STAYING IN MADISON LB Mike Taylor (53) takes a turn “cutting down” the goalpost in Camp Ran- dall Stadium with Paul Bunyan’s Axe after the Badgers beat Minnesota, 38- 13, last Saturday to claim the trophy for the ninth-straight season. PHOTO BY DAVID STLUKA IN FOCUS IN FOCUS LA BAHN SELLOUT The women’s hockey team played the first game in LaBahn Arena last Friday, opening the new arena in front of a sellout crowd of 2,273 fans. Wisconsin hosts New Hampshire on Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. PHOTO BY DAVID STLUKA EASY LIFTING OL Ryan Groy (79) lifts RB James White (20) into the air in celebra- tion after White’s first touchdown of Saturday’s game against Min- nesota. White led the Badgers with 175 rushing yards and three TDs as the Badgers rolled past the Gophers, 38-13. PHOTO BY DAVID STLUKA IN FOCUS IN FOCUS WITHIN REACH Sophomore Ellen Chapman reaches with her left hand to score against Indiana last Friday. The 6-foot-4 outside hitter finished with a career-high 24 kills against the Hoosiers. PHOTO BY GREG ANDERSON OCTOBER 24, 2012 CONTENTS VOLUME 3, ISSUE 12 » FUN AND GAMES DEPARTMENTS While they provide the Badgers with one of the best 1-2 punches of any backfield tandem in the coun- 14 LUCAS AT LARGE try, Montee Ball and James White’s friendship goes by Mike Lucas 28 deeper than the typical bond between teammates. 16 BEHIND THE DESK by Barry Alvarez 18 THE VOICE « STREAKING by Matt Lepay Forget the red- 40 20 BY THE NUMBERS shirts. The Badgers will bring out ‘big guns’ Facts and figures on UW Mohammed Ahmed and Reed 22 5 THINGS TO WATCH Connor to join Maverick Dar- Where to catch the Badgers ling as Wisconsin looks for on TV and the web 14th-straight Big Ten title. 24 ASK THE BADGERS School assignments 26 BADGERING... » PAY UP, BO Josh Gasser How big of a check 48 48 INSIDE SPORTS will Bo Ryan write to the American Cancer Soci- Basketball, Volleyball, Hockey, Soccer, ety? With his latest Coaches vs. Cross Country Cancer fundraiser, that’s all up to the UW students who show 62 THIS WEEK IN HISTORY Deserving inductees up at the Kohl Center. 11 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, 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 After freak injury, focus is on fast recovery fter Mike Bruesewitz stole and none of it was making sense to “Some people say that I was kind the ball, he had only one Bruesewitz. “Henry is running over of blessed with a high pain toler- Athing in mind: dunk. to me,’’ he remembered, “and I’m ance,’’ Bruesewitz said. On his way to the rim, though, he thinking, ‘Oh, crap.’’’ The hospital stay was short. got caught from behind by Wiscon- Henry is Henry Perez-Guerra, Bruesewitz had surgery on Oct. 9 sin teammate Josh Gasser. the trainer for the Badger men’s and was released the next day. “And we kind of got entangled,’’ basketball program. The initial prognosis was that recounted Bruesewitz, a senior “He’s one of the best in the coun- he would be sidelined from four to from St. Paul, Minn. try, if not the best,’’ Bruesewitz said. six weeks. But he’s optimistic that As they fell to the floor, he said, That faith in Perez-Guerra helped he can resume practicing ahead of “I tried not to trample on Josh.’’ reassure him. schedule. So, the 6-6, 223-pound Bruese- “Henry was talking to me and “I would really like to get back witz went careening into the back making sure I was OK,’’ he said. for all the games,’’ Bruesewitz said. end of the basket standard. “And he had me do a couple of iso- “Realistically, we’ll see. It’s up to “The next thing I know,’’ he said, metric things with my ankle to see the doctors and up to my body.’’ “I looked down and I had a big gash if I had cut a nerve or if there was In retrospect, he knows that he in my leg.’’ muscle damage. was pretty lucky. Very little was left to the imagi- “He looked at me and said, “It was unfortunate that it hap- nation. “It was kind of scary,’’ Brue- ‘We’re not out of the woods yet, but pened,’’ he said, “but I guess I got sewitz said. you have full feeling and full control really fortunate because it didn’t Especially after seeing the size of of your foot and that’s a big thing nick or cut or sever any tendons or the open wound, a seven-inch long right there.’’’ nerves. It got a little bit of a muscle, gash along his shin. An ambulance was called to take but not much.’’ “I started to freak a little bit,’’ he Bruesewitz from the practice gym to That’s what he shared with his admitted. “I saw my bones.’’ the emergency room. teammates the day after surgery. The scariest part of slicing open Perez-Guerra and Wisconsin “Everybody came over and we his leg was not knowing how much coach Bo Ryan accompanied him talked about it,’’ said Bruesewitz, damage had been done. on the ride to the hospital. who lives with Jared Berggren and But he knew it wasn’t good and “Coach Ryan was very reassur- Dan Fahey. “We had a little bit of a that’s when his mind began racing ing,’’ he said. “I was glad he came; I therapy session in our living room. to worst case scenarios. was glad he was with us.’’ Bruesewitz can see himself Such as “not knowing if I was There was a peace of mind know- playing again — sooner than later. going to play basketball or walk ing that he was not alone. Regarding any potential physical normal again,’’ he said. “Once I got to the hospital,’’ limitations because of the injury, he What he did know — or what he Bruesewitz said, “I was much more said, “No, it’s just a flesh wound.’’ thought he knew — didn’t make calm.’’ Staying in character, he couldn’t him feel any better. On a scale of 1 to 10, Bruesewitz resist delivering the punch line. “I’m seeing my bone,’’ he said, was asked to describe his level of “If you want to quote Monty “and I’m thinking, “I know there pain. “It was about a 3,’’ he replied. Python,’’ he said, “it’s merely a flesh are a lot of nerves and tendons and “I didn’t think that it hurt that bad.’’ wound.’’ some muscles there that can affect a Ryan made sure everyone knew You don’t have to worry about lot of things.’’’ that a “3’’ on the Bruesewitz scale when Bruiser will get back. He Everything was happening so fast may be a “7’’ to others. never left. 14 » VARSITY OCTOBER 25, 2012 MIKE LUCAS • UWBADGERS.COM BEHIND THE DESK BARRY ALVAREZ • UW DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Play of backfield duo has a familiar feel sat with Jimmy Leonhard dur- ing the Minnesota game, and it Iwas good to spend a little time with him. Jimmy is getting healthy and he’ll start getting more and more playing time in Denver. They’ll learn that they can trust him. He’ll get everybody lined up on defense and he will always be where he’s supposed to be — he’ll always be close to the ball. He had an interception last week. I could have asked anybody in the suite to pick out the NFL player, or the former NFL player, and I thought it was pretty interest- had Brent Moss and Terrell Fletch- Jimmy would have been the last ing to watch the reaction on de- er, and I loved the way that they guy they’d pick because of his size. fense. competed. When one had a big run, To play as many years as he has All of a sudden, the DBs have the other wanted to have a big run. — I believe this is his eighth season got gap responsibilities; however Both had very different styles, — is just amazing. It shows that you you want to adjust, and you can’t and Fletch was really a good don’t have to be some big, burly guy get too crazy, most people wouldn’t change-up. The contrast between to play in the NFL. What you have know how to line up. Moss and Fletcher was more pro- to be is what Jimmy is. That formation is going to create nounced than the contrast between You have to be smart and tough problems moving forward because Ball and White. and athletic. He’s very athletic. there are some different plays that Brent had to sit one year before That’s the reason he played for us we can run out of it besides what he could play, so he probably had and why he’s playing in the NFL we showed against Minnesota.