CONTENTS AUGUST 31, 2016 ▪ VOLUME 7, ISSUE 3 DAVID STLUKA DAVID HERE’S HOUSTON Bart Houston was born to be in this moment, it would seem. Named for legendary Packers quarterback Bart Starr, the UW senior is set to make his first start at Lambeau Field. FEATURES FOOTBALL IN [FOCUS] HARD TO DESCRIBE The week's best photos Lambeau Field carries a weight that BEHIND THE DESK can be difficult to put into words. On Lambeau and scheduling Three Badgers-turned-Packers gave it their best shot. THE VOICE Serious slate starts Saturday BRANDON HARRISON BY THE NUMBERS LUCAS AT LARGE Facts and figures on UW SEASONED VET? WHAT TO WATCH Where to catch the Badgers Michael Deiter turns just 20 on Saturday, but he already finds himself ASK THE BADGERS as the Badgers’ most experienced Who will have a breakout year? man on the offensive line. BADGERING-SCROLL FOR MORE- Coach Paul Chryst (Football) Wisconsin Athletic Communications Kellner Hall, 1440 Monroe St., Madison, WI 53711 VIEW ALL ISSUES Brian Lucas Director of Athletic Communications Julia Hujet Editor/Designer Brian Mason Managing Editor Mike Lucas Senior Writer Andy Baggot Writer Matt Lepay Columnist Chris Hall, Jerry Mao Video Production Amy Eager Advertising Drew Pittner-Smith Distribution Contributors Paul Capobianco, Tam Flarup, Kelli Grashel, A.J. Harrison, Brandon Harrison, Patrick Herb, Diane Nordstrom Photography David Stluka, Neil Ament, Greg Anderson, Bob Campbell, Max Siker, Cal Sport Media, Icon Sportswire Cover Photo: David Stluka Problems or Accessibility Issues? [email protected] © 2016 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM Deiter comfortable with role of veteran ichael Deiter isn’t sure In a tutorial role, Voltz will like- treat this block today? Stuff like what to make of his ly wind up as the gift that keeps that. He has helped me mental- Mseniority. He’s 19. He on giving. ly reading defenses and getting has played one season of college “I wouldn’t be half the player the calls right. And the physical football (and redshirted one). that I am right now if it wasn’t tips that he has given me have He’s not a grizzled veteran. At for Dan,” said Deiter, a sopho- helped tremendously, too.” least, he’s not grizzled. more from Curtice, Ohio. “The Last season, Deiter and Voltz But he is the most experienced first thing I asked him was, worked side-by-side for the first member of Wisconsin’s offensive ‘You’re going to travel right? six games at left guard and cen- line now that Dan Voltz has giv- Because I need you on the side- ter, respectively. When Voltz en up football. lines.’ He said, ‘Yeah, I’m going to missed the Purdue game with an So how does it feel to be an ol’ make sure that I travel.’” injured elbow, Deiter took over vet with all of 13 career starts? Voltz, a fifth-year senior, will at center. When Voltz came back “It’s really confusing to hear be a student assistant coach. the following week at Illinois, someone say that,” he said. “It’s “That’s huge for me,” Deiter Deiter slid over to guard. But it kind of exciting at the same said. “I lean on him if I see stuff was short-lived. time. But Beau (Benzschawel), that is confusing. How should I Voltz blew out his knee against Jacob (Maxwell) and Mi- the Illini, ending his season. cah (Kapoi) have played a Deiter started the last five lot. I see them as all veter- games at center, including ans, too. We have to keep the Holiday Bowl victory pushing each other, lead- over USC. Kapoi, in turn, ing each other and bring- was the starter at left guard. ing the young guys along.” Although Voltz was deter- Did he say young guys? mined to get back in the Deiter may be starting to lineup, the injuries were too act his age. After all, he much too overcome. will turn 20 on Saturday. “We knew that he was bat- “That will be a cool tling some stuff ― he hadn’t birthday,” he enthused. practiced in a week,” said Especially cool, he might Deiter who wasn’t complete- have added, knowing ly shocked when Voltz an- the guest list will exceed nounced last Tuesday that he 80,000 at Lambeau Field was done playing. “He has for the 2016 opener be- done plenty (during the re- tween the Badgers and hab) to come back and play LSU. ESPN’s College with us. All of us respected GameDay crew will be on his decision.” hand to kick off the daylong Voltz voiced his concerns festivities in Green Bay. about continuing while “Can’t wait,” said Deiter. “It’s meeting separately with the going to be awesome.” offensive line. LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 1 OF 2 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM “It was a little emotional, but other). There’s not one I’d pre- has learned that attrition is part it was not like anyone was cry- fer to play with. I trust both of of the process and experience is ing,” Deiter said. “You could look those guys tremendously to go invaluable. around the room and see that in there and get the job done.” “How to make the calls and people were hurting. It was kind The starting tackles have a how to read defenses has just of sad for me because I was combined three starts ― all be- gotten so much easier for me,” looking forward to playing with longing to the right tackle, Max- said Deiter, who has bulked up him. I know the other guys were, well, yet another redshirt sopho- to 325 pounds. “It kind of slows too. But that’s just the way it more. Ryan Ramczyk, a transfer down the game ― to step back goes.” from Stevens Point, will take and see what blitzes and fronts Voltz had stressed all along over for Tyler Marz at left tackle. that we’re getting. I think that’s that if he returned this season, Ramczyk has two years of eli- definitely where I’ve matured it would be at guard, not center. gibility remaining, so this group the most.” That was out of respect for De- can grow together. The Badgers will face their iter’s play over the ball. “I was former defensive coordinator, flattered to have someone like Dave Aranda, in the opener. “HOW TO MAKE THE CALLS Dan say that,” Deiter said. “I fig- Deiter doesn’t need an introduc- AND HOW TO READ DEFENS- ured Dan knows what is best for tion, either, to his blitz packages. ES HAS JUST GOTTEN SO the O-line and that was a proud “I’ve been trying to think back to MUCH EASIER FOR ME,” SAID moment for me.” what he did against us all spring DEITER. “IT KIND OF SLOWS Deiter is a good listener. Es- ball and camp,” he said. “We’ve DOWN THE GAME ― TO STEP pecially when Voltz is delivering seen it before, so it shouldn’t be BACK AND SEE WHAT BLITZ- a message. In particular, the too crazy.” ES AND FRONTS THAT WE’RE 22-year-old Voltz challenged But the Lambeau Field envi- GETTING. I THINK THAT’S Deiter to take over the lead- ronment should be. Especially DEFINITELY WHERE I’VE ership mantle. “I’m working on for a first-year starter like quar- MATURED THE MOST.” that,” Deiter said. “I do know terback Bart Houston, who with Dan stepping aside, I do beat out Alex Hornibrook. “Bart have to be a little more vocal Deiter already has grown in earned it,” said Deiter. “He’s go- and more of a leader.” many areas over two fall camps ing to do fine for us. He’s ready Deiter won’t have to do it and three spring practices at for it. Him and Alex had a great alone, of course. He will be Wisconsin. He was 17 when he camp. I love both of those guys. sandwiched between a cou- enrolled for the second semester They’re awesome.” ple of redshirt sophomores in of classes in 2014. And he took Deiter might be biased about Benzschawel, an eight-game a majority of the reps at center Hornibrook since they’ve formed starter (six at RT, two at RG); because of injuries to Voltz and a duet. and Kapoi, a 10-game starter (six Dallas Lewallen. For a taped “Ask the Badgers” at LG, four at RG). Competing Of the four early enrollees segment, Deiter and Hornibrook for snaps with Kapoi is redshirt in his recruiting class, Deiter is combined to sing Billy Joel’s freshman Jon Dietzen. the only one remaining. Quar- “The Longest Time.” The review? “The chemistry with both of terback D.J. Gillins and safety “We’re both really bad singers,” them is great,” Deiter said of Austin Hudson transferred, and Deiter confessed. “It will be Kapoi and Dietzen. “I don’t really offensive lineman Jaden Gault more funny than entertaining.” feel a drop-off (from one to the left the football program. Deiter Spoken like a veteran. ▪ LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 2 OF 2 BEHIND THE DESK BY BARRY ALVAREZ ▪ UW DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Lambeau and the challenge of scheduling ’m really excited to see us not rated but we’re obviously a Nationally, you’re seeing more play against a very talented big enough name and have had and more of these big match- ILSU team.