Sitting in the media room in the basement of the Kohl Center Wednesday, one could not help but feel a sense of accomplishment on behalf of Bret Bielema.
After introducing the 2008 Wisconsin football signees, the satisfaction and pride that beamed from the head coach's smile required sunglasses.
I've probably never been more relaxed on signing day,"" Bielema said. ""I believe all our signees were in by 10 o'clock this morning which is kind of a record ... I think it is an indication of them feeling good about us, us feeling good about them. We recruited them the right way, we told them the truth all the way through, and hopefully it pans out into something successful.""
In only three recruiting classes, Bielema has shown the ability to recruit quality players who will genuinely help the program. By keeping Wisconsin players within the state at Madison, and by developing strong recruiting lines in the deeply talented states of Texas and Florida, Bielema has brought in a level of talent that has not been seen at Wisconsin in a long time, if ever.
""We go after guys who fit our program academically, athletically and socially. We don't care who is recruiting them, we don't care who's not recruiting them,"" Bielema said. ""All we care about is [if] we evaluate them on film and we like them, they're an academic fit and they're a social fit.""
That formula has worked well for the Badgers, who have enjoyed a great amount of success in Bielema's first two seasons. However, Bielema was quick to point out that it is the campus itself that draws many prospects to the cardinal and white.
""Kids in the state of Wisconsin and some of the kids in the Midwest, they come, they fall in love with what they see and make a commitment because they realize it is a match for what they want,"" Bielema said.
It has been his ability to use all of these different facets of UW-Madison that has brought Bielema the recruiting success he has had.
This year's recruiting class is full of highly rated players, many of which are ""home grown"" in the state of Wisconsin. Tight end Ricky Wagner is considered the No. 1 player in Wisconsin at the position. Defensive end Tyler Westphal is ranked No. 1 among all players in Wisconsin, while offensive linemen Peter Konz and Kevin Zeitler are both ranked in the overall top-five in the Dairy State.
""In the state of Wisconsin, which is our No. 1 priority, we get every kid that we offer,"" Bielema said.
Wisconsin has never been regarded as a pipeline for talented athletes, which has undoubtedly helped the Badgers in terms of recruiting. But while the Badgers recruit a majority of their players from Wisconsin, Bielema and his coaching staff have developed deep roots in Texas and Florida, much like Barry Alvarez did in New Jersey during his coaching tenure.
But no matter where they are recruiting, Bielema strongly believes in pursuing players that will fit the program, not vice versa.
""If you ever try to start to go outside of what you are and who you are, you are going to start to bring in people who don't fit,"" Bielema said.
It has been this attitude that has brought Bielema his success as head coach, and, considering his recruiting prowess after three seasons, there doesn't seem to be any reason to expect anything different in the upcoming years.
E-mail Nate at ncarey@dailycardinal.com to discuss the intricacies of college football recruiting.
