GOOD MORNING, SUNSHINE Practices are notoriously early for the women’s rowing team, which took to the water early last week in advance of its strong performance at the Head of the Rock over the weekend. PHOTO BY CHARLIE HEALY IN FOCUS

GOOD MORNING, SUNSHINE Practices are notoriously early for the women’s rowing team, which took to the water early last week in advance of its strong performance at the Head of the Rock over the weekend. PHOTO BY CHARLIE HEALY LINE ‘EM UP Teammates were happy to welcome defenseman Joe Faust to the bench after the sophomore tallied the Badgers’ first goal of the season on opening night against Northern Michigan. PHOTO BY DAVID STLUKA IN FOCUS

LINE ‘EM UP Teammates were happy to welcome defenseman Joe Faust to the bench after the sophomore tallied the Badgers’ first goal of the season on opening night against Northern Michigan. PHOTO BY DAVID STLUKA

OCTOBER 13, 2011 CONTENTS VOLUME 2, ISSUE 10

38 STICKING IT OUT Jacob Pedersen had the same feelings as many college students about packing up and heading home. But he didn’t.

30 DEPARTMENTS » A NEW TRAIL 10 LUCAS AT LARGE Women’s cross country by Mike Lucas is back to embracing the Badgers’ distance run- 12 BEHIND THE DESK ning heritage. by Barry Alvarez 14 BY THE NUMBERS Facts and figures on UW 16 ASK THE BADGERS Question of the Week 18 5 THINGS TO WATCH 20 BADGERING 22 Brittany Haverstock » PRESSING PLAY “Are we the team The No. 4-ranked Badgers are 56 THIS WEEK IN HISTORY Starting with a bang... back to work after enjoying their that we were three bye week, and keeping the pedal years ago? I’m not 58 THE VOICE down is a theme as they head into sure, but we’re not by Matt Lepay the season’s second half. far behind.”

EDITOR’S NOTE Get out and cheer ’em on Varsity is published weekly by: Wisconsin Athletic Communications he Wisconsin football team was off last Saturday, enjoy- Kellner Hall, 1440 Monroe St., ing its bye week as the season neared the midway point. Madison, WI 53711 T For the Badgers, it was a chance to take stock of their progress through five weeks of play, relax and — in some cases Subscribe to Varsity — simply get healthy for a seven-week stretch run as they look to win a second-consecutive Big Ten title. View All Issues A chance to recharge is always good, and opportunities to do so come few and far between during the course of a season. For those outside the program, however, there was some- Brian Lucas thing missing when last Saturday rolled around. No Badger Director of Athletic Communications football left a bit of a void on what turned into a beautiful fall day in Madison. Brian Mason The majority of the coaches and players filled their off-day Editor by watching college football on TV. I imagine plenty of UW fans spent their Saturday the same way. Mike Lucas Still, it’s not the same as suiting up in Lead Writer your favorite gear to cheer on the Bad- gers, whether in person or from afar. Matt Lepay Well, all that rest your vocal chords got Columnist will come in handy this weekend. Homecoming week has arrived on Drew Scharenbroch the UW campus and, along with it, a Video Production BRIAN busy stretch of home events sandwiched around Saturday’s 11 a.m. football game Drew Pittner-Smith MASON against Indiana. Advertising Cross country is putting on the biggest meet in the nation Contributors this year (outside of the NCAA championships) Friday as the Karl Anderson, Paul Capobianco, Badgers host the third-annual Wisconsin adidas Invitational Charlie Healy, Patrick Herb, at the fantastic Zimmer Championship Course. The elite field Ross LaDue, Diane Nordstrom, includes the No. 2-ranked Badger men. Anna Poulter-Hendrickson Friday also features a big match at the Field House, with the Badgers hosting new Big Ten rival (and No. 5-ranked) Nebras- Photography ka at 7 p.m. The contest marks the return of former UW coach David Stluka, Greg Anderson, John Cook and the first meeting between the two schools since Neil Ament, Ross LaDue, the championship match of the 2000 NCAA Tournament. Charlie Healy Top-ranked women’s hockey also tangles with a ranked conference rival, hosting No. 3 Minnesota in a WCHA series with Border Battle points on the line at the Kohl Center on Problems or Accessibility Issues? Friday (7 p.m.) and Sunday (2 p.m.). [email protected] The men’s soccer team, which sits atop the Big Ten stand- ings after back-to-back wins over powerhouses Indiana and Michigan, also looks to defend its home turf by hosting Michi- © 2011 Board of Regents of the gan State at the McClimon Complex on Sunday. University of Wisconsin System. There’s a lot to cheer about right now when it comes to UW All rights reserved worldwide. sports. This weekend offers the perfect opportunity. LUCAS AT LARGE MIKE LUCAS • UWBADGERS.COM Big stage helps Byrne learn about his lads

