CONTENTS JANUARY 5, 2017 ▪ VOLUME 7, ISSUE 20 DAVID STLUKA

BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD Fresh off a victory in the Cotton Bowl, Wisconsin’s returnees are eager to flip the calendar and excited about the potential of 2017 with hungry new leaders ready to start preparations. DAVID STLUKA FEATURES FOOTBALL IN [FOCUS] OUT ON TOP The week's best photos

Together, the Badgers’ record-set- THE VOICE ting senior class — the most wins in

DAVID STLUKA Badgers take care of business UW history — reached the end of a ‘tough road’ as Cotton Bowl champs. BY THE NUMBERS Facts and figures on UW

LUCAS AT LARGE WHAT TO WATCH Where to catch the Badgers GREATER BONDS ASK THE BADGERS For Greg Gard and the Badgers, the Favorite things about winter focus on keeping things simple DAVID STLUKA allows for growth and learning as INSIDE FOOTBALL they build a stronger team. Watt ready for NFL dream

-SCROLL FOR MORE- INSIDE MEN’S Cool Badgers pass the test Wisconsin Athletic Communications Kellner Hall, 1440 Monroe St. Madison, WI 53711

VIEW ALL ISSUES

Brian Lucas Director of Athletic Communications

Jessica Burda Director of Digital Content Managing Editor

Julia Hujet Editor/Designer

Mike Lucas Senior Writer

Andy Baggot Writer

Matt Lepay Columnist

Chris Hall, Jerry Mao, Brandon Spiegel Video Production

Max Kelley Advertising

Drew Pittner-Smith Distribution

Contributors Paul Capobianco, Kelli Grashel, A.J. Harrison, Brandon Harrison, Patrick Herb, Brian Mason, Diane Nordstrom

Photography David Stluka, Neil Ament, Greg Anderson, Bob Campbell, The Players Tribune, Cal Sport Media, Icon Sportswire

Cover Photo: David Stluka

Problems or Accessibility Issues? [email protected]

© 2017 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM Small experiments lead to greater bonds here were no known rep- interim head coach in mid-De- said. “It’s amazing what that resentatives from Major cember after Bo Ryan’s retire- does when you take away the TLeague Eating or the In- ment. “But everything was set in phones.” ternational Federation of Com- place before the season. There The objective was obvious. petitive Eating on the premises was no flexibility, no options. “It was good to have actual of the restaurant, a popular hang- Everything was booked and re- conversation and person-to-per- out in downtown Bloomington, served and the meals were con- son interactions,” Gard said. “I Indiana, a three-minute walk from tracted.” watched the table that they the team hotel. But an “eating” But he kept the idea on the were all sitting around and no- record was set Monday night. front burner. “I just thought it body appeared to be going into For the first time in at least would be a good learning expe- any type of withdrawals without two decades, maybe longer, rience for the players in terms of their phone. Including me. They maybe dating well back into the a different etiquette, a restaurant all turned into chatterboxes.” etiquette,” said Gard, who had Hayes knew exactly what Gard

DAVID STLUKA Dick Bennett era of Wisconsin basketball, the UW players and another motive in mind, too, a was up to. “I’m sure he did it coaches ate together the night more appetizing and lasting one. to maybe get us to talk to each before a road game at a local “Team building.” other,” he said. “But we talk a lot. dining establishment rather than Before the players departed for We definitely enjoy each other’s the customary team meal at the the restaurant, they had to place company and presence. We can hotel. their cell phones in a bucket. survive without our phones. We For the record, the Badgers are “Myself included,” Gard don’t need them to live.” now 1-0 when doing so under head coach Greg Gard. “It must have been the trick,” Nigel Hayes rationalized, “be- cause I had never won in Indi- ana.” The fact that Wisconsin ex- tended its winning streak to nine straight games Tuesday night with a 75-68 win over the Hoo- siers at Assembly Hall left Indi- ana coach Tom Crean with a bad case of indigestion. He has not only lost three in a row this sea- son, but 14 out of the last 16 to the Badgers. How long has Gard been cook- ing this up? Eating together as a team, that is. “I looked at doing it last year,” said Gard, who took over as the

LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 1 OF 2 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM DAVID STLUKA

“REALLY GOOD TEAMS DON’T CHANGE OR CHANGE VERY LITTLE NO MATTER WHERE THEY’RE PLAYING. THEY STICK TO THE THINGS THAT MAKE THEM GOOD. WE’VE STUCK TO SIMPLE THINGS.”

