CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 9, 2015 ■ VOLUME 6, ISSUE 5 COVER STORY DAVID STLUKA DAVID EMOTION ‘W’ There isn’t a player in the Badgers locker room that doesn’t wear the Motion W with pride, but for those Wisconsin natives on the roster, suiting up for UW means just a little bit more. FEATURES MEN’S HOCKEY IN [FOCUS] SYSTEMS STUDY The week's best photos A pair of former hockey players from BY THE NUMBERS PAUL CAPOBIANCO PAUL Sweden spent time with the Badgers Facts and figures on UW as they look for a better model for organized sports in their homeland. WHAT TO WATCH Where to catch the Badgers ASK THE BADGERS LUCAS AT LARGE Best part of Camp Randall? SLINGING & SINGING BADGERING Shaelyn Sorensen (W. Track) Coming off a solid performance in UW’s loss to Alabama ― and another STLUKA DAVID INSIDE FOOTBALL one on his brother’s new album ― Young players learning fast Joel Stave is as confident as ever. INSIDE -SCROLLVOLLEYBALL FOR MORE­ A bounce-back weekend 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 Jerry Mao 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, Neil Ament, Greg Anderson, Bob Campbell, Pam Ruschell, Cal Sport Media, Icon Sportswire Cover Photos: John Fisher, Dan Sanger, David Stluka Problems or Accessibility Issues? [email protected] © 2015 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ■ UWBADGERS.COM Slinging or singing, Stave is confident he presence of a ing on where he was going to go rized. Five years later, he’s 21-8 Mid-American Conference when I committed (to Wiscon­ as the UW’s starting quarterback. Topponent, Miami Univer­ sin),” said Stave, a walk-on with The topper is that he’s now sity, in Saturday’s home opener the Badgers. “I had already been playing for Chryst, the Badgers’ may rekindle some memories of going to school for a month (in first-year head coach. It was the recruiting process, howev­ the spring of 2011 as an early during his freshman season er limited, for quarterback Joel enrollee) before he decided that when he was being redshirted Stave. He was recruited by a he wasn’t going to come here.” that Stave first got a feel for the MAC program, Western Mich­ Brissett opted to stay close to Chryst offense, which was in the igan, and only one other FBS home and signed with the Uni­ hands of a minor league infielder school, Wisconsin. versity of Florida. He ended up and transfer from NC State, Rus­ Stave made three trips to the staying in Gainesville for only two sell Wilson. Western Michigan campus in seasons before transferring to NC Stave took part in sev­ Kalamazoo. He went there for a State. Stave also didn’t stray far en-on-seven throwing with the summer football camp prior to from home, even though it meant scout team but he wasn’t its his senior year at Whitnall High taking the walk-on route. quarterback. That role belonged School in Greenfield. He went to receiver Lance Baretz, who back for a conference game be­ “HE’S GOT ENOUGH PLAYS IN could simulate the option. “I was tween the Broncos and Toledo. HIS HEAD, ENOUGH EXPERI­ primarily watching reps with the And he later went for an official (No. 1) offense,” Stave said. “I ENCE, THAT HE KNOWS WHAT visit. did a lot of standing, watching “They sold me on the fact that HE WANTS TO ATTACK,’’ STAVE and just kind of learning.” they thought I would have a SAID OF CHRYST. “WE’LL By then, he had already bought chance to play,” Stave remem­ ALWAYS HAVE A GOOD PLAN.” into Chryst’s offensive concepts. bered of the Broncos’ recruiting “That was really my thought pitch. “But, really, they weren’t “A lot of walk-ons take a lot of when I committed,” said Stave, recruiting me super hard. I didn’t pride in being under-recruited who operated out of a shotgun get offered by them until Decem­ guys from in-state when they spread in high school. “Watch­ ber. I think they had a few other get a chance to play for their ing Scott Tolzien his junior and guys offered. I was late on their state school,” said Stave, who senior years, I was thinking that radar.” fit in that category. “It’s kind of this is really a good offense and it The Badgers had been in touch different here than most states kind of fits what I’m able to do as with Stave for about six or seven because it’s the only Division I a pocket passer with the