isconsin men’s cross said. “He was actually quite ner- country coach Mick “We’re still vous.’’ Byrne is used to crowds. Collins will cross paths Friday W six or seven He’s technically a New Yorker after with his younger brother, Shayne having spent better than two de- weeks out Collins, a UCLA freshman. “So cades at Iona College. He still has a from the we’ve got a bit of a family duel,’’ home in the Bronx (City Island). enthused Byrne, a long-time friend Truth is, Byrne stands out in a national of their mom and dad. crowd — by the force of his person- champion- In addition to Connor and Col- ality alone. lins, the Badgers will be banking Question is, how many of his ship,’’ Byrne on the experience of Mohammed runners will stand out Friday in said. “It’s a high quality Ahmed (fifth at the Dellinger), El- third running of the Wisconsin meet and it’s at home. liot Krause (sixth) and Maverick adidas Invitational? Darling (seventh). And, rest assured, there will be a This will be a good “Mohammed is further along crowd. barometer for us.’’ in training at this time of the year “You’re going to be surrounded than he’s ever been because of com- by bodies the entire race,’’ Byrne peting late into the summer in each predicted. want to overthink it. of the last two years,’’ Byrne said. Not only is the field large — “Certainly the worst thing a “Maverick is so very even-keeled, around 300 athletes are expected coach can do is overthink it, be- along with being a great workhorse to compete Friday in the “varsity’’ cause it’s the 14th of October and and team leader. He’s very excited 8-kilometer race over the Thomas there’s a long ways to go (until the about racing here at home and so Zimmer Championship Cross NCAA meet). We don’t want to get is Elliot, a Wisconsin boy, who will Country Course — but it’s talented too far ahead of the process.’’ get pumped up.’’ and deep. How would Byrne evaluate his Rounding out the top seven for “You’ve got to be mentally strong top five runners? “It’s hard to sepa- the Badgers will be Drew Shields to know that 30th place is not bad rate them,’’ he said. “All five of the and Michael Brice. in a meet of this caliber,’’ said By- guys who ran in Eugene (Ore.) are “In Drew’s own words, he says rne, acknowledging the race will be training hard and looking good and that he’s in the best shape of his a mid-season measuring stick for they’re very excited.’’ life,’’ Byrne said. “Michael earned his No. 2-ranked team. On Oct. 1, the Badgers won the a spot in this race by winning at Il- “We’re at a certain point in our team title at Oregon’s Bill Dellinger linois. He loves running in front of training, where our guys know Invitational. the Badger fans.’’ where they are physically and men- Five runners finished in the top Byrne has his own anticipation tally. The big thing for us right now 10, including Reed Connor, who level for Friday’s race. is to translate that physical fitness was second behind Southern Utah’s “We’re still six or seven weeks into the mental part. Cameron Levins. out from the national champion- “You can only put so much men- Ryan Collins, the senior transfer ship,’’ he said. “But it’s a high qual- tal energy into a meet like Friday’s. from Virginia, was fourth. “It was ity meet and it’s at home, so that’s You don’t want to get too stressed exciting to see him run his first race always good. This will be a good out about it. The athletes don’t in a Wisconsin uniform,’’ Byrne barometer for us.’’ LUCAS AT LARGE BEHIND THE DESK BARRY ALVAREZ • UW DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Making a change is never an easy thing hen I was recruiting defensive coordinator at Florida You’ve got to win, and once the state of Ohio as an State, and Mike Stoops was the you win, you have to sustain it. WIowa assistant coach I head coach at Arizona until he I remember after my first year would always stop in and see Ron was fired last weekend. at Wisconsin, I had to let some- Stoops, Sr., who was the defensive I understand the business. But, body go from my staff, and that coordinator at Cardinal Mooney naturally, it upset me because was very hard for me. I called my High School in Youngstown. I’ve got feelings towards Mike former Notre Dame coach, Lou I’d have dinner at his house — and his family. He never quite got Holtz, for some advice. shoot the breeze with him — and the program where he wanted it, Lou gave me the company line. he would always put me on the though he went to three straight He said, “Barry, you work for right guys in the area. So would bowls. the university. They hired you his brother, Bobby, who was the and you have a responsibility to head coach at Youngstown South. them. Don’t lose another second Ronnie once tipped me off on You get close to the of sleep. Fire him and fire him a quarterback prospect at Board- coach, and you get to now. But do it in a Christian way.’’ man. He kept saying that even That’s hard as hell. You get though the kid was skinny and know his family. close to the coach, and you get to threw the ball kind of funny, he Sometimes it’s just not know his family. could play and I needed to look at a good fit, and you just Sometimes it’s just not a good him. fit, and you just hope they can So I took a look but I just didn’t hope they can land on land on their feet and get another think he was that good. The their feet and get job. quarterback was Bernie Kosar. another job. That was That was one part of the job He turned out to be pretty good. that I never liked. That’s why recruiting is such an one part of the job that As an athletic director, it’s still inexact science. I never liked. very hard. You’re not only firing Ron Stoops died from a heart a head coach but an entire staff. attack in 1988 while coaching on One of the most important things the sidelines during a game. He You’d think they would give is that you don’t want to surprise was only 54. He had three sons him a chance to finish the year somebody or ambush them. — Bob, Mike and Mark — who and see where it ends up. I guess What we’ve done here through played at Iowa. they’re trying to get ahead of the our evaluations is that we’ve tried Bobby Stoops was a redshirt pack in hiring somebody, but to give people an opportunity; freshman when I was hired in that’s pretty insensitive to those we’ve talked to them and let them 1979. I recruited and signed both kids. know where they are and what Mike Stoops and Mark Stoops. I don’t know. I’m not close they can do to improve. Bobby and Mike used to babysit enough to the situation. But that’s Still, it’s not easy when you for my kids in Iowa City. the business. Everyone who gets have to let somebody go. It’s Bobby Stoops is the head coach in the business understands that something that I’ve never en- at Oklahoma, Mark Stoops is the it’s very volatile. joyed. BEHIND THE DESK BY THE NUMBERS

Freshman goaltender Joel Rumpel recorded 31 saves in Wisconsin’s 3-2 win over Northern Michigan

MEN’S HOCKEY VOLLEYBALL Wisconsin owns an 11-game Sophomore Annmarie 11 win streak against Michigan 4.84 Hickey leads the Big Tech and can tie the school re- Ten in digs per set cord for a victory streak against one oppo- with 4.84. The libero has tallied double- nent with two victories in Houghton, Mich., digit digs in 17 of 18 matches this season, this Friday and Saturday night. including a career-high 33 at N.C. State on Sept. 2.

FOOTBALL MEN’S SOCCER The football team is Junior Tomislav Zadro’s seven 54.2 averaging 54.2 points 7 assists on the season tie for the over its last nine home second-best total in NCAA Division games. The Badgers face Indiana on Satur- I. Zadro has scored a point in 10 consecu- day at Camp Randall Stadium, a team they tive games, and he leads the team with 15 scored a record-tying 83 points against last points on the season. season.

Question of the Week: Ask The What was your first exposure BADGERS to Badgers sports?

LANDON PETERSON • FRESHMAN • MEN’S HOCKEY “As a little kid I used to live in Medford, which is about three hours north of Madison, and we would sometimes come down on weekends to watch hockey games. Playing hockey here was something I always wanted to do. I’ve been playing hockey ever since I was three and Wisconsin has always been my dream school.”

JORDAN HELGREN • SENIOR • WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD “During my recruiting visit to Madison back in the fall of 2007, I attended a Saturday night Badger football game (a 17-13 win over Iowa). I remember leaving the game thinking that nothing else in the world could compare to that epic atmosphere of Wisconsin football I had just experienced. Being both a Wisconsin student-athlete and a diehard Badger fan, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

DAN AGOSTINACCHIO • JUNIOR • MEN’S ROWING “I rowed in high school, and my high school went to the Head of the Charles every year. When I was looking at colleges, a coxswain that graduated last year from UW, Anthony Altimari, graduated from my high school, and he encouraged me to talk to ’’Coach [Chris] Clark. Anthony told me how good of a program it was.”

LINDSEY JOHNSON • JUNIOR • WOMEN’S SOCCER “I think my first actual experience of a Badger sporting event was when I came on a recruiting visit. We went to the game against Penn State, which was at night, and it had an awesome atmosphere. I think it was the first time I saw ‘Jump Around’ so it was an amazing thing to see. That’s partly why I wanted to come here, because of the atmosphere.”

5 THINGS TO WATCH

FRIDAY/SUNDAY • 7/2 PM • InsideBadgerSports.com Battling for the border The top-ranked women’s hockey team welcomes Border Battle rival Minnesota to the Kohl Center for a matchup of two undefeated teams. The Gophers enter the weekend ranked third in the country and looking to break Wisconsin’s 31-game unbeaten streak.

SATURDAY • 11 AM • ESPN2 A homecoming extravaganza Fresh off a bye week, the football team returns to the field to host Indiana on Homecoming. The Badgers look to repeat last year’s outcome against Indiana, which saw UW roll to an 83-20 win. With a new coach and fresh approach, the Hoosiers will be out for revenge as they try to prove things are looking up in Bloomington.

FRIDAY • 7 PM • InsideBadgerSports.com The Huskers are back for round two The volleyball team gets its chance to welcome Nebraska to the Big Ten as the Badgers host the No. 6 Cornhuskers at the UW Field House. The Huskers are undefeated in Big Ten play, but the Badgers look to upset a top-25 team for the third weekend in a row. Wisconsin also hosts Iowa on Sunday and Minnesota on Wednesday at the Field House.

