The season is half over, and the Badgers aren't set on a quarterback.
After getting demolished 48-7 by Penn State Saturday in a third consecutive Big Ten loss, Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema said the coaching staff will re-assess the game film, see what happens in practice and decide on a starter sometime this week.
Senior quarterback Allan Evridge performed well in his first three games as starter, but began faltering in the fourth quarter against Michigan and Ohio State. Evridge completed just 2-of-10 passes for 50 yards and threw an interception against Penn State.
Wisconsin finally put junior backup quarterback Dustin Sherer in when the Badgers were down 41-7 late in the third quarter.
After putting up with incomplete passes, unsuccessful runs, a fumble and an interception to cap off his final drive as quarterback, the home crowd had enough of Evridge and began booing.
You try not to listen to those [boos], but we didn't really give the fans anything to cheer about,"" Evridge said.
Sherer instantly revitalized UW hopes of not getting completely butchered by the Lions, as he completed his first two passes back-to-back - a 23-yard toss to junior tight end Garrett Graham and a 13-yard pass to sophomore wide receiver Isaac Anderson.
A 15-yard rush by junior running back P.J. Hill put the Badgers near the red zone, but Sherer squandered any momentum that the quarterback change-up could have produced when he forced a throw under pressure intended for Graham that was picked off by Penn State cornerback Lydell Sargeant, who ran 55 yards with the ball.
""I forced the ball to Garrett,"" Sherer said. ""I shouldn't have thrown it, and I wish I had that one back, but you learn from it.""
Sherer's next drive included three complete passes, including two throws to senior tight end Travis Beckum. But a potential score was spoiled after Sherer lost hold of the ball, which was recovered by Penn State, during a sack on a 4th-and-11 play.
Although his stats don't mean as much since Penn State put in their backups by mid-fourth quarter after knowing the game was wrapped up, Sherer completed a respectable 9-of-17 passes for 115 yards.
""I told him that we were in four-down territory any time that we got the ball off our section,"" Bielema said. ""So he went in there, and I really liked the energy he showed in the huddle.""
Penn State's superb pass rush was effective at flustering Evridge and Sherer. They both were forced to get the ball out fast to avoid getting sacked and resorted to running the ball themselves a total of 12 times. Penn State's defensive linemen got their hands on several throws, and Evridge launched the ball short of his target several times.
""A couple of balls were just getting batted down at the line of scrimmage,"" Evridge said. ""Penn State had a great pass rush, and guys were getting their hands in the air.""
Although most UW quarterback runs resulted in a loss or short gain, Evridge was able to capitalize on a couple of them. He ran 19 yards down the left sideline after evading a sack and ran it in for the team's lone touchdown on a 2-yard dash that ended in a dive just over the corner of the goal line. Earlier that drive, Evridge completed a 42-yard throw to Beckum.
""He did some things that we were hoping that he would do,"" Bielema said, explaining why he decided to keep Evridge in as long as he did.
The devastating loss cannot be pinned on Evridge or any other individual, as the Penn State defense was also effective at limiting yards gained on the ground. Hill and freshman running back John Clay managed to picked up 105 yards in 25 carries together, but the running game was just as ineffective as passing on third-downs. UW converted just 5-of-16 third down attempts.
Either Evridge or Sherer will start next weekend's away game at Iowa, and Bielema said that whoever ends up starting has to step it up for the Badgers to end the season on an acceptable note.
While he isn't counting on starting, Sherer said he's ready to lead the team if the coaches ask him to.
""Allan's our guy,"" Sherer said. ""He struggled a little bit, and we kind of wanted to change the pace and just get my feet wet.
""[But] I've waited for the opportunity, and if that opportunity comes, then I hope to run with it.
