THE OFFICIAL ONLINE MAGAZINE OF WISCONSIN ATHLETICS

DECEMBER 14, 2010 • VOL. 1 NO. 2

INSIDE: BADGERING ... MIKE TAYLOR § THIS WEEK IN BADGER HISTORY § ROSE BOWL PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY Varsity is published weekly by: Wisconsin Athletic Communications Kellner Hall, 1440 Monroe St., Madison, WI 53711 IN THIS ISSUE Subscribe to Varsity Whirlwind week has us looking ahead 4 Wrestling 24 UW off to first 5-0 start since 2006-07 Director of Athletic Communications By the Numbers 5 Brian Lucas | Email Women’s 26 Step Up To The Mike 6 Badgers head to Wyoming Editor - Varsity Mike Lucas answers fans’ questions Brian Mason | Email Men’s Hockey 27 Question of the Week 8 Sweep of Bemidji sends Badgers to break Lead Writer How do the Badgers study for finals? Mike Lucas | Email Women’s Hockey 28 Badgering ... Mike Taylor 10 Badgers close calendar year with wins Columnist Matt Lepay COVER STORY This Week in Badger History 30 Hauling in the Hardware 12-18 Contributors A coast-to-coast journey for awards season Badgers Give Back 31 Karl Anderson | Email Student-athletes’ Toys for Tots drive a success Paul Capobianco | Email State supremacy 20-21 Mandy Hansen | Email Rivalry sweep has men’s hoops riding high The Voice with Matt Lepay 33 Patrick Herb | Email Pausing to reflect on UW’s year to date Allison Metcalf | Email Pasadena Smith’s ‘second home’ 22 Football’s Devin Smith knows site well Diane Nordstrom | Email

Photography David Stluka / Greg Anderson / Greg Dixon Gene Boyers / Edward Brown / Brian Lucas

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© 2010 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. GOOD AS GOLD Freshman guard Josh Gasser walks toward the Badgers’ bench after forcing a late turnover that helped ice UW’s 69-64 win over Marquette on Saturday. (David Stluka photo) IN THIS ISSUE Wrestling 24 UW off to first 5-0 start since 2006-07

Women’s Basketball 26 Badgers head to Wyoming

Men’s Hockey 27 Sweep of Bemidji sends Badgers to break

Women’s Hockey 28 Badgers close calendar year with wins

This Week in Badger History 30

Badgers Give Back 31 Student-athletes’ Toys for Tots drive a success

The Voice with Matt Lepay 33 Pausing to reflect on UW’s year to date A whirlwind week at Wisconsin has us looking ahead Anyone else excited for Jan. 1? The preparations for the Rose Bowl are kicking up to high gear as the hours countdown to game day. Before we get there, though, there was a little time last week to enjoy some of the fruits of the football team’s labor as a number of players traversed the country on the famous award banquet tour. Some of the biggest names in were honored at different events last week and the Badgers were right in the middle of most of it. I was lucky enough to tag along on a couple of the trips and wrote a first-hand account of our adventures inside (pages 12-18). All of the Rose Bowl talk has conjured memories of past trips to Pasadena. One guy who knows plenty about Southern California on Jan. 1 is former Badger Pat Richter. Richter played in one Rose Bowl and was the UW’s Director of Athletics when the Badgers made three trips to Pasadena under . This week also marks the anniversary of his hiring as Wisconsin A.D. (page 30). The men’s hoops team had a big week as well, getting a tough road win at Marquette and beating Green Bay at home two days later to complete a sweep of the in-state Division I teams for the first time since 2006 (page 20). Both hockey teams entered the semester break on a good note, winning their four games over the weekend by a combined score of 17-3 (pages 27-28). The upcoming week is a little light on events (the women’s basketball team plays at Wyoming on Wednesday) as final exams take center stage. Find out how some UW student-athletes attack finals week (page 8). You may have noticed some changes from last week’s edition. We will continue to try and improve with each issue. Please let us know your thoughts. All our contact info can be found on page. 2.

- Brian Lucas, Director of Athletic Communications BY THE NUMBERS 14 30 Women’s Hockey | Senior Meghan Duggan is riding a Men’s Basketball | Consecutive home games the career-best 14-game point streak after leading Wiscon- Badgers have held their opponent to fewer than 70 sin with six points on a goal and five assists during the points — excluding overtime games — the longest ac- Badgers’ series against St. Cloud State. tive streak in the nation. Ohio State’s 26 straight games holding opponents under 70 ranks second. 18 Men’s Hockey | Wisconsin can boast a total of 18 5 former Badgers currently listed on the active rosters of Wrestling | With a win over Northern Iowa last Sat- NHL teams, more than any other college program in urday, the Badgers improved their record to 5-0. That the nation. marks the first time the team has started a season unbeaten in its first five dual meets since the 2006-07 season. STEP UP TO THE MIKE WITH MIKE LUCAS

ML: The possibility exists. John Will John Clay go pro after this before the Tar Heels got the lead on Clay needs 64 yards and Montee season? a 14-0 run. But the UW didn’t fade Ball needs 136 to join James White - Jason Kowalski and closed within one point of tying who has already rushed for 1,029 the game three times before finally yards. Quarterback Scott Tolzien ML: Clay, J.J. Watt and Nick Toon losing. Before you can win it all, you is averaging 191.7 yards per game each have to make a tough deci- have to get to a Final Four, which through the air. He needs 200 to sion. Based on Clay’s age – he will is the challenge now for Wiscon- reach 2,500. Nevada is the first and be 23 years old on Jan. 4 – he may sin. What may bode well for Bucky Each week, Mike Lucas, the radio only school to have three 1,000- have the clearest choice. Running someday is the script that Butler color commentator for Badger yard rushers in the same season. backs have a very short shelf life. wrote and followed to the very end football and men’s basketball and In 2009, Luke Lippincott, Vaia Taua The variable for all three is the CBA, – to the very final shot before falling UWBadgers.com Insider, aswers and quarterback Colin Kaeper- the Collective Bargaining Agree- short of a national crown. questions from fans about nick all rushed for over 1,000 in a ment. If Watt is projected to be a Wisconsin Athletics. This week’s ground-hugging offense that aver- first-round draft choice, it will be dif- I’m a UW student and was one questions came via Facebook. aged 344.9 per game. ficult for him to return for his senior of the lucky ones to get tickets year. On paper, Toon must weigh for me and one of my friends. How do you feel about How do the Badger football the advantages and disadvantages What do you think of the Nebraska coming to the Big and basketball programs stack of leaving early, particularly since he scalping of student Rose Bowl Ten next year? up with some of the other elite didn’t post “first-round’ numbers tickets? two-sport schools in the - Joe Gruber because of injuries. With the gradu- - Bryan Peake nation? ation losses of Lance Kendricks, ML: Terrific addition for football. The - Tom Fauk Isaac Anderson and David Gilreath, ML: To each his own. Do I like the conference now has four of the top you could see where Toon would process, no. Do I like the mindset, six winningest programs of all-time ML: Wisconsin ranks among the have a chance to enhance his mar- no. Do I like seeing a half-empty in Michigan (884-309-38), Nebraska best of the best. The usual sus- ketability by returning. North end zone midway through (837-344-41), Ohio State (830-309- pects include (in no particular the first quarter of most games, no. 53) and Penn State (819-356-43). order) Ohio State, Florida, Texas, Last year, Clark Kellogg said But I’m not about to pass judge- The Cornhuskers seem like a natu- Oklahoma, Boston College, Pitt, he thought will one ment on others since my generation ral fit with their passionate fan base Tennessee, West Virginia. Any such day win a national champi- was not flawless, either. Be advised: and tradition. The men’s basketball list can vary from year to year. Note onship at Wisconsin. Your scalping is a dirty word to anyone program, meanwhile, may be on the the BCS status (justified or not) of thoughts? who suffered the indignity of the same competitive level as the Wol- UConn football to go along with an - Adrian Klasen 1994 Rose Bowl ticket scam. verines and Nittany Lions – average established hoops program. Ditto at to below average, and overshad- Michigan State, where Mark Danto- ML: Besides good players, you owed by football. nio has a Big Ten co-champion and obviously need good timing, and Tom Izzo might have the makings of the luck of the draw. Not much was Is there a real chance that another Final Four team. expected of the 2005 Badgers and by the end of the Rose Bowl they advanced to the Elite Eight against TCU, Wisconsin will where they were eliminated by have three 1,000-yard rushers, North Carolina, the eventual na- and a 2,500-yard passer? tional champion. The overachieving - Adam Brunnquell Badgers led early in the second half

Ask The Question of the Week: Badgers What are your studying habits for finals week?

