As Wisconsin's season winds down, one cannot help but remember a time when the Badgers' future held so much promise. It seems hard to believe that just about nine weeks ago, the No. 10 Badgers ground out a 13-10 victory over then-No. 21 Fresno State. Spirits were at an all-time high after this difficult test on the road, and maybe the Badgers began to believe they were truly as good as their preseason hype had indicated. But then everything that could have gone wrong went wrong for Wisconsin.
In my first column way back in August, I highlighted that although head coach Bret Bielema's 1-0"" slogan may seem grossly overused, it's something that shouldn't be taken lightly. Somehow during Wisconsin's loss to Michigan and the three-game losing streak that followed, the Badgers lost sight of the motto that the entire UW campus just can't seem to get away from.
Wisconsin looked like a solid team on paper, but a season is defined by much more than that. Time and time again, when Wisconsin needed to make the big play on offense or defense, it couldn't pull through. A win or loss in college football can essentially make or break your entire season. Whether the Badgers want to admit it or not, their losing streak must have really damaged the team's mental state.
Fans have grown impatient with Wisconsin's lackluster play for the majority of the season, and just like passionate fans often do, people are quick to jump to conclusions. In the past few weeks I've heard students on this campus question everything from Bret Bielema's job security to potential loss of future recruits. But people also tend to forget Wisconsin's recent record of consistency, which includes three straight New Year's Day bowl appearances. Every program goes through difficult times, and one mediocre season doesn't mean the Badgers will have to start next season without anything positive to build on.
Last weekend's victory over Minnesota was just as much about the atmosphere of Camp Randall Stadium as it was about the team's overall play. At the end of the first half, the Badgers had squeaked out just seven points and trailed the Gophers by 14. The immense frustration and the bitter cold Madison day probably caused some fans to leave their seats and give up on their team. But those who stuck around witnessed something quite special.
The Badgers struck back against their opponent, outscoring the Gophers 28-10 in the second half and picking up their intensity on both sides of the ball. Finally, Wisconsin played with the passion and desperation that the team has been so often criticized for lacking this year.
Obviously this came far too late in the season, but the Badgers proved to themselves that they've had the ability to compete at this level all along. The players were not shy about their victory as they held the axe proudly and showed the enthusiasm of a team that had done much more than clinch a bowl game berth. The fans were also thrilled by the victory, and a mini-celebration broke out at Camp Randall. It may seem like oversimplifying things, but as long as the Badgers are able to maintain these feelings of Wisconsin football as a cultural experience, Madison will still be a hot destination for recruits when it's time to sign their letters of intent.
After Wisconsin's final regular season game against Cal Poly this weekend, the Badgers will head into unfamiliar territory. The national standing of Wisconsin's bowl game will fall well below the squad's original expectations. While people may downplay this game as insignificant, the Badgers and the UW campus community should hope for a moral victory like last weekend's triumph over the Gophers.
As unsatisfied as fans have been about Wisconsin's play this year, you can bet Bielema and his staff are even more infuriated. Regardless of Wisconsin's bowl game result, the athletic department will waste little time preparing for the spring game and everything beyond. The Badgers will not soon forget the deep frustration they felt this year. We'll see whether Wisconsin can translate this disappointment into motivation and future success.
Have the answers to the Badgers' future? E-mail Matt at mfox2@wisc.edu
