IN [FOCUS] ‘SOMETIMES PLANS CHANGE’ Bella Lund wasn’t expecting her mother, Army Captain Jane Renee “J.R.” Lund, to re- turn home from a tour of duty in Afghanistan until October. The element of surprise made Saturday’s reunion all the more spe- cial for for Bella, J.R. and the 80,377 people who shared in their memo- rable moment at Camp Randall Stadium. PHOTO BY DAVID STLUKA IN [FOCUS] (SPECIAL) TEAM EFFORT Purdue running back and return man Akeem Hunt is a big-play threat for the Boilermakers, but the Badgers’ coverage team followed the lead of UW’s offense and defense in sti- fling Purdue on all fronts in a 41-10 win to open the Big Ten season last Satur- day at Camp Randall. PHOTO BY DAVID STLUKA IN [FOCUS] SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT Former Badgers All- American Joe Thomas was all smiles leaving the field in Minneapolis with QB Brian Hoyer after his Cleveland Browns grabbed their first win of the season with a 31-27 victory over the Vikings on Sunday. PHOTO BY DAVID STLUKA CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 // VOLUME 4, ISSUE 8 ALWAYS UP FOR A CHALLENGE DEPARTMENTS 26 A competitor through and through, Chris Borland is savoring 12 LUCAS AT LARGE by Mike Lucas one last chance to return to his native Ohio as a Badger and take a shot at taking down the Buckeyes in their own back yard 14 BEHIND THE DESK by Barry Alvarez 16 THE VOICE by Matt Lepay NO FICTION HERE 18 BY THE NUMBERS 36 Facts and figures on UW Why will “Bo” end up as a character in James Patterson’s next bestsell- 20 5 THINGS TO WATCH er? The story starts with Susan Pat- Catch the Badgers on TV and the web terson, whose love for the Badgers needs no embellishing. 22 ASK THE BADGERS Super Bowl halftime show 24 BADGERING Dominique Thompson LEAGUE LEAD-OFF 42 INSIDE SPORTS 44 Football, Volleyball, After an impressive 11-1 start to the Soccer, Cross Country season, the Badgers turn their attention to a rugged conference 54 THIS WEEK IN HISTORY Starting with a bang schedule in the loaded Big Ten. 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 Amy Eager Advertising Andrea Miller Distribution Contributors Paul Capobianco, Tam Flarup, Patrick Herb, A.J. Harrison, Diane Nordstrom, Anna Poulter-Hendrickson, Jeremy Wodajo Photography David Stluka, Greg Anderson, Neil Ament, Jeff Miller, Paul Capobianco, Patrick Herb, Brian Mason, Diane Nordstrom Problems or Accessibility Issues? [email protected] © 2013 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS // UWBADGERS.COM Gordon doesn't have to go far for guidance isconsin tailback James would tell Gordon about playing in mentally. White tapped his left the Horseshoe. “You’re still playing “I just think he’s developed that Wwrist and pointed to the a game that you’ve been playing all along the way, and he’s starting to heavens after his 70-yard touch- season,” he would stress. “Go out take off.” down run against Purdue. The there and have fun.” Most telling to Hammock were a symbolic gestures were in honor of The one-two punch of White and couple of runs in the Purdue game his late grandfather. Gordon has been so dynamic and where Gordon pounded the ball “I was named after him,” said productive that Ohio State coach inside rather than trying to outrun White, who has “James Willis” tat- Urban Meyer observed, “I can’t the pursuit to the edge like he at- tooed on his wrist. “I lived with him imagine two better backs on the tempted at Arizona State. for a couple of years when I was in same team.” “For him to make the adjustment elementary school; he was kind of a White has 61 carries (7.2 yards in one week’s time,” Hammock said, per rush), Gordon has 53 (11.8). “and get vertical on the (Purdue) White was in the eighth grade Nobody is complaining. safety ― and be able to score ― tells whensecond his father grandfather figure.” passed away. “We’re both hot,” said Gordon, me that he’s really growing up.” “My parents got me involved in who had a career-high 16 rushes A year ago, White and Montee sports,” he said, “but he was there at last Saturday. “We both do different Ball used to tease Gordon about every event that he could get to. We things; we’re both different backs ― how he reminded them of Kansas had a great relationship. Whenever kind of the same ― but different. City Chiefs running back Jamaal I get the