TLOS Preview: #12 Wisconsin

By Brendon Rosenau
Love of Sports Correspondent

(Starting August 1st, The Love of Sports began featuring one college football program each day, breaking down their offense, defense and - most importantly - their food, beverage, cheerleaders, tailgating prowess and all-around campus life! That’s because those are the things we value here the most. College football is all about the atmosphere, and that’s exactly what we’ll give you all season long!)

Today’s Preview: Wisconsin Badgers

TLOS Preseason Rank: #12
TLOS Predicted Record:
2007 Record: 9-4

The Big 10 has been rife with preseason stories.

Ohio State gunning for a third BCS title game is the top on-the-field story. Meanwhile, off the field, Rich Rod and Joe Pa have stolen the headlines.

However, the biggest story could end up happening in Madison, Wisconsin. The Badgers have put together an extremely good football team. So good, in fact, that I’m predicting a BCS game for the team many have heavily underrated in the polls.

Seventeen starters are returning to Wisconsin, and the hard working, fundamentally sound Badgers are more than up to the challenge. One of the nation’s top runners, junior P.J. Hill, four mammoth offensive lineman, three defensive lineman, three linebackers and the Big Ten’s interception leader are all back. Add in All-American tight end Travis Beckum, and Camp Randall could be home to a dark horse national title contender.

Offense

The Badgers will be one of just three teams that won’t employ a spread formation. Bart Bielema’s confident the Badgers “unique” style will benefit his club. When you have a dearth of running backs like they do, there’s no need to abandon the Power I.

Hill’s the star of the team and will be gunning for his third 1,000 yard season. Last year, he picked up over 1,200 yards despite carrying the ball just 17 times in a four-game stretch towards the end of the year. He’s a bulldozer with the pigskin and has plowed his way up the Wisconsin record books (ninth in rushing yards and fifth in touchdowns).

While Hill and Brown are making the defenses scream uncle, the tight ends will be handling most of the pass catching duties and helping settle in a new signal caller. Beckum, a John Mackey Award finalist last year, and the front runner this year, set a school record with 75 catches last year for 982 yards. Junior Garrett Graham was second on the team with 30 catches. The two combined for 10 of the team’s 17 receiving TDs and will be vital to this year’s success.

The big concern will be at quarterback which is a situation the Badgers also dealt with last year. Judging from Bielema’s comments at Big Ten Media Day, Allan Evridge seems to be the front runner. He started as a freshman for Kansas State in 2005, but saw little action last year. His competition in camp is junior Dustin Sherer, who took a grand total of one snap last year.

All four receivers on the depth chart are sophomores, so don’t expect the Badgers to take many chances with the ball. This will be a conservative offense in style with the capability to put up 30 points each week. If Hill can stay injury free, I expect an 1,800 yard season.

Defense

The Badgers will operate out of the 4-3 and have a group that can match experience with anyone in the country. Senior Matt Shaughnessy (18 tackles for loss, second-team All-Big Ten) is a contender for the Ted Hendricks Award and is the anchor on the line. He’ll be joined on the line by two fifth-year seniors (Jason Chapman and Mike Newkirk). Sophomore Kirk DeCremer didn’t even start last year, but led the team in sacks anyhow. They’re a blue collar bunch that play smart football. With Shaughnessy drawing possible double teams, look for Chapman or Newkirk to have a standout year.

The word in Madison is that the linebackers are some of the best the school’s seen. Jonathan Casillas is the best of the bunch and will show up on a few All-America teams. DeAndre Levy and Elijah Hodge could also get some love at the end of the season when the All-Big Ten team is announced. All three are quick, which is essential in the 4-3.

The biggest concern is at cornerback where the Badgers need to replace All-Big Ten corner Ikegowuonu who left school early for the draft. The two potential starters, Allen Langford and Aaron Henry, are recovering from injuries, but Bielema expects them to be healthy for the season opener against Akron.  Shane Carter, who had a conference high seven picks in ’07, and Jay Valai form a strong secondary..

The bottom line is that this is a hungry group of players ready to prove they’re just as good or better then the big boys. They were disappointed in their 9-4 season last year. I love that kind of attitude. The injury bug that hit the team last year came back in the spring, but it looks like the entire roster will be healthy by opening day.

