ANN ARBOR, Mich.' On a raw and cold autumn day the UW-Madison (1-6 Big Ten, 6-6 overall) football squad fell 21-14 to the University of Michigan (6-1, 9-2).
The Badgers had their opportunities and squandered most of them through poor kicking and the failure to capitalize on turnovers, a disturbing trend that has continued throughout the season.
The Badgers fell into an early 14-0 hole, as they gave up two touchdowns in the first five minutes of the first quarter. The Badgers clawed back though, and the two teams were knotted at 14 heading into halftime.
The score could have been 17-14 UW, however, if sophomore kicker Mike Allen had been able to hit a 27-yard field goal after freshman defensive back LaMarr Watkins intercepted a Michigan pass.
\We had a field goal lined up right in front of the post like an extra point and we missed it. It's tough to give up points and win against a team like that,"" Head Coach Barry Alvarez said about his kicker's missed field goal.
The missed field goal from Allen was just one of three cases where the UW offense sputtered after the defense had come up with a turnover.
Early in the second quarter sophomore strong safety Jim Leonhard recovered a Michigan fumble and the Badgers seemingly had the momentum. However, UW's offense gained only two yards on following series, going three-and-out before punting.
Down 21-14 going into the fourth quarter the Badgers stole the momentum from the Wolverines when sophomore defensive back Scott Starks picked off an errant pass from junior quarterback John Navarre and returned it 39 yards. However, the offense stalled again, this time on the Michigan 36, and Allen punted the ball seven yards on a fake field goal attempt that was designed to catch the Michigan special teams off guard.
""Personally, it's frustrating, as the quarterback and leader, when I just don't make the plays. Especially with all the chances we had down the stretch. It's tough,"" a vexed senior quarterback Brooks Bollinger said about the offense failing to capitalize on the turnovers.
With the Badgers' season coming down to one game against rival Minnesota'if they win they likely are invited to a less-prestigious bowl, if they lose they stay home for the holidays'the offense must find ways to capitalize on the turnovers the defense presents to them.
""Our defense did an excellent job and we just failed to capitalize,"" Bollinger said.
""It can make it a little frustrating, when you get turnovers; it's such a momentum shift, and when you can't get any points off of turnovers, yeah, it gets frustrating,"" senior defensive lineman Jake Sprague said.
The lack of offensive production in the Michigan game is a microcosm of the Badgers whole season: lost opportunities.
This lack of production on the offensive side falls largely on an ineffective offensive line that gave Bollinger few opportunities to scramble and run down the field, where he's most effective. Also, a lack of time in the pocket did not make it any easier for Bollinger to complete passes as he was hurried all day.
The Badgers now head into this weekend against rival Minnesota with just one goal: win.
