year; not just because he made me a Buckeye, not just because 10/27 is his birthday, but also because of the events of this month in 1984.
On October 13, 1984, my younger brother and I sat in the South Stands and watched Keith Byars and an awesome offensive line crush Illinois and a 24-0 deficit for a 45-38 win. That was the last game I ever attended at the 'Shoe while the man who first took me there was alive.
A week and a half later we got the news that he'd had a heart attack. It wasn't his first, and he was the toughest man I'd ever known. I wasn't all that concerned.
I was sure he would be out in a few days, just like before. But he meant the world to me, so in spite of a full-time job and a full load of classes at OSU; I made time to see him in the hospital.
That Saturday, my thoughts were with my grandfather as I watched the Buckeyes play. I was concerned about the game too, as it was an opponent that had beaten us in 2 of our last 3 meetings. An opponent that had utterly no business getting the better of us for more than a series of downs. It was Wisconsin.
As I watched Lachey and Lowdermilk and other future NFL linemen struggle with boys that shouldn't have been on the field with them, I wondered if my grandfather was watching the game too. I would find out later that he was. I would find out later that, as I sat watching the final seconds, as the camera zoomed out with Keith Byars lying dejected on the Camp Randall field, my grandfather was lying in his hospital bed, his heart literally ... literally breaking for his Buckeyes.
To my own dying day I will believe that it was the heart attack he had that day that killed him. He hung on for two more days, long enough for my sister to fly across the continent to say goodbye, and died on Monday, October 29th, 1984. You will probably be reading this on Halloween or in November. But I wrote it on the Monday, October 29th, 2007: Twenty three years, 1200 weeks exactly, a shade more than half my life, after he went to the Big Horseshoe in the Sky.
So pardon me for being a little irrational about the Wisconsin game.
If I could have picked one team to NOT have the Buckeyes struggle against since his death, it would be them.
OSU is only 5-4 in Ohio Stadium against Wisconsin since my grandfather died. They will not sink to .500 against the stinkin' Badgers. They ... will ... not.
Saturday, as I sit in front of my Hi-Def Plasma and think about that little black-and-white that first showed me the Buckeyes, I want the team that ruined my grandfather's last Buckeye game to feel one millionth of the pain that they caused me. It is by far the cruelest thought I have ever had.
The most important numbers of this week, to me:
10/27/1905 -- 10/29/1984
SWC
10/27/1905 -- 10/29/1984
SWC
The Lighter Side
What's more pathetic? You hype up a color out, and then as your team is getting completely dismantled on national television you bail early, or sitting on a message board trying to argue that the Nittany Lions are still relevant? For the third consecutive time in which the Buckeyes have had to face a sea of similarly clad fans, on the road, at night, Ohio State dominated. It would seem fitting that this practice should die exactly where it started - Happy Valley. A quick review. The offense was so sound AJ Trapasso was able to use the time he spent not punting to write a term paper, fix a 7 course dinner for every lineman who made the trip, and learn how to walk a tightrope while juggling 4 flaming bowling pins. He maybe should have shared some of his ideas about keeping his balance with Donald Washington, who left by himself with a ball on the ground and a straight path to the end zone, instead opted to tackle himself. Brain Robiskie made Justin King look like a good fit for the Arena League. Now, I was a little worried that Anthony Morelli would go the whole game without throwing a touchdown pass, but fortunately late in the game he was able to find his favorite target, Malcom Jenkins, who took it to the house for six - his second TD from Morelli in just 2 games together.
Let's get up to speed real quick on the Heisman chase. Andre Woodson may be the best Quarterback in college football, but with UK falling off the map, he can forget it. Besides, Herby said so. I do have to wonder, however, if Tim Tebow's name has been removed from consideration now that Florida has dropped their third game. I doubt it. Sorry, Andre, equal-footing isn't how this works. But, it doesn't matter, as there is a new leader in town. Matt Ryan, Quarterback, Boston College. How good is Ryan? Well, he's so good that he can be all but completely pedestrian for 55 minutes and yet find his way to the top of the Heisman race. It comes as little surprise that Doug Flutie, BC alum and caretaker of Keith Byars' Heisman, should be singing the praises of Ryan. Flutie won a Heisman based on a single play, so there is little question he's willing to be wowed by an entire 5 minutes worth of football. It's true Ryan did make the Hokie defense look ridiculous in those five minutes. And, this ridiculousness was apparent even after the Hokies defied conventional wisdom and instead suited up the stone fisted Roberto Duran for on-side kick coverage. But, pulling the game out wasn't enough for Ryan. No, this 5 minute span was so much more. Ryan, after throwing the game winner, went on to establish himself as one of the fiercest tacklers in football, taking one of own coaches down when the later foolishly tried to chest bump him. With the camera's on him, Ryan next went on to show America that he can do all this while physically ill, and proceeded to puke up a gallon and a half of gatorade. Gamer.
You can't talk about Heismans without checking in with Team Charlie. For the second time this season, the Domers stayed out of the loss column. Those close to the program explain that Notre Dame had the greatest bye week of all time. Setting personal bests for practice reps during a bye week as well as for time spent in the film room on a bye week, Jimmy Clausen took yet another step towards his 4th Heisman. Charlie Weis, who's offensive genius is so vast that he must weigh four times as much as he otherwise would just so as to keep himself from toppling over, burned new coaching trails by working with his underclassmen. The young men responded by winning Notre Dame's unprecedented 133rd National Championship, it's most recent since beating UCLA only weeks ago. Asked if he felt this could be his best team ever, Weis remarked, "Well, you don't win four Super Bowl rings without having some good teams. And, make no mistake, they were good. Not great, of course, but good. But, you know, when you have a superior advantage in the booth like I do, you can take a good team and have them do great things." Encouraged by the news, Notre Dame offered Weis a 30 year extension and a pay raise. With Navy coming to town this week, we can anticipate that Notre Dame will have the opportunity to re-establish themselves as America's best hope in the War on Terror.