FRIDAY/SATURDAY • 7 PM • BadgerSportsNetwork.com Bringing the show on the road Men’s hockey hits the road for the first time this season as the Badgers face Michigan Tech in Houghton, Mich. After splitting their first two games, the Badgers and head coach Mike Eaves hope the road trip will be a blessing in disguise, giving the team a chance to focus solely on hockey.

SUNDAY • 2 PM • McClimon Soccer Complex Just for kicks The men’s soccer team looks to remain undefeated in Big Ten play as the Badgers host Michigan State on Sunday. Wisconsin is fresh off a win at Michigan last Sunday, the first victory in Ann Arbor in program history.

Badgering...

BRITTANY HAVERSTOCK »» WOMEN’S HOCKEY A senior defensmen from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Brittany Haverstock is the lone senior on the Badger blue line that looks to return to the NCAA Frozen Four for the third time in four years. Along with three other current Badgers, Haverstock recently trained with Team Canada at their National Women’s Team September Camp/ Fall Festival.

Coming into your senior season, what are some of your goals for the year? Definitely winning a national championship, that’s kind of the way you want to go out as a senior. There are a lot of little goals that lead-up to the goal of winning a national championship, we need to work hard and learn from one another every day in practice.

You always hear about offense at UW, but what some of the defense’s strong points? We have great chemistry back on defense and we all get along super well. It’s nice to have that connection and ability to know where everyone is at all the time. I think we all have great shots from the point and we’re able to add a lot of offense to the game.

The lone senior on defense, what kind of leadership roles have you found yourself in? I’ve been here the longest, so I guess you can say that I need to put my best foot forward every game. I just try to make sure that I lead by example.

Besides winning an NCAA championship, what has been your favorite moment at UW? Fill the Bowl against Minnesota, hands down. It was an awesome atmosphere in here as we broke the attendance record for women’s hockey. Having all those fans behind you and knowing that they care about the program and where we’re headed, it was awesome to see that.

4 WISCONSIN vs. INDIANA OCT. 15 • 11 A.M. • CAMP RANDALL STADIUM • ESPN2 GETTING BACK TO BUSINESS Not missing a beat after bye week is Badgers’ goal as seven-game stretch run begins with matchup against Indiana

BY MIKE LUCAS UWBADGERS.COM ike most of his UW teammates, Jared Abbrederis took advantage of last Saturday’s bye in the schedule to watch football. Only, in his case, Lit was Pee Wee football; the Wautoma Pee Wee League. That’s where it all started for Abbrederis who’s fast becoming — if he isn’t already — the favorite son in Wautoma; which sits midway between Wild Rose and Neshkoro, 70 miles north of Madison. Abbrederis went home for the weekend and since one of his former coach’s sons was playing, he decided to check out the Pee Wee game, especially since he spoke to the kids prior to the season. “I encouraged them to keep working,’’ he said, “because I started off in Pee Wees.’’ And just look at him today — Abbrederis is one of the many weapons on the third-highest scoring offense in college football and the No. 4-ranked team in the country. Did he sign any autographs? « WR Jared Abbrederis has become a major weapon for the Badgers’ balanced offensive at- tack during the first half of the season, catching 20 passes and scoring a pair of touchdowns.

GETTING BACK TO BUSINESS

BADGER BREAKDOWN: WISCONSIN VS. INDIANA Mike Lucas of UWBadgers.com and the voice of the Badgers, Matt Lepay, offer their pregame analysis on No. 4 Wisconsin’s matchup against Indiana Saturday at Camp Randall.

“Not too many; they didn’t bother me,’’ he said brederis had a lot of interview requests after shyly. “It was good to catch up (with people).’’ Tuesday’s practice. Abbrederis’ personal homecoming precedes “When the 2’s are out there, we’re trying to get Saturday’s Homecoming game against Indiana. an opportunity to be a 1,’’ he said of the competi- Some took it personal last season when Abbre- tive circumstances surrounding the pass. “We’re deris caught a touchdown pass against the Hoo- trying our hardest to make plays.’’ siers. Former Indiana head coach Bill Lynch didn’t That’s because it came with the Badgers lead- sound like he had a problem with it afterward. ing 69-13 in the fourth quarter. The 74-yard pass “That’s our job to stop them,’’ said Lynch who from Jon Budmayr to Abbrederis with 7:56 left was fired at the end of the 2010 season. “I’ve al- sparked some negative reac- ways felt it’s our job to stop the team and play « RB Montee tion nationally. the game. We didn’t do that very well.’’ Ball (right) has So did the final score: Wis- Given that the Hoosiers will be making a sec- rushed for 27 touchdowns in consin 83, Indiana 20. ond straight appearance at Camp Randall Sta- his last 10 games, “Anytime you can get a dium, UW coach Bret Bielema was asked about but his play has touchdown, the coaches have scoring 83 on an opponent at his Monday media been overshad- owed this year by a little more confidence in conference. the aerial assault you,’’ Abbrederis said. “That’s “That’s a lot of points and it raises eyebrows,’’ that QB Russell what I was just telling anoth- Bielema said. “But the thing I said at the time Wilson (left) has helped to orches- er reporter.’’ was I think it’s raised an eyebrow because it’s trate. For obvious reasons, Ab- Wisconsin.’’ TITLEINDIANA PREVIEW

Reflecting on how the fourth quarter played out, Bielema noted, “I had my fifth string quar- terback (Nate Tice) in there and he scores on a naked (bootleg) play. “The stars were kind of aligned for us that day. I do believe it’s created a little bit of a talk about Wisconsin; a little bit of a buzz, the way we fin- ished last year and the way we’re playing this year.’’ Bielema fully expects the Hoosiers to use the memory of that game as motivation on Saturday. He has heard from some insiders that it has been a point of emphasis, a locker room rallying point. That’s something he can’t control. What he can manage is how is players prepare “The stars were kind of aligned for the rest of the season, beginning this week. “We addressed that Sunday,’’ Bielema said for us that day,” Bielema said of of his team’s current high national profile. “We last year’s 83-20 win over the want to keep our edge … and one of the roles we Hoosiers. “I do believe it’s cre- love to be is a humbler.’’ The heretofore ground-hugging Badgers — ated a little bit of a talk about who relied heavily on the run — have transitioned Wisconsin; a little bit of a buzz, into a more balanced attack and personality that can be best described as the “well-grounded’’ the way we finished last year Badgers. and the way we’re playing this Think 1-and-0 mentality. year.’’ Think quarterback Russell Wilson, who epito- mizes old school values. What did Wilson do during his bye weekend? Last week, Bielema detailed the UW’s plans He visited his brother in Chicago. for “marketing” Wilson for the Heisman. “But other than that, I just watched the first “It’s important for Russell to play well,’’ he five games that we played,’’ he said, “and tried said. “And it’s important for all of us to support to figure out what I did well, what I could have him as well as we can. The guy I kind of feel bad done better and tried to grow from that.’’ for is Montee Ball. He wasn’t alone. Many of his teammates “He doesn’t have huge rushing numbers be- did the same thing; they reviewed the first five cause we haven’t used him in a four quarters games, including tailback Montee Ball, who’s the game. The first chance was last Saturday (against leader in the clubhouse for Best Supporting Ac- Nebraska, when Ball had a career-high 30 car- tor. ries for 151 yards). “Our O-line will take pride,’’ Bielema said, “That game was just as much about him (Ball) “in thinking they might be blocking for a Doak as it was Russell.’’ Walker candidate (Ball) as well as a Heisman On Monday, Bielema reiterated, “One thing Trophy candidate (Wilson).’’ that was kind of lost week in all the hoopla was TITLE GETTING BACK TO BUSINESS

