Varsity Magazine Vol 1 No 1
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THE OFFICIAL ONLINE MAGAZINE OF WISCONSIN ATHLETICS DECEMBER 7, 2010 • VOL. 1 NO. 1 INSIDE: BADGERING ... TRAVIS RUTT § THIS WEEK IN BADGER HISTORY § WHERE ARE THEY NOW? ... BROOKS BOLLINGER InIn This This IssueIssue Welcome to ‘Varsity’ 4 An introduction to UW Athletics’ new publication By the Numbers 5 Step Up To The Mike 6-7 MIke Lucas answers fans’ questions Question of the Week 8 What can’t the Badgers travel without? Badgering ... Travis Rutt 10 Mike Lucas: 12-13 Familiar site, foe for Badgers in Pasadena 5 Things to Watch 14 This Week in Badger Athletics 15 Football 16-17 A rundown of UW’s award candidates Men’s Basketball 18 Junior guard is “Taylor-made” for Wisconsin Women’s Basketball 20 Lisa Stone set for return to Drake Men’s Hockey 21 Badgers scoring big from blue line Women’s Hockey 22 Get to know sophomore Stefanie McKeough This Week in Badger History 24 Where Are They Now? 25 Catching up with Rose Bowl QB Brooks Bollinger The Voice with Matt Lepay 27 At left, the UW men’s basketball team meets Mickey Mouse during its trip to Walt Disney World for the Old Spice Classic. At right, the women’s hockey team takes in a Pittsburgh Penguins practice before opening its series with Robert Morris. At left, men’s hockey senior Patrick Johnson poses in front of Mt. Susitna in Anchorage prior to the Badgers’ series with Alaska Anchorage last weekend. Above, members of the women’s basketball team pose near the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco during their Thanksgiving weekend trip. At right, football senior Scott Tolzien (center) poses with fellow National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete honorees at Rock- efeller Center in New York. Welcome to “Varsity” First off, let me say thanks for checking out this new initiative from the Wisconsin Athletic Department. We hope you flip through the pages of “Varsity” and find some inter- esting stories, anecdotes, facts and figures about our student-athletes and coaches. We had the idea to create a digital magazine many months ago and now have the good fortune to put out the debut issue in conjunction with the football team’s first trip to the Rose Bowl in 11 years. I guess we got the first part right, timing. Inside the pages of “Varsity” you’ll find some original content from the newest contributor to UWBadgers.com, longtime Madison writer Mike Lucas, as well as his broadcast partner, “The Voice of the Badgers,” Matt Lepay. We will also highlight some of our best photography from the past week, on the cover, in the opening spread and throughout the magazine. We hope you can get to know our student- athletes a little better with our regular features such as “Badgering ...” and “Question of the Week.” And we also aim to keep you informed about what our teams are doing as they move along with their seasons. You’ll notice that throughout the magazine, there are video features, links to UWBad- gers.com and many other moving parts. That’s the beauty of an online magazine, you just don’t read it, you experience it. If there’s anything we don’t have that you’d like to see, be sure to let us know. Thanks again for taking the time to read. - Brian Lucas, Director of Athletic Communications BY THE NUMBERS 3.36 2,343 Women’s Swimming | Maggie Meyer shaved a Football | Number of push-ups Bucky Badger remarkable 3.36 seconds off UW’s school record did during the home football season. Wiscon- in the 200-yard backstroke at the Texas Invita- sin scored 342 points in its seven home games tional. She swam the event in 1:51.59, break- (48.9 ppg.). ing her own record of 1:54.95. Meyer, who also broke the school record in the 100-yard back- stroke, now owns the two fastest times in the country in those two events. 