IN FOCUS DID THAT JUST HAPPEN? When it wasn’t clowning around (inset), the men’s basketball “Bench Mob” was busy reacting to Ryan Evan’s highlight-reel put-back dunk during the Badgers’ 71-49 routing of No. 13 Ohio State last Sunday. PHOTO BY DAVID STLUKA DO THE HARLEM SHAKE Football players Warren Herring, Chris Borland, Melvin Gordon, Beau Allen and James White joined the Grateful Red to do the “Harlem Shake” at the Kohl Center before Sunday’s men’s basketball game against Ohio State. PHOTO BY DAVID STLUKA IN FOCUS IN THEIR ELEMENT The men’s hockey team played in its third outdoor game, taking on No. 2 Minnesota at Soldier Field in Chicago as part of the OfficeMax Hockey City Classic, Sunday, Feb. 17. PHOTO BY PAUL CAPOBIANCO IN FOCUS IN FOCUS GREAT OUTDOORS Ryan Little (20) and Jefferson Dahl (14) celebrate after Sean Little (18) scored the Badger’s third goal against No. 2 Minnesota in the OfficeMax Hockey City Classic. The Badgers remained undefeated (3-0) all-time in outdoor games by knocking off the Gophers at Soldier Field. PHOTO BY NEIL AMENT SENIOR MOMENT Brianna Decker made sure her class had a reason to celebrate on the Badgers’ senior day, scoring the game-winning goal in overtime Sunday to secure a weekend sweep of Minnesota Duluth. The win also clinched at least a third-place finish for the Badgers in the WCHA standings. PHOTO BY DAVID STLUKA IN FOCUS FEBRUARY 21, 2013 CONTENTS VOLUME 3, ISSUE 29 » STILL THE SAME OL’ SAM DEPARTMENTS Through high school heroics, a gold medal win with Team USA and the sky-high expectations that fol- 16 LUCAS AT LARGE 28 lowed him to UW, Sam Dekker just keeps playing. by Mike Lucas 18 BEHIND THE DESK by Barry Alvarez 20 (MRS.) THE VOICE « IT’S PRETTY by Linda Lepay COOL TO BE 38 J.J. WATT 22 BY THE NUMBERS Facts and figures on UW Even as his profile continues to grow, the former Badger 24 5 THINGS TO WATCH isn’t all that different from the Where to catch the Badgers on TV and the web kid who grew up in Pewaukee 26 BADGERING Deanna Latham » PASSING THE 48 INSIDE SPORTS TORCH? Swimming, Basketball, 62 Jessica Flax helped Hockey, Wrestling, turn UW into a multi-events Softball, Track powerhouse, and she doesn’t 64 THIS WEEK IN HISTORY plan on fading away quietly. Big Ten champions 13 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 Drew Pittner-Smith Advertising Ryan Sedevie Distribution Contributors Paul Capobianco, Tam Flarup, Patrick Herb, Ross LaDue, Diane Nordstrom, Anna Poulter-Hendrickson, Jeremy Wodajo Photography David Stluka, Greg Anderson, Neil Ament, Paul Capobianco Del Brown, Bob Campbell, Ross LaDue, Icon SMI Problems or Accessibility Issues? [email protected] © 2012 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. LUCAS AT LARGE MIKE LUCAS • UWBADGERS.COM Ball eager to shine at NFL combine hen Wisconsin tailback Brown sounded impressed by set. Ball reiterated Wednesday that Montee Ball found Ball. he’s not bothered by anyone who Whimself alone with Jim On the value of physical and thinks “I’m not a special’’ running Brown, maybe the greatest running mental training, Brown told the back. back of all time, he made sure not Dallas News, “He possesses both of Ball interprets that as meaning to waste the opportunity. them, so he’s going to be ready for that he does everything well even “I got some tips from him about everything they throw at him.’’ though he may not be especially the game,’’ he said. The reference was to the NFL fast, nor especially big. At that, he’s Their paths crossed last weekend Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. up to 216 pounds and lowered his in Dallas. Ball received the Doak Since early January, Ball has times. Walker Award while Brown was been training in Florida at the IMG “I do believe that I can help my- recognized as the 2012 Legends Academy, which offers special self (at the combine),’’ Ball said. “I Award recipient at the same ban- instruction and direction to college honestly don’t know what questions quet. players in advance of the combine. they want me to answer. But I feel “It took awhile for him to open UW cornerback Devin Smith has faster and stronger.’’ up,’’ Ball conceded. also taken part in the Bradenton- Earlier this week, NFL network But once Brown did, Ball said based program whose director of analyst Mike Mayock said, “I just that he couldn’t have been more football operations is Chris Weinke, happen to like Montee Ball a lot. hospitable. the former Heisman winner from When I put the tape on, he’s a “He told me, ‘You really need Florida State. downhill (runner), a tough kid.’’ to apply your intelligence to the “The first couple of weeks,’’ Ball Mayock projected Ball to be game.’’ said, “it was tough adjusting to the drafted late in the second round or Ball wasn’t sure what he meant schedule. You get up at 6 and you early in the third. Ball was given a so he asked him to explain. have film, meetings, conditioning third round grade by the NFL be- “He said, ‘You need to sit down and lifting until 5 every night. fore returning for his senior year. with your offensive linemen and “Once you adapt, it’s pretty cool. “I really do think I helped my- make sure that you’re all on the We do a lot of stuff here other than self by coming back,’’ Ball said. “I same page,’’’ he related. just running or physical training. showed my maturity, I became a “He also said, ‘You need to go There’s a lot of mental conditioning better blocker and I showed my full speed in practice so it’s second and communication training. strength through my yards after nature in the game and you need to “Obviously, we all want to run contact.’’ stay in top-notch condition year- fast; we all want to be the strongest; Mayock agreed. “He’s shown round.’’’ we all want to jump the highest and toughness, balance, vision,’’ he said. Brown, who just turned 77, farthest. But I want to be consistent “He’s a one-cut, north-south run- looked to be in playing shape to in doing what I’ve been doing. ner and I think he fits most of the Ball. “I just want to be me.’’ offenses in the NFL.’’ “He’s still a big guy and he’s got Ball feels that will come out in Ball can’t wait to take the next huge hands,’’ he said. “They showed the interviews. “I’m really looking step at the combine. After all the some clips of him at the banquet, forward to sitting down with the weeks of training, and the long and he was extremely powerful.’ GMs and coaches,’’ he said. “I want build-up, he said, “I’m ready to go “I was so grateful I had the them to see a different side of me.’’ there and knock it out.’’ He said he chance to meet him. I told him, ‘I’m More than anything, he believes may even call Russell Wilson for trying to be like you someday.’’’ that his football IQ will be a big as- advice. Good choice. 16 » VARSITY FEBRUARY 21, 2013 MIKE LUCAS • UWBADGERS.COM BEHIND THE DESK BARRY ALVAREZ • UW DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Facilities projects helping us catch up he Badger Day outing in Gary said that he’d probably go rooms are finished in the McClain Naples, Fla., has been going back to work after the Wednesday Facility. So are the locker rooms for T strong for more than 30 night Mendota meetings. our cross country and track teams. years. Fran Hoffman got it started He was fine with it. I don’t think We also have the footings poured in the early ‘80s. More recently, it’s asking too much for a coach to for our academic center. We’re Danny Tzakis has been the orga- take an hour out of his time to visit ahead of schedule on that. When nizer. with the people who support our everything is completed, we won’t I remember coming down here program. Our coaches agree. have to take a back seat to anyone. my first year with Pat Richter and At Tuesday’s outing, I updated It’s important to understand that Elroy Hirsch. It’s a good way to everyone on all of our facilities we’re just trying to stay current. connect with a lot of our alums, and and what’s going on in the athletic We’re not trying to outdo anybody. we always run into old friends. department. And then we opened it But if you don’t stay up, you’ll fall This event has always been more up for questions. behind, especially in our league. of a friend-raiser than a fund- There are some really exciting A good friend put it all in con- raiser. Tuesday, we drew a record things happening. text. When schools are putting up crowd of well over 300 to the Grey LaBahn Arena is open and op- buildings on campus, they call it Oaks Country Club. erating and drawing great reviews progress.