PIN DROP The Kohl Center came to a standstill as Traevon Jackson pulled up for a jumper to beat the shot clock and give the Badgers the lead for good with 2.1 seconds remaining in a 45-44 win over No. 12 Minnesota last Saturday. PHOTO BY DAVID STLUKA IN FOCUS IN FOCUS ON A ROLL The men’s hockey team swept Alaska-Anchorage last weekend, to vault into a tie for fourth place in the WCHA. After starting the season with a single win in their first 10 games, the Badgers have only lost once in their past 14 contests, going 10-1-3 since Nov. 30. PHOTO BY DAVID STLUKA IN FOCUS WORDS OF WISDOM Women’s hockey head coach Mark Johnson addresses the team prior to the Badgers’ game against Minnesota on Sunday, Jan. 27 at LaBahn Arena. Johnson is in his 10th season at the helm of the UW program, having won 295 games and four national championships in that span. PHOTO BY DAVID STLUKA JANUARY 31, 2013 CONTENTS VOLUME 3, ISSUE 26 » THAT’S (NOT) DEBATABLE DEPARTMENTS An extremely slow start to the season behind them, the Badgers are back and carry a 10-game con- 12 LUCAS AT LARGE ference unbeaten streak into a series with North by Mike Lucas 26 Dakota that has the feel of playoff hockey. 14 BEHIND THE DESK by Barry Alvarez 18 THE VOICE « PLAN OF by Matt Lepay 36 ATTACK The buzz around 20 BY THE NUMBERS UW’s new coordinator is a Facts and figures on UW move to a 3-4 defense, but 22 5 THINGS TO WATCH Dave Aranda’s philosophy Where to catch the Badgers goes far beyond the numbers. on TV and the web 24 BADGERING Ben Brust » REVERSAL 44 INSIDE SPORTS 50 After a forgettable Basketball, hockey, season in 2011-12, a wrestling hard-working group of Badgers have reversed UW’s fortunes on 52 THIS WEEK IN HISTORY Home field advantage the mat in Big Ten competition. 9 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 Tolzien preparing for Super experience s the No. 3 quarterback on mistakes. Even more than that, he’s til I establish myself in this league the depth chart, the backup not just managing the game, he’s ― until I get playing time and prove Ato the backup, Scott Tolzien making plays.’’ that I can do it. I’m fine with that. didn’t take any snaps for the San Tolzien, who led the Badgers to Bottom line: you have to be hungry Francisco 49ers. But he still feels the 2010 Big Ten title, can derive to get better.’’ good about his ongoing pro football satisfaction not only from the By all accounts, Tolzien is fam- education. overall team results but in how the ished. “It’s pretty simple, I want to “For starters, I get to go against defense reacts to each individual be a starter,’’ he said. “That hasn’t the No. 1 defense in the NFL week- opponent from week to week. changed since when I picked up a in and week-out,’’ said Tolzien, the That’s on him. “I basically try to football when I was 10 years old.’’ former Wisconsin quarterback, who treat Wednesdays and Thursdays To this end, he has been taking runs the 49ers’ scout team in. as my game days,’’ he said. “What advantage of his teachers: head “I remember when I first got here, it boils down to is preparing each coach Jim Harbaugh, a former NFL I thought, ‘Am I the worst football week as the starter, whether you’re signalcaller, and the 49ers quar- player around? Or, what’s the deal?’ third string or first string. terbacks coach, Geep Chryst, the It didn’t take long to figure out that “You’d be cheating yourself ― brother of Pitt coach Paul Chryst. our defense is extremely good.’’ you’d be cheating your team ― if “He (Harbaugh) played over a It’s one of the reasons why the you weren’t doing that. A majority decade in the league,’’ Tolzien said, 49ers are playing in Super Bowl of my focus is on our scheme. That’s “so there’s merit in the things that XLVII against the Baltimore Ra- one of the fun parts of the gig.’’ he points out to you, whether it’s a vens. Another reason has been the On Super Bowl Sunday, he will defensive scheme or a fundamental dramatic emergence of quarterback be “trying to live or play vicariously of the position. Colin Kaepernick. through the starter and provide an “It’s not just coachspeak. He sees Tolzien started the season as the extra set of eyes for adjustments the game through our lens and that backup to Kaepernick who was the that can be made during timeouts has been extremely helpful. I’m just backup to Alex Smith. But after and between series.’’ so happy to work with both guys. Smith suffered a concussion, Kae- Although he has been inactive They’re first-class individuals and pernick took over as the starter and more than he has dressed for just awesome coaches. now Smith is the top reserve. three games during the regular “Geep is the more talkative ver- “I’ve learned a lot from just being season, Tolzien has treated his ap- sion of Paul (who was Tolzien’s the third guy,’’ Tolzien admitted. prenticeship with urgency. coordinator at UW). They have the “What I thought was really cool was “You realize at this level that a same humor and personality. You’re that none of this quote-unquote lot of it is on you,’’ Tolzien said. “If just going to hear more out of Geep.’’ controversy changed the dynamic you’re not good enough, they’re Tolzien heard from Smith after in our quarterback room.” going to find the next guy. That’s the Badgers hired Gary Andersen. Regarding Kaepernick’s rapid pretty powerful right there. Smith and Andersen were at development, Tolzien said, “We all “You’d better find a way to get Utah at the same time. knew he had the physical tools. You better each week, otherwise you’re “Right away, he goes, ‘That’s an saw that in practice. But the way not going to last. There’s another awesome hire,’’’ Tolzien said. “He he’s done it on game days is ex- crop of guys coming into this league told me he’s just one of the most tremely impressive. after the draft and they’re looking genuine people that you’ll ever “He’s still a young quarterback, to take your job. come across, just a normal guy.’’ yet he doesn’t make the young guy “It will be like that every year un- Not unlike Tolzien. 12 » VARSITY JANUARY 31, 2013 MIKE LUCAS • UWBADGERS.COM BEHIND THE DESK BARRY ALVAREZ • UW DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Making decisions with our fans as focus ’m thrilled that we won’t have just haven’t done that yet. only makes sense. to raise season ticket prices in No one wants to raise ticket We have our own concerns at Ifootball, men’s basketball and prices. But there’s a cost-of-living Wisconsin. men’s hockey. These are not spur of factor. I can remember buying gas First of all, you want to preserve the moment decisions. But they are for 10 cents a gallon in the old Ne- your natural rivalries. You want to a result of a process. braska days during the gas wars. maintain playing those rivals while After we take a look at our bud- Costs have changed, and there is striving for competitive balance get and see where we are fiscally the cost of doing business. within the divisions. ― and we don’t use consultants like But we try to be very sensitive to I thought the Big Ten did a very some schools ― we review where our fans. good job in researching everything we stand as far as the rest of the Big from the time that Penn State Ten programs. joined the league. It clearly showed By comparison to the rest of the This year, we just that there were teams that sepa- league, we don’t want to be at the rated themselves from others. top and we don’t want to be on the decided that we But I want to play Iowa every bottom. We want to be somewhere can go without an year. I didn’t like not playing Iowa in the middle. increase. If we the last two years. I know our fans Right now, we’re closer to the can move forward didn’t like it either. I want to con- bottom than the top on ticket tinue to play Minnesota every year. prices. and be fiscally I also want to play Nebraska Our people in the ticket office responsible and not every year. That has turned into a and our fundraisers will bring their raise ticket prices, natural rivalry for us.