IN [FOCUS] TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE WHERE THERE’S SMOKE... There was plenty of fire in the Badgers’ pregame huddle on Wednesday as No. 3 Wisconsin prepared to open its season with an exhibition contest against UW-Parkside. The Badgers dispatched of the Rangers before a sellout crowd that crammed into the Kohl Center for its first look at the preseason Big Ten favorites. PHOTO BY PATRICK HERB IN [FOCUS] TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE HAVING A FLING Senior Frank Kaminsky banks in a fallaway jump hook in Wisconsin’s 77-40 exhibition win over UW-Parkside Wednesday night. The preseason All-American led all scorers with 19 points and also grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds. PHOTO BY STEVE GOTTER IN [FOCUS] TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE 1-2 PUNCH Malachy Schrobilgen and Michael Van Voorhis’ 1-2 finish at the 2014 Big Ten Championship ― sealed by their sprint up the final straightaway ― proved to be the knockout punch to the rest of the conference, as the Badgers won their 47th Big Ten title last Sunday in Iowa City. Schro- bilgen repeated as individual champion and was named Big Ten Athlete of the Year. PHOTO BY WALT MIDDLETON IN [FOCUS] TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE TURNING A CORNER Wisconsin raced to its best Big Ten showing since 2008 with a runner-up finish at the conference championship last Sunday, continuing a season-long surge for a program that jumped to No. 6 in the national rankings this week. Junior Molly Hanson, an All-American on the track at 1500 meters last year, took fifh to help move the Badgers back up the podium in cross country. PHOTO BY WALT MIDDLETON IN [FOCUS] TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE TOUCH AND GO It wasn’t quite a playground game of touch football, but Wisconsin’s defense made it look easy in holding Rutgers scoreless for the first time in 12 years last Saturday. Linebackers Joe Schobert (lef) and Marcus Trotter kept Rutgers starting QB Gary Nova on his heels and helped the Badgers’ nation-leading defense hold the Scarlet Knights to just 139 total yards in a 37-0 win. PHOTO BY RICH GRAESSLE / ICON SPORTSWIRE IN [FOCUS] TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE HOME, HOME AGAIN Corey Clement’s return to the Garden State occurred, appropriately enough, on Homecoming weekend at Rutgers, and the Wisconsin sophomore put on a show for the friends and family that made the trip to Piscataway from his native Glassboro. Clement rushed for a game-high 131 yards and a pair of touchdowns ― covering 43 and 36 yards ― against the Scarlet Knights en route to his first Big Ten Ofensive Player of the Week honor. PHOTO BY KOSTAS LYMPEROPOULOS / CAL SPORT MEDIA IN [FOCUS] TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE THAT TAKES CLASS It was a Senior Night to remember for Jacob Brindle and David Caban, who were recognized prior to the Badgers hosting No. 2 Indiana in their home finale last Friday. Brindle scored a goal in the 72nd minute to tie the game and force overtime, while Caban helped the defense close out the 2-2 draw in double overtime. PHOTOS BY BRANDON HARRISON CONTENTS NOVEMBER 6, 2014 ■ VOLUME 5, ISSUE 11 COVER STORY 'WHEN HE TALKS, YOU LISTEN' Dave Aranda doesn't need volume to make his words carry weight with Wisconsin's defense, which he has helped mold into the nation's stingiest unit. FEATURES LUCAS AT LARGE IN [FOCUS] LOOKING FOR MORE The week's best photos LUCAS AT LARGE Chris Borland had the most produc- Borland wants more tive defensive day in the NFL this THE VOICE year, but the UW alum isn't satisfied. Badgers-Boilers memories BEHIND THE DESK Looking at linebackers BY THE NUMBERS MEN'S HOCKEY Facts and figures on UW WHAT TO WATCH BETTER WITH AGE Tune in to catch Badgers Wisconsin's 25-year-old "grandpa" ASK THE BADGERS has waited his turn and is playing Famous Twitter followers a key role on a youthful UW team. BADGERING... -SCROLL FOR MORE- 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 Matt Lepay Columnist Drew Scharenbroch 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, Greg Anderson, Steve Gotter, Jack McLaughlin Neil Ament, Cal Sport Media, Icon Sportswire Cover Photo: David Stluka Problems or Accessibility Issues? [email protected] © 2014 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS » UWBADGERS.COM Borland making