Season Outlook

Head coach Bret Bielema’s entering his third season in Madison, and the third-youngest coach in D1 has done an impeccable job in replacing the legendary Barry Alvarez. Last year’s disappointing 9-4 (5-3) finish leaves him with an overall mark of 21-5 that includes a pair of New Years Day games.

Last year was supposed to be a step into the top echelon for the Badgers, but they battled injuries and faltered at key points. This year, with all those starters coming back, the Badgers will not only take that step, but will win the Big Ten title, in my opinion.

This won’t be an easy task and the Badgers obviously will have his work cut out for them. The key will be how the Badgers handle an unprecedented Big 10 schedule to begin conference play.

The Schedule

On September 27th, the Badgers will begin play at Michigan. That’ll promptly be followed with home games against Ohio State and Penn State. The Badgers will be the first team ever to take on these three legendary schools in secession to begin the Big Ten season. They’ll also head to Iowa, Michigan State and Indiana. Homecoming will come on October 25th against Illinois. Then the Badgers end the season favorably with home games against Minnesota in the Paul Bunyan Axe Game, and Cal Poly Tech. The non-conference schedule has Akron, Marshall and Fresno State to open the season.

The Badgers should open the season 3-0, although the game at Fresno State is by no means a lock. They get a bye before hitting their three weeks of hell, which will allow them two weeks to game plan for a brand new Wolverine team. Also, Michigan will still be going through an adjustment period when the Badgers invade. Bielema’s gone 14-0 at home in his tenure, plus they’ve also won five of the last seven meetings with the Buckeyes. Should they pull the upset, they’ll be in the driver’s seat for the conference crown.

The Stadium

Camp Randall’s a college football treasure and the oldest stadium in the Big Ten. Built in 1917, “The Camp” holds over 80,000 on Saturdays. Once inside, the students get the place rocking. The playing of the classic House of Pain joint “Jump Around” between the third and fourth quarter whips the crowd into a frenzy that lasts well after the final whistle.

School Atmosphere

“There ain’t no party like a Madison party cause a Madison party don’t stop.”

The University of Wisconsin is the premier combination of football and fun. The school’s earned a reputation as one of the country’s top party schools, and Saturday’s where the Badgers prove their worth.

Pregaming: Pregame partying is done at many a location. For those of legal age there are fine establishments like Lucky’s and Luedtke’s Stadium Sports Bar within a field goal’s walk from the stadium. Luedtke’s has the town’s biggest Beer Garden, which allows the masses to pile in and spend every possible second enjoying their pregame meals without worrying about parking a car or leaving 15 minutes early to get to the game. Another favorite is State Street Brats, which is better suited for those not going to the game but want to get the full game experience. Pick up a brat or some cheese curds and you’ll feel like you’re in Camp Randall.

Tailgating: With the stadium being just on the outskirts of campus, neighboring parking lots are loaded with tailgaters. You can also find a beer and a bratwurst at any of the houses on or around campus. The alumni are also famous for hosting tailgates that are open to anyone and everyone.

Postgaming: The “Fifth Quarter,” a postgame concert staged by bands at the end of every home game, keeps the party going deep into the afternoon or night. Classics like “On Wisconsin,” “The Budweiser Song,” “Beer Barrel Polka” and “The Chicken Dance” are beloved by students and alumni alike. It all comes to an end with the school song “Varsity,” sending Bucky Badger and friends back to the parking lots and bars in fine form.

This is no ordinary postgame celebration. It sets the mood for the remainder of the day, and the students love it. It’s such a part of the school that incoming freshman learn the songs during orientation. That’s intense.

Spirits will be high in Madison this year, and not just because of the beer. The school’s hosting two prime time games and will play in a couple others away from home. The students know this could be a special season for the Badgers and are eager to show the nation what Madison’s all about.

Famous Alumni

--Dick Cheney, U.S. Vice President
--Alan Ameche, 1954 Heisman Trophy Winner
--Ron Dayne, 1999 Heisman Trophy Winner
--Chris Chelios, Future NHL Hall of Fame defenseman
--Phil Hellmuth, 1989 World Series of Poker champion
--Jerry and David Zucker, Directors, Airplane!, Naked Gun, Top Secret! and many more
--Joan Cusack, Actress, Say Anything?, Gross Pointe Blank, In & Out and more
--Frank Lloyd Wright, Architect
--Charles Lindbergh, Aviator
--Greta Van Susteren, Broadcaster, FOX News Channel

Shameless Cheerleader Pics

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