Beckie Thompson, junior, women’s swimming: “My finals week study habits consist of eating a good breakfast to start the day and making some note cards to help memorize. I usually like really quiet places to study for less distraction, and my coffeemaker helps keep me going.”

Scott Gudmandson, senior, men’s hockey: “Cram. I actually have a nice semester with only one final in economics. It’s going to be a tough one, I’ll have to study hard for that. I’ll probably go to Memorial Library, it’s quiet in there, go study for as long as I can, go home and play some video games and then go back to the library.”

Trevor Brandvold, senior, wrestling: “Usually I would study a lot during finals week. But this year, I don’t have any finals, so I will spend most of my time sitting on my couch playing video games with my roommates.”

Brooke Ammerman, junior, women’s hockey: “I either study in my bedroom, Grainger Library or college library. I like to ’’ study with company. Some of my teammates and I will go to the library together and study for hours. It’s nice to have a couple hours a day to work out and get on the ice to clear my head and get some energy out so I am able to refocus and begin studying again or take an exam.”

Badgering... MIKE TAYLOR

As a Wisconsin native, was playing in the Rose Bowl something you dreamed of as a little kid? Yeah, growing up in Wisconsin what you watch is the Green Bay Packers and Wis- consin Badgers football, especially during the Rose Bowl watching Ron Dayne run. You always dream about becoming that football player.

Do you have a lot of family and friends going to Pasadena? Just my mom, my two brothers, my aunt and my godmother. A lot of other people have been asking, but those are the people I’m giving my tickets to.

When did you realize this was a Rose Bowl-caliber team? I’d say that Ohio State game was probably the biggest point, being able to do that on a big stage and do it convincingly. We built off of that and decided it’s only us, us against everyone else. That’s the mindset we took going into that Iowa game; it was just us 70 guys going to Iowa. No one likes us there, we weren’t supposed to win, it was going to be a fight and if we were going to do anything that was the time.

What challenges does TCU present to a defense? They’ve got a lot of formations. They can disguise a lot of things, a lot of motions. They can spread the ball out with a good quarterback and good running backs. They have a good line. I’d say that have a similar line to us and they can do a lot of things with the football. They have an athletic quarterback and athletic people up front so they can do everything.

Last season ended for you with a knee injury and you missed the first game this year with another knee injury. Are you happy with your season? Looking back before the season started, there was a point I’d say where I doubted if I could do what I wanted to do. Those first few games I would think that I couldn’t do it when I watched myself on film. I just kept going through and tried different things to trust the knee more, take chances on what I was doing. As the season wore on I got more and more confidence. There are things I want to be able to do now that I’m not doing, but hopefully I can find the ways to do that and I’ll be happy with that.

HAULING IN THE HARDWARE Awards season sends Badgers to all corners of the country to accept honors

By Brian Lucas UW Athletic Communications I may not have been covering Badger athlet- ics as long as the other Lucas who writes for this magazine (no relation, thank you), but it would be hard to imagine the Wisconsin foot- ball team having a better week than last week, especially when you remember that there was no game involved. Some of the biggest events in college foot- ball’s postseason had a distinctly Badger flavor to them. From New York, to Orlando, to Balti- more to Southern California, Wisconsin players and coaches were in the middle of the action and being recognized for a terrific season.