Standing in the Buckeyes way to 10-0 are the Wisconsin Badgers, who visit the Shoe this weekend owning a 2 game winning streak against the Buckeyes. Of course, those clubs were coached by Barry Alvarez and not Brett Bielema. Alvarez was the type of guy who would meet the opposing coach at mid-field, hand him the entire Wisconsin play book (which was only 3 plays) and say "try and stop us." Bielema is more of a, "Well, I really don't want to play road games at night" kind of guy. Alvarez was so steadfast in playing teams straight up, he personally glued the remains of Brooks Bollinger back together on multiple occasions to send him back in against the Buckeyes. Bielema's more of a "Hey, kick team ... go offsides and we'll run some clock. Oh, and assuming it works, do it again" sort of fellow. Alvarez was ABC 3:30. Beilema's more of a Big Ten Network nooner. Which, of course ... this game is.
The Big Ten Network! Remember us? We took your first two games of 2007. Actually, we took 3 of your 4 out of conference tilts (YSU, Akron and Kent State). And now, we're taking Wisconsin. Don't you have some gardening to do?
Let's get up to speed real quick on the Heisman chase. Andre Woodson may be the best Quarterback in college football, but with UK falling off the map, he can forget it. Besides, Herby said so. I do have to wonder, however, if Tim Tebow's name has been removed from consideration now that Florida has dropped their third game. I doubt it. Sorry, Andre, equal-footing isn't how this works. But, it doesn't matter, as there is a new leader in town. Matt Ryan, Quarterback, Boston College. How good is Ryan? Well, he's so good that he can be all but completely pedestrian for 55 minutes and yet find his way to the top of the Heisman race. It comes as little surprise that Doug Flutie, BC alum and caretaker of Keith Byars' Heisman, should be singing the praises of Ryan. Flutie won a Heisman based on a single play, so there is little question he's willing to be wowed by an entire 5 minutes worth of football. It's true Ryan did make the Hokie defense look ridiculous in those five minutes. And, this ridiculousness was apparent even after the Hokies defied conventional wisdom and instead suited up the stone fisted Roberto Duran for on-side kick coverage. But, pulling the game out wasn't enough for Ryan. No, this 5 minute span was so much more. Ryan, after throwing the game winner, went on to establish himself as one of the fiercest tacklers in football, taking one of own coaches down when the later foolishly tried to chest bump him. With the camera's on him, Ryan next went on to show America that he can do all this while physically ill, and proceeded to puke up a gallon and a half of gatorade. Gamer.
You can't talk about Heismans without checking in with Team Charlie. For the second time this season, the Domers stayed out of the loss column. Those close to the program explain that Notre Dame had the greatest bye week of all time. Setting personal bests for practice reps during a bye week as well as for time spent in the film room on a bye week, Jimmy Clausen took yet another step towards his 4th Heisman. Charlie Weis, who's offensive genius is so vast that he must weigh four times as much as he otherwise would just so as to keep himself from toppling over, burned new coaching trails by working with his underclassmen. The young men responded by winning Notre Dame's unprecedented 133rd National Championship, it's most recent since beating UCLA only weeks ago. Asked if he felt this could be his best team ever, Weis remarked, "Well, you don't win four Super Bowl rings without having some good teams. And, make no mistake, they were good. Not great, of course, but good. But, you know, when you have a superior advantage in the booth like I do, you can take a good team and have them do great things." Encouraged by the news, Notre Dame offered Weis a 30 year extension and a pay raise. With Navy coming to town this week, we can anticipate that Notre Dame will have the opportunity to re-establish themselves as America's best hope in the War on Terror.
Standing in the Buckeyes way to 10-0 are the Wisconsin Badgers, who visit the Shoe this weekend owning a 2 game winning streak against the Buckeyes. Of course, those clubs were coached by Barry Alvarez and not Brett Bielema. Alvarez was the type of guy who would meet the opposing coach at mid-field, hand him the entire Wisconsin play book (which was only 3 plays) and say "try and stop us." Bielema is more of a, "Well, I really don't want to play road games at night" kind of guy. Alvarez was so steadfast in playing teams straight up, he personally glued the remains of Brooks Bollinger back together on multiple occasions to send him back in against the Buckeyes. Bielema's more of a "Hey, kick team ... go offsides and we'll run some clock. Oh, and assuming it works, do it again" sort of fellow. Alvarez was ABC 3:30. Beilema's more of a Big Ten Network nooner. Which, of course ... this game is.
The Big Ten Network! Remember us? We took your first two games of 2007. Actually, we took 3 of your 4 out of conference tilts (YSU, Akron and Kent State). And now, we're taking Wisconsin. Don't you have some gardening to do?
Traditions & Opponent Perspective
The Wisconsin Badgers are a team rich with traditions.
The team's nickname, 'Badgers,' was borrowed from the state of Wisconsin. The territory was dubbed the 'Badger State,' not because of animals in the region, but rather an association with lead miners in the 1820s. Prospectors came to the state looking for minerals. Without shelter in the winter, the miners had to 'live like badgers' in tunnels burrowed into hillsides.
When a Badger team wins an athletic contest, members of the band turn their hats around and wear them backwards. The practice started in the 1920s to symbolize the band looking back at the victory in days when they marched out with the departing crowd.
Badgers in various forms have been recognized as the school mascot for decades. The version currently known as Bucky, sporting a cardinal and white letter sweater, was first drawn in 1940 by artist Art Evans. At that time, the badger went by names like Benny, Buddy, Bernie, Bobby and Bouncey. Art Lentz, the department's publicity director, had the idea to bring the mascot to life. The original badger mascot was too vicious to control. On more than one occasion, the live badger escaped handlers before a sideline hero recaptured the animal with a flying tackle. It was decided in the interest of fan and player safety that Wisconsin's mascot be retired to the Madison Zoo. The Badger Yearbook replaced the live badger with a small raccoon named Regdab (badger backwards) and passed it off as a 'badger in a raccoon coat.' In 1949, a student in the university's art department, Connie Conrad, was commissioned to mold a paper-mache badger head. Gymnast and cheerleader, Bill Sagal, of Plymouth, Wis., was directed by homecoming chair Bill Sachse, to wear the outfit at the homecoming game. A contest was staged to name the popular mascot. The winner was Buckingham U. Badger, or Bucky. The name apparently came from the lyrics in a song which encouraged the football team to 'buck right through that line.'
