The Citadel made their presence felt at Camp Randall Stadium Saturday like a team on a mission as they answered every UW touchdown with a touchdown of their own to make the halftime score 21-21.
UW fans voiced their displeasure with the defensive struggles by serenading the Badgers with a chorus of boos as they were heading to the locker room to make some major adjustments.
Some people think Coach Bielema comes in screaming and yelling but he just came in and told us what he always says, it's not what happens it's how you react to what happens, and that is so true,"" sophomore defensive back Aubrey Pleasant said.
Pleasant obviously paid attention to the defensive adjustments as he set the tone for a dominating defensive performance in the second half. Pleasant burst through the line untouched and laid the lumber on Citadel's quarterback Duran Lawson on the Bulldog's first offensive play of the second half.
Pleasant's sack was the turning point of the game as it seemingly rattled Duran Lawson who followed up the sack by throwing an interception to UW's sophomore safety Shane Carter on the very next play.
""It pumped us up coming out right away and making a big play, and then Shane's interception,"" senior defensive tackle Nick Hayden said. ""Those are two big plays right away and I think we played a lot better since then.""
Following the turnover and subsequent field goal by senior place kicker Taylor Mehlhaff, UW quickly jumped out to a 31-21 lead midway through the third quarter essentially sucking the life out of the Citadel.
On Citadel's ensuing possession, UW flexed their muscles as the momentum completely swung into the Badger's favor. The cardinal and white held the Bulldogs to a quick three and out and forced them to punt the ball away. UW freshmen speedster David Gilreath gave UW great field position and sophomore running back P.J. Hill went on to score his fifth touchdown of the game.
The defensive effects were clearly seen as the Citadel found themselves unable to repeat what they had done in the first half. The Bulldogs ran a total of 5 plays for negative 3 yards in the quarter and UW buried any hopes of an upset.
""In the first half a little rough,"" freshman defensive back Aaron Henry said. ""But overall, as a defense, in the second half we really came out, and that's how we need to play the whole game.""
Henry saw significant playing time in the game as junior cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu went down with a thigh injury on the first play from scrimmage.
For the second week in a row, UW struggled with facing a spread offense.
""It's hard to contain the outside base on the spread,"" Hayden said. ""They were experienced and, you know, that's definitely hard for our defense to try to make that.""
Wisconsin returns to action this Saturday at Camp Randall to face Iowa in the Big Ten opener.
