COMING TO OUR CITY Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and company brought ESPN College GameDay to Madison for the highly-anticipated Big Ten opener between the Badgers and Nebraska on Oct. 1. PHOTO BY DAVID STLUKA IN FOCUS COUNT IT It was easy to lose track of how many push-ups Bucky did during the course of a season that saw them average 44.6 points per game — including the 59 the Badgers scored on South Dakota (pictured). PHOTO BY DAVID STLUKA IN FOCUS DECEMBER 22, 2011 CONTENTS VOLUME 2, ISSUE 20 20 LOOKING BACK ON THE SEASON DEPARTMENTS 10 LUCAS AT LARGE “Going through all by Mike Lucas the emotions of that 12 BEHIND THE DESK by Barry Alvarez loss (in the Rose Bowl) and know- 16 BY THE NUMBERS Facts and figures on UW ing we had a lot of those guys back, 18 5 THINGS TO WATCH we knew that we 62 MEN’S BASKETBALL Badgers’ evolving offense could become a 30 64 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL » THE MOMENTS tremendous foot- Kelsey offers self-evaluation From Russell Wilson’s coming out ball team.” party vs. UNLV to a big win over 66 THIS WEEK IN HISTORY — Aaron Henry Hanging from the rafters Nebraska to their win in the first-ever Big Ten championship game, a look 68 THE VOICE back on the games that defined the by Matt Lepay Badgers’ season. EDITOR’S NOTE It’s been an experience Varsity is published weekly by: Wisconsin Athletic Communications n light of the roller coaster ride that followed, it feels like Kellner Hall, 1440 Monroe St., ages ago now. In truth, it’s been less than three months. Madison, WI 53711 I Nothing felt bigger at the time, but Wisconsin’s win over Nebraska in one of the most-hyped games of the season Subscribe to Varsity turned out to be just one of the moments to savor from the Badgers’ football season. View All Issues Several games became just as important as the schedule played out, but nothing matched the electricity in and around Camp Randall Stadium on Oct. 1. It was simply fantastic. Brian Lucas That’s why I’m excited that Varsity could serve as the ve- Director of Athletic Communications hicle for the debut of The Wisconsin Football Experience — a film that, while representative of just about any game day at Brian Mason UW, was produced specifically around the events of the Bad- Editor gers’ Big Ten opener against the Huskers. You can find it on page 14 of this issue. Mike Lucas The behind-the-scenes access provides Lead Writer you with a countless number of great scenes from before, during and after the Matt Lepay game, while the cinematography will Columnist leave you saying, “Wow.” Drew Scharenbroch The film is also a perfect fit within our Video Production year-in-review issue, which looks back on BRIAN some of the key moments from the sea- Drew Pittner-Smith MASON son and puts a bow on the 13-game slate Advertising that amounted to Wisconsin’s road back to the Rose Bowl. Contributors With Russell Wilson and Montee Ball commanding an of- Karl Anderson, Paul Capobianco, fense that ranks fourth nationally at 44.6 points per game and Charlie Healy, Patrick Herb, Chris Borland and Mike Taylor anchoring a defense that ranks Ross LaDue, Diane Nordstrom, No. 6 by allowing an average of just 17.0 points, the Badgers Anna Poulter-Hendrickson made quick work of most of their opponents. A couple of those instances — UW’s home wins over UNLV Photography and Nebraska — are featured in this week’s issue as we look David Stluka, Greg Anderson, back on some of the season’s pivotal performances. Neil Ament, Bob Campbell, Of course, the moments that will live on long after the cal- Icon SMI, Southcreek Global endar has turned were those in which the Badgers were faced with more of a fight. The back-to-back heartbreakers in East Lansing and Columbus fit the bill, and we revisit those low Problems or Accessibility Issues? points of the season here, too. [email protected] Low as they were, however, those setbacks steeled the Bad- gers’ resolve for a stretch run that included hard-fought wins over Illinois and Michigan State to set up a second-consecu- © 2011 Board of Regents of the tive Big Ten title and another Rose Bowl berth. University of Wisconsin System. All together, it added up to one amazing experience. And it All rights reserved worldwide. isn’t over yet. We’ll talk to you next week from Pasadena. LUCAS AT LARGE MIKE LUCAS • UWBADGERS.COM Play of the year? One Hail of a decision lay of the Year? Can it be any On his game-changer gry’’ to open the 2011 season. That other than Russell Wilson’s qualified as a loaded question for Pclutch fourth-down pass against MSU, Wilson someone who had lost 20 pounds. to Jeff Duckworth, who fought said of Duckworth, “Very hungry,’’ said Ball, who through two Michigan State defen- “I had a feeling that weighed 210. “I really want to see sive backs to make the reception? how I feel at this weight in a game. It was not just ANY play because he was going to come I feel a lot more elusive.’’ it was not just ANY game. It was down with it. That’s why The rest is history — Big Ten his- the fourth quarter of the inaugural tory for TDs scored — leaving him Big Ten Championship Game. And I went to him.’’ two shy of NCAA history. it was definitely a game-changer. “Montee looks like one of those The 36-yard pitch-and-catch LA Weight Loss commercials,’’ set up Wisconsin’s game-winning On that game-changing toss said backup tailback Jeff Lewis in touchdown. Maybe the least against the Spartans, Wilson said, late August. “People are going to surprised observer was offensive “I had a feeling that he was going be surprised and they will love it — tackle Josh Oglesby who said, to come down with it. That’s why I the new Montee.’’ “Duckworth has been making plays went to him.’’ Which has been more productive all year. He makes them every Wilson’s instincts were pretty than the Full (sized) Montee. week in practice.’’ reliable. So was he. Defensive play of the year? How Duckworth will be preserved in Wilson had a bunch of game- about Mike Taylor’s interception the Big Ten record book as the first changing plays; none more defin- of Nebraska’s Taylor Martinez that player to score in the first league ing than runs of 20 and 19 yards reversed the momentum of the Big title game. He caught a 3-yard slant in the second quarter against Penn Ten opener late in the first half. pass from Wilson at 10:04 of the State that led to a touchdown and a The Huskers were clinging to a first quarter, his first career score. commanding 21-7 lead. 14-13 lead. Taylor’s pick was part of At least he remembered running “The guy put on a show,’’ said a 20-point second-period haymak- that route, unlike a slant against UW safety Aaron Henry. “His er that flattened the conference South Dakota.Wilson’s throw and a moves were out of a video game.’’ newbie. But it wasn’t the biggest defender arrived at the same time Montee Ball had some pretty “blow’’ struck this year. on the goal line — he didn’t catch nifty moves, too; especially on a Taylor’s tag-team partner, Chris the pass but caught a blow to the twisting 4-yard touchdown run Borland, “blew up’’ 314-pound head resulting in a concussion. against Nebraska. Just ask All-Big Penn State guard Johnnie Trout- “The ball came and everything Ten linebacker Lavonte David, who man — knocking Troutman into went black,’’ Duckworth said. whiffed on the play. tailback Silas Redd, who fumbled As it did for the Spartans in Minnesota safety Kim Royston the ball on contact. Indianapolis. knows what that feels like. Royston In the Big Ten title game, Bor- Duckworth was also involved in made the perfect read and was land also “blew up’’ Michigan the longest pass play of the year waiting in the alley for Ball, who State’s Keshawn Martin who lost for the Badgers — covering 66 planted a foot and had Royston his helmet and skull cap. That re- yards against Purdue. Duckworth tackling air on a 14-yard TD run. leased a lot of pent-up frustrations got open on wheel route and was Before facing UNLV, Ball snick- for Badger fans everywhere. dragged down on the 5-yard line. ered when asked if he was “hun- Hail yes. 10 » VARSITY DECEMBER 22, 2011 LUCAS AT LARGE BEHIND THE DESK BARRY ALVAREZ • UW DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Badgers’ satisfying season continues on ooking at the team that we They put up 63 on Toledo and 51 good we could be. had coming back, I thought on Western Michigan. I liked Bret’s approach after Lthat if we could keep our two We held them to seven points. back-to-back losses at Michigan linebackers healthy — Chris Bor- Going into the Big Ten season, I State and Ohio State. Those type land and Mike Taylor — the only knew the opener was going to be a of games are hard to get out of the question mark was quarterback. big game. We made it a big game. system. After watching one practice in Nebraska made it a big game.