An integral part of any Wisconsin band performance is the playing of the Bud song. The tune is a spinoff of the song 'You've Said It All,' a jingle with words and music originally written by Steve Karmen for Budweiser beer commercials. Copyrighted by Sandlee Publishing Corporation in 1970, the song has become legendary at the University because of its polka-like rhythm. The song became a football tradition after a 1978 victory over Oregon. "Wisconsin was behind by three touchdowns, and the crowd was really dead. I played the song to get everyone pepped up. About 20 seconds after that, Wisconsin scored a TD. I played it again, and Wisconsin scored another touchdown. From then on, the band could never play enough 'Bud,'" said Leckrone.
History of the Camp Randall Arch
The Camp Randall Memorial Arch commemorates one of the most turbulent times in our nation's history: the Civil War. At that time, Camp Randall was not a football stadium - it was a training camp for 70,000 Wisconsin troops, representing nearly all of the state's military might.
Named for Gov. Alexander W. Randall, the encampment also served as a stockade and hospital for 1,400 Confederate soldiers captured at the Battle of Shiloh in 1862. Many of them died at Camp Randall and were buried at "soldiers' rest" at a cemetery on Madison's west side (Forest Hills) - the northernmost Confederate cemetery in the United States. Union soldiers who died at Camp Randall are also buried at soldiers' rest, in a separate section of the cemetery.
The Camp Randall Memorial Arch on Monroe Street was dedicated in 1912, and it serves as the entrance to the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Park. It's also the entrance to Camp Randall Stadium for the UW Marching Band on football Saturdays.
The two statues that flank the arch - an enlisted solider and an officer - do not have names, because they represent all of Wisconsin's Civil War soldiers. The "1912" inscription on the officer's pedestal refers to the dedication date of the arch, and the "1861-1865" inscription on the enlisted soldier's pedestal marks the years our country fought the Civil War.
The University of Wisconsin Athletic Department's official colors are Cardinal and White. PMS 200 is the designated color of the cardinal.
Fifth Quarter
The Wisconsin Band is nationally famous for its post-game celebration called the Fifth Quarter. Win or lose, fans sing, dance and cheer with the band as they play traditional favorites. Originally, the post-game concert was designed to give the fans something to listen to on their way out of the stadium, but it developed into a post-game party as the band built in audience participation activities.
Graduating Law Students
At the homecoming game, graduating law students throw canes over the crossbar of the goal post in a pre-game ceremony. If students catch their cane, legend claims they will win their first case. If the cane is dropped, the case will be lost. The custom originated at Harvard and came to the UW-Madison in 1910.
Paul Bunyan Axe
The most-played rivalry in Division I football occurs when Wisconsin and Minnesota meet. The UW-UM series is the nation's oldest and has been played continuously for since 1890 (except for 1906). The game has alternated sites between the university campuses since 1946. Much prestige was always associated with the game, and the significance was emphasized with its place on the schedule. Between 1933 and 1982, the Wisconsin-Minnesota game was always the final regular-season contest for each school.
The series took an added twist in 1948 when more than state bragging rights were on the line. After a 16-0 setback that season, the Wisconsin lettermen's group, the National 'W' Club, presented Minnesota with an axe wielded by Paul Bunyan. He was the mythical giant of Midwestern lumber camps. Each year since, the winner of the annual battle between the Big Ten rivals is presented with the axe, complete with scores inscribed on the handle, for display on its campus.
Slab of Bacon
The Slab of Bacon trophy was the precursor to Paul Bunyan's Axe as the prize in the Wisconsin-Minnesota football series. Apparently, the trophy was presented to the winning school by a sorority from the losing institution. The trophy was discontinued in the 1940s and was discovered in a storage room at the UW Department of Athletics in 1994. It is currently housed in the football office at Wisconsin. 'We took home the bacon,' Coach Barry Alvarez said, 'and kept it.'
"Varsity"
The traditional arm-waving at the end of the song, 'Varsity,' was the 1934 brainstorm of band leader Ray Dvorak. He saw Pennsylvania students wave their caps after losing a game. Dvorak later instructed Wisconsin students to salute UW President Glenn Frank after each game.
Var-sity! Var-sity! U-rah-rah! Wisconsin!
Praise to thee we sing
Praise to thee our Alma Mater
U-rah-rah, Wisconsin
Before each home game, the UW cheerleaders and the Red Squad help spread Badger Spirit around Madison. The day begins with a trip to the chancellor?s house on the official Bucky Wagon. The Wagon Crew drives around downtown Madison, the Capitol, and around campus. The trip ends at Camp Randall, where the cheerleaders chant, ?Let?s Go Red Peppers,? and each eat a red hot chili pepper.
The time honored "Jump Around" could possibly be the most amazing tradition on any college campus for its students. Just before the fourth quarter 10,500 energy-shocked students literally jump up, down, and around for three minutes preparing our team for fourth quarter battle. The "Jump Around" will get all fans out of their seats unless they don't mind their seat vibrating. The "Jump Around" is so powerful the stadium starts to shake.
The team's nickname, 'Badgers,' was borrowed from the state of Wisconsin. The territory was dubbed the 'Badger State,' not because of animals in the region, but rather an association with lead miners in the 1820s. Prospectors came to the state looking for minerals. Without shelter in the winter, the miners had to 'live like badgers' in tunnels burrowed into hillsides.
When a Badger team wins an athletic contest, members of the band turn their hats around and wear them backwards. The practice started in the 1920s to symbolize the band looking back at the victory in days when they marched out with the departing crowd.