tle no matter where they’re play- ing. They stick to the things that make them good. We’ve stuck to simple things.” Gard wants a clear picture of the team’s goals, not a fuzzy one. “It’s part of not over-compli- cating road trips,” said Gard, who ▲ TAP TO WATCH - Gard Could Have New Road Game Tradition was asked about back-to-back There was an adjustment, if “It’s just something a little trips to Indiana and Purdue, not culture shock, for senior different,” said Gard, who’s will- two of the Big Ten’s toughest Bronson Koenig. “I know every- ing to think outside the box if it venues. “We just lock in on one one, myself included, checked produces a positive result. “We opponent and prepare for that our pockets a few times to get may do it again down the road if one and when that one is over, our phones out but they weren’t it works in terms of the city, the you shut the book on them and there,” he said. “I enjoyed it a lot restaurant, the timing of every- move on to the next.” — just getting out of our hotel thing. It has to fit the schedule. The Badgers will play the Boil- and doing a little team bonding But I thought it was good.” ermakers on Sunday in West without phones.” The Badgers have been one Lafayette. Whereas many Big Ten bas- of the better road teams in col- “Anytime you get tested by ketball coaches have dined with lege basketball. What’s the rec- very good teams — home, road, their teams at Madison restau- ipe? “You have to make sure to neutral court — you’re going to rants the night before playing adhere to the things that make learn some things,” said Gard. the Badgers — Bob Knight fa- you good no matter where you “On some, you’ll say, ‘Yeah, we vored Smoky’s — Ryan never play,” Gard said. “For us, it’s tak- did pretty well on this and it re- saw any benefits in doing it. ing care of the ball, getting good ally helped us.’ On other things, Bennett’s teams would some- shots, transition defense. it’ll be, ‘Hey, we’ve got to get times go out for dinner, but “Sometimes, I think the ven- better at this.’” he would often eat in his hotel ue or the location is given more Gard broke it down further, room. credit than necessary because “Take the result. Learn. Continue In many cases, it’s cheaper it’s really what you need to do to grow.” dining out. Win a game against a on the floor. Really good teams It was offered as food for tough foe and it can be priceless. don’t change or change very lit- thought. ▪

LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 2 OF 2 THE VOICE BY MATT LEPAY ▪ VOICE OF THE BADGERS Badgers took care of business in Texas nyone wondering wheth- sion. Yes, matchups matter, but downs in the final period, then er the Cotton Bowl was it is difficult not to notice what won it with a walk-off field goal. A a “no-win” bowl for Wis- happened to the Big Ten East. The Big Ten fan in us would consin clearly didn’t bother to Many of the pundits will have have liked some better results. watch the game — and perhaps, their fun at the conference’s Then again, your favorite team more specifically — how the 3-7 record. Go ahead. Take your held up its end of the bargain. It’s players reacted after Bart Hous- shots. That is how it works. I okay to be a bit selfish. The Bad- ton took a knee on the final snap would still argue the league was gers earned their third-straight at AT&T Stadium. very strong this season and it bowl triumph by ending a dream The joy was real. As well it would be dangerous to assume season for a very good Western should have been. This Wiscon- it suddenly became weak in De- Michigan team. Group of Five sin football team put together an cember and early January. programs have an excellent track 11-win season. The seniors leave record in major bowl games. Just as the winningest class in school ALL SUMMER LONG THEY not this time. The Badgers made history. There are plenty more WERE ASKED ABOUT THE a few more plays, from the near- statistics you can easily look up SCHEDULE. ALL ALONG THE ly perfect passing performance regarding these 2016 Badgers. PLAYERS TALKED ABOUT of Houston and Alex Hornibrook, But what I will remember is how HOW THEY EMBRACED THE to the receiving day of Troy Fu- they stuck together and, as head CHALLENGE. IT WAS FAR magalli, to the ultra-clutch in- coach would say, MORE THAN JUST TALK. terception of one-time Western “they just kept playing.” Michigan commit T.J. Edwards. All summer long they were It would have been nice to see This team remained true to its asked about the schedule. There that record reversed. Conference identity and it resulted in anoth- were some preseason forecasts pride is real — most of the time. I er excellent season. that had the Badgers on the think you know what I mean. That After games, Chryst likes to tell edge of bowl eligibility. All along rivalry thing can be hard to let go. his team to enjoy the moment, the players talked about how However, those within the league, then be ready to hit the reset they embraced the challenge. It including coaches and adminis- button. After Monday’s Cotton was far more than just talk. trators, have said the image of the Bowl victory, the head coach From the season opening Big Ten is better when Michigan said he is in no hurry to press thriller at Lambeau Field, to the and Ohio State are good. Some that button. In a short time, the season ending performance in say it grudgingly, while others are coaches will be back on the re- Jerry’s World, the Wisconsin more matter-of-fact about it. cruiting trail, then preparing for football team took its fans on They are good. Just not na- spring ball and all the rest. But another fun ride. tional title good quite yet. for now, players and coaches Yes, it’s repetitive to make Penn State had a remarkable can enjoy a job well done. such a statement, but it sure as turnaround to its season. A team Sure, it would have been nice heck beats the alternative. known for its second-half dom- to see the league win a few For the Big Ten, the bowl sea- inance saw the script change at more games. But hey, Wisconsin son was rough. Ironically, the the Rose Bowl. A 14-point lead took care of business. Around three teams to return home with in the fourth quarter slipped here, that is what matters most. trophies reside in the West Divi- away as USC scored two touch- By far. ▪

THE VOICE PAGE 1 OF 1 ASK THE BADGERS

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF? WINTER? JACK MCLAUGHLIN GREG ANDERSON CHAD MOSLEY DAVID STLUKA

ALEX ILLIKAINEN AMBER MacDONALD EDDIE WAJDA III BRIANNA FLUGAUR Soph. ■ M. Basketball Soph. ■ Volleyball Junior ■ Men’s Golf Junior ■ Softball Grand Rapids, Minn. Alpharetta, Ga. Brookfield, Wis. Stevens Point, Wis.

