Badger fans' long wait to see their 2009 Wisconsin football team is just about over. Head coach Bret Bielema and the Badgers will hold the annual spring game tomorrow at 2 p.m. at Camp Randall Stadium. Admission is free and the players are excited to wrap up the spring by showcasing the team to the fans.
It will be the first time the public will get a chance to see the team since the forgettable 42-13 loss to Florida State in the Champs Sports Bowl. And, after a disappointed 2008 season a good first impression is important.
Senior linebacker Jaevery McFadden sees it as an opportunity to entertain the fans, and also a final chance to improve and impress the coaches before the summer break.
""[The fans] are definitely going to see something exciting to watch,"" McFadden said. ""You don't want to have just a dull spring game. But at the same time we try to get something out of it, you know, this is going to be the last time we play some football until August.""
Fans should expect a normal game-like situation, the only difference being that punts will replace kick-offs. Sophomore kicker Philip Welch has a sore back and knee, so he will be limited to only field goals and PATs.
The game will feature the first team against the second team with some modified scoring rules. All points for the second team will be worth double, so a touchdown is 12, a field goal is six and so on.
Coach Bielema said earlier this week everyone that suits up will have an opportunity to play. This gives him the chance to see how many of the young players handle their first glimpse of a game-like environment.
""What you want to do is see guys who haven't been in this situation before,"" Bielema said. ""I'm very excited to watch [Scott Tolzien], [Curt Phillips], and [Jon Budmayr], see how they handle and react to being in Camp Randall for the first time with a little bit of crowd. Now it's not going to be the same as next year, but you want to see how they handle the crowd and how that affects them.""
The spring game also allows Badger fans to get familiar with some of the new, up-and-coming talent. Bielema said so far he is impressed with the play of freshman running back Erik Smith and sophomore wide receiver Nick Toon. Fans should remember Toon, who came on strong to finish the season last year. Expect him to be the Badgers' top threat through the air.
It will also be the first chance to see sophomore running back John Clay take the reigns as the starter, as P.J. Hill opted to leave Wisconsin for the NFL draft.
And although it is easy to get excited with the first game-like atmosphere of the year, Bielema will look to see how the team manages the pressure, especially the offense.
""From an offensive point of view, [the Spring Game is] a good indication of how they handle pressure,"" Bielema said. ""Because the spotlight is on them, they got to make the catch, they got to take the hand off, they got to deliver the correct blocking assignment. Defensively, you can kind of rely on instincts. I always saw and have felt ever since I have been in coaching, defensive players don't feel that pressure that an offensive guy does the first time they're doing it.""
Game time weather is supposed to be sunny and in the 70s, perfect for an opportunity to catch a preview of this year's Wisconsin football team.
