Wisconsin freshman running back P.J. Hill was once again a central topic of discussion at head football coach Bret Bielema's Monday press conference, as Bielema fielded questions concerning Hill's health and a post-game comment he made about Hill needing to take some ""toughen-up pills.""
Hill rushed for 51 yards on 12 carries in Saturday's 30-24 victory over Illinois before leaving the game in the second quarter with a neck injury. According to Bielema, Hill went through a variety of tests after the game, but the team will wait for the results of additional tests taken Monday before updating his status.
After briefly answering the one question concerning Hill's condition, Bielema spent much more time explaining his ""toughen-up pills"" remark, which he made during a radio interview after the game. Bielema said the comment meant little and that he commonly uses such language, referencing an instance early in the season when he jokingly told the media he had prescribed ""confidence pills"" to his wide receivers.
""If you listen to the comment or if you heard it, it was just something I threw out there,"" Bielema said. ""P.J. is an extremely tough individual. I know that he's going to be able to battle himself back, however long that takes, no one's gonna go at it with a better attitude than P.J.""
Bielema said Hill would not take offense to the comment because he ""knows me on a day-to-day basis.""
""I think as an outsider looking in, I've read certain things where people try to interpret what I feel or what I seem like I'm trying to get across,"" he said. ""You don't know me, so I would appreciate [the media] just being able to understand: present the facts for what they are. I know what I want to say, I know how I want to get it across, especially to my team. Interpretations should be left up to that. I just like saying things the way that I feel.""
In between questions about the comment, Bielema managed to extend recognition to various players for their performances Saturday, especially junior kicker Taylor Mehlhaff, whose three field goals and impressive kickoffs earned him Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week.
Mehlhaff leads the conference with an 84.6 field goal percentage.
""Taylor is a guy from my standpoint—from a year ago to where he is right now—he knows he struggled in certain areas in field goal accuracy, and he's been able to work on it,"" Bielema said.
Bielema named junior wide receiver Luke Swan the game's offensive MVP and senior linebacker Mark Zalewski defensive MVP.
""Mark Zalewski might have played his best football game here overall since I've been coaching,"" Bielema said.
The Badgers next take on Penn State at 11 a.m. at Camp Randall and will be televised on ABC.
