IN [FOCUS] VIEW TO A DRILL Don’t tell the people of Eau Claire it was just a practice. A capac- ity crowd of more than 1,000 jammed the Hobbs Ice Center to take in the No. 3 Badgers’ first skate of the season last Satur- day in the annual Red- White Scrimmage. PHOTO BY RICK MICKELSON/ UW-EAU CLAIRE PHOTOGRAPHY IN [FOCUS] BRITTANY’S BACK Junior Brittany Ammer- man was back in a big way on opening weekend, putting the No. 4-ranked Badgers on the board in 2013-14 with a goal in last Friday’s 3-0 win over Minnesota State at La- Bahn Arena. Ammerman, who missed most of the 2012-13 season, added two more tallies Saturday, including an impressive short-handed goal (inset). PHOTO BY DAVID STLUKA IN [FOCUS] YOU GOT SERVED Senior Paul Yonga served a 35-yard snipe that broke the back of the net and sent the McClimon Complex crowd into a frenzy during Wisconsin’s 3-2 win over Drake on Tuesday. PHOTO BY STEVE GOTTER CONTENTS OCTOBER 10, 2013 // VOLUME 4, ISSUE 10 ‘THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT HIM’ DEPARTMENTS 26 He may be a freshman, but starting cornerback Sojourn Shelton 12 LUCAS AT LARGE by Mike Lucas already has some big-time supporters in his corner in former UW secondary standouts Scott Starks and Jamar Fletcher. 14 BEHIND THE DESK by Barry Alvarez 16 THE VOICE by Matt Lepay FAMILY MATTERS 18 BY THE NUMBERS 36 Facts and figures on UW Few families have traditions as deeply entrenched at Wisconsin 20 5 THINGS TO WATCH as the Johnsons and the Meuers, Catch the Badgers on TV and the web who are among a number of Bad- gers with family ties at UW. 22 ASK THE BADGERS Athletic family members 24 BADGERING Jake McCabe OPEN SEASON 48 44 INSIDE SPORTS The Badgers have embraced their Football, Volleyball, Hockey, Soccer high preseason expectations, but they get the chance to back them 56 THIS WEEK IN HISTORY up when Northern Michigan comes Outworking the Wildcats to the Kohl Center this weekend. 9 Wisconsin Athletic Communications Kellner Hall, 1440 Monroe St., Madison, WI 53711 SUBSCRIBE TO VARSITY VIEW ALL ISSUES Brian Lucas Director of Athletic Communications Julia Hujet Editor Brian Mason Managing Editor Mike Lucas Senior Writer Matt Lepay Columnist Drew Scharenbroch Video Production Amy Eager Advertising Andrea Miller Distribution Contributors Paul Capobianco, Tam Flarup, Patrick Herb, A.J. Harrison, Diane Nordstrom, Anna Poulter-Hendrickson, Jeremy Wodajo Photography David Stluka, Greg Anderson, Neil Ament, Paul Capobianco, Icon SMI Problems or Accessibility Issues? [email protected] © 2013 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS // UWBADGERS.COM Gordon working to come back even better s fast as he is, Melvin Gordon stays that way. a broken ankle. Still, they made it was having trouble catching “It’s not like I’m (Georgia tail- tough on Gordon. Ahis breath. back) Todd Gurley who came in “They were going low and it was Seriously, the Wisconsin tailback with all the hype.” kind of mind-boggling just because who has broken open games with Gurley has been dogged by I didn’t think they would,” said his speed and home run ability, injuries. Gordon, at that, suffered Gordon, citing how defenses tend to was gasping for air after Tuesday’s a scare at Ohio State when he was attack him differently from week to practice, which was not necessarily week. a bad thing. “I just have to realize that, since A little resistance band training tackled after a five-yard gain on the they had some success with it, never hurt. With teammates on final“I’m play good,” of the he third reported quarter Tuesday. and teams will try to cut me down. I’ve both ends of the band, Gordon was “Doinghad to be this assisted extra stuff off the after field. practice been practicing hard for it, so I’ll be challenged to push forward and ex- is helping.” ready in case somebody else tries tend himself physically while main- Taking advantage of last Satur- the same thing.” taining a tight grip on the football. day’s open date in the schedule, Good luck uncovering a trend Trying to describe what he was Gordon conceded “I was a little with Northwestern. The Badgers - off with my footwork and timing” and the Wildcats have played just ing your hardest and you can’t go early-on, but “by the time game day twice since 2006 when P.J. Hill anywhereexperiencing, because he said, (the “You’re band) fightis rushed for 249 yards in Wisconsin’s holding you back; it’s almost like You can attach a footnote to 41-9 win at Camp Randall. pulling a sled.” comes around I’ll be fine.” In 2009, Northwestern held