“Growing up in Min- “I grew up in the “Heated bays are “My favorite part of nesota, I’ve come south, so I never saw great, but my favorite winter is getting to to love a lot of the snow. When it snows part of winter is the order my coffee hot winter outdoor ac- in Madison, I get so holidays and being instead of cold. I also tivities. Over break, I excited and think it is able to go home and love all of the holiday was back home and beautiful.” spend time with my festivities that come did some ice fishing family. Everyone is along with this time and snowmobiling. always in such great of year.” My family ice fishes moods and so happy and spear fishes on to be around during lake Pokegama and the holidays, so I I love getting out on enjoy the company the snowmobile trails the most. We don’t around Grand Rapids get to go home much or our cabin on King during the fall or Lake in Bovey, Min- spring because of nesota.” travel, so being able to sleep in your own bed and get a warm home-cooked meal is great too!” USA TODAY DAVID STLUKA

isconsin linebacker Jack Cichy attacks for Chris Orr, who was injured on the first defensive questions like ball-carriers: Head-on, snap of the season. Cichy and Orr were the start- Wdownhill. So besides volunteering that ing inside linebackers against LSU in the opener be- eating waffles was one of the highlights of his Cot- cause T.J. Edwards, the leading tackler in 2015, was ton Bowl trip, Cichy was willing to tackle something far still recovering from a foot injury. meatier. Like T.J. Watt’s decision to enter the NFL draft. Cichy went on to note how seemingly everybody The exchange took place some 48 hours before had questions about the Badgers’ ability to replace Monday’s kickoff between the Badgers and West- safeties Michael Caputo and Tanner McEvoy, espe- ern Michigan at AT&T Stadium; some 72 hours be- cially since neither Leo Musso, nor D’Cota Dixon fore Watt, the fourth-year junior from Pewaukee, had much playing experience beyond special teams Wisconsin, revealed Tuesday that he wasn’t coming and Musso’s three starts in 38 games. back for his final season of eligibility. “There’s always going to be quote, unquote sur- “Obviously, it would be a big loss; he’s a playmak- prises,” Cichy reasoned. er, you know that,” Cichy replied to the hypothet- Whether they match this year’s surprise develop- ical that the Badgers would have to replace their ments obviously remains to be seen. third-leading tackler in Watt, whose 15.5 tackles for “But we’re going to have new ones next year, too,” loss and 11.5 sacks topped the No. 4 scoring de- he predicted. fense (15.6 points) in college football. Since Cichy has played outside linebacker, would “We want the best for him and we’re going to re- he be able to move outside again? spect whatever decision he does make and we’re “I would be able to,” he said with the self-assur- going to have to move forward with our defense as ance that marks his play on the field. a whole, as a unit. We know that people are going After pausing, though, he admitted that it wouldn’t

to step up in ways that you really never know (or be his choice to make that move. BOB CAMPBELL anticipate) until fall camp or the season.” But he’d do anything for the team. Anything. Cichy pointed out how Ryan Connelly took over Head-on, downhill.

BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD: TURNING THE PAGE TO 2017 PAGE 2 OF 6 That’s how the Badgers plan on going into the starts; and Musso, who led the secondary with five 2017 season, Cichy suggested. interceptions this year. “After this game is over,” he said of the Cotton Bowl With such key personnel losses, can the Badgers and what turned out to be a 24-16 win over West- still be a top-10 defense? ern Michigan, “we’re go- “I think so,” Cichy said. ing to say goodbye to the “But it’s going to come seniors and it’s going to “NOTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED THIS down to what we make be tough because we’re YEAR MATTERS ANYMORE. IT’S GOING TO of it.” a close group and they’re HAVE TO BE A FRESH“ SLATE. Although he missed THE GROUP all great guys.” WE’LL HAVE TOGETHER ON JAN. 16 WILL the final six games of But as soon as the play- the season after tear- HAVE NOT EARNED ANYTHING AT ALL.” ers get back on campus, ing a pectoral muscle at Cichy said, “Nothing that Iowa (Oct. 22), Cichy still has happened this year matters anymore. It’s going wound up as the fourth-leading tackler. A year ago, to have to be a fresh slate. The group we’ll have he was the conversational focal point after record- together on Jan. 16 will have not earned anything ing sacks on three straight snaps against USC. Now at all.” the focus is on his rehab. Besides Watt, a first-year starter, the Badgers must “I’ll start jogging and running on Jan. 17, which replace outside linebacker Vince Biegel, a mainstay will be good, and I never thought I’d miss doing for four seasons and 54 games; cornerback Sojourn cardio,” he said, grinning. “From there, it’s gradual. Shelton, the school record-holder with 51 career I’m towards the end of Phase 2 right now. Phase 5 is when I’ll be fully back. Phases 3 and 4 are about a month and a half each.” Cichy is hoping to be “fully” back in late March or early April. “But I’m not going to rush it,” he said. “I’m going to take it day-by- day.” Orr has been trying to take the same approach after knee surgery. “Neither of us would ever want to dwell on it,” said Cichy, a red- shirt junior from Somerset, Wis- consin. “But there are times where we will acknowledge that we’ve kind of been through a gauntlet together and that is hopefully go- ing to pay dividends.” Few teams will be able to match or exceed Wisconsin’s proven ex- perience and depth at inside line- backer with Edwards, Connelly, Cichy, Orr and Leon Jacobs, who also has played off the edge. Along MANNY FLORES with leading the team in tackles, Edwards was the defensive MVP of the Cotton Bowl.

BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD: TURNING THE PAGE TO 2017 PAGE 3 OF 6 DAVID STLUKA

Sophomore T.J. Edwards was named the defensive MVP of the Cotton Bowl after recording 10 tackles and an interception.

“It was great to get the win and it’s really exciting side linebackers Zack Baun and Tyler Johnson. to think about what we’re going to be next year,” “He (Baun) has had a couple of nagging injuries, said Edwards, a redshirt sophomore from Lake Villa, nothing major, that has kept him out at different Illinois. “With every senior class leaving, you need times,” Tibesar said. “But he’s probably right where guys to step up, not only vocally, but leading by ex- we hoped he would be at this point in time. He’s a ample. You only get better with more experience.” guy who can jump into the rotation like Garret did That applied to outside linebacker Garret Dool- this year.” ey, who replaced an injured Biegel in the starting Tibesar indicated that Johnson had made “huge lineup against Michigan and Ohio State. There were strides” from last season. some inevitable growing pains for Dooley, a red- It’s no secret that the Badgers take pride in being shirt junior from Rochester, Illinois. But he had 40 a developmental program. tackles, 6.5 TFLs and 3.5 sacks. “You want to see the guys who are returning take “Garret has had a great season for us,” said assis- the next step in their game,” Tibesar said. “If they tant coach Tim Tibesar, who handles the outside were a role player, step up to become a contribu- linebackers. “He has played at a very high level to tor. If they were a contributor, step up to become the point that he fits right in out there and nobody a starter. If they were a starter, they need to ask, knows that either Vince or T.J. (Watt) is not out ‘What are the things that I need to improve on?’” there.” Or, as Tibesar proposed, “How can I take my game Dooley has modeled his game after them. to the next level?” “The way I’ve grown is that I’ve been able to learn That will be the question facing Wisconsin’s de- from some really good players like Vince and T.J.,” he fensive line. Everybody returns. Conor Sheehy. said. “Just by playing with them, and playing behind Chikwe Obasih. Alec James. Olive Sagapolu. Garrett them, I’ve learned from what they do and some of Rand. Billy Hirschfeld. Jeremy Patterson. There’s the knowledge that they have given me about play- depth and experience. Obasih has 31 career starts, ing the game.” Sheehy has 19, James has 13. Dooley will use the offseason to work on his craft “Our season will start up again with winter con- and “get bigger, faster, stronger.” ditioning,” said Dixon, who along with cornerback Tibesar sees the same things happening with out- Derrick Tindal are the returning starters in the sec-

BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD: TURNING THE PAGE TO 2017 PAGE 4 OF 6 ondary. “That’s where our 2017 season will start. It who had 88 carries for 457 yards and five scores. doesn’t start on September whatever (Sept. 1), our Taiwan Deal could be a factor in the fall, too. The first game against Utah State. It starts in the winter.” running game, of course, also revolves around wide It should be a competitive spring among the de- receiver Jazz Peavy, who rushed for 318 yards (15.1 fensive backs since so many return, ranging from yards per carry). the known (Dixon, Tindal, Natrell Jamerson, Lubern But wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore has expec- Figaro, Arrington Farrar, Joe Ferguson) to the un- tations beyond the jet sweep for Peavy. known (Patrick Johnson, Titus Booker, Dontye Car- “Jazz has got to get bigger, Jazz has got to get riere-Williams, Caesar Williams). stronger, Jazz has got to do a better job blocking,” Nick Nelson is both. said Gilmore, knowing The Hawaii transfer the younger guys will has started 21 games. “WITH EVERY SENIOR CLASS LEAVING, YOU look to Peavy for lead- Just not here. NEED GUYS TO STEP UP, NOT ONLY VOCALLY, ership. “That’s some- The same can be “ YOU ONLY GET BET­ thing (blocking) in his BUT LEADING BY EXAMPLE. said of tailback Chris world that he has got TER WITH MORE EXPERIENCE.” James. to get better at. It has The Pitt transfer has got to change and it played in 23 games. Just not here. starts in the weight room.” Tight end Troy Fumagalli, the offensive MVP of Gilmore is anxious to work with freshmen Quint- the Cotton Bowl, is confident that the Badgers will ez Cephus and A.J. Taylor in the spring. be productive at running back and not only because “Both of those guys will be in position to com- of the fullbacks. The combination of Austin Ramesh pete for a job,” he said. “Athletically, they run well and Alec Ingold — “Ramgold” — had 35 rushes, nine enough. Physically, they’re strong enough to get off catches and seven touchdowns. the line and hold up in blocking. The next step for “I thought Bradrick did an outstanding job of both of them is continuing to get more reps and growing this year,” Fumagalli said of Bradrick Shaw, learning the game.”

▼ TAP TO WATCH - 1 on 1 with Troy Fumagalli after Cotton Bowl Win ICON SPORTSWIRE

BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD: TURNING THE PAGE TO 2017 PAGE 5 OF 6 The No. 1 question mark, for now, is whether left tackle Ryan Ramczyk will return. If he doesn’t come back, David Ed- wards may be a candidate to move over from right tackle. “I think he could do it without much problem,” Rudolph said. It has been quite a growing experi- ence for Edwards, a converted tight end. “I’m really proud of the way he got himself ready to play and approached the position,” Rudolph said. “He has really taken to coaching. He has real- ly worked and embraced the job. And he has earned the respect of the guys that he plays with, which is saying a lot. “His first real playing time in the heat of the moment was Ohio State and it wasn’t great. But you know what?

