CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 21, 2016 ▪ VOLUME 7, ISSUE 6 THE PLAYERS TRIBUNE THE PLAYERS THE RESPECT IS MUTUAL Bronson Koenig has been a role model for the Native American community since taking the floor at Wisconsin. In holding court with the Standing Rock, Koenig proved that’s a two-way street. FEATURES FOOTBALL DAVID STLUKA DAVID IN [FOCUS] FAMILY FEUDS The week's best photos How has the Big Ten changed? What THE VOICE has remained constant? UW coach- Another classic on tap? es from several eras chime in on what continues to define the league. BY THE NUMBERS Facts and figures on UW ICON SPORTSWIRE LUCAS AT LARGE WHAT TO WATCH Where to catch the Badgers ‘IT’S A FISTFIGHT’ ASK THE BADGERS Road trip essentials? Wisconsin’s most recent run-ins with Michigan State have produced some BADGERING classic contests — just ask some of Amy Davis (Cross Country) the men who played in those games. INSIDE-SCROLL FOOTBALL FOR MORE- Red zone a work in progress 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 Andy Baggot Writer Matt Lepay Columnist Chris Hall, Jerry Mao, Brandon Spiegel Video Production Max Kelley Advertising Drew Pittner-Smith Distribution Contributors Paul Capobianco, Kelli Grashel, A.J. Harrison, Brandon Harrison, Patrick Herb, Diane Nordstrom Photography David Stluka, Neil Ament, Greg Anderson, Bob Campbell, The Players Tribune, Cal Sport Media, Icon Sportswire Cover Photo: Courtesy Bronson Koenig Problems or Accessibility Issues? [email protected] © 2016 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM Remembering recent run-ins with MSU hey all contributed to Big rivalry Saturday in East Lansing. “A fistfight,” said Costigan, a Ten championships. They So they were asked, “What’s first-team All-Big Ten offensive Tall played in Rose Bowls. the first thing that comes to guard (2014). They all eventually chose coach- mind about Michigan State?” Don’t take it literally. That was ing as a profession. And, today, “We knew it was going to be a not Costigan’s intention. they are all toiling as graduate dogfight that would come down “They’re a bunch of physical assistants at Wisconsin. to the wire,” said Fenelus, a first- guys and they line up and play, Antonio Fenelus, Jeff Duck- team All-Big Ten cornerback and that’s what I like about play- worth, Pat Muldoon and Kyle (2010-11). “We knew it was ing teams like that,” said Costigan Costigan have much in common. going to be tough.” who’s serving as a GA with UW’s Especially this week in advance “They’re always consistent strength and conditioning staff. of the Badgers’ Big Ten opener. with what they do defensively,” “They’re not going to surprise They all played against Michigan said Duckworth, a clutch wide you with any pressures or any- State. receiver. “They’ve been doing thing like that. There are no Game experience against the the same stuff over the years tricks. They’re going to line up ― Spartans is non-existent on the and obviously it works. you against me ― and it’s going 2016 roster. All but one of UW’s to be a fistfight. fifth-year seniors were redshirt- “YOU CAN’T GET TOO HIGH “They give you their best shot ing in 2012, the last time these OR TOO LOW. YOU CAN NEVER and you give them yours. Those teams met. FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE have always been the funnest Wide receiver Reggie Love LEAD. AND YOU CAN NEVER games that I’ve been a part of. appeared in five games, mostly FEEL LIKE YOU’RE OUT OF IT IF Line up and play and whoever on special teams, but didn’t see YOU’RE DOWN. YOU HAVE TO is the better man comes out on action against Michigan State. KEEP BATTLING. YOU HAVE top.” (Love wound up redshirting in 60 MINUTES TO PLAY.” Win, lose or draw, Costigan 2013.) loved no-frills football. A foot injury sidelined line- “They’ve got a blueprint for And the last time the Bad- backer Vince Biegel for all but success. They play a good physi- gers and Spartans played, it was the first two non-conference cal style of football.” a draw after 60 minutes. But games in ’12. Biegel was later “It was going to be a battle no Michigan State pulled out the granted a medical redshirt. matter what ― a slugfest,” said win in overtime. Quarterback Bart Houston, Muldoon, a gritty defensive end. “That was a game that you safety Leo Musso, tailback Dare “One team will gain momentum laid everything out on the field,” Ogunbowale, tight