Badgers in various forms have been recognized as the school mascot for decades. The version currently known as Bucky, sporting a cardinal and white letter sweater, was first drawn in 1940 by artist Art Evans. At that time, the badger went by names like Benny, Buddy, Bernie, Bobby and Bouncey. Art Lentz, the department's publicity director, had the idea to bring the mascot to life. The original badger mascot was too vicious to control. On more than one occasion, the live badger escaped handlers before a sideline hero recaptured the animal with a flying tackle. It was decided in the interest of fan and player safety that Wisconsin's mascot be retired to the Madison Zoo. The Badger Yearbook replaced the live badger with a small raccoon named Regdab (badger backwards) and passed it off as a 'badger in a raccoon coat.' In 1949, a student in the university's art department, Connie Conrad, was commissioned to mold a paper-mache badger head. Gymnast and cheerleader, Bill Sagal, of Plymouth, Wis., was directed by homecoming chair Bill Sachse, to wear the outfit at the homecoming game. A contest was staged to name the popular mascot. The winner was Buckingham U. Badger, or Bucky. The name apparently came from the lyrics in a song which encouraged the football team to 'buck right through that line.'
An integral part of any Wisconsin band performance is the playing of the Bud song. The tune is a spinoff of the song 'You've Said It All,' a jingle with words and music originally written by Steve Karmen for Budweiser beer commercials. Copyrighted by Sandlee Publishing Corporation in 1970, the song has become legendary at the University because of its polka-like rhythm. The song became a football tradition after a 1978 victory over Oregon. "Wisconsin was behind by three touchdowns, and the crowd was really dead. I played the song to get everyone pepped up. About 20 seconds after that, Wisconsin scored a TD. I played it again, and Wisconsin scored another touchdown. From then on, the band could never play enough 'Bud,'" said Leckrone.
History of the Camp Randall Arch
The Camp Randall Memorial Arch commemorates one of the most turbulent times in our nation's history: the Civil War. At that time, Camp Randall was not a football stadium - it was a training camp for 70,000 Wisconsin troops, representing nearly all of the state's military might.
Named for Gov. Alexander W. Randall, the encampment also served as a stockade and hospital for 1,400 Confederate soldiers captured at the Battle of Shiloh in 1862. Many of them died at Camp Randall and were buried at "soldiers' rest" at a cemetery on Madison's west side (Forest Hills) - the northernmost Confederate cemetery in the United States. Union soldiers who died at Camp Randall are also buried at soldiers' rest, in a separate section of the cemetery.
The Camp Randall Memorial Arch on Monroe Street was dedicated in 1912, and it serves as the entrance to the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Park. It's also the entrance to Camp Randall Stadium for the UW Marching Band on football Saturdays.
The two statues that flank the arch - an enlisted solider and an officer - do not have names, because they represent all of Wisconsin's Civil War soldiers. The "1912" inscription on the officer's pedestal refers to the dedication date of the arch, and the "1861-1865" inscription on the enlisted soldier's pedestal marks the years our country fought the Civil War.
The University of Wisconsin Athletic Department's official colors are Cardinal and White. PMS 200 is the designated color of the cardinal.
Fifth Quarter
The Wisconsin Band is nationally famous for its post-game celebration called the Fifth Quarter. Win or lose, fans sing, dance and cheer with the band as they play traditional favorites. Originally, the post-game concert was designed to give the fans something to listen to on their way out of the stadium, but it developed into a post-game party as the band built in audience participation activities.
Graduating Law Students
At the homecoming game, graduating law students throw canes over the crossbar of the goal post in a pre-game ceremony. If students catch their cane, legend claims they will win their first case. If the cane is dropped, the case will be lost. The custom originated at Harvard and came to the UW-Madison in 1910.
Paul Bunyan Axe
The most-played rivalry in Division I football occurs when Wisconsin and Minnesota meet. The UW-UM series is the nation's oldest and has been played continuously for since 1890 (except for 1906). The game has alternated sites between the university campuses since 1946. Much prestige was always associated with the game, and the significance was emphasized with its place on the schedule. Between 1933 and 1982, the Wisconsin-Minnesota game was always the final regular-season contest for each school.
The series took an added twist in 1948 when more than state bragging rights were on the line. After a 16-0 setback that season, the Wisconsin lettermen's group, the National 'W' Club, presented Minnesota with an axe wielded by Paul Bunyan. He was the mythical giant of Midwestern lumber camps. Each year since, the winner of the annual battle between the Big Ten rivals is presented with the axe, complete with scores inscribed on the handle, for display on its campus.
Slab of Bacon
The Slab of Bacon trophy was the precursor to Paul Bunyan's Axe as the prize in the Wisconsin-Minnesota football series. Apparently, the trophy was presented to the winning school by a sorority from the losing institution. The trophy was discontinued in the 1940s and was discovered in a storage room at the UW Department of Athletics in 1994. It is currently housed in the football office at Wisconsin. 'We took home the bacon,' Coach Barry Alvarez said, 'and kept it.'
"Varsity"
The traditional arm-waving at the end of the song, 'Varsity,' was the 1934 brainstorm of band leader Ray Dvorak. He saw Pennsylvania students wave their caps after losing a game. Dvorak later instructed Wisconsin students to salute UW President Glenn Frank after each game.
Var-sity! Var-sity! U-rah-rah! Wisconsin!
Praise to thee we sing
Praise to thee our Alma Mater
U-rah-rah, Wisconsin
Before each home game, the UW cheerleaders and the Red Squad help spread Badger Spirit around Madison. The day begins with a trip to the chancellor?s house on the official Bucky Wagon. The Wagon Crew drives around downtown Madison, the Capitol, and around campus. The trip ends at Camp Randall, where the cheerleaders chant, ?Let?s Go Red Peppers,? and each eat a red hot chili pepper.
The time honored "Jump Around" could possibly be the most amazing tradition on any college campus for its students. Just before the fourth quarter 10,500 energy-shocked students literally jump up, down, and around for three minutes preparing our team for fourth quarter battle. The "Jump Around" will get all fans out of their seats unless they don't mind their seat vibrating. The "Jump Around" is so powerful the stadium starts to shake.