DAVID STLUKA You’ve got to get through that stuff. It’s the only way you grow and find out what it’s like to have to prepare and be ready. He battles — which I really love.” Another freshman, Kendrick Pryor, redshirted Edwards, a redshirt freshman, knows that he’s still and spent his time on the scout team. “It was tough a work in progress. “Spring ball is going to be huge to get all three freshmen ready to play,” conceded for me as well as the two phases of weightlifting,” Gilmore. “But athletically he flashes. He’s going to he said. “I’ve definitely grown a lot and I like to think be another guy who’s going to make it interesting I’ve been learning on the fly a little bit. But I still to see how it all unfolds.” have a way to go.” Quarterback Alex Hornibrook is banking on de- Moving forward, the Badgers should be extreme- veloping a chemistry with his receivers. ly solid in the kicking game with kickoff specialist But it doesn’t stop there. P.J. Rosowski, punter Anthony Lotti and placekicker “I want to perfect the position and minimize the Rafael Gaglianone. All three phases played a role in mistakes and take off with the offense,” said Horn- the 11-win season and will again when the 2017 ibrook, who started nine games during his redshirt team begins to take shape. freshman season. “There were a bunch of things “Confidence means the world, it means a ton in that helped me out this year that I can grow from, this sport,” said Fumagalli, who expressed it with his whether it was good or bad.” play in the Cotton Bowl. “There will be some re- It’s not only going to be an important spring for grouping, but it will be a fun process. We go through Hornibrook, but his offensive line. it every year. And we know what the expectation is “I’ve got multiple trains of thought going,” said of- for next year for everybody coming back.” fensive coordinator Joe Rudolph. Take it from one of the departing seniors. Some potential options have intrigued him. “They’ll do some great things, I feel,” said Dare “There will be good competition,” he said. “I’m -ex Ogunbowale. “They’ll be real successful.” cited about the young guys.” Again. Or still.

BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD: TURNING THE PAGE TO 2017 PAGE 6 OF 6 DAVID STLUKA

SENIORS GO OUT

Record-settingON class finishes ‘toughTOP road’ as Cotton Bowl champs BY ANDY BAGGOT ■ UWBADGERS.COM INSIDER

ALLAS, Texas — The journey ended where The finish came here, in the ostentatious home of it began for members of the Wisconsin foot- the Cowboys, where UW used a series of big plays Dball team. on offense and defense to take out one of the last In a legendary NFL stadium. two unbeaten clubs in the Football Bowl Subdivi- In a taut, riveting duel against a highly-ranked, sion. unbeaten opponent. Wisconsin (11-3 overall) prevailed over the Bron- In a situation with high stakes and vulnerable rep- cos (13-1) because its core values remained consis- utations. tent and its expectations never wavered. The Badgers handled both moments the same “We knew what was at stake every time we had way, which is why they were seen laughing, joking the ball or just came out to practice each day,” se- and making confetti angels on the floor of AT&T nior tailback Corey Clement said. Stadium on Monday afternoon. There were doubters galore when UW began the Eighth-ranked UW carved out a 24-16 victo- season because its schedule was deemed overbear- ry over 12th-rated and unbeaten Western Michi- ingly toxic. In all, there were six opponents ranked gan to win the fabled Cotton Bowl Classic before in the top 10 and all three losses came out of those 59,615 onlookers. matchups. Just like that, the curtain went down on Wiscon- There were doubters aplenty when Wisconsin sin’s season just as it went up 121 days earlier. ended the season because the bowl assignment The opener was at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, came 31 days after a demoralizing loss to Penn State the iconic home of the Packers, where the unranked in the Big Ten Conference championship game and Badgers stunned fifth-rated and presumed national required matching up with a non-Power Five league title contender LSU 16-14 on Sept. 3. foe.

RECORD-SETTING SENIOR CLASS GOES OUT ON TOP PAGE 1 OF 4 “THE BEST SATISFACTION IS GOING OUT HERE AND FINISHING WITH THIS TEAM,” HOUSTON SAID. “IT’S THE LAST“ TIME WE’LL BE TOGETHER AND I’M SO PROUD OF THEM, SO PROUD OF THEM FOR THE WAY WE FOUGHT THROUGH EVERY GAME AND EVERY SITUATION.”

“There’s a lot of great teams, a lot of great players to come through here,” senior free safety Leo Mus- so said, his voice quivering with emotion. “Growing up here (in Waunakee, Wisconsin) I admired a lot of these teams, so it’s pretty special that we get to put our mark on it.” The class of 13 seniors had fingerprints all over the statistics sheet in the finale. Tailback Corey Clement accounted for 99 yards of total offense (71 rushing, 28 receiving) and a touchdown. Tailback and co-captain Dare Ogunbowale added 50 yards in total offense (28 receiving, 22 rushing) and a TD. Quarterback Bart Houston was nearly flawless throwing the ball (11-for-12, 159 yards) on the way to tying the legendary Bobby Layne for the best completion percentage in Cotton Bowl history (.917). Musso was second on the team with nine tackles, while outside linebacker and co-captain Vince Bie- gel had five tackles, a quarterback sack and a forced

