An interesting parallel: In its storied history, the Wisconsin football program has faced Western Illinois once. It was 15 years ago, at Camp Randall Stadium, where former head coach Barry Alvarez won for the second time in his career.
Alvarez's successor, Bret Bielema, shoots for that same end Saturday, when the Badgers (1-0) take on WIU in the home opener.
Bielema, who scored his first career victory last weekend, will be up against a familiar face in WIU coach Don Patterson. When Bielema joined the University of Iowa football team in 1989, Patterson was an assistant. When Bielema joined the coaching ranks in 1993, the two shared the same sideline for six seasons.
Yet, as he pointed out in a press conference this week, Bielema wants this match-up to be all about the action on the field and none of the sidelights.
In reference to his last comments before last Saturday's game, Bielema said, ""I wanted them to understand where we are coming from as coaches, there's an old coaching clichAc that basically says there's three people that can affect the game on Saturday.""
""The officials are there, the coaches are there, but no one buys a ticket or no one puts a game on TV to see either of those two work. They came to watch people play,"" he added. ""They came to watch our players go out there and play the game that they've been taught to do and coached to do.""
Prepping for the game this weekend against the Leathernecks (1-0), the Badgers have placed particular emphasis on a fast start, especially on the defensive side of the ball. In last week's opener, Bowling Green advanced 80 yards on their opening drive, which resulted in a touchdown.
""We came out a little slow last week,"" said senior strong safety, Joe Stellmacher. ""Coaches have been saying, from day one of this week, we've got to get off to a better start, come out fast.""
Defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz added the defense was not as ""fundamentally sound"" as it should have been and that there were too many execution problems on third down.
""We definitely want to start better,"" Hankwitz said. ""We want to improve this week. We want to be better fundamentally and much better execution wise, and do a better job on third down.""
UW's major lapses on defense in the opener came in defending the quarterback rush. The Leathernecks have a mobile quarterback of their own, Steve LaFalce. The senior had a 28-yard touchdown run in the opener against Morehead State. LaFalce is also efficient in the passing game; he ranked No. 10 in the nation in pass efficiency last season.
""I think their strength would be the quarterback because he can change plays, can try to get the ball into receivers' hands, and not make a lot of mistakes doing it,"" Hankwitz said.
On the flip side of the ball, the Western Illinois defense has made an early impact in turnovers. They forced five last week, helping the team to a +5 ratio, tops in Division I-AA.
Saturday marks the 118th home-opener for the Badgers, who are 11-1 over the past two seasons at Camp Randall. To hear the Badger players tell it, the game carries a little extra meaning.
""You're always excited for your home opener,"" Stellmacher said. ""Especially here at Camp Randall, running out in front of 80,000-plus. Coming out of that tunnel is an unbelievable adrenaline rush. I'm looking forward to Saturday.""