just how good Montee Ball was. He had four touchdowns against a very, very good defense. “One of the things that kind of hurt Montee and James (White) was our offensive production. Because we were » Follow the Action beating people pretty soundly, they were getting taken out Next Saturday’s game with Indiana of the game. airs live on ESPN2, but there are “So their numbers weren’t really riveting like they have plenty of ways to keep up with the been in the past. But I can assure you that they’re both action if you can’t be near your TV. playing really good football.’’ One of the more revealing team statistics has been third Here’s how you can follow along: down efficiency. The Badgers have the second best conver- Watch: A free online stream is sion percentage (62.07) in the nation behind Georgia Tech available at ESPN3.com (62.20). Indiana, meanwhile, ranks among the worst defenses Listen: Tune in to the call for free — No. 99 out of 120 FBS teams — as far as getting off the at BadgerSportsNetwork.com field on third down. Opponents have been converting at a Chat: The Gameday Live Blog on 45-percent clip. UWBadgers.com starts at 10 a.m. In the 2010 blowout, Wisconsin was 7-of-10 on third downs against the Hoosiers. Follow: Live updates are available Overall, the Badgers converted 50 percent last season. on Twitter from @BadgerFootball

» Thanks to the Badgers converting 62 percent of their third- down tries this year — second-best in the nation — UW fans have seen very little of senior punter Brad Nort- man. INDIANA PREVIEW

“The biggest difference is just the decisions that Russell can make when the play breaks down,’’ Bielema said. To illustrate what he was saying, Bielema ex- plained, “By that, I just mean we may have the same exact route, the same protection called that we did last year with Scotty (Tolzien). “Maybe if they’re rushing four and cov- ering with seven, the answers aren’t there. The route didn’t hap- pen the way we wanted it to. Now Russell can improvise. “That’s the part to me that would be the biggest challenge in de- fending us — the abil- ity for Russell to make « something out of noth- The work of offensive linemen Peter Konz (left) and Travis Freder- ing.’’ ick (right) are two big — no pun intended — reasons the Badgers have thrived offensively this season. Wilson emphasized the im- portance of developing a third you are on the field so you’re able to put a foot down mindset whether it’s a receiver “making a in the ground and get those yards,’’’ Abbrederis big-time catch’’ or a tailback “running on third- said. and-1’’ or “if I have to run for the first down.’’ “If it’s third-and-12 and you have a route at The Badgers practice with that type of urgen- nine yards, you’ve got to know that once you cy, he said. catch the ball, you still have to pick up those ex- “I make sure that everybody’s on the same tra yards to get that first down. page in the huddle. They understand that no “Or, if it’s third-and-16, and you have a come- matter what happened on first down, no matter back route and you know you have more time, what happened on second down, this is a ‘must’ you have to work to get that extra depth. It’s first down.’’ important to know where the stakes are at all Abbrederis noted that the teaching never ends. times.’’ “Coach (DelVaughn) Alexander says, ‘When Especially now that the stakes are getting you catch the ball, make sure you know where higher for this UW football team.

On Friday, he will get a read on how far each has progressed and how they measure up to the elite competition in the Wisconsin adidas Invitational on the Thomas Zimmer Cham- WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY pionship Course. The event will showcase some of the fastest runners and most successful college pro- grams in the country. The spot- light will also be on the Zimmer BLAZING course, the site of last year’s Big Ten meet. “There’s no course in the country that has the feel of this turf, this running surface,’’ said A NEW Stintzi. “It’s like running on fairways the entire course. “You can run a cross country meet on a golf course, which a TRAIL lot of people do. But you’re run- ning through the rough, while BY MIKE LUCAS running on some fairways. UWBADGERS.COM “This is a course that was designed and built by people isconsin women’s cross country coach Jim Stintzi who make golf courses and it’s knows that pairing an established veteran with a maintained by our own golf Whighly-recruited newcomer can sometimes be diffi- course management people. cult, if not uncomfortable, for both. “It’s not only a beautiful But that certainly has not been the case this season course, but it’s with his top two runners: Caitlin Comfort, a senior Led by a return- a great specta- from Peoria, Ill., and Gabrielle Anzalone, a freshman ing three-time tor course. You from Grand Blanc, Mich. All-Big Ten pick can see 90 per- “Caitlin is someone who’s really focused on the team cent of the race and has kind of taken Gabi under her wing,’’ Stintzi and a touted new without doing said. “The big thing with cross country or track is hav- arrival, head a lot of run- ing training partners. ning around.’’ “Especially with women because sometimes there’s coach Jim Stintzi Stintzi has a gap between what is good, and what is pretty good likes what he already seen -- so to have those two running together benefits both. what he was “At the end of the season, is Gabi going to be better? sees as his team hoping to see Or is Caitlin going to be better? They care, but I’m not races its way out of his UW sure either one of them knows. At this point, it’s about cross country helping the other get better.’’ back to the top team. « Senior captain Caitlin Comfort has been an All- Big Ten and all-region performer in each of her first three seasons at Wisconsin. WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

“We’re taking steps in the right direction,’’ he a good feeling about his runners going into Fri- said. day’s competition. Since placing second in the Big Ten in two out “I like our team this year,’’ he said. “I like the of three seasons (2006 and 2008), the Badgers camaraderie and I like the team work. We had have struggled to 10th- and seventh-place fin- only 30 seconds separating our top five run- ishes at the conference meet in each of the last ners last weekend. We haven’t had that for a few two years. years. “The last couple of seasons have been frustrat- “Are we the team that we were three years ing,’’ conceded Stintzi, the eighth-year coach, ago? I’m not sure, but we’re not far behind.’’ who guided Wisconsin to fourth in the 2006 Landing someone like Anzalone was definitely NCAA Championship. a positive statement for his program. “The dirty little secret,’’ said Stintzi, who’s also “When you’re the 10th-best kid in the country, the head coach of the UW women’s track team, everybody wants you,’’ Stintzi said. “She’s clear- “is that cross country and track share scholar- ly someone that we thought could come in and ships. “Some people spend all their track scholarships on cross country people, while some people spend all their cross coun- try scholarships on sprinters. “We’ve tried to bal- ance it out — prob- ably a little bit too much — to get track going. Now, we’re taking a step back and going, ‘What are we? We are a dis- “You need to invest in tance program.’ “So we’ve spent a little bit more money (on those areas that you’re scholarships) the last couple of years on distance going to be good at,” runners and I think we’re going to move back where we should be. Stintzi said of UW’s dis- “You need to invest in those areas that you’re tance running heritage. going to be good at, and you’ve traditionally been good at. I think we lost sight of who we were. It’s “I think we lost sight of time to get back to that, and we’re making prog- who we were. It’s time ress.’’ to get back to that, and Stintzi, a seven-time All-American and six- time Big Ten champion with the Badgers, has we’re making progress.’’ BLAZING A NEW TRAIL

