After giving up 42 points in a victory over Bowling Green last Saturday, Barry Alvarez criticized his secondary in his weekly Monday press conference. The poor coverage prompted the UW head coach to say, \You know, a couple of our guys, I don't know why they did practice. They could have done what they did just by showing up Saturday.""
It was a different story this past Saturday, as the Badgers (2-0 overall) pitched a shutout against the struggling Temple Owls (0-2), winning 65-0.
The Badger defense was on its game, allowing the Owls only 45 yards of total offense, as well as only five first downs and two through the first three quarters of play. The stellar play did not go unnoticed by their head coach.
""They responded to a tough week and that's what I like to see,"" Alvarez said. ""They didn't go into the tank, they didn't put their tail between their legs. They responded.""
After driving down the field on their first possession for a field goal, the Badgers started their second drive at their own 42. Junior quarterback John Stocco completed a 29-yard pass to senior tight end Owen Daniels down the middle of the field and junior tailback Brian Calhoun bounced outside for a 23-yard run. The two big plays set up a six-yard touchdown toss from Stocco to Daniels and put the Badgers ahead 10-0.
The Badger drive set the tone for the day. Daniels' score was one of three for him, a personal best. His six catches for 88 yards receiving in just one half of play were also career highs for Daniels.
""Obviously I like having O.D. out there,"" Stocco said. ""he's a heck of a player.
Following a touchdown by Calhoun when he shook off an Owl tackler for the score and another by Daniels, senior wide out Brandon Williams returned senior punter Jake Hendy's kick 66 yards to the house. Williams dove into the end zone, prompting the referees to penalize the Badgers with an unsportsmanlike conduct call.
""I really didn't think I deserved the penalty,"" Williams said. ""I mean, Reggie Bush does it every week. He don't ever get penalties. I do it one time, and I just get 15 [yards]. That's messed up.""
Williams sparked the Badgers with 184 all-purpose yards, but was taken out after the first half, as most of the starters were.
""That was one of the things we focused on this week is come out and establish the pass game, but along with the run game, showing them that we can pass and we will run,"" Williams said.
Their game plan worked perfectly as Stocco and sophomore Tyler Donovan passed for 229 yards and four touchdowns, while UW also rushed for 263 yards on 53 carries. While Calhoun was taken out of the game after the first quarter after rushing for 42 yards on 11 carries and a score, the Badgers used eight other players to rush the ball, including Stocco and Donovan.
The Badgers lead 51-0 at the half, already beating the 51-0 spread for the game. Defensive coordinator Bret Bielema was relieved with his squad's performance after their poor performance the week before against Bowling Green.
""Whatever it was, we really emphasized that we wanted it to be consistent time and time again and weren't going to accept anything less,"" Bielema said.
Temple senior quarter\\back Mike McGann was rattled by a tenacious Badger defense, completing only four out of 20 pass attempts for a total of 38 yards. McGann was replaced in the 3rd quarter by freshman quarterback Shane Kelly, who fared no better passing for 18 yards on two completions.
The Owls were temporarily excited when senior free safety Christian Dunbar forced Stocco to fumble. Defensive end Mike Mendenhall picked up the loose ball and carried it 30 yards for the apparent touchdown, but the score was quickly taken away due to a n offsides call.
Other Badger notables included sophomore wide receiver Marcus Randel El, who picked up his first UW touchdown from Donovan at the end of the first half, and sophomore running back Jamil Walker who rushed for his own first career Badger score on 79 yards. Starring on the defensive side of the ball were sophomore defensive lineman Kurt Ware who registered two sacks and a forced fumble and junior defensive back Roderick Rogers who picked off a Temple pass.
