CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 23, 2015 ■ VOLUME 6, ISSUE 7 COVER STORY DAVID STLUKA DAVID THIS IS ONLY A DRILL Time is of the essence when directing a two-minute drill, but for Joel Stave and the Badgers, there’s no need to rush — especially when working quickly comes naturally. FEATURES WOMEN’S HOCKEY IN [FOCUS] DRIVE FOR FIVE The week's best photos Their journey toward a title starts with BY THE NUMBERS DAVID STLUKA DAVID a trip out West, but Mark Johnson Facts and figures on UW won’t let the Badgers’ eyes wander too far down the road just yet. WHAT TO WATCH Where to catch the Badgers BADGERS GIVE BACK SPOTLIGHT LUCAS AT LARGE Flat Bucky is back HELLO AGAIN, HENRY ASK THE BADGERS Dream shopping spree? When former players sprung a sur­ prise visit on Henry Mason last week­ STLUKA DAVID BADGERING end, what wasn’t surprising was how Danny Westerman (MTEN) much they still care for their coach. INSIDE -SCROLLFOOTBALL FOR MORE­ Orr steps up, steps in for UW 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 Photo: Dan Sanger / Icon Sportswire 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 Caring comes as no surprise with Mason hen Henry Mason heard er, niece, cousins), friends and different things. He had a great from Lee Evans, he former UW players. relationship with a lot of players, Wdidn’t think there was “They got me,” Mason said and not just his receivers.” anything suspicious about Evans with a sigh. “They got me bad.” When Mason looked around the coming to Madison for a football And he loved every minute of room, he saw players that he had game and wanting to get togeth­ it. And so did everyone who was mentored. Most have aged well ― er. For 12 seasons, Mason was there to honor him. That includ­ from Evans and Chambers (who Wisconsin’s wide receivers coach ed the coach who hired him. “To got in town late because of a flight and Evans was one of the best hear the players speak to the ex­ delay) to Jeff Mack, Mike Echols, receivers and players that Ma­ perience that they had here and Jonathan Orr, Johnny Sylvain, son recruited, along with Chris what Henry meant to them was Brandon Williams and Brandon Chambers ― the other half of the special,” said UW athletics direc­ White, among so many others. Bedford, Ohio, connection with tor Barry Alvarez, who admitted And let’s not forget John Favret, Evans. the biggest surprise was that Ma­ a defensive end out of Cleveland. Last Friday, Evans met Mason son didn’t get wind of the tribute “First guy recruited,” Mason said. at Camp Randall and got him to and was genuinely surprised. As an assistant, he respected walk over to Heritage Hall. An “Besides being a great per­ the game, and his players. And unsuspecting Mason stepped son and someone who really now they were returning the re­ into the trap ― a surprise party related to the kids well, he was spect. “It was almost a tear-jerk­ celebrating his 20th anniversa­ an outstanding coach and re­ er because we feel like he has ry; two decades of service to the cruiter,” Alvarez said. “The kids done so much for this universi­ football program. It was a “got­ trusted him. They knew that he ty,” Chambers said. “He’s a real cha” moment for the 59-year-old cared about them and not just person; he tells it like it is. Every­ Mason, who was greeted by his as football players. They felt very thing is built on toughness and wife Debbie, family (mom, broth­ comfortable going to him with he knows how to get the guys to ▲ PHOTOS - Tap to pause/play ■ Swipe to change LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 1 OF 2 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ■ UWBADGERS.COM where they need to be; he knows the player could come in here scouts, Big Ten officials, high how to push their buttons the and be successful, and not so school coaches, alums and a di­ right way.” much just on the field,” he said. versity group. “I do a lot of things Chambers remembered his first “This is a different place, a spe­ that keep me busy,” Mason said. meeting on campus with Mason. cial place. But it also takes a Nobody appreciates his con­ “When I came in as a freshman, certain type of individual. Spend­ tributions more than Alvarez. he asked if I wanted to play de­ ing time with the kids and family, “He understands what we’re all fensive back or receiver,” he re­ you’d get a better feel for wheth­ about,” he said of Mason and his called. “I said, ‘I want to catch er they could make it here or not. thorough knowledge of the foot­ touchdowns.’ He said, ‘Then, you Usually, they’d do well.” ball program, the campus and have to learn how block first.’ So the community. “Paul (Chryst) I learned how to block and I was CHRYST ON MASON: wants to use him more as a able to catch some touchdowns springboard, and in a lot of dif­ “I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH (16 TDs among his 127 career re­ ferent ways to where we can get TO WORK WITH HENRY; I KNOW ceptions). It worked out for me.” our current players to know him WHAT KIND OF COACH HE WAS. As it did for Williams, who fin­ better and trust him like the old­ ished with a school-record 202 HE WAS DEMANDING BUT HE er players did.” catches. “He was able to bal­ CARED TREMENDOUSLY ABOUT Chryst definitely has a role in ance me out but not put my fire THE PLAYERS. HE COACHED mind for Mason. “He can add so out,” said the receiver known as THEM OFF THE FIELD AS MUCH much to this program,” he said. B-Will. “He was able to focus my AS ON THE FIELD.” “I was fortunate enough to work energy in the right places. He with Henry; I know what kind of never tried to stagnate my imag­ Most of them are still doing coach he was. He was demand­ ination and exuberance for the well. “That was the biggest thing ing but he cared tremendously game. But he always kept it real. that I took from it (the reunion) about the players. He coached You always felt like he was doing ― how well they are all doing,” them off the field as much as on it because he wanted you to be Mason said. “It’s real interesting, the field. better as a man and as a player.” but the guys who put in the work “He knows people, he knows That was, indeed, Mason’s goal and listened and took direction players. He knows their compet­ as a coach and a teacher. “You while they were here, they’re the itiveness and how to help them wanted to be stern with them, ones who are doing really well grow.” but you wanted to be fair,” he right now. I was happy to see When Mason scanned the said. “On one end, you’re the them and really proud of the fact room Friday, he couldn’t help but guy that they have to follow. On that they’ve all taken care of their smile, and laugh. “I was actually the other end, you want to be business.” thinking, ‘There’s a lot of money able to sit down and chew the fat In July of 2007, Mason suf­ in this group,” he said. “All the with them and relate. They saw fered a spinal cord injury that guys are doing really well, they’ve both sides ― the guy who’s the ended his career as a coach. For got decent jobs and families.” boss and the guy who’s teaching the last seven years, he has been Evans, 34, brought his 7-year­ them how to work and have fun working out of the football offices old son with him. “Looks fast,” at the same time.” as the Director of Player Per­ said Mason, who still has a dis­ As a recruiter, Mason had sonnel and External Relations. It cerning eye and soft spot in his guidelines. “You really followed has been an all-encompassing heart for all of his “kids” ― and your gut on whether you thought assignment of working with NFL now theirs, too. ■ LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 2 OF 2 THE VOICE BY MATT LEPAY ■ VOICE OF THE BADGERS Night is always right in Camp Randall hen we learned the ories. career start under center. His Badgers’ game this In the 2002 season opener offensive coordinator was Paul W week against Ha­ against Fresno State, a Mike Chryst, who was in no mood to waii would be at night, the first Allen field goal with two minutes mess around. On Wisconsin’s thought was simple ― it’s about to play gave the Badgers a 23-21 first play from scrimmage, Tolzien time.