help us right away. “It’s a little early in the season to know if she’s going to be All-Big Ten, if she’s going to be an All-American, if she’s going to be somebody that’s going through a learning curve. I’m not sure yet.’’ Stintzi is sure of one thing: Wisconsin has a great deal to sell as a cross country destination. “Gabi loved the university and the girls on the » The best of the best team,’’ he said. “That’s a big thing for someone The third-annual Wisconsin adidas Invitational is a to feel like they fit in; more so with a sport like who’s-who of the nation’s top teams. In all, 21 of the cross country than others. 30 men’s teams and 19 of the 30 women’s ranked in “That’s because you’re out there kind of suf- the latest coaches’ poll will be in attendance. Here’s fering together every day, so having that kind a sampling of the entries: of team unity matters. I really feel good about Gabi. I feel like she’s going to continue to prog- Men Women ress.’’ • Arizona • #14 Arizona By comparison, Comfort was a state champi- • #23 Arizona State • #27 BYU on but not a national recruit. She has since gone • #6 BYU • #10 Cal • #28 Florida • #30 Clemson on to earn All-Big Ten recognition in each of the • #16 Georgetown • #22 Florida past three seasons while proving her mettle as a • Illinois • Illinois team leader. • #7 Indiana • Indiana “She was certainly someone that we knew • #26 Michigan • #23 Iowa could run in the Big Ten,’’ Stintzi said. “She’s • Michigan State • #9 Iowa State a similar type athlete to Gabi, a longer distance • #17 Minnesota • #15 Michigan State runner who has consistently progressed.’’ • Nebraska • #21 Minnesota There have been some other good stories on • #25 New Mexico • Nebraska this UW team. • #13 N. Arizona • #7 New Mexico One is Hanna Knurr, a junior from Waterford • #29 North Carolina • Northern Arizona Union High School. • #9 NC State • #13 North Carolina “She ran at one our home meets in track as • Notre Dame • Northwestern an open competitor last year,’’ Stintzi said. “I • Ohio State • #25 Notre Dame talked with her afterward and asked, ‘Hey, what • #10 Oregon • Ohio State have you been doing?’ • #14 Princeton • #12 Oregon • #24 Providence • #28 Princeton “She’d been running with the (Wisconsin) • Purdue • #2 Providence Track Club. She hadn’t even thought about com- • #4 Stanford • Purdue ing out for the track team. She was in the School • #21 Syracuse • #6 Stanford of Pharmacy and couldn’t make practices work • Texas • #8 Syracuse with her schedule.’’ • #27 Texas A&M • Texas A&M Knurr came out for the team this year, and • #22 UCLA • UCLA she’s currently among the top five runners. • #19 Villanova • #1 Villanova “I asked her last week, ‘What kind of times • Washington • #24 Washington did you run in high school?’’’ Stintzi related. • #2 Wisconsin • Wisconsin WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY «

With Comfort (right) leading the way, the Badgers “She said, ‘For the 5K I ran (on Oct. 1) about the will take on a loaded field when the Wisconsin adidas Invitational returns to Madison for a third year. same time that I ran 4K in high school. I wasn’t very good.’ “She was never close to being all-state. But she’s matured and she loves running and she has “I like our team this started running more miles. She’s very good. I year,’’ Stintzi said. “I like wish I had her beyond this year and next.’’ Another good story has been Dani Fischer, a the camaraderie and I senior from Eau Claire. like the teamwork. We For a couple of seasons, Fischer was on the UW women’s soccer team. had only 30 seconds “Dani then got into road racing and asked me separating our top five if she could come out,’’ Stintzi said. “She ran well runners last weekend. enough in her first meet that she’s one of our top nine runners right now. We haven’t had that for “We love her. She’s a great kid with a great at- a few years. titude.’’ That kind of fits the Stintzi blueprint. Are we the team that we “These are people who love being on the team were three years ago? and have some ability,’’ he said. And the timing might be such Friday, he said, I’m not sure, but we’re that “we can bump off some ranked people.’’ not far behind.’’

JACOB PEDERSEN JACOB PEDERSEN

A STRONG SECOND THOUGHT

iving up to his head coach’s expecta- Jacob Pedersen tions would be part of a grand un- could have taken Ldertaking for Wisconsin tight end Jacob Pedersen who would like to set the the easy road. record straight on wanting to be an under- Instead, he chose taker, too. He says that’s a dead issue. to continue his He’ll explain later. For now, Pedersen is flattered, but re- journey with the alistic about any comparisons to previous Badgers. UW tight ends — whether he’s being com- pared to Owen Daniels, Travis Beckum, Garrett Graham or Lance Kendricks. BY MIKE LUCAS Or, all of the above — all of whom are UWBADGERS.COM playing in the National Football League. JACOB PEDERSEN

“We’ve had a lot of good tight ends here,’’ said UW coach Bret Bielema. “And he (Pedersen) might be the most complete player we’ve had at that position when it’s all said and done.’’

Pedersen’s reaction? Pedersen had another frame of reference. “I have a lot of work to do,’’ he said. “Every His dad, Paul, played football as a freshman at time I hear that I have to try and embrace it. I’m Northern Michigan. But he started missing his glad he thinks that of me. But I have a long ways friends and dropped out of school after his first to go. It just makes me want to work harder ev- year. ery day.’’ Paul Pedersen encouraged his son to stick You could say that Pedersen is just beginning with it — to push through the hard times — par- to come into his own; which is a far cry from ticularly since he had always regretted his deci- where he was as a freshman when he was as- sion to quit. That carried weight with Jacob Ped- suming multiple identities on the scout team. ersen. One week he would be Ohio State quarterback (Not that he car- Terrelle Pryor. ried much on his own Another week he would be Michigan running frame. He was 215 as a back Brandon Minor. freshman. Today, he’s Each week he would be simulating a different 240.) opponent for the UW’s No. 1 defense in practice. Following that peri- On most weeks, he would be homesick; espe- od of uncertainty in his cially during the first third of the 2009 season. life, Pedersen began That prompted him to consider leaving school feeling better about and going back home to Menominee, Mich. things. That very next “When Jacob came to see me,’’ Bielema said, week, he suited up on “I explained that we recruited him because we the scout team as Min- felt he could have success here and that hadn’t nesota wide receiver changed.’’ Eric Decker. Bielema talked to him about having a once-in- “I really kicked a-lifetime opportunity to play Big Ten football. things into It would be a lot of work, he told him, but good Bielema talked to gear right af- things would come from it — if he persevered. Pedersen about ter I had the At that, Bielema had gone down this path talk (with himself during his sophomore year at Iowa. He having a once-in-a- Bielema),’’ was dealing with injuries, the death of his grand- lifetime opportunity he said. “I mother and he was struggling with being away to play Big Ten foot- don’t know if from home. he saw some- That led to a heart-to-heart with his older ball. It would be a thing in me brother Bart, who reminded him of the impor- lot of work, but good that I didn’t tance of staying firm to his convictions. That things would come if or he was just also reinforced why Bret Bielema was at Iowa in giving me an the first place. he persevered. opportunity.”

