Big Ten 2010 // Wisconsin's Greatest Weakness - Pre-Season Expectations
by Jonathan Franz on May 4, 2010 8:33 AM CDT
in Wisconsin
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You were ranked No. 8. They were a Rich Rodriguez coached Michigan team. How this happened, I will never know.
In the past, we've tried to use this space to highlight actual, tangible shortcomings, rather than paint broad characterizations with subjective brushstrokes. This morning we're going to take things in a slightly different direction. That's because on the surface, a team that returns 18 starters from last year's 10-win group, including one of the Big Ten's best play-action passers (Scott Tolzien), most prolific rushers (John Clay), and dangerous safeties (Jay Valai) doesn't have many glaring weaknesses. (If pressed, I'd probably point to the defensive tackle position).
Not to worry. Wisconsin suffers from a much larger psychological affliction. A decade long curse of pre-season expectations that haunts the halls of the McClain Athletic Center. The greater the hype surrounding spring practice, the more certain the fall, it seems. Just look at the Badger's track record:
- Wisconsin came into the 2000 season ranked 4th in the nation on the heels of a 10-2 season. They finished 23rd, after a 9-4 campaign that included three losses in their first six games.
- Wisconsin came into the 2001 season ranked 23rd. They lost two of their first three games -- and went on to finish the season unranked and bowl-less with a losing 5-7 record.
- In 2002, the Badgers were a preseason No. 25. They stormed out of the gate with 5 wins in a row, only to lose six of their next seven. Final ranking? Unranked.
- 2003: Preseason Rank (21), Final Rank (Unranked)
- 2007: Preseason Rank (7), Final Rank (24)
- 2008: Preseason Rank (13), Final Rank (Unranked)
Perhaps I should have titled this piece "three is the tragic number." That's because Wisconsin has a strange tendency to drop games in bunches. In 2002 they lost to Penn State, then Indiana, then Ohio State, and went on to lose to Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan. In 2003, they lost to Purdue, Northwestern, and Minnesota. In 2004 Wisky finished the season with a trio of losses to Michigan State, Iowa, and Georgia.
How could I forget Wisconsin's four game fall from grace in 2008, when the 8th ranked Badgers spent an entire month on the rag, losing to Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, and Iowa?
The numbers don't lie: When it comes to pre-season expectations, Wisconsin is all talk, and no walk.
That's bad news in Madison this spring, as one source already has the Badgers in the preseason Top 10.
This week...
MONDAY: Spring Field Guide
TUESDAY: Wisconsin's Achilles Heel
WEDNESDAY: Wisconsin's Greatest Strength
THURSDAY: MVP Profile -
FRIDAY: Keeping the Enemy Close
***
More Big Ten 2010...
Indiana | Michigan | Illinois | Minnesota | Purdue | Michigan State | Northwestern
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Should their greatest weakness be Bielema?
Remember 2008? Going into Ann Arbor ranked 8:
1. Absolutely gagging the lead against an inferior Michigan team in 2008.
2. Not having his defense set on 3rd down at home with the lead at the end of the game, thereby allowing Terrelle Pryor to run in an easy TD.
3. The next week, after losing a close one to a good Ohio State team, his team just laid down for Penn State and got blown out under the lights at home.
4. After a defensive stop against MSU on 3rd down late in the game and with the lead, Bielema personally got 20 yards in personal foul penalties for storming onto the field, thereby giving MSU a fresh set of downs and placing them in field goal range. Later, when MSU was out of time and timeouts and had to rush their FG team onto the field, Bielema called a timeout for them to make sure they were set to kick the winning FG.
5. He needed the opposing team to miss 3 kicks to avoid an overtime loss at home to Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo; after the last missed kick his team ran out onto the field and celebrated like they had just won the Rose Bowl.
6. Got annihilated by FSU in their bowl game
Bielema has the players to compete for the B10 title, but he’s a terrible coach. Maybe he can pull it together finally, but history is not on his side.
Do you want the mustache on, or off?
Too bad.
You don't have anything from 2009.
Just thinking out loud here.
"I want your money, but I don't want your two cents." - JVP
by ReadingRambler on May 4, 2010 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions
I’ll be honest: I didn’t see a lot of B10 games this year b/c I had the privilege of being in S.C. for almost all the home games… So truthfully I couldn’t say one +/- about him last season outside of the bowl game: he had a great game plan and had Miami on the ropes for the entire 2nd half but never went for the kill — his players fell asleep by the end and Miami was dangerously close of coming back at the end. The last 10 minutes he coached like he had a 20 point lead and I believe he only had a 10 point lead.
Do you want the mustache on, or off?
Too bad.
I've wanted Bielema canned for years...
This year, he HAS no excuse. Wisconsin can’t give him an excuse.
