Head football coach Bret Bielema said Monday he is happy with the team's progress in Saturday's win against Indiana, and he is looking forward to the Border Battle"" between Wisconsin and Minnesota this weekend.
""It's a rivalry game, it's a border game,"" Bielema said. ""There [are] a lot of ties that make it personal in everything that you do.""
The Badgers will try to keep possession of Paul Bunyan's Axe, the trophy they have fought Minnesota for since 1948. Saturday's matchup will be the 118th time the schools have played each other, making theirs the most-played rivalry in FBS football.
Bielema said the team is excited about playing in the Border Battle and defending the Axe. Wisconsin has held the trophy since 2004 and won in 11 of the teams' past 13 meetings.
""The Axe represents more than just a trophy,"" he said. ""When you have it '¦ it represents a victory [in] a standing rivalry that goes back over a number of years.""
Bielema believes the history of the Border Battle, and the great players who have taken part in it, can be used as a motivation for current Badgers.
""It's really not a hard sell. It's something that our kids buy into,"" he said.
Wisconsin will not have an easy road to defending the Axe this year, as Minnesota brings in ""a much-improved football team,"" according to Bielema.
The Gophers will enter Camp Randall with a 7-3 overall record, and will look to end a two-game losing streak with a win in the rivalry game.
The Badgers will need to stay healthy this week, as offensive lineman Eric Vandenheuvel and linebacker Jaevery McFadden try to return from injuries.
Vandenheuvel suffered a lower leg injury against Indiana, and although X-rays on the leg were negative, Bielema said he did not know if Vandenheuvel would play Saturday. McFadden missed time with a concussion, but could return against Minnesota.
""Knowing Jaevery, and the way he loves to compete, my guess is he'll be out there,"" Bielema said.
However, Bielema is confident in the Wisconsin offense heading into Saturday's matchup. The Badger running game put up 441 yards against Indiana, and three offensive players - running backs P.J. Hill and John Clay and wide receiver David Gilreath - gained at least 100 yards.
Bielema singled out junior quarterback Dustin Sherer for his performance in his home state of Indiana.
""I couldn't be happier with the way Dustin prepared himself last week,"" he said. ""To perform the way he did spoke volumes about where he is.""
Although he was pleased with the team's progress last week, when asked about postseason bowl games, Bielema said they would make no difference in the way his team approached the next two weeks.
""Our kids aren't worried about that,"" he said. ""We haven't even garnished enough victories to be bowl eligible '¦ until we are at that point, it's not even in our thought process.""