JACOB PEDERSEN

The irony is that Jacob Pedersen did find him- catch. self while being somebody else. Pedersen had “I thought to myself, “Hey, I can do this — this been entrusted with mimicking the moves of is fun when you’re making plays.’’’ Decker, one of the best pass catchers in the Big Pedersen was summarily named the UW’s co- Ten. offensive scout team Player of the Week. “I wanted to give them the best looks I could,’’ “It took until the week of that Minnesota game Pedersen said. “I started making a few plays that (Oct. 3),’’ he said, “to realize how important it is week. There were a few times the coaches would to the defense and our team to give them a good get mad at the defense because I would make a look in practice on the scout team.’’ Up until then, Pedersen had felt like an afterthought. “I was coming from a high school where I never came off the field; I was always at the point of attack,’’ he said. “As a redshirt on the scout team, you’re not even running your own offense. “I wasn’t really doing much and I just kind of got down on myself.’’ Until he morphed into Eric Decker. “After that,’’ he said, “I told my- self, ‘Never quit.’’’ His prep team ran the Single Wing so he was utilized in a vari- ety of ways, not unlike Decker. “The pass receiving aspect was always natural to me,’’ Pedersen said. “They would split me out as a wide receiver except when they moved me to tailback and I ran the ball. “I just liked being a playmak- er — I just liked « Pedersen’s reward for having the ball in perseverence my hands.’’ has been clear UW tight ends on the field — he’s scored six coach Joe Ru- touchdowns dolph tried to in his career, emphasize those including four already this strengths with season. Pedersen. STILL TEACHING, STILL LEARNING

“When I got here, Coach Rudolph said, ‘You’re playing fast, we can win with that,’’’ Pedersen recalled. “I might not have a great grasp of the offense and I might get thrown around trying to block … “But I knew I could go out there and I could run and that’s what I tried to do.’’ Last season, Pedersen showed glimpses of de- veloping into an offensive threat. He had only eight catches. But two went for touchdowns. “It was nice to get on the field and see what it was like — I got the feeling of the tempo,’’ he said. “I also got to play with Lance (Kendricks) and obviously he’s a great player. “Having that experience, I go into a game now and I’m not nervous. I’m more excited than anx- ious and that goes back to (playing) last year.’’ Through the first five games this season, Ped- ersen is the team’s third-leading receiver with 14 catches for 224 yards. He has four receiving touchdowns; second only to senior Nick Toon, who has six. Pedersen is one more threat that an opposing defense has to game-plan for. touchdown “If a team wants to stack the box, we have Nick “The pass receiving run negated and Abby (Jared Abbrederis) who can spread de- aspect was always by a holding fenses,’’ Pedersen said. “If they’re paying a lot of natural to me,’’ Ped- penalty. attention to them hopefully I can make plays. On the next “If they’re trying to man (cover) me with a ersen said. “They play, first- safety that’s putting them (Toon and Abbrederis) would split me out and-20, Wil- one-on-one with someone and Nick and Abby as a wide receiver. son hit Ped- are going to win most of those (battles). ersen for a “When we pass the ball, we can force a team I just liked being a gain of 28 to to go into coverage and that opens up the run- playmaker — I just the Huskers ning game for Montee (Ball) and James (White). 4-yard line. They’re not easy to contain especially with our liked having the ball Such is the O-line.’’ in my hands.’’ versatility and Such is the dilemma for a defensive coordina- resiliency and tor. What are you going to take away? explosiveness of the Badgers offense. Everything, obviously, starts with quarterback “Good teams overcome adversity,’’ Pedersen Russell Wilson. On the UW’s second touchdown said. “We could have said, ‘Shoot, first-and-20, drive against Nebraska, Wilson had a 22-yard maybe we get 10 yards back and kick a field goal.’ JACOB PEDERSEN

But we overcome the penalty and got a touchdown.’’ Wilson continues to amaze Pedersen with his knowledge of the offense. “I still can’t believe how fast he got it down,’’ he said. “By the end of my first year here, I still had no idea what the playbook was about. He came in with his note cards and grasped everything so fast. “It was hard enough for me to get one position down. He has to know what ev- eryone is doing on every play. Plus, he came in and he was a natural leader. “You’re thinking, ‘First-year guy, brand new team. He’s going to come in and be quiet and just play the game and do his thing.’ But he came in and he began lift- ing people up. “They’ve been telling us to ‘Ignore “He’s not worried about himself. In- stead, he’s trying to make everyone better the noise,’’’ Pedersen said. “When we on this team.’’ have people patting you on the back, It’s working, too. So how do the Bad- gers avoid thinking that they are better we have to stay humble and we have than they are? to stay hungry.” “They’ve been telling us to ‘Ignore the noise,’’’ Pedersen said. “When we have one. people patting you on the back, we have to stay “And I’ve had tons of people ask me about it. humble and we have to stay hungry. They’ll come up and say, ‘Talk to me about that “Watching the film of the Nebraska game, I mortician thing.’ I just laugh and have fun with didn’t like the way I played at all. We’re doing it. a lot of good things as a team but everyone has “I really like science and I’ve always wanted to stuff that they have to clean up. have my own business. Talking to some people “If we do those things, we can be more explo- in my hometown (about being a mortician), I sive than we are.’’ thought, ‘Well, that’s kind of science related.’ That’s hard to imagine; almost as hard to “And I could own my own business which, imagine as Pedersen wanting to be a mortician. for me, was all about making my own hours so I That’s apparently what he was contemplating could hunt more when I was older.’’ doing if he had returned home his freshman Until further notice, he’s content with hunting year. catches. “I mentioned it to coach (Bielema) one time — Perish the thought of becoming an undertak- maybe I had a concussion that day in practice, I er. don’t know,’’ Pedersen said. “He obviously knew “I really would like to put that in my past,’’ he that he was going to get a good laugh with every- said.

INSIDE VOLLEYBALL BY DIANE NORDSTROM @BadgerVBall

SCHEDULE Last Five Sept. 25 #3 Illinois L, 3-0 Sept. 30 at #9 Penn State L, 3-0 Oct. 2 at #24 Ohio State W, 3-1 Oct. 7 at Michigan State 6 p.m. Oct. 8 at #18 Michigan 6 p.m.

This Week Friday #5 Nebraska 7 p.m. Sunday Iowa 1 p.m.

Next Five Oct. 19 #14 Minnesota 7 p.m. Oct. 22 at Indiana 6 p.m. Oct. 28 at #1 Illinois 7 p.m. Nov. 4 #24 Ohio State 7 p.m. Nov. 6 #9 Penn State 1 p.m.

Thomas gets triple-double » Freshman Courtney Thomas has an all-around game for the UW. She proved it at Michigan State on Oct. 7, earning her first career triple-double (double-figure stats in three categories). The 6-0 setter/right-side hit- ter had a career-high 16 kills, a Badgers counting wins career-high 15 digs and added 26 assists vs. the Spartans to join an in the rugged Big Ten elite group that includes only four Badgers post pair of Big Ten upsets on road Badgers.