MONDAY, DEC. 6 In early December, the National Football Foundation holds its Annual Awards Dinner, a veritable who’s who in the world of college football. Names from the past and present converge every year at the Waldorf-Astoria near Central Park in New York City. The main event is the official induction ceremony for that year’s College Football Hall of Fame class. This year’s class included Wisconsin Director of TUESDAY, DEC. 7 Athletics and former head coach Barry Alva- The day started with a press conference rez. In addition, senior QB Scott Tolzien was in for all the Hall of Fame inductees, along with attendance in New York, to be honored as one comedian Bill Cosby and former NBC newsman of just 16 National Football Foundation Scholar- Tom Brokaw. Cosby and Brokaw were receiv- Athletes across all of college football (FBS, ing awards from the NFF so Alvarez shared FCS, Division II, Division III, NAIA). the dais with them as well as fellow members Because of the two UW honorees, a large of his Hall of Fame class such as Desmond contingent of Wisconsin folks made the trip Howard of Michigan and former Alabama head out to New York on Monday. Tolzien had just coach Gene Stallings. Tolzien and his fellow landed at LaGuardia Ariport when he noticed a NFF Scholar-Athletes then followed in the press missed call on his cell phone from a 410 area conference room. code. When he called it back, John Unitas Jr., At the actual National Football Foundation answered on the other end. He was with NFL Awards Dinner on Tuesday evening, Alvarez Hall of Famer Raymond Berry. They had called and Tolzien received plaques commemorating to congratulate him on winning the 2010 John- their honors. In addition, Alvarez was selected ny Unitas Golden Arm Award. It would be the to address the entire banquet on behalf of his start of a very busy week for Tolzien, who would Hall of Fame Class, quite a tribute for the for- need to fly to Baltimore to accept his award on mer Rose Bowl-winning coach. Friday. Monday night featured a reception to recog- WEDNESDAY, DEC. 8 UW Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez began the nize Alvarez, a gathering that included remarks Head coach Bret Bielema was busy as well, week by being inducted into the College Football Hall from UW-Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin, starting his week in New York then heading to of Fame. (NFF/Gene Boyers photo) former Wisconsin A.D. Pat Richter, Big Ten Orlando on Wednesday. If it’s December, the commissioner Jim Delany, former Notre Dame Badgers must be in Orlando, right? Wrong ... enough to excite Gabe and John, the size of head coach Lou Holtz and former Badger quar- and right. While UW will not be playing a bowl our plane for the trip to Atlanta certainly got terback Brooks Bollinger. Among the other at- game in Orlando this year (after playing there their attention. You’d think Madison-Atlanta tendees were former Iowa head coach Hayden four of the last five seasons), a couple Badgers would be a long enough ride to get a pretty Fry, South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier, did have to make the trip to the home of Mickey big airplane. Apparently the folks at Delta think Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops and a host Mouse for The Home Depot College Football otherwise because the plane was one of those of former Badger players (read Mike Lucas’ Awards Show, held on the Disney Boardwalk. two-and-two deals. The seats were definitely blog about the reception). Back in Madison, Gabe Carimi and John not made for folks over about 220 pounds, let Tolzien, meanwhile, went off with the other Clay were overjoyed to see me and my car out- alone a 6-1, 248-pound running back and his 15 NFF Scholar-Athletes to take in the Christ- side each of their apartments at 5:30 a.m. We 6-7, 327-pound left tackle. At least it was only a mas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall and had a 6:50 a.m. flight out of Madison, through two-hour flight. later have dinner at Mickey Mantle’s Restau- Atlanta, that got us into Orlando at around 1:30 Like most things ESPN does, the Awards rant. p.m. Show was first class. We were met by security If the early-morning wake-up call wasn’t when we stepped off the plane and they es- corted us to baggage claim where we met by our driver. We stayed at the Boardwalk Hotel on the Disney Boardwalk and when we got to the hotel they escorted us through the kitchen and back hallways up to the first floor, reserved for players and coaches (and hangers-on like me). There was security at each end of the hallway to ensure our privacy (thank goodness, because I usually get mobbed on the road … same with Iowa’s ). We got settled in and I decided to check out the grounds. The first person I bumped into, of course, was coach Bielema, just stepping out of his shuttle from the airport. “Did you hear about Urban Meyer?” he asked. I hadn’t, so he proceeded to tell me the Unseasonable temperaturs in Orlando didn’t affect John Clay’s wardrobe choices as he took part in an ESPNU news, as relayed through , roundtable interview on the Disney Boardwalk. who was on the same van as coach from the the field, Auburn’s Cam Newton proved he’s zien.” Seeing as how his flight to Baltimore was airport. A little change from normal, the head pretty hard to handle in the video game world scheduled to leave in about two hours, I figured coach keeping the communications guy in the as well. I better see what was up. loop on current events. He wanted to know if he could bump his There was a reception at the ESPN Club on THURSDAY, DEC. 9 flight back. You mean the one that leaves in Wednesday night which was cool to see. All the Thursday morning, amid the un-Florida-like about two hours? Yeah, that one. Because we players were there, including all four Heisman 50 degree temperatures, ESPNU held some made the reservations on the down low, so as Trophy finalists. Lots of ESPN folks as well, like “roundtable” interview segments on the Board- to keep the surprise going until John Unitas Jr. Howard, Kirk Herbstreit, and . John walk. The SIDs were warned in an email about and Raymond Berry were able to call him, we Clay’s dad, John Sr., was especially fired up to the temperatures and that their athletes should couldn’t check with Scott before making the meet and get his picture taken with former Ohio dress accordingly. For John that meant sweat reservations. And because he was in New York State Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George. pants and a short-sleeve workout shirt. Need- until Wednesday and I was in Orlando when he As the story goes, people compared John’s less to say he was the only one dressed like it got back, we really hadn’t firmed up his plans. running style in high school to Eddie’s. was spring. Well, because he hadn’t practiced since Sun- The evening ended with an NCAA College John’s segment was over by 11 a.m. so I day, and the next full practice wasn’t scheduled Football 2011 tournament sponsored by EA retired to my room to catch up on some work until the following Sunday, Scott really wanted Sports. Not much to report other than, in addi- (no Small World rides for me). Around 12:15 to practice on Thursday. Practice ended around tion to being the best college football player on p.m. my cell phone rang, caller ID “Scott Tol- 5 p.m., plenty of time to catch the 7:20 p.m. flight and get to Baltimore around midnight. We were all set then. The Red Carpet Show kicked off the eve- ning’s festivities as John and Gabe both made fashion statements. John was decked out in a three-piece suit complete with gold bow tie while Gabe went with a black suit over a Wis- consin red shirt. Inside the Awards Show, I sat with Gabe and his family in the third row, right in front of “I’m at the awards show so can’t answer the Andrew Luck and Jim Harbaugh of Stanford. phone. U need something?” I actually switched seats with Coach Bielema, “My flight got canceled.” who sat a couple rows back with John and his Run that past me one more time. parents. Everyone had assigned seats, which I As you can imagine, there are probably didn’t think much of until I saw all the camera- some folks that would be rattled in this situation. men carrying the seating charts, to help them Scott Tolzien is not one of them. That was my identify everyone. For about five minutes I was only comfort at that point. Within about a half pretty scared that my big head might pop up on hour, he was booked on the first flight out of national TV with a graphic that said “Wisconsin Madison on Friday morning, set to arrive in Bal- Head Coach Bret Bielema.” That was, until I timore a little before noon. Some more nervous saw a couple cameramen looking in my direc- moments but it all worked out. tion, looking confusedly at their sheet, then One of the more touching moments of the looking back at me. A couple minutes later I Awards Show was when Lee Corso, famous saw Coach Bielema’s face on the screen and for his work on ESPN’s College GameDay, realized I was safe. received the Contributions to College Football One crisis averted, another one on the Award. The man who provides comedic relief horizon. In the middle of a live ESPN show it’s every Saturday morning gave a heartfelt and sort of frowned upon to answer your cell phone. emotional speech about his time as a coach Imagine my dilemma then when my phone and the many years spent on the set of Game- starts ringing, caller ID of “Scott Tolzien.” Uh-oh. Day. His colleagues, Chris Fowler and Herbst- Some people may not love the text messaging reit, were visibly moved, as was his former play- Scott Tolzien checks out an authentic, game-worn craze but it saved us in this moment. er, another ESPN personality, Tom Jackson. Johnny Unitas jersey at the Sports Legends Museum Definitely a great moment to be present for. in Baltimore. The Outland Trophy was the second-to-last award announced. And though I was pretty lando to Detroit was a decent size, both John confident in Gabe’s chances (I mean, the three and Gabe were stuck in window seats. representatives from the Outland Trophy were Things didn’t get any better from Detroit to sitting right next to me in our row), I was still Madison, where, on the jetway, John com- nervous. And when his name was read, you mented to me, “Look, Gabe doesn’t even fit in could tell Gabe was too. As he said to Chris the plane,” as Gabe stood waiting to duck down Fowler, in response to being asked what it felt and walk through the door. We were joined by like to step out of the shadows of the offensive Nick Toon’s sister, Molly, a freshman volleyball line and onto national the national scene, “Awk- player from Michigan heading home. ward.” His family was very fired up and it was While we were heading north and west from special to be a part of. Orlando, Scott was heading south and east to Baltimore. This time there were no issues with FRIDAY, DEC. 10 his flight and he arrived safe and sound. Out That feeling lasted until about 6:15 a.m. the there he met up with his parents, offensive co- next day when the three of us had to pile into ordinator Paul Chryst, and his personal protec- a van (with eventual Heisman Trophy win- tor, Karl Anderson. A couple media interviews Gabe Carimi poses for a photo with Heisman Trophy ner Cam Newton) and head back to Orlando and a banquet later, and Scott was the proud runner-up Andrew Luck of Stanford at The Home International Airport. This time we transferred owner of the 2010 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Depot College Football Awards Show. through Detroit and, while the plane from Or- Award. the Pacific IMPACT Club right down the parking lot from our hotel. It was a magnificent spot. We met the other three finalists (Patrick Peterson of LSU, Casey Matthews of Oregon and Sam Acho of Texas). Two of the three (Peterson and Acho) were in their third different city of the week, Acho having been to New York, Orlando and now Newport Beach and Peterson having started the week in Charlotte before going to Orlando and California. There were a lot of impressive people at the reception including former Minnesota Viking great Ron Yary, Mike Salmon (former NFL player and brother of former California Angel Tim Salmon) and Ann Meyers Drysdale, the only woman to ever sign a contract with an NBA Scott Tolzien prepares to give his acceptance speech after receiving the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award in team. Many of the board members spoke to us Baltimore. about how impressed they had been with Jim us straight from the airport to the tuxedo shop Leonhard, who was a finalist for the inaugural Lott IMPACT trophy in 2004, and how they SATURDAY, DEC. 11 to make sure everything fit for the next night’s To finish off the week, I was home for about banquet. The tuxes were fine. Really the only enjoyed following his career. 18 hours before heading to Milwaukee to catch thing that didn’t fit was the five of us in Coach up with J.J. Watt and his parents and head to White’s car. He drove a very nice Lexus but I’m SUNDAY, DEC. 12 Newport Beach, Calif., for the Lott IMPACT not sure it was built for a 6-6 295-pound defen- One thing everyone told us on Saturday was Trophy banquet. If you hadn’t heard, there was sive end and his large father. Luckily the hotel that we needed to make sure we came over a little storm bearing down on the Midwest on was only about a five-minute drive away. to the club Sunday morning to get a massage. Saturday and I think it chased me all the way That evening there was a casual reception at Since it only would have been rude to ignore to Milwaukee. We departed at 10:40 a.m. and not a moment too soon. A couple hours later we were in southern California, being picked up by former Illinois head coach Mike White and shedding some layers of clothes. Our 10:40 a.m. departure time was nothing compared to Scott’s, who was already back in Madison by around 8 a.m. after leaving Baltimore a little after 6 a.m. It capped a whirl- wind week for him that included two round-trip flights to the east coast, one changed flight, one cancelled flight, a couple hours of practice, some classes and studying (you don’t get a 3.5 without taking finals time pretty seriously) and two prestigious awards. On the west coast, Coach White brought their advice, J.J., his mom and I all indulged in thony Munoz, former North Carolina basketball an early-morning massage (it’s not ALL work on star George Lynch, former UCLA head coach these trips). Terry Donahue, and General Richard B. Myers, We were also greeted by record-breaking the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. temperatures in Southern California so J.J. We ate dinner before the feature presenta- and his parents took advantage by heading to tion started, shown live across the country Laguna Beach. Sitting poolside around 2 p.m. on Fox Sports Net. Once the show started, it (we needed to be ready by 4:30 p.m.), I got this seemed to fly by. text from J.J.: The next thing I knew, J.J. was sitting on the “We’re stuck in Laguna Beach lol. We’ve stage with the other finalists and we were head- called 2 cabs and neither of them showed up.” ing to our final commercial break. Then he was Perfect. How long a walk is it from there to standing next to Ronnie Lott. Then Lott was Newport Beach? They have to be connected by saying, “the guy from Wisconsin, J.J. Watt.” sand, right? Can’t Lauren pick you up? It was a special award for a special kid. Luckily, four minutes later, I got this text. It seemed to me like J.J. was made for this “Nevermind. Cab #2 arrived lol.” award, excelling on the field and then also go- I hate text messages. ing above and beyond off the field. I’m usually not big on black-tie affairs (not There were some more photos and obliga- that I get invited to many) but this banquet was tions after the show ended. As we were walking J.J. Watt poses with the Lott IMPACT Trophy’s pretty special. The attendees included Ronnie out the door to head back to the hotel, his mom namesake, Ronnie Lott, after winning the award on Sunday. Lott (of course), former Cincinnati Bengal An- told me, “We have to bring the trophy back with

