Booker Stanley is becoming accustomed to life in the limelight. But the recognition he garnered this off-season was not the attention the junior running back wants.
After a violent altercation at the Mifflin Block party on April 30, Stanley was charged with two counts of battery and one count each of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, all misdemeanors.
\I can't make excuses, but I was in the wrong place at the wrong time,"" Stanley said, recalling his actions.
Stanley missed a portion of spring practices before being able to rejoin the team.
Through the chaotic off-season, he drew inspiration from the person he felt had the greatest influence on his life, his mother.
""My mom is a strong person and I get it [emotional strength] from my mom, she is a strong woman,"" Stanley said. ""I dealt with it [suspension] how you are supposed to deal with any mishaps, and I stayed focused and I am going to continue on and put it behind me.""
The 2002 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Player of the Year, Stanley graduated from Whitefish Bay High School, just outside of Milwaukee. Among others, Stanley beat out former Oak Creek star and current Badger starter Brain Calhoun for the recognition as the state's best.
Though the pair dominated the high school football scene in the fall, they failed to see each other play in person.
""The only time I saw him play was on the Friday night highlights,"" Stanley said of Calhoun's game during high school. ""We ran track and played basketball against each other.
""We would see each other and sit down and talk. We were friends.""
After a two year stint at Colorado, Calhoun returned to Wisconsin to join his high school acquaintance, this time donning the same Cardinal and White. A sense of rivalry still exists when comparing the two.
""In the beginning of the game [Bowling Green], I was a little frustrated,"" said Stanley, who through off-season conditioning boosted his bench press to 410 pounds and lifted his squat close to 600. ""I wanted to contribute and help this team out.""
When see time Stanley utilized his time, compiling 103 yards on 14 carries and teaming with Calhoun to give the Badgers 388 total yards on the ground.
Having a reliable second option in the Big Ten is crucial, especially for a Badger offense forced to cope with injuries to former starter Anthony Davis the past three seasons.
""As long as I continue to get better each week, I think I can help this team win,"" Stanley said.
Stanley should get a substantial amount of work again this Saturday as the Badgers play host to Temple, a team which allowed 300 yards on the ground in a 63-16 loss to Arizona State last weekend.
With two huge opening game performances from the pair of Badger backs, is it possible UW could have not one but two 1000 yards rushers?
""I don't know,"" Stanley said with a large smile. ""We'll have to see.""
Changes made in secondary
After giving up 458 passing yards last weekend to Omar Jacobs and his Bowling Green receivers, defensive coordinator Bret Bielema has made two adjustments in the Badger secondary.
Junior Joe Stellmacher has moved ahead of starting strong safety Johnny White, who struggled throughout the contest and was burned on a 46-yard pass play in the final minutes of the first half.
The second move elevated redshirt freshman Allen Langford to play alongside senior Brett Bell at the starting cornerback positions. Langford replaces senior Levonne Rowan, who entered the season as the second most experienced player in the secondary. Langford played as the third cornerback Saturday.
""A couple of our guys, I don't know why they did practice,"" Alvarez said of his defensive backs performance. ""They could have done what they did just by showing up on Saturday.""
