Brian Urlacher, Patrick Willis and Ray Lewis. When you think of the great middle linebackers of our era, those three come to mind. They were game-changing players who are headed to the hall of fame.
Former Wisconsin linebacker Chris Borland told “Outside the Lines” Monday that he is retiring from the NFL after just one season with the San Francisco 49ers, citing unease about the potential long-term health effects of brain trauma as the reason for his departure.Borland, who was primed to start at inside linebacker for the 49ers after a strong rookie campaign and the retirement of veteran linebacker Patrick Willis last week, told “Outside the Lines” that he’s currently in good health. His primary concerns centered on living a normal life after football, without being hampered by neurological diseases that have struck former NFL players."I'm concerned that if you wait till you have symptoms, it's too late ... There are a lot of unknowns. I can't claim that X will happen. I just want to live a long healthy life, and I don't want to have any neurological diseases or die younger than I would otherwise,” Borland told “Outside the Lines.”The 24-year-old Borland’s announcement comes as a shock to both 49er and Badger fans alike, but the implications for the NFL’s handling of brain-related injuries could be enormous.The NFL recently scuffled in its plan to reach a class action settlement with former players who have filed suit with the league seeking compensation for neurological diseases that have developed as a result of playing football. Borland’s decision could be one more step in young players deciding to never have to be on the bad end of that negotiating table.
Just as one item was checked off his offseason to-do list, head coach Paul Chryst will have to pencil in another before he can begin his first season leading the Badgers.
In a partly horrifying, partly impressive discovery Wednesday afternoon, Wisconsin Athletic Director Barry Alvarez walked in on newly hired head football coach Paul Chryst in the middle of his office constructing a vast fort out of chewing tobacco tins and personal spitters.
Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst sat down with the media on National Signing Day to discuss the Badgers 2015 recruiting class, one that came with serious drama after the departure of Gary Andersen.
James White is no stranger to big football games. The former Wisconsin running back, now a rookie with the New England Patriots, arrived in Arizona Monday for one of the most anticipated games of his life: Super Bowl XLIX.
With the college football season finally complete, it’s time for the final installment of my Heisman Watch series—an early preview of 2015’s potential candidates.
TAMPA - Melvin Gordon has left his final mark on Wisconsin football. In a season defined by broken records, national accolades and dominant performances, Gordon can add one last highlight to his repertoire: a victory in his final game as a Badger.
It seems simple enough. Pound the ball with Melvin Gordon, force defenses to stack the box, then take advantage of soft coverage in the secondary with a devastating play action pass.
Discussing Wisconsin’s offensive productivity feels inherently wrong with the memory of its nightmarish 59-0 embarrassment at the hands of Ohio State still fresh. Yet, prior to that forgettable night in Indianapolis, the Badgers ranked 20th in total offense and were the 14th-best scoring team in the nation. They had put up at least 34 points in six of their prior seven games, and by all measures appeared to be a nearly unstoppable offensive force.
It has been a tumultuous past few weeks for No. 17 Wisconsin. From the euphoria of a Big Ten West title to the demoralizing loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship and the shocking departure of head coach Gary Andersen, there are few emotions the Badgers haven’t experienced lately.
It’s amazing what one week can do for a program.
When Paul Chryst arrived in Madison to become the next head football coach at Wisconsin, he looked out at Camp Randall from his window at HotelRED and recalled memories of a program that has been an integral part of his life since childhood.
Despite a historically strong campaign in his first year as a starter, Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon finished second in the 80th annual Heisman Trophy balloting Saturday behind Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota.
According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel’s Jeff Potrykus, current Pittsburgh head coach and former UW assistant Paul Chryst is poised to become the next head coach of the Badgers.
We have reached the end. The 80th annual Heisman Trophy will be awarded to one of three finalists Dec. 13—Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon or Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper.
Say this for Bret Bielema: When he bolted from Wisconsin, it at least made a lick of sense. “Bert” was apparently unhappy with how much he was allowed to pay his assistants (which is fair, considering NC State pays its assistants more than Wisconsin) and had seen coaching staff after coaching staff lose key football minds to more aggressive schools. The sparkle and money of the SEC shone bright, so Bielema made a career move that was at the very least lateral and was understandable when you consider what the SEC was at the time: the only way to win a national championship.
Once again, the position of Wisconsin Badgers head football coach is open thanks to Gary Andersen’s shocking decision to leave Madison for Oregon State. Countless names are already being thrown around as possible candidates, but here are a few names that athletic director Barry Alvarez would do well to consider, along with a 1-to-5 rating of how interested fans would be in them and how likely they would take the job if offered. (Disclaimer: The following list of possible candidates is pure speculation. Their interest in the Wisconsin job and Wisconsin’s interest in them is unknown at this point in time.)
Wisconsin head football coach Gary Andersen is leaving the Badgers to take the same position at Oregon State.
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