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WHAT A WEEK It is pretty unbelievable to have three dif- ferent players all win major individual awards in the same week. It speaks volumes about what this team has accomplished this season and the level of players we have right now. But aside from the accolades, there is something more. What I’ll remember most from the week is the parents. John Clay Sr. beaming with pride when us on the plane.” It only weighs 60 pounds. a 60-pound trophy. A little while later, another Eddie George came up to his son and told him That shouldn’t be a problem. announcement came, “Connie Watt and Brian how much he liked watching him play. Sanford Lucas please report to the gate.” Maybe we Carimi fist-pumping after Gabe went on stage MONDAY, DEC. 13 were getting some residuals from travelling with to accept the Outland Trophy. John Watt, father One last early-morning flight. The shuttle a celebrity. of one of the best players in the country, being took us to John Wayne airport (I didn’t know No such luck. starstruck as former Minnesota Viking great either) at 6:30 a.m. We had no hassles getting “We’ve got seats for you in 33 E and F. You Ron Yary talked to his son. to our gate, other than the seven minutes or so were separated but now we’ve got you seats Ginny and Mike Tolzien, though I didn’t it took the TSA folks to clear J.J.’s trophy. The together.” One row in front of the bathroom. So connect with them on any trips, emailing and guy working the x-ray machine stopped the much for hooking us up. Thanks J.J. texting me numerous times to say how appre- conveyer belt, called a couple people over, then When we got to Chicago, the real fun be- ciative they were of all we did to help them and pushed it through. At the other end, someone gan. We arrived at gate B24. Our connection to Scott. said, “Sir, is this your box? We need to take a Milwaukee was at F11A. While only separated Connie Watt making sure I scheduled my look at it.” by three letters in the alphabet, they were miles massage then making a point to ask me if I They brought it off to the side, removed it apart at O’Hare International Airport. wanted to go to the beach with them. from the bubble wrap and inspected it. Eventu- About halfway there J.J.’s mom had to break We have terrific players. You don’t win Big ally they handed it back to J.J. in one piece. down and get him one of those luggage carts Ten titles, go to Rose Bowls and get honored We still needed to get it on the plane, though, for $4 to wheel his trophy around. with national awards unless you are very tal- because I don’t think the flight attendants would If J.J. can’t lug it around the airport on his ented. want it in the overhead compartment. So J.J. own, I’m not sure of any player in college foot- But what makes Wisconsin unique, in my brought it up to the ticket gate and they assured ball who could do so. biased opinion, is the character of the players him they would put it in the closet on board. Our commuter jet was also not equipped to we have. He had no sooner walked back to his seat transport the Lott IMPACT Trophy. The flight And during this week, that character was on when we heard, “Passenger Watts please attendant told J.J. to take it out of the box and full display, as was the origin of that character. report to the gate.” We assumed they meant put it in in the space underneath the seat in Humility, mixed with hard work, integrity and J.J. so he returned with exit row seats for him front of him (hey, it was a full flight). That was compassion. and his dad. Sometimes it pays to travel with the end of the box. When we touched down The makeup of a special team. Win a Bowl Vacation

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Front-loaded: Big men lead sewitz, Jon Leuer and Keaton Nankivil match- night, it’s just another dimension for our team,” ing the Phoenix’s total scoring output with 56 Leuer said. “Multiple guys scoring in double Badgers past Green Bay points. The trio’s production came on the back figures, four tonight, that just puts pressure on UW caps sweep of in-state series with of a combined 9-for-13 shooting performance the defense. 70-56 win over Green Bay from 3-point range. “You don’t know who to help off of, we shot Leuer led the way with 22 points and pulled the ball well tonight, and that opens up lanes for With three wins in six days in their rearview down eight rebounds, while Bruesewitz tallied Jordan to drive. We’re a pretty dynamic team mirror, the Badgers can look forward to a little a career-high 18 points and Nankivil chipped in when we have all of these good parts working.” time away from the court. 16 – one point off his season-best total – to go As a team, UW shot a season-high 58.8 And, after a 70-56 win over Green Bay (4-7) with four blocks. percent from 3-point range while Green Bay to wrap up a sweep of its series against in-state Combined with 10 points from point guard struggled to find its range and connected on rivals, the Wisconsin men’s basketball team Jordan Taylor, the Badgers finished with four just 4 of 15 attempts from distance. (9-2) heads into a break for finals week riding a players in double-figure scoring for the second five-game win streak. time this season. CONTINUE READING Wisconsin’s big men carried the load, with “Any time we can get good production and ON UWBadgers.com the starting frontcourt of sophomore Mike Brue- get things going like Mike and Keaton did to- 2010-11 Schedule