chance to (acknowledge “They have to game plan against Charles. Both wear No. 25. Both him), I do, too. us differently.” wear dreads. Both wear out safe- “It’s just something where I Besides the long runs that have ties. remind myself that he’s watching characterized Flash-and-Dash Gor- With an infectious smile, Gordon over me.” don ― three runs of 60-plus yards admitted that there was a familiar White is now doing the same over the last six games ― he’s most look to Charles, a sixth-year player for Melvin Gordon; he’s watching proud of his yards between the out of the University of Texas. “We over the leading rusher in college tackles and after contact. are similar,” he said, “but he’s a lot football. Gordon appreciates the “A lot of people were doubting faster than me.” mentoring, especially going into the me saying that they didn’t think I Gordon, a redshirt sophomore Ohio State game. was able to do that,” Gordon said, from Kenosha, Wis., is a fan of “which gave me a little bit of moti- speed and playmakers. rely on James,” said Gordon, whose vation to work on that in practice. “I like Braxton Miller, it’s fun to name“I’m is definitely starting to going emerge to have on Heis to - “It’s just a mentality; it’s pretty watch him actually,” he said of the man Trophy lists. “He has experi- much what it is. Just being mentally Ohio State quarterback who has ence against Ohio State ― I don’t. tough, that’s the thing. My coach been cleared to play against the - has been working with me on that.” Badgers. “He makes plays, he’s an ership out there Saturday night.” UW running backs coach Thomas explosive player. Gordon“We will had definitely one carry need for his a lead Hammock has seen the changes in “As another explosive playmaker, minus-one in last season’s game, Gordon. you kind of like guys who make an overtime loss to the Buckeyes. “We’ve been together three years plays. White has played in each of the last now; he knows me and I know him, “Just as long as he doesn’t do it three meetings and has a combined I know what makes him tick,” Ham- against us.” total of 30 carries for 124 yards. mock said. “Earlier in his career, I Just as long as Gordon does do it “Just be decisive” is what White don’t know if he was the strongest against them. 12 // VARSITY September 26, 2013 Gordon doesn't have to go far for guidance BEHIND THE DESK BY BARRY ALVAREZ // UW DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Latest AD meetings a productive exercise hen you gather for go into effect next season with Bill Eichorst and Northern Illinois’ Sean formal meetings with a Hancock and we talked with the Frazier. Wgroup of athletic direc- football recruiting subcommittee There are a lot of people you try tors, you want to be able to bang about some proposals. to visit with. I always try to get with around some things and talk about We also heard from Big 12 com- Oklahoma’s Joe Castiglione and the issues with the other folks from missioner Bob Bowlsby and former North Carolina’s Bubba Cunning- the other conferences. CBS president Neal Pilson. ham. I spent some time with Bubba Sometimes you’ll leaving think- Bob is a very bright guy and I at Notre Dame. ing, “Why did I even come? I didn’t really like to listen to his views on Because there are so many layers get any answers.’’ governance and his views on the to our job, everyone has something That was not the case at our an- future of the NCAA and college ath- different going on. You may think nual Division IA Athletic Directors letics ― how you handle it and what you’ve got a problem, but every- Association meetings in Dallas. I changes have to be made. body has issues. You listen and sup- thought they were very construc- port one another. tive. It didn’t surprise me that every- There was an unbelievably high BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY body wanted to know about the turnout and a serious tone to the LAYERS TO OUR JOB, EVERYONE meetings. People wanted to be HAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT GO- Arizona State. By the sounds of it, there and they wanted to have Michiganofficiating State of our apparently football game thought at some say in discussing possible ING ON. YOU MAY THINK YOU’VE its game against Notre Dame was changes in governance. GOT A PROBLEM, BUT EVERYBODY also poorly called.