Cooker returns ow strong is the Big Ten Wisconsin has already » Former Wisconsin coach John HConference this season faced five ranked teams in Cook returns to play a Badger team in volleyball? Just look at the Big Ten play, upsetting No. for the first time since leaving UW rankings. 24 Ohio State on Oct. 2 and 13 years ago. Cook, who is in his Seven league teams are then-No. 18 Michigan on 12th season as the head coach at currently ranked in the top- Oct. 8. Nebraska, was 161-73 in seven 25 coaches poll. The Pac-12 Both upset wins came on years at Wisconsin from 1992-98. Conference has six top-25 the road, giving the Badgers The Badgers and Huskers haven’t teams while the next closest a 3-3 Big Ten record, a mark met since the 2000 NCAA Tourna- league is the Big 12 Confer- to be proud of against some ment championship match, which ence with three. of the nation’s top teams. Nebraska won 3-2.

INSIDE MEN’S HOCKEY BY PAUL CAPOBIANCO @BadgerMHockey

SCHEDULE Last Five 10/7 Northern Michigan L, 3-2 10/8 Northern Michigan W, 3-2

This Week Friday at Michigan Tech 6 p.m. Saturday at Michigan Tech 6 p.m.

Next Five Oct. 21 North Dakota 7 p.m. Oct. 22 North Dakota 7 p.m. Oct. 28 Nebraska Omaha 7 p.m. Oct. 29 Nebraska Omaha 7 p.m. Nov. 4 at St. Cloud State 7:30 p.m.

Long time, no ‘G’ » The Badgers will look for contri- butions from everyone offensively this season, but players like Derek Lee, Michael Mersch and Tyler Barnes will need to be at the top of the list. All three scored goals in last Saturday’s win for the first WCHA play opens with time in a while. Lee’s game-win- ning goal stopped a 32-game goal- trip to Michigan Tech scoring drought, while Mersch’s First road swing takes Badgers to the U.P. goal ended a 15-game drought and Barnes’ tally stopped a 13-game streak. t seemed that the ques- Badgers fans with solid per- Ition everyone wanted an- formances. Setting LaBate swered as the Badgers start- Peterson opened the sea- » Freshman forward Joseph LaBate, ed the season last weekend son and made 16 saves in a who stands 6-4 without skates, against Northern Michigan 3-2 overtime loss, but was made a good first impression for was how would the Badgers’ universally credited with a the Badgers. The Eagan, Minn., new goaltenders perform. good game, while Joel Rum- native sent Friday’s game to OT It is a long season, but the pel overcame some early with a late third-period goal, then freshman duo of Landon nerves to make 31 saves in set up Saturday’s game-winning Peterson and Joel Rumpel a 3-2 Badger comeback vic- tally to finish with a goal and two helped calm the nerves of tory. assists in his first college weekend.

INSIDE WOMEN’S HOCKEY BY ROSS LADUE @BadgerWHockey

SCHEDULE Last Four Sept. 23 Lindenwood W, 11-0 Sept. 25 Lindenwood W, 13-0 Oct. 8 #6 North Dakota W, 5-2 Oct. 9 #6 North Dakota W, 3-2 (OT)

This Week Friday #3 Minnesota 7 p.m. Sunday #3 Minnesota 2 p.m.

Next Five Oct. 21 at #7 Minn. Duluth 7 p.m. Oct. 22 at #7 Minn. Duluth 7 p.m. Oct. 28 #4 Boston Univ. 2 p.m. Oct. 29 #4 Boston Univ. 2 p.m. Nov. 4 at Ohio State 7 p.m.

Gophers stand in way of record » The women’s hockey team is cur- rently on a 31-game unbeaten streak, in which the Badgers haven’t lost since Nov. 28, 2011. The NCAA record for the longest unbeaten streak in women’s hock- ey is 32 games, which UW set back in 2007. The Badgers only need one Defense crucial in UW more non-loss to tie the record and two more to break it. While two sweep of North Dakota ties against Minnesota wouldn’t be A strong defense key to winning in WCHA the most spectacular way to set a record, it would be fitting to do it against the No. 3 team in the na- he most notable stats ners, was kept to a combined tion and the Badgers’ oldest rival. Tfrom last weekend’s plus/minus rating of -12 for sweep over North Dakota the weekend. What to expect this weekend might be Carolyne Prévost’s The defense as whole only » Gopher head coach Brad Frost has hat trick, or Hilary Knight’s allowed one even strength called this years’ squad his best game winner in overtime. goal against UND, with one ever, as UM returns 97 percent of However, a major stat from coming while down two play- its goal production from last year the series gets little notice. ers. In the WCHA, where al- and an All-America goalie. Don’t The Sioux starting for- most every one has a potent expect more than one- or two-goal ward line, which consisted offense, it’s a good defense games. Defense and special teams of three Olympic medal win- that will win championships. will decide the outcome.

INSIDE MEN’S BASKETBALL BY PATRICK HERB @BadgerMBB

SCHEDULE Preseason Saturday Practice officially begins Oct. 30 R/W Scrimmage 2 p.m. Nov. 5 UW-Stevens Pt. (ex.) 7 p.m.

Regular Season Nov. 12 Kennesaw State Noon Nov. 16 Colgate 7 p.m. Nov. 19 Wofford 7 p.m. Nov. 22 UMKC 7 p.m.

Filling the void » Saying goodbye to a six-man se- nior class (including starters Jon Leuer, Keaton Nankivil and Tim Jarmusz), the Badgers return 53.6% of their scoring, 54.7% of their rebounding and 68.8% of their assists from 2010-11. Overall, the Badgers will be looking to replace 46.0 percent of the minutes played last season.

Bruesewitz abroad » In August, junior Mike Bruesewitz was selected to play for the East With holes to fill, Bo’s Coast All-Stars, a 10-man national team that competed in the Four boys open practice Nations Cup in Estonia. Season officially begins Saturday morning Playing against the national teams from Estonia, Georgia and Sweden - some that included NBA couple hours before the both expectations and un- players - Bruesewitz averaged 9.3 AHomecoming hoopla certainty. points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists envelops the Badger foot- The Badgers return their and 2.0 steals. ball team, Bo Ryan and the starting backcourt from last Wisconsin men’s basketball season’s Sweet 16 team in Red/White Scrimmage set team will quietly tip off the preseason Player of the Year » The Badgers will hold their annual 2011-12 season. candidate Jordan Taylor and Red/White scrimmage on Sun- Saturday’s 8 a.m. practice sophomore Josh Gasser. day, Oct. 30 at 2 p.m. at the Kohl at the Nicholas-Johnson Pa- The frontcourt, however, Center. Admission is free with the vilion will signify the open- looks to replace three de- coaches and players available for ing step in a season full of parted seniors. autographs after the scrimmage.

INSIDE WOMEN’S SOCCER BY KARL ANDERSON @BadgerWSoccer

SCHEDULE Last Five Sept. 23 at Michigan St. W, 2-1 Sept. 25 at Michigan T, 0-0 (2OT) Sept. 29 Minnesota T, 2-2 (2OT) Oct. 2 Ohio State L, 1-0 Friday at Nebraska W, 2-0

This Week Friday at Northwestern 7 p.m. Sunday at Illinois 4 p.m.

Remaining Schedule Oct. 21 Purdue 7 p.m. Oct. 23 Indiana 1 p.m. Oct. 29 Iowa 1 p.m.