11 Men’s Hockey | Sophomore Justin Schultz leads the nation’s defensemen with 11 goals, four more than the next closest player and, though 179 not even halfway through the season, will reach Women’s Hockey | Senior Meghan Duggan cur- the UW single-season top-10 list for goals by a rently ranks second on the Badgers’ all-time list defensemen with two more tallies. with 179 career points. She is also tied for sec- ond with 84 career goals and ranks third with 95 career assists. STEP UP TO THE MIKE Each week, Mike Lucas, the radio ML: We’re talking about two dif- Are you surprised at all by the Is this Paul Chryst’s final sea- color commentator for Badger ferent stages in the evolution of career of Jim Leonhard from son with the Badgers? What football and men’s basketball and the program dating to the hiring of walk-on to scholarship starter, else can he do as a coordina- UWBadgers.com Insider, aswers Barry Alvarez who, in turn, hired All-Big Ten and All-American tor? questions from fans about Bret Bielema. In ’93, the Badgers and now an NFL starter? - Joel Moyer Wisconsin Athletics. This week’s were making the statement, ‘Here - Bradley James Groff questions came via Facebook. we are. We’re no longer a Big Ten ML: Paul is being very selective footwipe for the Wolverines and ML: Not at all. People don’t give with his decision-making process How will the Badgers beat Buckeyes.” This year, the Bad- Leonhard enough credit for being when it comes to his career. Rightly TCU in the Rose Bowl? gers reminded everyone, “We’re a great athlete. I remember when so. He doesn’t have to jump at an - Jeffrey Suttle baaaaaaaaaack. And we don’t plan he won the slam dunk contest on offer to be a head coach. Or even on leaving anytime soon.” the Badgers. So you put that ath- an NFL coordinator. He can afford ML: By using the same formula that leticism with his smarts, toughness to be choosy. At the same time, if has worked thus far. Establish the Does the up and down outside and heart and you have a special it’s about a comfort zone, who’s to run. Keep the defense off-balance shooting of the men’s basket- player. Here’s hoping for a fast say that he has to move on? with play-action. Be solid on spe- ball team concern you? recovery, too. Last week, Jimmy cial teams. Disrupt on defense. - Eric Bakka was lost for the season with a shin Which players need to step up TCU quarterback Andy Dalton was injury. That’s a big blow for the and help out Leuer and Taylor? picked off three times in last year’s ML: Would love to see more con- Jets because he was the QB in the - Cole Brown loss to Boise State in the Fiesta sistency. But you have to keep in secondary. Bowl. mind that the Badgers are transi- ML: I like the tag team of Mike tioning from senior guards Trevon Coach Bielema vs. a hurri- Bruesewitz and Ryan Evans. De- How do the wins vs. Ohio Hughes and Jason Bohannon. Both cane, who would win? pending on the matchups, I believe State and at Iowa compare to could be streaky. What we are see- - Jake Zadra both can grow into roles. Would 1993’s wins over Michigan and ing is Jon Leuer becoming more love to see Rob Wilson earn more a tie vs. Ohio State as far as of a 3-point threat. Keaton Nankivil ML: Coach Bielema, of course. minutes. And it goes without saying making a statement for Wis- could be the wild card. Especially since he already whipped that the Badgers are a more bal- consin football? Randy Shannon, the former Hur- anced team when Keaton Nankivil ricane. is playing at a high level. - Jake Demler I know this is jumping the gun enough to take some of the pres- ML: Scott takes pride in his prepa- Is this Badger hoops team a bit, but how does next sea- sure off the QB until he can gain ration. He’s the equivalent of a good enough to make a deep son’s Badger football team some experience. A lot of things will coach on the field. He’s not afraid run in the tourney? look? Who’s the favorite to be factor into maintaining status quo, to take a hit, either, to make a play. - Jake Zadra the QB? Will Wisconsin be able not the least of which will be the Some pro teams might have ques- to maintain current lofty sta- chemistry of returning personnel. tions about his arm strength. But I’m ML: It would be premature to offer tus? betting that Scott will not only get a guess until we get a read on how - Bart Crabbe What do you feel is Scott Tol- drafted, he will make a roster next the Badgers handle the top teams zien’s greatest strength and season. He’d be worth drafting on in the Big Ten. If they prove that they ML: Jon Budmayr will get the first weakness? Do you think he will the strength of his character alone. can play with Michigan State, Ohio shot at replacing Scott Tolzien. Inju- be drafted and what does his State, Purdue, and Illinois, it would ries have clouded the future of Curt potential NFL career project to bode well for a nice run in March. Phillips. Anxious to see how Joe in your opinion? Brennan competes in the spring.