DATE OPPONENT TIME Nov. 14 PRAIRIE VIEW A&M W, 99-55 Nov. 16 NORTH DAKOTA W, 85-53 Nov. 20 at UNLV L, 68-65

Old Spice Classic (Orlando, Fla.) Nov. 25 vs. Manhattan W, 50-35 Nov. 26 vs. Boston College W, 65-55 Nov. 28 vs. Notre Dame L, 58-51 “A lot of times, because the defense is Second helping: Badgers Dec. 1 N.C. STATE W, 87-48 spread out and pressuring so much when the Dec. 4 SOUTH DAKOTA W, 76-61 crash past rival Marquette shot goes up, it does make a little more space Dec. 8 MILWAUKEE W, 61-40 to make offensive rebounds,” UW head coach Second-chance points power Badgers Dec. 11 at Marquette W, 69-64 Bo Ryan said. “We know what it does mentally past in-state rival on the road Dec. 13 GREEN BAY W, 70-56 to the other team.” Dec. 23 COPPIN STATE 7 p.m. Second chances are hard to come by on The Badgers shot 39.4 percent from the the road. Especially in front of a large, hostile field in the second half, a number mitigated by Dec. 28 MINNESOTA 6 p.m. crowd cheering for your biggest in-state rival. the 11 offensive boards they hauled down in Jan. 2 at Illinois 5 p.m. Well, unless you make your own, that is. the period. Those rebounds led to 14 second- Jan. 5 MICHIGAN 7:30 p.m. The Wisconsin men’s basketball team chance points in a half that saw the Badgers Jan. 11 at Michigan State 6 p.m. escaped the Bradley Center with its first road out-score Marquette by only four points. Jan. 15 ILLINOIS 2 p.m. win of the season by doing just that Saturday, “Any time you take a shot … and get an of- Jan. 20 INDIANA 8 p.m. making its own breaks in a 69-64 victory over fensive , that’s frustrating for the other Jan. 23 at Northwestern 12 p.m. Marquette. team,” Leuer said. “Then you have to play Jan. 29 at Penn State 3 p.m. The Badgers (8-2) crashed the glass to the defense for 20 or 30 more seconds. It wears an Feb. 1 PURDUE 6 p.m. tune of 15 offensive rebounds, an effort that led opponent down.” Feb. 6 MICHIGAN STATE 12 p.m. to 21 second-chance points and was essen- Bo Ryan credited UW’s success to lessons Feb. 9 at Iowa 7:30 p.m. tially the difference in UW’s second-straight win learned in Wisconsin’s first road game of the Feb. 12 OHIO STATE 1 p.m. over the Golden Eagles (7-3). year, a loss at now 19th-ranked UNLV in an en- Feb. 16 at Purdue 5:30 p.m. “That was huge for us, getting those sec- vironment similar to what the Badgers encoun- Feb. 20 PENN STATE 5 p.m. ond chances,” said UW junior Jon Leuer, who tered Saturday at the Bradley Center. Feb. 23 at Michigan 5:30 p.m. finished with 17 points and six rebounds. “We “The great advantage is we played in Vegas Feb. 27 NORTHWESTERN 5 p.m. were able to bring it back out and run the clock. in a possession-by-possession game,” Ryan March 2/3 at Indiana TBA “After we got the rebounds, we’d bring it out, said. “That’s how we walk away with this one March 6 at Ohio State TBA run some cuts and just grind it out.” today. This is a tough place to come in and get Sophomore Mike Bruesewitz led the charge (a win).” Big Ten Tournament (Indianapolis, Ind.) on the glass by pulling down four offensive re- March 10-13 bounds and eight boards in all. Senior forward CONTINUE READING Keaton Nankivil added five to go along with his ON UWBadgers.com 12 points. Pasadena a second home for Smith Badger has fond memories of summers with family in shadow of the Rose Bowl

By Mike Lucas Smith is from UWBadgers.com Coppell, Texas, As part of his summer routine, Devin Smith a Dallas suburb. would leave his home in Texas and travel to He lives about California where he would visit his uncle and 30 minutes away grandfather. from the TCU Each day, Smith would go out for a run. campus in Fort What made it special was that his relatives Worth. He was lived in Pasadena. What made it even more not recruited by special? the Horned Frogs, “We’d jog around the Rose Bowl about three but he has a num- you’re not in the right place at the right time.” miles every morning,” Smith said. “I remember ber of friends who attend the school. That could apply to Smith and his role in the them telling me, ‘One day you’re going to be TCU’s leading rusher, Ed Wesley, is from nickel package. Right place, right time. playing here.’” MacArthur High School (Irving), which is on It has been a boost to his confidence. Smith never gave it much serious thought. Coppell’s schedule. Smith obviously then has “I’m just getting my confidence back to At the time, he was just trying to prepare him- a working knowledge of the level of talent that where I had it last year,” said Smith, who self physically for the start of his high school is on the Frogs roster. Especially at the skill started all 13 games and led the defense in football season. positions. passes defended. “I’m going out there now to “I went out there four years in a row – be- In general, he “You’re going make a play, and I’m not worried about making ginning with the summer prior to my eighth has been paying to get to play in a mistake. grade season through my junior year in high attention to TCU “Once we started going more to our nickel school,” Smith recalled. since the start the Rose Bowl stuff – knowing the coaches and the team Every year, he’d hear the same thing from of the season. one day,” they’d would have to depend on me more because his uncle and grandfather. “You’re going to get “I would turn tell him. “I never it was going to be my role, – I focused on to play in the Rose Bowl one day,” they’d tell on their game buckling down and I thought to myself, ‘This is him. and watch their thought it would my shot.’” Smith would show the proper respect, nod offense,” said come true,” Smith hasn’t disappointed, either. He played his head and smile. “I never thought it would Smith, a junior Smith said. far more aggressively over the final weeks come true,” he said. defensive back. of the regular season once again solidifying Smith was still smiling after Sunday’s prac- “They’re very explosive. They have a lot of his spot in the secondary. “I’m just trying to tice at the McClain Center when he was asked speed and talent. do things to help the team be successful,” he about going to Pasadena with his Badger “Their quarterback (Andy Dalton) doesn’t said. teammates. get sacked much at all. Their receivers run “Kind of feels like I’m going back to my sec- good routes, very crisp routes. Jeremy Kerley CONTINUE READING ond home,” he said. is a great athlete and Dalton can beat you if ON UWBadgers.com Alvarez focused on bowl prep, not name game 2010 Schedule Keeping Rose Bowl trip on budget a top priority for department DATE OPPONENT TIME By Mike Lucas UWBadgers.com Sept. 4 at UNLV W, 41-21 You probably wouldn’t have found “Legends” Sept. 11 SAN JOSE STATE W, 27-14 and “Leaders” on UW athletic director Barry Sept. 18 ARIZONA STATE W, 20-19 Alvarez’ list of potential names for the new divi- Sept. 25 AUSTIN PEAY W, 70-3 sions in the Big Ten. Then, again, you probably Oct. 2 at Michigan State L, 24-34 wouldn’t have found a list, either. Oct. 9 MINNESOTA (#24) W, 41-23 “I really didn’t get very involved in the pro- Oct. 16 OHIO STATE (#1) W, 31-18 cess, and I didn’t have a strong feeling on the Oct. 23 at Iowa (#13) W, 31-30 names,” Alvarez said. “I understand how they Nov. 6 at Purdue W, 34-13 came up with ‘Legends’ and ‘Leaders’ and I’m Nov. 13 INDIANA W, 83-20 fine with it.” Nov. 20 at Michigan W, 48-28 Alvarez paused and added, “I know it’s Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez is preparing for Nov. 27 NORTHWESTERN W, 70-23 important, but I’m more of a meat and potatoes his fourth Rose Bowl at Wisconsin. He went 3-0 in the game as the Badgers’ coach. Jan. 1 vs. TCU* 4:10 p.m. guy. I’m more concerned with how we * - Rose Bowl and tackle.’’ “We have established guidelines we will stick Hence, he’s looking forward to seeing how to. So does the Big Ten regarding the designa- the UW matches up with TCU in the Rose tion of an official travel party. In some cases, Bowl. You would expect that out of someone there are substitutions. People need to know who coached the Badgers for 16 seasons and Badgers in the NFL there’s a rhyme and reason to how it’s done. was recently inducted into the College Football “I know there’s a lot of scrutiny that goes Hall of Fame. WEEK 13 UPDATE along with the Rose Bowl. People on the Leading up to the actual playing of the game • DeAndre Levy made a outside want to know why specific people are on Jan. 1, he’s also dealing with the “meat and key interception in Detroit’s going on the trip, and why they are in the travel potatoes” of his job: the bottom line. In this con- 7-3 win over Green Bay on party. We want to be transparent on all fronts.” text, he’s keeping tabs on the logistics of desig- Sunday. The second-year UW Alvarez emphasized that the No. 1 priority nating an official travel party and expenses. product picked off a pass will be the players and the coaches and their “We will not exceed our budget,” he stressed. families. “People will have the opportunity to go in the end zone to prevent a Alvarez is sensitive to the scrutiny inherent to to Pasadena because of our football program,” Packers touchdown. such bowl ventures. Especially when it involves he said. taking a team to Pasadena and the Rose To this end, he wants to make sure the play- • Chris Pressley was promoted to the active Bowl. The demand always exceeds the supply, ers enjoy the experience, first and foremost. roster by Cincinnati after previously spending whether for tickets or transparency. “But in the same sense,” he said, “we want time on the club’s practice squad. The Badgers will be accommodating in all them to understand they’re there to win a foot- areas, Alvarez said. ball game, and we will never lose sight of that.” • O’Brien Schofield signed a four-year contract “The people we will be taking from within Spoken like an Ol’ Ball Coach. with Arizona. Schofield is in his rookie year the athletic department will all be in a working with the Cardinals. capacity on the trip,” Alvarez said. “Every staff CONTINUE READING member will have an obligation at the bowl site ON UWBadgers.com due to the additional demands of a BCS game. This Week in 2010-11 Schedule