DAVID STLUKA fumble in his school-record-tying 54th career ap- pearance. Cornerback Sojourn Shelton also made his 54th career appearance, but augmented it with a pro- As was their habit all season, the Badgers made gram-record 51st career start. the most of a challenging moment, generated mo- Chryst opened his postgame presentation thank- mentum for next season and created a series of im- ing the seniors, who won 41 of 54 games (.759) portant milestones. and were 10-1 in rivalry trophy games (.909) while “You’re Cotton Bowl champs,” UW coach Paul working under three different head coaches. Chryst told his players in the locker room after the “That was a tough road you all had and you came trophy celebration, “but you’re a lot more than that.” out of it,” he said. “That’s a hell of a deal.” Chryst paused. The seniors finished with a flourish, winning 11 “That’s a lot of grit, determination and class,” he games in 2014, 10 in ’15 and 11 in ’16. They also said. won three straight bowl games. DAVID STLUKA Most notably, the triumph produced the Wiscon- “It’s pretty cool, but it has to do with all the class- sin senior class with the most wins over a four-year es around us, too,” long snapper Connor Udelhoven period (41). said. “They did an awesome job to allow this. I hope

RECORD-SETTING SENIOR CLASS GOES OUT ON TOP PAGE 2 OF 4 it’s a record that’s quickly broken. passes for 83 yards. His effort included an outra- “It’s cool that we’re the class to have done it, but geous one-handed grab, the clinching TD reception I hope there’s many classes that can beat it.” and a 26-yard catch on third down that ended any Biegel thought about jumping to the NFL after his hopes the Broncos had of a comeback. junior season, but stuck around and is glad he did. Sophomore inside linebacker T.J. Edwards was “It’s a special group and named defensive play- I’m very proud of it,” he er of the game thanks said of the senior win re- “YOU’RE COTTON BOWL CHAMPS,” UW COACH to a team-best 10 tack- cord. PAUL CHRYST TOLD HIS PLAYERS IN THE LOCKER les and a fourth-quarter In a way, Houston was ROOM AFTER THE“ TROPHY CELEBRATION, interception that shifted a microcosm for the UW “BUT YOU’RE A LOT MORE the momentum and set season. He started the THAN THAT.” up the TD catch by Fu- first three games before magalli. giving way to redshirt Hornibrook, mean- freshman Alex Hornibrook, who started the next while, made the most of an abbreviated work day nine before suffering a head injury. Undaunted, by completing both passes and delivering a deft Houston started the last two and saved his most touch throw to Fumagalli in the back of the end efficient outing for his last. zone that made it 24-10. When Chryst entered the postgame locker room, When it was over, the Badgers celebrated the end the first player he embraced was Houston, who of a long, fruitful season. Redshirt freshman tailback joined (2015), (’06), Brooks Bradrick Shaw was seen doing confetti angels with Bollinger (’02) and Mike Samu- el (1998) as the only Wisconsin quarterbacks to end their ca- reers with a bowl win. “The best satisfaction is going out here and finishing with this team,” Houston said. “It’s the last time we’ll be together and I’m so proud of them, so proud of them for the way we fought through every game and every situation.” The Badgers jumped out to a 14-0 lead and did enough to keep their distance facing the eighth- best scoring offense in the FBS (43.5 points per game). West- ern Michigan, the Mid-American Conference champion, came in averaging 496.7 yards per game, but was limited to 280 by the seventh-best defense in the FBS. The future for the Badgers un- folded in a variety of tantalizing ways.

Junior tight end Troy Fuma- USA TODAY galli was named offensive player of the game after he caught six

RECORD-SETTING SENIOR CLASS GOES OUT ON TOP PAGE 3 OF 4 DAVID STLUKA

a broad smile, while Chryst not only photo-bombed “A special memory,” Wheelwright said. an on-camera interview with Edwards, he cheerfully “The best in Wisconsin history,” Biegel said. “The sprinkled confetti on Clement while he spoke to ES- record speaks for itself.” PN’s Allison Williams during the trophy presentation. Twenty years from now, what will the UW seniors “It’s been one heck of a ride,” Fumagalli said. tell their friends about their classmates? “There’s no other way to say it.” Said Houston: “We fought. We persevered through UW endured through losing three starters for the adversity and we handled it and we handled it well.” season and dropping consecutive Big Ten heart- Said Ogunbowale: “We were a great group of breakers to fourth-ranked Michigan (14-7) and sec- guys, a really close group and we did a lot of special ond-rated Ohio State (30-23 in overtime) in October. things as a team.” Clement, who finished with a career-best 1,375 Said Udelhoven: “Shoot, the biggest thing is we rushing yards and 15 TDs, said he took comfort in had a lot of fun playing with each other. That’s been seeing how his teammates embraced practices, re- the calling card of our whole team all season. It’s gardless of length or intensity. been a blast.” “Everybody wanted to get better at something Clement said being the winningest senior class at whether it was pass blocking or getting the play Wisconsin is a shared honor. called or just being more decisive,” he said. “The “That starts with everybody,” he said. “There’s no guys laid it out there for a great reason, a great individuals. cause.” “That definitely goes to the coaching staff, the Senior wide receiver Rob Wheelwright contribut- training room people, the academic services peo- ed one reception for 12 yards, but it went for a first ple. It wouldn’t be possible without those guys. I’ve down. got to say thank you to the people who deserve it.” “Coach Chryst always talks about grit and that’s The Badgers finished the season with memorable, what it’s been like throughout the season,” he said. look-alike, bookend performances. “Being in tight battles. Being able to overcome ad- “It’s great to go out on a win like that and be able versity and make plays at the end of the day. That’s to celebrate with the guys,” Ogunbowale said. “It’s what we live on.” been exciting to do this, playing in the places we Fumagalli said the seniors set the tone every day. played at the games we played.” “Bouncing back and finding a way to get it done,’ Musso had a hard time keeping his postgame he said. “That speaks volumes for them.” emotions in check. Two other UW senior classes won 40 games: “It’s bittersweet,” he said. “Man, I love these guys 2007 (40-11, .784) and 2012 (40-14, .741). so much. I wish I could play with them forever.”