Badgers to make second appearance on BTN » For those unable to make the drive to Champaign for Sunday’s contest against Illinois, you’re in luck. Sunday’s game, which starts at 4 p.m., is being carried live by the Big Ten Network. It will be the Badgers’ second appearance of the Badgers embark on last season on the network. On Oct. 2, UW fell at home to Ohio State, 1-0, regular season road trip in its 2011 BTN debut. UW able to find success away from Madison Walls, Dalton take home conference honors ith games at North- second-most in the Big Ten, » Forward Cara Walls was named the Wwestern and Illinois, and boasts a 5-2-1 mark in co-Big Ten Freshman of the Week this weekend marks the final those games. Wisconsin is for the third time, while goalkeep- road trip of the 2011 regular currently on a three-match er Michele Dalton was honored season for the Badgers. Wis- unbeaten streak on the road for the first time this season as the consin’s success away from (2-0-1) and is outscoring op- co-Big Ten Defensive Player of the Madison has gone a long ponents 4-1 in that stretch. Week. It’s the first time multiple way in getting the team to Earlier this year, UW won UW players were recognized by its current 8-4-2 record. The three straight road matches the Big Ten in the same week since team has played eight true against Dayton, Cincinnati Dalton and Laurie Nosbusch were road games on the season, and Northern Illinois. tabbed on Sept. 20, 2010. INSIDE MEN’S SOCCER BY ANNA POULTER-HENDRICKSON @BadgerMSoccer

SCHEDULE Last Five Sept. 25 Loyola Mary. W, 2-1 Sept. 28 Marquette T, 1-1 (2OT) Oct. 2 #6 Indiana W, 2-0 Oct. 5 #5 Creighton L, 2-1 (OT) Oct. 9 at Michigan W, 2-1

This Week Sunday Michigan State 2 p.m.

Next Five Oct. 19 at Green Bay 7 p.m. Oct. 23 at Northwestern 1 p.m. Oct. 26 at Milwaukee 7 p.m. Oct. 30 Ohio State 1 p.m. Nov. 5 at Penn State 1 p.m.

B1G streaks » Wisconsin has started Big Ten play with an unblemished 2-0 re- cord for the first time since 1995. That year, UW won four-straight conference matches on its way to a Big Ten title and NCAA champion- ship. Badgers put together Scoring points impressive run » In 12 games played this season, UW is 4-1-2 in its last seven games UW has scored 55 points (19g- 17a), four more than in all of 2010 (18g-15a). Leading the charge is fter starting the year Michigan on the road, to put Tomislav Zadro. The junior mid- Awith two wins, UW’s together a 4-1-2 record in its fielder netted three points in UW’s momentum came to a halt last seven games. win over Michigan, scoring the as it dropped three-straight. UW’s biggest challeng- game’s first goal and assisting on Wisconsin stopped its slide es are yet to come. With the second. and put together an impres- six games remaining, the Zadro leads the Badgers and sive unbeaten streak to re- Badgers have four Big Ten is second in the Big Ten with 15 gain control of its season. games to play. By the end of points. He has recorded a point UW returned from Chi- the month the writing will be in UW’s last ten games and ranks cago unbeaten, proved it on the wall, hopefully it will second in Division I with seven as- can win at home and beat have UW at the top. sists. THIS WEEK IN BADGER HISTORY

David Gilreath’s return set the stage for a stunning win over Ohio State.

October 16, 2010 Historic heroics David Gilreath returns the opening kickoff for a touchdown and the Badgers scored the first 21 points of the game en route to a 31-18 win over No. 1 Ohio State, the team’s first win over a top-ranked team since 1981.

October 10, 1998 HOMECOMING WIN: On the night the “Jump Around” tradition was born, Wisconsin defeated Purdue 31-24 on homecoming. The Badgers survived an NCAA-record pass- ing performance by Boilermakers quarterback Drew Brees, who completed 55-of-83 ALSO attempts for 494 yards. THIS October 12, 1990 KEEPING IT GOING: After winning the 1990 NCAA championship, the men’s hockey WEEK team won its season opener against Michigan Tech, defeating the Huskies, 6-1.

October 15, 1991 THE FIRST ‘W’: Michelle Sikich scored the game-winning goal as the women’s hock- ey team defeated Ohio State by a score of 2-1 to record its first victory in school history. David Gilreath’s return set the stage for a stunning win over Ohio State. THE VOICE MATT LEPAY • VOICE OF THE BADGERS

Enjoy the ride, state of Wisconsin sports fans

ast week during a commercial now seemed so unlikely in the late break on the Barry Alvarez 1980s and early ’90s. The mere idea Lradio show, the University of a stretch like this would get you of Wisconsin’s director of athletics laughed out of the room. had a big grin and said, “Isn’t it fun Alvarez often tells the story of when you win?” coaching his first game in 1990. On All I could do was smile and the bus ride from the team hotel to nod — and remember to way it was the stadium, he has said “You could in the late 1980s. Back then I was fire a cannon down the street and doing morning sports updates for not hit anyone.” He was right. It WTSO Radio, which in those days was all he and his staff could do to was a country music station. It create excitement with a fan base seemed every Monday the weekend that was staying away in droves. recaps centered on how the Bad- The once proud Packers fran- gers lost on Saturday, and how the chise fell on hard times, finishing Packers lost on Sunday. 4-12 in 1988. The following year As for interest in the Brewers, was much better, but they fell just that generally faded by about the short of a playoff berth. The next end of July. Beyond the greatness Who knows how these two years produced a 10-22 record. of Robin Yount and Paul Molitor, A college-aged Packers fan today and the occasional streak, the high- stories will end, but I cannot relate to such futility. lights were few and far between. would suggest, at least As the NLCS progresses, no It is a good thing our radio sta- for now, this state is the doubt there will be some tense mo- tion played a lot of Garth Brooks ments that will have Brewers fans and Randy Travis tunes. Had envy of most sports en- biting their fingernails. WTSO been a sports talk station in thusiasts in the country. Perhaps one week, the Packers those times, there would have been will need a late fourth-quarter drive very little to chat about. A show to win a game. once a week was about all anyone, NL Central Division champions and As for the Badgers, they too will hosts or listeners, could tolerate. are battling St. Louis to the World have a couple of those down-to-the- Oh, my how things have Series. Ryan Braun and Prince wire affairs that will keep you glued changed, and what a stretch this is Fielder are top MVP candidates. to your TVs and radios. for Cheesehead Nation. I mean, if this is what heaven is Enjoy every second of it. There The defending Super Bowl cham- like, sign me up. will be moments that make your pion Packers remain unbeaten. Who knows how these stories stomach do flip-flops, but only be- Aaron Rodgers might be the best will end, but I would suggest — at cause your teams are on big stages. player in the NFL. least for now — this state is the There are those who say this is The Wisconsin Badgers are un- envy of most sports enthusiasts in as good as it gets. Right now, that beaten and ranked fourth. Russell the country. is true. Then again, it is possible — Wilson might be the best player Other places have had multiple I repeat, possible — that the best in the Big Ten and appears to be a champions, and I’m certainly not could get even better. legitimate Heisman Trophy candi- assuming that it will happen in As Barry would say, “Isn’t this date. The Milwaukee Brewers are Wisconsin, but what is going on fun?”