Badger Wrestling DATE OPPONENT TIME Nov. 19 at UNC-Greensboro W, 34-12 Badgers move to 5-0 by winning first home dual, 23-14 ACC Challenge (Chapel Hill, N.C.) 3-0 overall Nov. 21 at North Carolina W, 27-3 No. 1 Howe scores fall, Graff and vs. No. 15 Virginia Tech W, 24-19 Brandvold claim major decisions in win vs. UT-Chattanooga W, 25-16 The No. 4 Wisconsin wrestling team defeat- ed Northern Iowa, 23-14, in its first home dual Dec. 3-4 Cliff Keen Invite 2nd, 101.5 of the 2010-11 season on Saturday. Dec. 11 Northern Iowa W, 23-14 The last time UW opened a season with Dec. 29-30 Midlands All Day five straight dual wins was in the 2006-2007 Jan. 8-9 NWCA National Duals All Day season. Jan. 16 Illinois 1 p.m. Among the Wisconsin’s six victories, three of Top-ranked Andrew Howe recorded a pin in Wiscon- Jan. 21 Nebraska 7 p.m. them were won by extra points, including junior sin’s 23-14 win over Northern Iowa. Jan. 30 at Minnesota 1 p.m. Andrew Howe’s pin (3:50), and redshirt sopho- Feb. 6 Purdue 1 p.m. more Tyler Graff and redshirt senior Trevor riod up 6-4, but Lawrence scored a reversal at Feb. 11 at Northwestern 7 p.m. Brandvold’s major decisions. the beginning of the period. With seven second Feb. 13 Ohio State 1 p.m. Head coach Barry Davis was happy with the left on the clock, Schmitt reversed Lawrence Feb. 18 at Penn State 6 p.m. win, but sees room for improvement moving and registered three nearfall points to put tie Feb. 20 at Michigan State 12 p.m. forward. the matchup at seven apiece. “I think we need to come out more aggres- Top-ranked Howe regained the lead (13-11 Big Ten Championships sive and enforce our style,” said Davis. “When UW) for Wisconsin with a pin at 3:50 over red- March 5-6 we enforce our style we should win every shirt junior Nick Pickerell at 165 lbs. Howe re- time.” corded four takedowns and an escape before NCAA Championships Wisconsin’s match against No. 19 Michigan pinning his opponent. He now holds a perfect March 17-19 wsa postponed to a date to be name later, and 10-0 record this season. the Badgers will compete in the Midland Invite No. 9 junior Travis Rutt extended his season over Winter Break. record to 12-1 after defeating redshirt fresh- until the final period of Brandvold’s third major No. 3 redshirt sophomore Tyler Graff then man Ryan Loder by a 5-3 decision at 184 lbs. decision win of the season. claimed an 18-7 victory over sophomore Ryan Rutt scored just two takedowns and an escape In the only match featuring two ranked wres- Jauch, putting the Badgers on top, 4-3. Graff in the bout, but was able to prevent his oppo- tlers, No. 16 Christian Brantley defeated No. 14 took command right out of the gate, scoring a nent from wrestling him to the ground. The win Eric Bugenhagen in a bout that came down to a takedown 17 seconds into the first. He added extended the Badgers’ lead to 19-11. sudden victory in overtime. Bugenhagen scored seven additional takedowns and an escape in Brandvold’s 13-3 major decision over senior with an escape, but Brantley responded with the win, putting his season record at 13-1. Andy O’Loughlin put a Panther victory out of an escape of his own in the third and scored a No. 18 redshirt sophomore Cole Schmitt reach, adding four points to UW’s 23-11 lead. takedown in overtime to claim the victory. then defeated junior Jamal Lawrence in an Brandvold registered five takedowns, 4:06 of 11-6 decision that came down to the final sec- riding time and two points from stall warnings CONTINUE READING onds at 149 lbs. Schmitt entered the third pe- in the victory. O’Loughlin did not score a point ON UWBadgers.com

This Week in 2010-11 Schedule

Badger Women’s Basketball DATE OPPONENT TIME Nov. 12 at Saint Louis W, 60-32 Nov. 14 William & Mary W, 65-38 Nov. 18 at Green Bay L, 69-43 Nov. 21 Kansas L, 93-86 (ot) Nov. 24 Marquette L, 66-52

Concord Thanksgiving Classic (Moraga, Calif.) Nov. 26 vs. BYU L, 67-55 Nov. 27 at Saint Mary’s L, 56-50