RECORD-SETTING SENIOR CLASS GOES OUT ON TOP PAGE 4 OF 4 INSIDE FOOTBALL BY ANDY BAGGOT ▪ UWBADGERS.COM INSIDER DAVID STLUKA

▲ TAP TO WATCH - A Proper Send Off Watt ready to make NFL dream a reality Youngest brother hungry to add to family’s pro football pipeline

.J. Watt isn’t sure which idea is stranger. TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE The one about him preparing to join his two older broth- Ters as NFL employees next season. “Surreal,” he said.

Or the one about the Wisconsin football team being Watt-less for the first time in nearly a decade. “Crazy,” he said. Both realities came to life Tuesday when Watt, a junior out- side linebacker from Pewaukee, Wisconsin, revealed he would bypass his final season of eligibility with the Badgers to declare

SCROLL for the next NFL draft. The news came a day after eighth-ranked UW closed out an intensely satisfying season with a 24-16 victory over 12th-rat- ed Western Michigan in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic in Dallas, Texas. Watt has every intention of joining J.J., a decorated defensive

end for Houston, and Derek, a fullback with San Diego, in the TWEETS VIEW TO REQUIRED CONNECTION INTERNET NFL in 2017. T.J. said the fundamentals of his decision to make the jump are SOCIAL rooted in what he feels is best. MEDIA: “I know a lot of people think I’m making this decision because I’m afraid of getting hurt, but that’s not the case at all,” he said. “The truth of the matter is this decision was really hard be- cause I really love Wisconsin, I love the university, I love the coaching staff, I love the guys more than anything. “But at the same time, this is something I’ve wanted my whole life and it’s an opportunity that’s right in front of my face and I’ve got to take it.” T.J., uncommonly athletic for someone 6-foot-5 and 243 pounds, said he began thinking seriously about turning pro after the Big Ten Conference championship game loss to Penn State in early December. He went to Dallas “90 percent sure” he would make the move and proceeded to help the Badgers win their third-straight bowl game and finish 11-3 overall. Watt said he informed UW coach Paul Chryst of his decision after the game. “I tried to not think about it at all throughout the whole sea- son,” Watt said of turning pro. “I feel like I did a good job.” INSIDE MEN’S BASKETBALL BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM SENIOR WRITER USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Badger Sports Report with Greg Gard Cool and composed Badgers pass the test Battle-hardened Wisconsin unfazed by close games, hostile road games

he empty statistical categories best tell the story. TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE Record in games decided by 3 points or less: 0-0. T Record in games decided by 4-5 points: 0-0. Record in games decided by 6-10 points: 1-0.

Record in games decided by 11-19 points: 5-2. Record in games decided by 20 or more points: 6-0. Prior to Tuesday night’s 75-68 win against Indiana — which was tied five times and had eight lead changes — Wisconsin had played just one game this season that was determined by single digits.

SCROLL A 93-84 victory at Marquette. “Coach (Greg Gard) was talking about that,” acknowledged senior guard Zak Showalter. “We haven’t been in many close games like this all year. “Both of our losses (Creighton and North Carolina) were dou- ble-digit losses and none of our wins were this close.

“It was kind of a good test for us — on the road in a hostile TWEETS VIEW TO REQUIRED CONNECTION INTERNET environment — to pull one out like this. It was good to see that we were able to do that.” SOCIAL Experience usually spells the difference in such close encoun- MEDIA: ters and it was a three-point game (66-63) with 2:47 remaining when the Badgers went on a 7-0 run as part of their finishing kick. “We’ve played in some pretty crazy places and we’ve had some pretty intense games,” said senior guard Bronson Koenig, speak- ing to the equity from back-to-back Final Four journeys. “With a group full of veterans like this, I knew that we wouldn’t be rattled at all and we’d keep our composure and that’s what we did.” The Badgers have always sported a road warrior mentality ac- counting for their impressive 50-18 record outside of the Kohl Center over the last four seasons. They’ve also been incredibly successful closing out opponents, home or away, when they’ve had the lead or been tied with five minutes or less on the clock. What goes into that mindset? INSIDE MEN’S HOCKEY BY PAUL CAPOBIANCO ▪ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS GREG ANDERSON

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Badger Hockey Digest Captain America, meet Master Luke Kunin continuing Wisconsin tradition as a Team USA World Junior captain Move top up 2 & bottom down 1

hen Team USA head coach Bob Motzko announced TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE who the captain for the 2017 International Ice Hock- Wey Federation World Junior Championship would be, he made a wise choice.