play-ac­ months at that point. His recruit­ football program in the state.” tion pass.” ing contacts were offensive co­ And for that reason, among Stave felt even better about the ordinator Paul Chryst and O-line others, Stave suggested, it fuels system after being exposed to it coach Bob Bostad. It was no the passion of Wisconsin-bred during practices his first spring secret that another quarterback prospects “who aren’t heavily and fall at Wisconsin. Wilson’s was on the UW radar, Jacoby recruited but who are excited to mastery of it on game days made Brissett, a highly-touted prospect try and prove themselves at the him appreciate it even more. Last out of Florida. highest level.” Saturday night, after a three- “He (Brissett) was still decid­ That’s how he could be catego­ year wait, Stave finally got his LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 1 OF 3 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ■ UWBADGERS.COM BOB CAMPBELL DAVID STLUKA DAVID turn behind the wheel of Chryst’s coach. sis on Stave throwing passes to offense. “It did come back a little easier the running backs. Dare Ogun­ Stave didn’t disappoint, either. because I had a pretty good feel bowale had six catches, Derek Challenged by what looms as one for the offense as a freshman, so Watt had five, Corey Clement of the premier defenses in col­ it came back pretty quick when (who was less than 100 percent lege football, he completed 26 of we started rolling with it. He physically) had two and Taiwan 39 passes (67 percent) for 228 (Chryst) tweaks it week-to-week Deal had one. yards and two touchdowns. In based on what he sees defen­ “They’re very good players and the first half, he was 14-of-16 for sively (from an opponent). He’s they’re all dangerous with the 149 yards and one of his incom­ got a great feel for what defenses ball in their hands,” said Stave, pletions was intentional, a throw­ like to.” who spread the wealth with com­ away. Plus, he’s adept as a play-call­ pletions to eight different receiv­ Stave looked like he had been er. “He’s got enough plays in his ers. “And being able to get them running the offense his whole head, enough experience, that the ball through more ways than life, the ultimate compliment. he knows what he wants to at­ just turning around and handing “I remembered a lot of the tack,” said Stave. “We’ll always it to them can be really big for words themselves (from 2011), have a good plan and through us.” not as much as what they meant our preparation we’re able to It’s hard to imagine the Bad­ or the concepts that came along make game adjustments on what gers facing a better defense. with them,” said Stave, who was we see and what he thinks will “They’ve got some unique kind reintroduced to the terminology work.” of athletes ― guys with size that upon Chryst’s return to Wiscon­ Against a formidable Alabama are able to move the way they sin after his three-year stint as front seven, the Badgers utilized do,” said Stave, who was sacked the University of Pittsburgh head their short game with an empha­ three times by the Tide. “They LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 2 OF 3 Badger fans, vote for the Iron Workers Local 383 “Ironman of the Game” through Wednesday each week throughout the 2015 football season. Visit Facebook.com/WisconsinFootball to follow along each week and cast your vote for the week’s top performer on the field. Enhancing the Camp Randall Experience Since 1923 Est. 1923 Proud Ambassador of the Wisconsin Football Ironman of the Game. LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ■ UWBADGERS.COM have a lot of confidence knowing good way to describe it,” said Changed.” they can line up and play you Stave, “He’s very thorough in his It’s part of a 10-song album straight-up.” preparation. He’s not going to that was released by Bryan Alabama made the Badgers cut any corners, he’s not going Stave. “I play some guitar and one-dimensional by completely to take any shortcuts, He’s going the bongos, do a little piano and shutting down the run. But Stave to make sure we know the game sing a little bit of harmony,” Joel saw benefits in such a test, pass plan just like he does.” Stave said of his musical contri­ or fail. “We’re able to take the To hear Stave talk in these butions.