his mark, not satisfied hris Borland had no trou- age. That will keep you humble.” Borland’s learning curve as a ble manning up. And it Few have handled celebrity starter. “I have a lot of respect Chad nothing to do with his better than Borland, who could for him,” Borland said. “He’s first NFL start coming against the teach a college and pro level always positive with me and I’ve Denver Broncos and their Hall class on how to be humble. Few grown a lot under him. He has of Fame quarterback. This was have been so low maintenance been awesome.” about a coverage mistake that and grounded. “I’ve acclimated Borland has tried to be like the San Francisco 49ers rookie a sponge around the 29-year- made in a loss, and he was man old Willis, who has twice led enough to be accountable. the league in tackles. From Despite registering 18 tackles, this standpoint, he has gone to including three TFLs, last Sun- school on Willis and picked up day against the St. Louis Rams, pointers “on everything from Borland stayed in character and how to fit a run play to what to true to himself by shifing the expect in coverage to the way to conversation from any individ- approach the game.” ual gratification to the fact that On the biggest adjustment the Rams won 13-10 and receiv- that he has made to the pros, er Kenny Britt beat him on a Borland said, “Confidence is crossing route. huge and you have to have an “I blew a pass coverage as- intense focus. You have to put signment that resulted in a WIRE SPORTS ICON yourself in a position to make touchdown,” said Borland, the quick decisions and you have to former Wisconsin All-American trust yourself. You prepare, so linebacker from Kettering, Ohio, on Sundays, you know what to “and that was the thing that expect and you can play fast.” sticks out in my mind from that Yet, there’s really nothing that game. It was a mental error, it I’M A LOT BETTER can prepare a rookie linebacker was big mistake.” PLAYER TODAY for Peyton Manning, who com- Borland heard from many of THAN I WAS THREE pleted 22-of-26 passes for 318 his Badgers teammates and he yards and four touchdowns in was appreciative of their kind WEEKS AGO. the Broncos’ 42-17 win over the words. But he confided that it 49ers on Oct. 19 in Denver. “He was “tough to take congratu- “to the life and the profession- does so many things that oth- lations” for the 18 tackles, the alism pretty quickly,” he said of er quarterbacks don’t do,” said highest total in the league this the NFL. “I feel comfortable, I Borland. season, and two more than his feel at home.” Afer that loss, San Francisco UW career high, knowing the Many have made him feel” that tweaked its run defense for the result, a loss. way with the 49ers, namely All- Rams. “We were playing things a “It’s not like I missed tackle,” Pro linebacker Patrick Willis, little diferently and they strug- he said. “It was a blown cover- whose toe injury accelerated gled to pick it up,” Borland said. -PAGE 1 OF 2- LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS » UWBADGERS.COM “Quite a few of my tackles were year,” he said. “There’s a lot to background for his adaptability because of our scheme and how learn quickly and really no time and preparedness for the next well our D-line was playing the to be pulled along; you’re just step. “I’ve been exposed to a lot scheme. That’s why my num- kind of put over the fire. But of guys from other places,” he bers were so high.” that’s the way that you get bet- said, “that you can tell haven’t Borland’s most memorable ter ― by playing. These are valu- had the opportunity to see the tackle was his “suplex” of St. able reps.” bigger picture. At Wisconsin, we Louis running back Tre Mason. All things considered, includ- always harped on the process.” Even though he has never wres- ing the education that he got at That entails everything from tled, it was a move worthy of the the hands of Manning ― “You the of-season conditioning WWE. “I had him wrapped up learn quickly if you’re a yard out program to weight lifing to nu- and I thought I could strip the of position in coverage that he trition. “The reputation of Wis- ball,” he said. “I got him up (in will take advantage of it” ― Bor- consin guys is that they’re ready the air), and once he’s up, he’s land has made strides. “I’m a lot to be pros outside of the game got to come down.” better player today than I was and on game days, too,” he said.