The 2012 opener at Camp Randall is in the books and Wisconsin football remains undefeated. While it was only a five-point victory over an FCS opponent, the Badgers won nonetheless.
Through spring practice and fall camp, wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni consistently acknowledged he had a group that lacked experience beyond redshirt junior Jared Abbrederis.
Stop me if you’ve heard this at some point during the week, but the Badger football squad didn’t exactly turn in a Picasso on Saturday against Northern Iowa.
How far apart are the Big Ten and the SEC?
At first-year offensive coordinator Matt Canada’s introductory press conference in January, he said his philosophy would be to continue running “a Wisconsin offense.” This implication is well known in Badger country as a powerful rushing attack behind a big, talented offensive line. Recently, the “Wisconsin offense” also means putting up a ton of points.
A win is a win. Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema and numerous Badger players echoed this cliché following Wisconsin’s (1-0 overall, 0-0 Big Ten) 26-21 victory over FCS opponent Northern Iowa (0-1 overall, 0-0 Missouri Valley Conference) Saturday afternoon in the first game of the 2012 season.
Expectations can often be deceiving. For Wisconsin football (1-0 overall, 0-0 Big Ten) and head coach Bret Bielema, the team’s high expectations proved to be a little misleading this past weekend as the Badgers pulled out a 26-21 nail biter over Northern Iowa (0-1 overall, 0-0 Missouri Valley Conference). With many projecting the preseason No. 12 Badgers to roll to their 15th consecutive season-opening win, it took a timely fourth quarter pass deflection by redshirt junior defensive lineman Ethan Hemer on a fourth-and-one to pull out the win.
When star running back Montee Ball announced he was returning to Madison for his senior season just days after the Badgers lost the 2012 Rose Bowl, a baseline of expectation was set for the 2012-’13 campaign.
Wake up early enough to pre-game
Offense
About a year and a half ago, Big Ten officials spent hours on end attempting to find the perfect balance between the two, six-member divisions that the conference would be split into. Now though, the balance between the Leaders and Legends divisions already seems a bit unstable.
Wisconsin football head coach Bret Bielema spoke with the media Sunday and to no one’s surprise the main topics covered included the team’s quarterback competition and recent off the field issues.
Only at the University of Wisconsin can you repeatedly lose All-American offensive linemen and go into the next season with as much confidence in the unit as years’ previous.
CHICAGO -- The Big Ten Conference has never been more ready to take the football field and put the tumultuous offseason in the rearview mirror. Players and coaches alike could not have made this more evident during the Big Ten Media Days at the McCormick Center from July 26-27.
La Bahn Arena
Melvin Gordon: Redshirt freshman running back
It just got a little less crowded under center for the Wisconsin Badgers football team, as two of the squad’s quarterbacks have been ruled out for the 2012 season.
No. 1: Montee Ball, junior running back, football
1. Badgers beat Spartans in inaugural Big Ten Title Game—December 3, 2011
UW-Madison running back Montee Ball was among the hundreds of people Madison police arrested and cited at the Mifflin Street Block Party Saturday.
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