Historical Data
University of Wisconsin-Madison (Madison, WI) Founded in 1849
Football 1st Season: 1889
Stadium: Camp Randall Stadium (Renovated 2005)
Constructed: 1917
Seating Capacity: 80,321
Playing Surface: FieldTurf (2003)
Conference: Big Ten Conference since 1896 (Independent in previous years)
Colors: Cardinal & White
Mascot: Badgers - Buckingham U. Badger, A.K.A. "Bucky Badger"
College Classification: D-IA (or equivalent) since 1937 (first year of NCAA classification)
Conference Championships: 11 Big Ten Titles: 1896, 1897, 1901*, 1906*, 1912, 1952*, 1959, 1962, 1993*, 1998* and 1999 (* = Co-Champions)
Consensus All-Americans: 20 (as of 2005)
College Hall-of-Famers: 9
Pro Hall-of-Famers: 3 (Arnie Herber*, Elroy (Crazylegs) Hirsch*, Mike Webster)
Award Winners: 1 COY (AFCA), 1 COY (Bobby Dodd), 1 Doak Walker, 2 Heisman, 1 Jim Thorpe, 1 Maxwell, 1 Outland, 1 Walter Camp POY, 1 AP POY, 1 Ray Guy, and 1 Sammy Baugh
National Championships: 4 non-Recognized Championships
Number of AP/Coaches final rankings: AP-16 years, Coaches-18 years
Stadium: Camp Randall Stadium (Renovated 2005)
Constructed: 1917
Seating Capacity: 80,321
Playing Surface: FieldTurf (2003)
Conference: Big Ten Conference since 1896 (Independent in previous years)
Colors: Cardinal & White
Mascot: Badgers - Buckingham U. Badger, A.K.A. "Bucky Badger"
College Classification: D-IA (or equivalent) since 1937 (first year of NCAA classification)
Conference Championships: 11 Big Ten Titles: 1896, 1897, 1901*, 1906*, 1912, 1952*, 1959, 1962, 1993*, 1998* and 1999 (* = Co-Champions)
Consensus All-Americans: 20 (as of 2005)
College Hall-of-Famers: 9
Pro Hall-of-Famers: 3 (Arnie Herber*, Elroy (Crazylegs) Hirsch*, Mike Webster)
Award Winners: 1 COY (AFCA), 1 COY (Bobby Dodd), 1 Doak Walker, 2 Heisman, 1 Jim Thorpe, 1 Maxwell, 1 Outland, 1 Walter Camp POY, 1 AP POY, 1 Ray Guy, and 1 Sammy Baugh
National Championships: 4 non-Recognized Championships
Number of AP/Coaches final rankings: AP-16 years, Coaches-18 years
Records
All Time: 588-452-53 (.562)
Bowl Games: 10-8-1 (.553) Most recently a 17-14 win over Arkansas in the Capital One Bowl (2007)
All Time vs the BigTen: 304-341-38 (.473)
All Time vs the Ohio State Buckeyes: 17-50-5 (.271) Most recently a 24-13 win in Columbus (2004).
Coach?s Reord: Brett Bielema, 2006-current, 363-12-1-0 (.923)
2006 Season: 12-1-0 (.923)
Sep 2 - W at Bowling Green, 35-14
Sep 9 - W vs. Western Ill, 34-10
Sep 16 - W vs. San Diego St, 14-0
Sep 23 - L at Michigan, 13-27
Sep 30 - W at Indiana, 52-17
Oct 7 - W vs. Northwestern, 41-9
Oct 14 - W vs. Minnesota, 48-12
Oct 21 - W at Purdue, 24-3
Oct 28 - W vs. Illinois, 30-24
Nov 4 - W vs. Penn State, 13-3
Nov 11 - W at Iowa, 24-21
Nov 18 - W vs. Buffalo, 35-3
Jan 1 - W at Arkansas, 17-14
2007 Schedule
Sep 1 - W vs. Washington St, 42-21
Sep 8 - W at U-N-L-V, 20-13
Sep 15 - W vs. Citadel, 45-31
Sep 22 - W vs. Iowa, 17-13
Sep 29 - W vs. Michigan State, 37-34
Oct 6 - L at Illinois, 26-31
Oct 13 - L at Penn State, 7-38
Oct 20 - W vs. Northern Ill, 44-3
Oct 27 - W vs. Indiana, 33-3
Nov 3 - at Ohio State, 12:00 PM
Nov 10 - vs. Michigan, 12:00 PM
Nov 17 - at Minnesota, TBA
Bowl Games: 10-8-1 (.553) Most recently a 17-14 win over Arkansas in the Capital One Bowl (2007)
All Time vs the BigTen: 304-341-38 (.473)
All Time vs the Ohio State Buckeyes: 17-50-5 (.271) Most recently a 24-13 win in Columbus (2004).