Dec. 2 Duke (#5) L, 59-51 Dec. 5 at Oklahoma State L, 50-42 Dec. 9 at Drake W, 60-49 Dec. 12 Milwaukee W, 68-53 Dec. 15 at Wyoming 8 p.m. Wisconsin (4-7) wraps up the non-confer- consin outrebounded Oklahoma State 46-37, Dec. 30 at Purdue 6 p.m. ence season on Wednesday when it travels to a season-high rebounding total; outboarded Jan. 2 Penn State 1 p.m. Wyoming (6-2). Game time is 8 p.m. CT from Drake 29-25; and outrebounded Milwaukee 38- Arena Auditorium in Laramie, Wyo. 23, the second-highest advantage this season. Jan. 6 at Michigan State 6 p.m. The Badgers will take more than two weeks Jan. 9 Minnesota TBA off from competition for final exams and the TOUGH DEFENSE: In the last three games, Jan. 13 Purdue 7:30 p.m. holidays before opening the Big Ten season on UW opponents are shooting just 31.6 percent Jan. 16 at Michigan 12:30 p.m. Dec. 30 with a game at Purdue (5-3). (50-of-158) from the field, including 29 percent Jan. 20 at Minnesota 7:30 p.m. (20-of-69) from 3-point range. Oklahoma State Jan. 23 Illinois 5 p.m. Last Week shot just 22.8 percent (13-of-57) from the field Jan. 30 at Northwestern 2 p.m. Feb. 3 Michigan State 7 p.m. The Badgers snapped a seven-game losing on Dec. 5, including 14.3 percent (4-of-28) streak with a 60-49 win at Drake on Dec. 9. from behind the arc. The percentages were Feb. 6 at Indiana 1 p.m. The win marked coach Lisa Stone’s return to the second-lowest by an opponent this sea- Feb. 10 Northwestern 7 p.m. Drake, where she was the head coach from son. Drake shot 37.5 percent (18-of-48) from Feb. 16 at Iowa 7 p.m. 2000-03. Stone was 64-27 in three seasons the field and 29.4 percent (5-of-17) from deep. Feb. 19 Michigan 1 p.m. at Drake, aiding the Bulldogs to two NCAA ap- Milwaukee shot 35.8 percent (19-of-53) from Feb. 23 Indiana 7 p.m. pearances. Wisconsin also downed Milwaukee the field. Feb. 27 at Ohio State 3 p.m. at home on Dec. 12 to win its second straight. BALANCED REBOUNDING: UW has three Big Ten Tournament (Indianapolis, Ind.) players that average more than six rebounds March 3-6 Notes per game, led by sophomore Taylor Wurtz The OUTREBOUNDING OPPONENTS: (6.9/game). Seniors Tara Steinbauer and Lin Badgers have outrebounded their last three Zastrow add 6.8 and 6.6 boards per game, opponents and have a nearly 10 rebound respectively. advantage (37.7 - 28.3) over the stretch. Wis- This Week in 2010-11 Schedule

Badger Men’s Hockey DATE OPPONENT TIME Oct. 8 Boston University L, 4-3 Sweep of Bemidji State sends ther scoring, with the Badgers leading in shots Oct. 10 Holy Cross W, 6-0 Badgers into break just 7-6 in that frame. In the third period, the Oct. 15 ALA. HUNTSVILLE W, 7-0 Badgers added an insurance goal. Oct. 17 ALA. HUNTSVILLE W, 5-2 Smith scores twice in 3-2 win Friday, Turnbull won a faceoff in the offensive zone, Oct. 22 at Denver L, 4-2 Gudmandson makes 21 saves Saturday passing the puck back to defenseman Frankie Oct. 23 at Denver T, 2-2 (ot) Simonelli (Bensenville, Ill.). Simonelli fired a Oct. 29 MICHIGAN TECH W, 5-2 Behind 21 saves from senior goaltender shot from the point, and Turnbull got his stick Oct. 30 MICHIGAN TECH W, 4-1 Scott Gudmandson (Sherwood Park, Alberta), on the puck to deflect it past the goaltender for Nov. 5 at Minnesota W, 6-0 the Badgers (10-7-3, 6-6-2 WCHA) finished a a 2-0 lead. Nov. 6 at Minnesota T, 3-3 (ot) sweep of WCHA opponent Bemidji State with The goal, which came at 13:08 of the third Nov. 12 NORTH DAKOTA L, 1-0 a 2-0 victory at the Kohl Center on Saturday period, was Turnbull’s fifth of the season and Nov. 13 NORTH DAKOTA L, 4-2 The Badgers shut down Bemidji State (5- his second in consecutive games. 10-1, 4-9-1 WCHA) defensively, outshooting Scott Gudmandson earned the victory to Nov. 19 MINNESOTA DULUTH L, 6-5 (ot) the Beavers 25-21 to sweep the home series. improve to 7-5-1. He made 21 saves to record Nov. 20 MINNESOTA DULUTH L, 3-2 (ot) In the tightly contested affair, goals by his third shutout of the season and sixth of his Nov. 26 MICHIGAN T, 4-4 (ot) Michael Mersch (Park Ridge, Ill.) and Podge career. Bemidji State’s Dan Bakala took the Nov. 27 MICHIGAN STATE W, 4-1 Turnbull (Heyward, Wis.) made the difference. loss, stopping 23 shots but falling to 4-6-0. Dec. 3 at Alaska Anchorage L, 2-1 The Badgers took the lead in the final minute Both Wisconsin goals came at even Dec. 4 at Alaska Anchorage W, 3-1 of the first period. Mersch started with the strength. In a relatively clean contest, Wis- Dec. 10 BEMIDJI STATE W, 3-2 puck, and passed to defensman Justin Schultz consin was 0-for-3 on the power play, while Dec. 11 BEMIDJI STATE W, 3-0 (West Kelowna, B.C) in the slot. Schultz sent Bemidji State was 0-for-2. Dec. 30 MASSACHUSETTS 7 p.m. it back to Mersch at the side of the net, and he Wisconsin enters finals week and the Dec. 31 MASSACHUSETTS 7 p.m. knocked it in for a lead that Wisconsin never holiday break, with no games for the next two Jan. 7 CANISIUS 7 p.m. relinquished. The goal was Mersch’s seventh weekends. They return to the ice at home on Jan. 8 CANISIUS 7 p.m. of the year, coming at 19:09 of the first period. Thursday and Friday, Dec. 30 and 31, to host Jan. 14 at Minnesota Duluth 7 p.m. The second period passed by with no fur- Massachusetts (3-6-3, 2-3-3 Hockey East). Jan. 15 at Minnesota Duluth 7 p.m. Jan. 21 MINNESOTA STATE 7 p.m. Jan. 22 MINNESOTA STATE 7 p.m. Jan. 28 at Michigan Tech 6 p.m. Jan. 29 at Michigan Tech 6 p.m. Feb. 11 at Nebraska Omaha 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at Nebraska Omaha 7 p.m. Feb. 18 MINNESOTA 7 p.m. Feb. 19 MINNESOTA 8 p.m. Feb. 25 at St. Cloud State 7 p.m. Feb. 26 at St. Cloud State 7 p.m. March 4 COLORADO COLLEGE 7 p.m. March 5 COLORADO COLLEGE 7 p.m. This Week in 2010-11 Schedule