end Eric Stef- and then it will swing back and Costigan said. “Obviously, we fes and long snapper Connor forth. didn’t end up on top. Udelhoven all redshirted that “You can’t get too high or too “Not that I have a personal season. low. You can never feel comfort- vendetta or anything like that If asked, Fenelus, Duckworth, able with the lead. And you can against Michigan State, but I felt Muldoon and Costigan can fill never feel like you’re out of it if we could have won that game in the blanks on the Spartans: a you’re down. You have to keep and should have won that game. timely inquiry since the Badgers battling. You have 60 minutes to “I feel like there is some unfin- and the Spartans will renew their play.” ished business.” LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 1 OF 4 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ hind quarterback Andrew Max- French kicked a 43-yard field ct. 27, 2012 at Camp well, the Badgers took a 10-3 goal. But Maxwell answered with Randall Stadium lead on Kyle French’s 39-yard a scoring pass to Bennie Fowler O Michigan State 16, field goal with 6:06 to play in on third-and-8 from the UW 12. Wisconsin 13 (OT) the fourth quarter. “He (Maxwell) put it on the When the Spartans and Bad- On the subsequent posses- money to beat us,” Muldoon said. gers collided in Madison, they sion, Muldoon sacked Maxwell The Badgers had won 21 con- were the Big Ten’s winningest for a loss of seven yards. But secutive home games, including programs over the past three the Spartans got out of a sec- 12 straight in the Big Ten seasons with 16 conference vic- ond-and-17 hole with a 20-yard Reflecting on that painful loss, tories each. completion from Maxwell to Costigan said, “We had a lot of Quarterback Joel Stave com- Tony Lippett. games like that.” pleted 9 of 11 passes for 127 That was the turning point for The Badgers also lost in over- yards and one touchdown ― 31 Maxwell, who engineered a 12- time to Ohio State and Penn yards to tight end Jacob Peder- play, 75-yard drive culminating State in 2012. sen ― in the first half, staking with a five-yard toss to Bell on But nothing was more painful Wisconsin to a 7-3 lead. third-and-4 for the game-tying than how the Badgers lost on Despite elite tailbacks like touchdown with 68 seconds left. their last trip to East Lansing. Le’Veon Bell, Montee Ball and In overtime, the Badgers lost “That was definitely one of the James White, neither team could one yard on three plays and harder losses,” Muldoon said. run the ball the first 30 minutes. The Spartans had 14 yards on STLUKA DAVID 14 carries; the Badgers had 23 on 14 rushes. On the first play of the third quarter, Michigan State de- fensive end William Gholston sacked and planted Stave into the turf. Stave broke his collar- bone and was replaced by Dan- ny O’Brien. “We were playing so well when Joel became the starter and I thought we were going to turn the season around,” Costi- gan said. “That’s why there’s still such a bad taste in your mouth. “They (the Spartans) took away the run so you have to beat them in some other ways, and we could have done that if Joel would have stayed healthy.” With Michigan State doing Joel Stave next to nothing on offense be- LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 2 OF 4 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ es to Bell, Cousins was sacked into the hands of Keith Nichol. ctober 22, 2011 at by Brendan Kelly and fumbled. “I couldn’t watch it,” said Mul- Spartan Stadium “We should have had it,” Fen- doon, who was on the sideline O Michigan State 37, elus lamented. after being replaced for an extra Wisconsin 31 But it was recovered instead defender (wide receiver Jared Ab- In a first half of wild momentum by offensive tackle Dan France brederis). Muldoon never looked swings, the Badgers led 14-0 after on the MSU 24. up. “I just heard the crowd.” the first quarter but the Spartans “I remember Coach (Chris) Ash “I remember me and Mike (Tay- responded with 23 unanswered brought it up that Sunday when lor) trying to pull him (Nichol) back points in the second quarter. we were watching film,” Fenelus before he got in the end zone,” The MSU explosion included a said of the former UW defen- said Fenelus. “I had a bad feeling blocked punt that was recovered sive coordinator who is now the when they were reviewing it.” in the end zone by the afore- head coach at Rutgers.