Coach?s Reord: Brett Bielema, 2006-current, 363-12-1-0 (.923)
2006 Season: 12-1-0 (.923)
Sep 2 - W at Bowling Green, 35-14
Sep 9 - W vs. Western Ill, 34-10
Sep 16 - W vs. San Diego St, 14-0
Sep 23 - L at Michigan, 13-27
Sep 30 - W at Indiana, 52-17
Oct 7 - W vs. Northwestern, 41-9
Oct 14 - W vs. Minnesota, 48-12
Oct 21 - W at Purdue, 24-3
Oct 28 - W vs. Illinois, 30-24
Nov 4 - W vs. Penn State, 13-3
Nov 11 - W at Iowa, 24-21
Nov 18 - W vs. Buffalo, 35-3
Jan 1 - W at Arkansas, 17-14
2007 Schedule
Sep 1 - W vs. Washington St, 42-21
Sep 8 - W at U-N-L-V, 20-13
Sep 15 - W vs. Citadel, 45-31
Sep 22 - W vs. Iowa, 17-13
Sep 29 - W vs. Michigan State, 37-34
Oct 6 - L at Illinois, 26-31
Oct 13 - L at Penn State, 7-38
Oct 20 - W vs. Northern Ill, 44-3
Oct 27 - W vs. Indiana, 33-3
Nov 3 - at Ohio State, 12:00 PM
Nov 10 - vs. Michigan, 12:00 PM
Nov 17 - at Minnesota, TBA
Links
Official Sites:
Official School Site - University of Wisconsin-Madison
Official Alumni Site - Wisconsin Alumni Association
Student Newspaper - The Daily Cardinal
Student Newspaper - Badger Herald
Official Athletic Site - UW Badgers
Official Conference Site - Big Ten Conference
Message Boards & Team Pages:
Message Boards - Badger Nation (Scout)
Message Boards - Badger Blitz (Rivals)
Message Boards - Wisconsin (Sports-Boards)
Team Page - NCAA
Team Page - ESPN
Team Page - USA Today
Team Page - Fox Sports
Team Page - CNN/SI
Team Page - CFN
Team Page - CBS Sportsline
Team Page - Yahoo Sports
Team Page - Sporting News
Team Page - AOL
Team Page - CSTV
Team Page - ATSH2H
Team Page - Covers
Blog - Badger Sports Fan
Blog - The Ciskie Blog
Blog - Cute Sports
Blog - Bucky Blog
Blog - Oracle of Cheese
Blog - Cheesehead Sports
Blog - Badgers Blog (WJS)
Blog - Badger State Homer
Blog - Wisconsin Fanhouse (AOL)
Blog - Bucky Biz (MVN)
Blog - I'm A Badger Fan
Blog - Bucky's Faithful
Blog - All Encompassing Football Blog
Local News Sources:
The Capital Times - Local News
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Local News
State Journal - Local News
Green Bay Press Gazette - Local News
Team Previews and Breakdowns:
2007 Team Breakdown (PDF) - UW Badgers
2007 Schedule/Results - UW Badgers
2007 Spring Roster - UW Badgers
2007 Spring Prospectus - UW Badgers
2007 Spring Game Results - UW Badgers
2006 Overall Stats (PDF) - UW Badgers
2006 Conference Stats (PDF) - UW Badgers
2007 Roster - UW Badgers
News Releases - UW Badgers
2007 Wisconsin Badgers Football Preview - CFN
2007 Wisconsin Badgers Football Preview - Offense - CFN
2007 Wisconsin Badgers Football Preview - Defense - CFN
2007 Wisconsin Badgers Football Preview - Depth Chart - CFN
2006 Wisconsin Badgers Football Preview - CFN
WISCONSIN Team Report - CSTV/Sports Xchange (Links to previous reports)
2007 Wisconsin Badgers Football Preview - Sports Network
2007 Wisconsin Badgers Football Preview - The Ozone
2007 Wisconsin Badgers Football Preview - College Football Poll
2007 Wisconsin Badgers Football Preview - Dispatch/Buckeye Extra
2007 Wisconsin Badgers Football Preview - Maddux Sports
2007 Wisconsin Badgers Football Preview - National Champs
2007 Wisconsin Badgers Football Preview - BigTen Fans.com
B10 Conference Previews and Breakdowns:
2007 BigTen Prospectus (PDF) - BigTen
2007 BigTen Team Breakdowns (PDF) - BigTen
2007 BigTen Media Info(PDF) - BigTen
2007 BigTen Composite Schedule (PDF) - BigTen
2006 BigTen Season in Review (PDF) - BigTen
2006 BigTen Overall Stats (PDF) - BigTen
2006 BigTen Conference Stats (PDF) - BigTen
2007 CFN Big Ten Preview - CFN
2007 CFN Preseason All-Big Ten Team - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Preseason Lookaheads - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Schedules & Predictions - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Team Capsules - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Unit Rankings - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Ultimate Schedule - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Recruiting - What It All Means - CFN
2007 CFN Spring Preview - Analyzing the Big Ten - CFN
2007 CFN Big Ten Spring Lookaheads - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Composite Schedule - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Team-by-Team Schedules - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Spring Games Wrapup - CFN
ASK CFN (6/22) ... The Big Ten Network - CFN
2007 Big Ten - CSTV
2007 All-Big Ten Teams - Athlon
2007 BigTen Inside Slant - USA Today
2007 Big Ten Preview - College Football Poll
Travel:
Home Game
Official School Site - University of Wisconsin-Madison
Official Alumni Site - Wisconsin Alumni Association
Student Newspaper - The Daily Cardinal
Student Newspaper - Badger Herald
Official Athletic Site - UW Badgers
Official Conference Site - Big Ten Conference
Message Boards & Team Pages:
Message Boards - Badger Nation (Scout)
Message Boards - Badger Blitz (Rivals)
Message Boards - Wisconsin (Sports-Boards)
Team Page - NCAA
Team Page - ESPN
Team Page - USA Today
Team Page - Fox Sports
Team Page - CNN/SI
Team Page - CFN
Team Page - CBS Sportsline
Team Page - Yahoo Sports
Team Page - Sporting News
Team Page - AOL