He picked Wisconsin sophomore forward Luke Kunin for the role, who joined Badgers Jake McCabe, John Ramage and Derek Stepan as Team USA captains in the last eight years. With nine medals all-time since the event officially began in 1978, Team USA has brought home a medal in each of the last three trips with a Badger as captain. It will be four-straight times

SCROLL in 2017 as the Kunin-led Americans are in Thursday’s gold medal game after a seven-round shootout win over Russia on Wednes- day. McCabe led the team to gold in 2013, Ramage directed the squad to bronze in 2011 and Stepan captained the team to gold in 2010. Throw in Team’s USA first-ever gold medal at the event in INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS TWEETS VIEW TO REQUIRED CONNECTION INTERNET 2004 — with former Badger Mike Eaves as head coach and Ryan Suter, Jake Dowell and Jeff Likens on the squad — and Badgers SOCIAL have been key to all three gold medal runs in tournament histo- MEDIA: ry to this point. Kunin, who has been among the team leaders in minutes played throughout the tournament, helped set up a pair of goals and fired off 15 shots in three-plus games of pool play. In the elim- ination round, Kunin has a goal in each contest, scoring in the quarterfinals against Switzerland and a power-play goal against Russia in the semifinals. That helped Team USA win its first-ever World Junior media round tilt against Russia. Kunin has been used in all situations, including killing penal- ties, and has been blocking shots and doing whatever necessary to help Team USA go 6-0 through pool play and the elimination games to get to the gold medal contest. Wisconsin’s leading goal scorer, with 11 goals through the season’s first 16 games, could be back in Madison in time to play this weekend when the Badgers take on Michigan State in the team’s Big Ten home-opening weekend. UW skates Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 7 p.m. ■ INSIDE WOMEN’S HOCKEY BY A.J. HARRISON ▪ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS DAVID STLUKA

▲ TAP TO WATCH - 3 takeaways before heading to Lindenwood Badgers wrap up non-conference slate Wisconsin heads to Missouri to open up play in 2017

t’s been almost a month since the No. 1 Wisconsin women’s TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE hockey team has played a game and the Badgers are ready to Iring in the new year with a non-conference series at Linden- wood.

The Badgers have a lot of be excited about. Wisconsin ended 2016 with a 7-0 win at Ohio State on Dec. 11 before blanking OSU 5-0 on Dec. 12. In addition to being ranked No. 1 in the country, the Badgers also have the nation’s top offense (3.89 goals per game) and the country’s best defense (1.00 goals against per game).

SCROLL “I think coming off of the holidays everyone is excited to be back at the rink,” senior captain Sydney McKibbon said. “We all had a nice break at home with our friends and family, but we’re excited to start playing games again.” Following a holiday break, the Badgers reconvened on Dec. 29 for a week of practices, without classes, before making their way to Wentzville, Missouri on Thursday. INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS TWEETS VIEW TO REQUIRED CONNECTION INTERNET “It’s really nice having practices without having to worry about school work,” freshman Mekenzie Steffen said. “We have spent a SOCIAL lot of time together in the locker room just hanging out, watch- MEDIA: ing world juniors, the Cotton Bowl and The Bachelor. We’re just able to relax with one another and it’s been a very fun week.” UW now meets a surging Lindenwood team that just knocked off No. 10 North Dakota 4-1 in its last game Dec. 20. “They are a very tough team that loves to battle,” McKibbon said. “They just beat North Dakota, so we’re expecting them to come out flying against us. We are going to play a full 60-minute game and play hard every shift.” “They are a hard-working team,” Steffen said. “They’re obvi- ously going to give us their best game, so we have to come out fast right from the get-go.” INSIDE WRESTLING BY KELLI GRASHEL ▪ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS PAM RUSCHELL

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Six Badgers make podium at Midlands Championships Badgers shake it up to duel Buckeyes Wisconsin will sport a different lineup to host Ohio State Jan. 6

he No. 17 Wisconsin wrestling team is making some big TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE moves in its lineup heading into a highly-competitive Tweekend matchup with No. 4 Ohio State. UW will take junior Johnny Jimenez out of his redshirt season and start him

back in the 125-pound slot, while Michael Cullen will be starting at 133 pounds against the Buckeyes. Junior Jake Stilling will also step up as the 184-pound starter. “After the Midlands tournament and the results there, we de- cided to pull Johnny out of his redshirt,” head coach Barry Davis said. “We’re going with that move right now and we will move

SCROLL forward with it. Right now Eli is not quite as healthy as he should be, so we thought it might be better right now to throw Mikey in there and be smart with the situation, taking it day-by-day.” Despite lacking key personnel mid-tournament, the Badgers still finished in seventh place at the 54th Midlands Champion- ships this past weekend after losing Hunter Ritter to an injury

and both Cole Martin and Connor Medbery to illness. Several TWEETS VIEW TO REQUIRED CONNECTION INTERNET Badgers stepped up in their teammates’ absence to help the team. SOCIAL Ricky Robertson, UW’s starting 197-pounder, had a great MEDIA: showing after bouncing back from an early loss. He tallied four- straight decisions to propel him into the third-place match where he lost a 2-1 thriller in tiebreaker-1. One of the most surprising and refreshing performances of the tournament was that of true freshman Evan Wick. The Mur- rieta, California native dominated the 157-pound bracket wres- tling unattached and placed fourth with a 7-2 record onthe weekend. There’s no question why Davis wants to see Jimenez back on the mat after his presentation at Midlands, after the UW junior took seventh place in his first competition of the year. Wisconsin will need all of its firepower to face fourth-ranked Ohio State, which boasts seven ranked wrestlers, three of whom are undefeated.