Badger Women’s Hockey DATE OPPONENT TIME Oct. 1 Rensselaer W, 7-0 Badgers break after breezing Oct. 2 Rensselaer W, 6-0 to sweep of St. Cloud State Oct. 8 Bemidji State W, 7-1 Oct. 10 Bemidji State W, 2-0 Brooke Ammerman tallies hat trick to Oct. 22 Ohio State W, 6-5 (ot) help UW close series with 6-1 win Oct. 23 Ohio State W, 5-2 Senior Meghan Duggan (Danvers, Mass.) Oct. 29 Minnesota State W, 3-2 led the Badgers with five points and junior Oct. 30 Minnesota State W, 6-1 Brooke Ammerman (River Vale, N.J.) record- Nov. 5 at Minnesota L, 7-5 ed her second hat trick of the season as the Nov. 6 at Minnesota W, 5-0 No. 2 Wisconsin women’s hockey team swept Nov. 19 at Robert Morris W, 7-1 St. Cloud State with a 6-1 win at the National Nov. 20 at Robert Morris W, 7-1 Hockey Center Saturday afternoon. Nov. 26 Minnesota Duluth W, 3-2 (ot) Wisconsin (16-2-0, 12-2-0 WCHA) earned Nov. 28 Minnesota Duluth L, 3-1 its second-straight series sweep after post- Dec. 4 at North Dakota W, 4-3 ing a 5-0 shutout victory over St. Cloud State Dec. 5 at North Dakota W, 6-2 (0-16-1, 0-13-1 WCHA) in Friday’s game. UW Dec. 10 at St. Cloud State W, 5-0 swept North Dakota last weekend. ough (Carlsbad Springs, Ontario) and Duggan Dec. 11 at St. Cloud State W, 6-1 In addition to multi-point efforts from Dug- assisted on the play. Jan. 1 vs. Northeastern 12 p.m. gan and Ammerman, sophomore Brianna Decker and Duggan each recorded power- Jan. 2 vs. Mercyhurst 12 p.m. Decker (Dousman, Wis.) had two goals and play tallies in the second period. Decker Jan. 7 at Ohio State 6 p.m. one . Junior Hilary Knight (Sun Valley, scored off assists from Duggan and Knight at Jan. 8 at Ohio State 3 p.m. Idaho) added two assists as well. 8:59 before Duggan buried a rebound off a Jan. 14 St. Cloud State 7 p.m. Sophomore Becca Ruegsegger (Lakewood, shot by Ammerman. Duggan added a power Jan. 16 St. Cloud State 2 p.m. Colo.) made 15 saves and improved to 5-1-0 play tally at 19:03, and the Badgers led 4-0 Jan. 21 at Minnesota Duluth 7 p.m. on the season. Meanwhile, SCSU goaltender after two periods. Jan. 22 at Minnesota Duluth 7 p.m. Ashley Nixon made 39 saves as the Badgers The third stanza saw Ammerman complete Jan. 28 Minnesota 7 p.m. outshot the Huskies, 45-16. her hat trick with the team’s fourth power-play Jan. 29 Minnesota 7 p.m. The Badgers went 4-for-4 with the man goal from Duggan and Decker at 6:07. Feb. 4 at Bemidji State 6 p.m. advantage and held St. Cloud State scoreless Decker capped the scoring with her second Feb. 5 at Bemidji State 4 p.m. on four power plays. goal of the game on assists from senior Kelly Feb. 11 North Dakota 7 p.m. Ammerman gave the Badgers a 2-0 lead Nash (Bonita, Calif.) and Duggan, sealing the Feb. 13 North Dakota 2 p.m. after the first period. She scored her first goal 6-1 win with 9:13 remaining. Feb. 18 at Minnesota State 7 p.m. of the game off a feed from freshman Madi- Wisconsin is idle until Jan. 1-2, 2011, when Feb. 19 at Minnesota State 3 p.m. son Packer (Birmingham, Mich.) at 4:47. the Badgers return to St. Cloud for the Easton The Badgers then scored four consecutive Holiday Showcase. UW faces Northeastern power-play goals, beginning with Ammer- at noon on New Year’s Day and concludes man’s game-winner at the 17:11 mark of the the weekend against Mercyhurst at noon (CT) opening frame. Sophomore Stefanie McKe- Jan. 2.

This Week in Badger History Dec. 15, 1989 Pat Richter was hired to succeed Ade Spon- berg as UW athletic director. Richter would lead the Wisconsin Athletic Department to un- paralleled success in his 15 years at the helm. During his administration, the Badgers elimi- nated the red ink on the financial ledgers and built a $6 million surplus, won on the playing field at levels never experienced previously, built new facilities and renovated crumbling ones, added three new women’s sports to become compliant with Title IX legislation and made it fashionable to “be a Badger.” This Week in Badgers Give Back Badger History Sixth-annual Toys for Tots drive a success By Mandy Hansen UWBadgers.com Badger fans donated 133 toys and $2,799 in donations for the Toys for Tots toy drive sponsored by the UW Student- Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and the UW Athletic Department during the men’s basketball game against South Da- kota Dec. 4. The toy drive was a joint effort between SAAC, led by junior track and field ath- lete Jordan Helgren, and the UW Athletic Department. This year’s event marked the sixth annual toy drive sponsored by SAAC. “Personally, I think Toys for Tots is one of the most fun and rewarding fundraisers there is,” Helgren said. “The idea of mak- ing less fortunate kids happy during the holiday season simply by buying a toy is

so cool, and shopping for toys is exciting For the sixth-consecutive year, UW’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee put on on toy drive beneftting Toys for anyway. Tots at the Dec. 4 men’s basketball game. UW student-athletes who staffed the toy drive collected 133 toys and “It’s a very rewarding fundraiser knowing nearly $3,000 for the charity. that my committee can put on this suc- cessful toy drive.” athletes to take time away from their daily service initiatives for UW student-athletes. Helgren and her fellow SAAC members lives to give back to the community, which The committee is a leadership group that enjoyed putting on the toy drive, and the gives us as athletes a sense of accom- provides an outlet for student-athletes Plymouth, Minn., native explained why giv- plishment outside of athletics.” to discuss issues specific to dealing with ing back to her community is important as For this year’s toy drive, fans were en- student-athlete life. It also serves as a a student-athlete. couraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to liaison between the student-athlete popu- “I think it’s very easy as a student-ath- the men’s basketball game. UW student- lation, coaches and administration, the Big lete to get wrapped up in your sport and athletes collected the toys and donations, Ten Conference and the NCAA. staying afloat in the classroom,” Helgren which will be donated to Toys for Tots for The University of Wisconsin thanks said. “Putting on fun community service distribution in the greater Madison area. fans for their support of the UW SAAC toy activities like Toys for Tots allows student- SAAC sponsors various community drive.

The Voice: A time to look back, and ahead

By Matt Lepay of itself, forgetting there is still a job The Voice of the Badgers to be done. I seriously doubt that this And now, a slight break in the action, will become an issue. This team is as at least in much of the world of Wisconsin likeable and is as grounded a group athletics. Not a bad time to pause and as I have ever been around, led by reflect on some of what has happened so coaches who are ready and willing to far, and what may lie ahead. make sure they stay that way. Early in the football season, I thought It never hurts to know you are the the Badgers were pretty good, but not an underdog, which is the case in this elite team. As they prepare for the Rose game. Bowl, they certainly have a chance to The Rose Bowl atmosphere is become part of the elite. always special, but I think this one squad will fare in the Big Ten, a confer- Being a Big Ten champion is a RE- could have a very lively crowd. Badger ence many believe could be as strong as ALLY good step, and if they can take the fans have been known to turn the famous it has been in years. next step and beat third-ranked TCU in stadium into Camp Randall West, but Bo continues to look at various combi- Pasadena, the Badgers certainly would be TCU has sold its allotment of 20,000 tick- nations on the floor, but as league play considered among the elite for the 2010 ets and would like to have more. approaches, it would be dangerous to season. It has been 11 years since Wisconsin’s assume the Badgers won’t be in the thick It is at this time when it might be fun to last trip, so there are Badger fans either of the fight. be a bug on the wall in a team or posi- eager to return, or those who are counting Yes, Michigan State, Ohio State, Pur- tion group meeting. No doubt for the past the days before they make their first trip to due, Illinois and Minnesota are top 25 couple of weeks the players have been Southern California. teams, while many folks will also be keep- getting numerous pats on the back, with To make a long story short, sometimes ing a close eye on Northwestern to see fans telling them how great they are. big bowl games can have a bit of a corpo- whether the Wildcats can make the NCAA Given the long layoff between games, it rate feel. I don’t believe that will apply this field for the first time in program history. can be an easy trap. time. All that said, there are enough national This is where coaches play the role of Meanwhile, Bo Ryan’s Badgers are media types who will admit that when in humblers. Actually, they probably have “game free” until Dec. 23, when they close doubt, figure the Badgers will be a factor been doing that throughout the season, out non-conference play against Coppin in the league race. Who knows whether especially since the Ohio State game, but State. Last night Wisconsin completed they can win the race, but many have a I would guess at least some of the as- its annual series of games against the hunch the Badgers will at least make a sistants have been ready to turn it up a state’s other Division I opponents with a little noise. notch. win against Green Bay, thus becoming the It should be fun to watch. Let’s face At least one concern a coach generally unofficial state champs for 2010. it, with Bo’s teams, isn’t that usually the has is that a team will get a little too full Fans might still be wondering how this case?