Team Page - CSTV
Team Page - ATSH2H
Team Page - Covers
Blog - Badger Sports Fan
Blog - The Ciskie Blog
Blog - Cute Sports
Blog - Bucky Blog
Blog - Oracle of Cheese
Blog - Cheesehead Sports
Blog - Badgers Blog (WJS)
Blog - Badger State Homer
Blog - Wisconsin Fanhouse (AOL)
Blog - Bucky Biz (MVN)
Blog - I'm A Badger Fan
Blog - Bucky's Faithful
Blog - All Encompassing Football Blog
Local News Sources:
The Capital Times - Local News
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Local News
State Journal - Local News
Green Bay Press Gazette - Local News
Team Previews and Breakdowns:
2007 Team Breakdown (PDF) - UW Badgers
2007 Schedule/Results - UW Badgers
2007 Spring Roster - UW Badgers
2007 Spring Prospectus - UW Badgers
2007 Spring Game Results - UW Badgers
2006 Overall Stats (PDF) - UW Badgers
2006 Conference Stats (PDF) - UW Badgers
2007 Roster - UW Badgers
News Releases - UW Badgers
2007 Wisconsin Badgers Football Preview - CFN
2007 Wisconsin Badgers Football Preview - Offense - CFN
2007 Wisconsin Badgers Football Preview - Defense - CFN
2007 Wisconsin Badgers Football Preview - Depth Chart - CFN
2006 Wisconsin Badgers Football Preview - CFN
WISCONSIN Team Report - CSTV/Sports Xchange (Links to previous reports)
2007 Wisconsin Badgers Football Preview - Sports Network
2007 Wisconsin Badgers Football Preview - The Ozone
2007 Wisconsin Badgers Football Preview - College Football Poll
2007 Wisconsin Badgers Football Preview - Dispatch/Buckeye Extra
2007 Wisconsin Badgers Football Preview - Maddux Sports
2007 Wisconsin Badgers Football Preview - National Champs
2007 Wisconsin Badgers Football Preview - BigTen Fans.com
B10 Conference Previews and Breakdowns:
2007 BigTen Prospectus (PDF) - BigTen
2007 BigTen Team Breakdowns (PDF) - BigTen
2007 BigTen Media Info(PDF) - BigTen
2007 BigTen Composite Schedule (PDF) - BigTen
2006 BigTen Season in Review (PDF) - BigTen
2006 BigTen Overall Stats (PDF) - BigTen
2006 BigTen Conference Stats (PDF) - BigTen
2007 CFN Big Ten Preview - CFN
2007 CFN Preseason All-Big Ten Team - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Preseason Lookaheads - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Schedules & Predictions - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Team Capsules - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Unit Rankings - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Ultimate Schedule - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Recruiting - What It All Means - CFN
2007 CFN Spring Preview - Analyzing the Big Ten - CFN
2007 CFN Big Ten Spring Lookaheads - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Composite Schedule - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Team-by-Team Schedules - CFN
2007 CFN B10 Spring Games Wrapup - CFN
ASK CFN (6/22) ... The Big Ten Network - CFN
2007 Big Ten - CSTV
2007 All-Big Ten Teams - Athlon
2007 BigTen Inside Slant - USA Today
2007 Big Ten Preview - College Football Poll
Travel:
Home Game
Preseason Rankings
#3 - Street & Smith's
#3 - Game Plan
#4 - Athlon
#4 - ESPN (Mark Schlabach)
#4 - New Orleans Times Picayune
#4 - StatFox
#5 - CFN
#5 - Fox Sports
#5 - Chicago Tribune (Teddy Greenstein)
#5 - CSTV (post-spring)
#5 - CBS Sportsline (Dennis Dodd - 4/30/07 & 7/20/07)
#6 - Lindy's
#6 - CBS Sportsline (Dennis Dodd - 3/26/07)
#6 - CBS Sportsline (preview magazine)
#6 - National Champs (season preview)
#6 - CSTV (pre-spring)
#6 - FanBlogs
#7 - USA Today Coaches
#7 - AP
#7 - ESPN (Mike Golic)
#7 - Yahoo Sports (Terry Bowden)
#7 - Football.com
#8 - The Sporting News
#8 - Rivals.com
#10 - Rivals.com (early)
#10 - CNN/SI (Steward Mandel)
#10 - CCR Projected Final
#12 - National Champs (early)
#12 - MSNBC
#12 - Jim Feist
#13 - Atlanta Journal Constitution
#15 - Playboy
#16 - Phil Steel
#17 - Surefire Scouting
#24 - AutumnSpectacle.com
#3 - Game Plan
#4 - Athlon
#4 - ESPN (Mark Schlabach)
#4 - New Orleans Times Picayune
#4 - StatFox
#5 - CFN
#5 - Fox Sports
#5 - Chicago Tribune (Teddy Greenstein)
#5 - CSTV (post-spring)
#5 - CBS Sportsline (Dennis Dodd - 4/30/07 & 7/20/07)
#6 - Lindy's
#6 - CBS Sportsline (Dennis Dodd - 3/26/07)
#6 - CBS Sportsline (preview magazine)
#6 - National Champs (season preview)
#6 - CSTV (pre-spring)
#6 - FanBlogs
#7 - USA Today Coaches
#7 - AP
#7 - ESPN (Mike Golic)
#7 - Yahoo Sports (Terry Bowden)
#7 - Football.com
#8 - The Sporting News
#8 - Rivals.com
#10 - Rivals.com (early)
#10 - CNN/SI (Steward Mandel)
#10 - CCR Projected Final
#12 - National Champs (early)
#12 - MSNBC
#12 - Jim Feist
#13 - Atlanta Journal Constitution
#15 - Playboy
#16 - Phil Steel
#17 - Surefire Scouting
#24 - AutumnSpectacle.com
Preseason Watch Lists
Travis Beckum, TE - John Mackey Award Watch List, Maxwell Award Watch List, Walter Camp Player of the Year, Fred Biletnikoff Award
Jonathan Casillas, LB - Lott Trophy Watch List, Bednarik Award Watch List, Lombardi Award Watch List
Marcus Coleman, C - Rimington Trophy Watch List
Ken DeBauche, P - Ray Guy Award Watch List
P.J. Hill, RB - Doak Walker Award Watch List, Maxwell Award Watch List, Walter Camp Player of the Year
Taylor Mehlhaff, PK - Lou Groza Award Watch List
