Two days after a disheartening 26-23 loss to then-No. 15 Purdue, Head Coach Barry Alvarez announced senior quarterback Jim Sorgi will not play in this weekend's game against Northwestern, with junior Matt Schabert starting in his place.
Sorgi underwent surgery Sunday after he left Saturday's game with an injury to his knee. Although Sorgi had been having trouble with his knee prior to this weekend, the big hit came early in the second half on an option play that sidelined him for the rest of the game. Alvarez is confident the senior captain will return for the final three games of this season.
Filling in at quarterback will be Schabert, who played as Sorgi's replacement in the Ohio State and Purdue games. Schabert became the hero of the Ohio State game after he hooked up with senior wide receiver Lee Evans for the game-winning score. He has only completed nine passes this season and has thrown for only 199 yards. However, Schabert's experience the past two games in replacing Sorgi will help him ease into Saturday's start with more confidence.
\He always knows where to go with the ball,"" Alvarez said. ""I think he does an excellent job of managing a game and understanding a game, understanding what people are trying to do. So, I feel real good about him going in. Particularly, having had a chance to play against the two teams he played against, two consecutive weeks. I think those were very good defenses. I thought he showed composure and did some good things, so that should have prepared him well for this game.""
For Schabert, the upcoming week will prove vital as the Badgers prepare for the Wildcats. Schabert will be taking the majority of the snaps in practice this week, something he had never done prior to Sorgi's injury.
""Mentally, it won't be any different,"" Alvarez said. ""His mental preparation every week should have been the same. Now, his repetitions in practice, he'll have ... where he had probably 30 percent of the reps, now he'll have the 70 percent. So, that work load will pick up considerably, but mentally, it will be the same.""
The matchup against Northwestern will mark the first time since his senior year of high school that Schabert will be the starting quarterback, and he will do it in the same state he played high school football.
""It's going to be a great opportunity to get your first start around your hometown,"" Schabert said. ""And I'm sure there's going to be a lot of people asking for tickets this week compared to normal weeks, they don't want to drive up here. But it should be good, you're going to have your family there, you're going to have friends there to support you and I think that will help big time.""
With Schabert as the No. 1 quarterback, freshman John Stocco will move into the No. 2 spot on the depth chart. Stocco, who redshirted last season, has not seen any action thus far this season.
""John [Stocco] hasn't had a lot of reps. I'll be honest with you..."" Alvarez said. ""It's not spring practice or fall camp where he's going to get more reps. He may be only getting 5 percent of the reps. It's hard for me to put a finger on where he is right now.""
With Stocco's inexperience, former quarterback and current tight end Owen Daniels will be available for the Wisconsin coaching staff as well. Daniels switched from quarterback to tight end prior to the Badgers' Alamo Bowl victory last season, and is third on the team in catches with eight and receiving yards with 92.
""Well, we're going to have Owen [Daniels] prepare for emergency."" Alvarez said. ""...So we'll have some things ready for him. It should be an easy transition. We'll give him part of the passing game and he can handle the running game, but we'll keep him oiled up. I just expect them to manage the game, be smart with the football.\