The bottom line, he said, is have been” against the Buckeyes, serve at home by holding the Bad- making sure everybody is pulling footwork. Reflecting on “what could gers to just 99 net rushing yards in their weight, so to speak, when the close and I just got tripped up by a 33-31 victory. In 2010, Wisconsin Badgers return to action Saturday myhe said, foot.” “Four or five times I was ran over the ‘Cats, 70-23, in Madi- afternoon against Northwestern at By close, he meant close to bust- son. Camp Randall Stadium. ing a long run, close to hitting a It was not a coincidence that UW home run, really close. running backs coach Thomas Ham- when asked if he was hungry after “You have to take advantage mock brought out the resistance sitting“Oh, outdefinitely,” the fourth said quarter Gordon of the of the opportunities that you get bands this week. Ohio State loss with a minor injury. because with good teams you’re not Northwestern has forced eight going to get too many,” said Gordon, - redeem ourselves.” who had 15 rushes for 74 yards. His ered three of them. “WeGordon have to showed come out up onfighting the nation to - longest run was 16. fumblesHigh and in five tight games has been and recovthe order al radar prior to playing the Buck- “When you get a crease and miss of the day. “You have to hold the eyes. He was leading the nation in it, who knows? That crease in the ball real tight with guys trying to rushing (156.0 yards per game). He pull and tug at it,” Gordon said. “It’s has since dropped to No. 8 (139.6), until the third quarter; so you have muscle memory training.” and he can live with that. tofirst make quarter the best might of notthose come creases again As far as that goes, he has already “I wasn’t on anybody’s radar when you get them.” committed a few things to memory from the start of the season, so it’s Ohio State has one of the best since the Ohio State game. “Yes, nothing new to me,” he said. “I’m sir, I was close to a couple of those used to not having it (the media nation; or had one until Christian (home runs),” said Gordon, anxious focus), and it’s probably better if it Bryanttackling was defensive lost for backfields the season in with the for his next at-bat. 12 // VARSITY October 10, 2013 Gordon working to come back even better BEHIND THE DESK BY BARRY ALVAREZ // UW DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Big Ten hockey means big-time opportunity anticipate a lot of excitement by their club hockey program, which this season. I’ve heard Mike talk our fans for Big Ten hockey. Lis- has been very strong, would ever be about the advantages of having so Itening to Mike Eaves talk about ready for the next step. many returning players, including it the other day, I know that he feels I don’t know that answer. But both of his goalies. like his players are really excited to hockey is being played elsewhere in To be honest, I still don’t know play in new venues. the Big Ten footprint. how these hockey coaches deal From the standpoint of name with recruiting. recognition, it’s going to be exciting hockey teams playing in Iowa and When you go out and recruit re- to play Ohio State, Michigan, Michi- Nebraska.I know that I also you know can Nebraska-find junior ally good players, the next thing you gan State and Penn State in addition Omaha has a very solid college know they’re leaving school early to our long-standing rivalry with hockey program. and signing pro contracts. That Minnesota. Add those schools to The Big Ten has added Johns seems to be inevitable. the future non-conference series Hopkins as a men’s lacrosse-only But if you don’t recruit and sign we’ve scheduled with North Dakota, member in 2015 to join the league those players ― for however long Denver and Colorado College and schools that play it: Michigan, Mary- they’re going to stay ― they’ll go other traditional WCHA rivals, and land, Ohio State, Penn State and someplace else and you’ll wind up we will be able to have a top-notch Rutgers. playing against them. schedule every year. I don’t know if some hockey pro- You’re darned if you do, darned if With the Big Ten, fans can iden- you don’t. tify with the schools and I see it as Ten or if there will be any expan- All I know is Mike is happy with a real positive for college hockey, sion.grams But would if you’re be a askingfit with me the about Big the group he has coming back and especially since there will be a lot hockey in this conference, I think it our fans should be excited about more national television exposure has a bright future.