Matt Shaughnessy, DE - Ted Hendricks Award Watch List, Lombardi Award Watch List
Luke Swan, WR - Draddy Trophy semifi nalist
Jonathan Casillas, LB - Lott Trophy Watch List, Bednarik Award Watch List, Lombardi Award Watch List
Marcus Coleman, C - Rimington Trophy Watch List
Ken DeBauche, P - Ray Guy Award Watch List
P.J. Hill, RB - Doak Walker Award Watch List, Maxwell Award Watch List, Walter Camp Player of the Year
Taylor Mehlhaff, PK - Lou Groza Award Watch List
Matt Shaughnessy, DE - Ted Hendricks Award Watch List, Lombardi Award Watch List
Luke Swan, WR - Draddy Trophy semifi nalist
Big Ten Conference Players of the Week
Sept. 1, 2007 (Week 1)
CO-OFFENSE: RB - Jehuu Caulcrick, Michigan State & QB - Tyler Donovan, Wisconsin
DEFENSE: LB - Sean Lee, Penn State
SPECIAL TEAMS: WR - Dorien Bryant, Purdue
Sept. 8, 2007 (Week 2)
CO-OFFENSE: QB - Adam Weber, Minnesota & QB - Curtis Painter, Purdue
DEFENSE: LB - Dan Connor, Penn State
SPECIAL TEAMS: DE - Kenny Iwebema, Iowa
Sept. 15, 2007 (Week 3)
OFFENSE: QB - Kellen Lewis, Indiana
CO-DEFENSE: DE - Jonal Saint-Dic, Michigan State & LB - James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
SPECIAL TEAMS: PR/KR - David Gilreath, Wisconsin
Sept. 22, 2007 (Week 4)
OFFENSE: RB - Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois
CO-DEFENSE: DE - Will Davis, Illinois & S - Jamar Adams, Michigan
SPECIAL TEAMS: P - Ken DeBauche, Wisconsin
Sept. 29, 2007 (Week 5)
CO-OFFENSE: QB - Kellen Lewis, Indiana & RB - P.J. Hill, Wisconsin
DEFENSE: LB - Shawn Crable, Michigan
SPECIAL TEAMS: KR - Arrelious Benn, Illinois
Oct. 6, 2007 (Week 6)
OFFENSE: QB - C.J. Bacher, Northwestern
DEFENSE: DB - Chimdi Chekwa, Ohio State
SPECIAL TEAMS: K - Austin Starr, Indiana
Oct. 13, 2007 (Week 7)
CO-OFFENSE: RB - Javon Ringer, Michigan State & QB - C.J. Bacher, Northwestern
DEFENSE: LB - Mike Humpal, Iowa
SPECIAL TEAMS: PR - Brian Hartline, Ohio State
Oct. 20, 2007 (Week 8)
CO-OFFENSE: RB - Chris Wells, Ohio State & WR - Dorien Bryant, Purdue
DEFENSE: DE - Maurice Evans, Penn State
SPECIAL TEAMS: P - A.J. Trapasso, Ohio State
Oct. 27, 2007 (Week 9)
OFFENSE: QB - Todd Boeckman, Ohio State
DEFENSE: LB - DeAndre Levy, Wisconsin
SPECIAL TEAMS: P - Ryan Donahue, Iowa
Nov. 3, 2007 (Week 10)
CO-OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS:
Nov. 10, 2007 (Week 11)
CO-OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS:
Nov. 17, 2007 (Week 12)
CO-OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS:
CO-OFFENSE: RB - Jehuu Caulcrick, Michigan State & QB - Tyler Donovan, Wisconsin
DEFENSE: LB - Sean Lee, Penn State
SPECIAL TEAMS: WR - Dorien Bryant, Purdue
Sept. 8, 2007 (Week 2)
CO-OFFENSE: QB - Adam Weber, Minnesota & QB - Curtis Painter, Purdue
DEFENSE: LB - Dan Connor, Penn State
SPECIAL TEAMS: DE - Kenny Iwebema, Iowa
Sept. 15, 2007 (Week 3)
OFFENSE: QB - Kellen Lewis, Indiana
CO-DEFENSE: DE - Jonal Saint-Dic, Michigan State & LB - James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
SPECIAL TEAMS: PR/KR - David Gilreath, Wisconsin
Sept. 22, 2007 (Week 4)
OFFENSE: RB - Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois
CO-DEFENSE: DE - Will Davis, Illinois & S - Jamar Adams, Michigan
SPECIAL TEAMS: P - Ken DeBauche, Wisconsin
Sept. 29, 2007 (Week 5)
CO-OFFENSE: QB - Kellen Lewis, Indiana & RB - P.J. Hill, Wisconsin
DEFENSE: LB - Shawn Crable, Michigan
SPECIAL TEAMS: KR - Arrelious Benn, Illinois
Oct. 6, 2007 (Week 6)
OFFENSE: QB - C.J. Bacher, Northwestern
DEFENSE: DB - Chimdi Chekwa, Ohio State
SPECIAL TEAMS: K - Austin Starr, Indiana
Oct. 13, 2007 (Week 7)
CO-OFFENSE: RB - Javon Ringer, Michigan State & QB - C.J. Bacher, Northwestern
DEFENSE: LB - Mike Humpal, Iowa
SPECIAL TEAMS: PR - Brian Hartline, Ohio State
Oct. 20, 2007 (Week 8)
CO-OFFENSE: RB - Chris Wells, Ohio State & WR - Dorien Bryant, Purdue
DEFENSE: DE - Maurice Evans, Penn State
SPECIAL TEAMS: P - A.J. Trapasso, Ohio State
Oct. 27, 2007 (Week 9)
OFFENSE: QB - Todd Boeckman, Ohio State
DEFENSE: LB - DeAndre Levy, Wisconsin
SPECIAL TEAMS: P - Ryan Donahue, Iowa
Nov. 3, 2007 (Week 10)
CO-OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS:
Nov. 10, 2007 (Week 11)
CO-OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS:
Nov. 17, 2007 (Week 12)
CO-OFFENSE:
DEFENSE:
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS:
Preseason Accolades
BigTen Preseason Media Poll
1. Michigan
2. Wisconsin
3. Ohio State
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year - Mike Hart - Michigan
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year - James Laurinaitis - Ohio State
1. Michigan
2. Wisconsin
3. Ohio State
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year - Mike Hart - Michigan
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year - James Laurinaitis - Ohio State
Note: Statistical data was complied using a variety of sources, including:
Stassen (Chris Stassen) - Data
College Football Data Warehouse - Data
American College Football-RSFC (Dave Wilson) - Data
D1A Football (Formerly WALJ 10 College Football) - Data
National Champs.net - Data
Hickok Sports - Data
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