Maybe we’re suffering Marty Schottenheimer syndrome, but there was almost no reason to keep Bielema around after 2008. The special teams was awful. The defense and offensive line lost a ton of players to injury (Matt Shaugnessy’s broken leg, Andy Kemp and Kraig Urbik going down to leg and foot injuries down the horrible stretch run…)
We should have fired whoever schedules our games, because whoever schedules Wisconsin to play Michigan for the first Big Ten game ON THE ROAD is an IDIOT. Michigan historically dominates Wisconsin right off the bat, and 2008 was no exception. The defensive calls against Ohio State were horrific, inexcusable, and why on earth would you throw to Malcolm Jenkins in the final minutes? Allan Evridge flamed out like Anthony Morelli (worse than Morelli, Morelli actually WON some decent games) and took Wisconsin with him.
And PJ Hill, once the Big Ten freshman of the year? He just didn’t care. I saw it against PSU in 07, and I saw it all the time in 2008. His 1,000+ rushing yards is deceptive, all of his yards came against the worst teams on the schedule (Cal Poly, Akron, Marshall, Indiana, and Minnesota) and he was nowhere near his 2006 form. Injuries? Yeah right. He suffered Anthony Davis sickness and sleep-walked through games. I was glad to see him go…
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 4, 2010 12:06 PM CDT up reply actions
Good luck with that...
We should have fired whoever schedules our games, because whoever schedules Wisconsin to play Michigan for the first Big Ten game ON THE ROAD is an IDIOT.
That would be the insidious Big Ten computer brain. Which probably really is HAL 9000, but still. Teams have no control over conference schedules.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
Can't be HAL
If it were, you’d think the Illini would be doing a bit better…
Then it has to be...
TRON!
Master of the convoluted IOWA cheers!
by EnergizerHawk on May 4, 2010 7:04 PM CDT up reply actions
I think we have a much larger argument against the computer
given that Iowa has had to open its Big Ten schedule on the road 7 out of the previous 10 years.
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
Yeah, that has been an odd and annoying trend.
I think we actually start at home this year, which is a pleasant surprise.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
There are far worse fates
than having Marty Schottenheimer syndrome.
I can give a reason...
why they kept Bielema. It’s called stability. Teams that go through multiple coaching changes in short periods of time often end up in a perpetual cycle of struggling. Now, if you have a season like Zook had at Illinois last year, then there’s a pretty argument to can the coach. But 7-6 is not a good reason to get rid of the coach, especially when that’s the worst season he’s ever had at UW.
We could assign blame for the 2008 season for decades...
But a declining PJ Hill, offensive line injuries and an imploding QB (not to mention all the defensive injuries) all contributed to the worst Badger team Bielema has ever coached.
It didn’t help that our defense could NOT stop Baby Brian Hoyer before Bielema’s unfathomable penalties. Ick.
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 4, 2010 10:00 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah...
trust me, you guys DON’T want a coaching change. Take a cue from us, it’s no picnic…
I think Bielema’s doing a good job at the helm for UW. UW is LOADED this year on offense, and they’re on of the Big Ten teams I’m excited to watch. Toon tore us apart last year…
You seriously want Bielema fired?
Taking a look at the record, Bielema has done a pretty damn good job. 38 wins, 3 end of year rankings, no losing seasons overall, only one losing Big 10 season, 2 & 2 in bowl games which is pretty typical….I suppose Alvarez never had a down year?
You sound like a jackass SEC fan who can’t get over not winning the National Championship every year.
Year Overall Conference Standing Bowl Coaches# AP°
2006 12–1 7–1 T-2nd W Capital One 5 7
2007 9–4 5–3 T-4th L Outback 21 24
2008 7–6 3–5 T-6th L Champs Sports — —
2009 10–3 5–3 T-4th W Champs Sports 16 16
38–14 20–12
Facts sometimes have a strange and bizarre power that makes their inherent truth seem unbelievable. - Werner Herzog
Thanks so much, Flakbait...
NOT.
Alvarez DID have down years (2001 and 2002, ugh) but considering where the program was coming from when he started, Barry’s down years were forgivable.
Bielema has had one good season, a couple decent seasons, and one bad season (losing 6 games after being ranked 8th is ridiculous).
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 5, 2010 9:24 AM CDT up reply actions
Wow
If 12-1 only rates a “good” in your book, you will never be happy no matter who your coach is.
Facts sometimes have a strange and bizarre power that makes their inherent truth seem unbelievable. - Werner Herzog
12-1? The Wolverines screwed us that year by going 11-0 before Jim Tressel decided to end the charade, and Michigan at the same time.
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 5, 2010 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions
Again, I believe Wisconsin had to open on the road in Michigan Stadium.
And the Badgers got destroyed. Again. We should not ever have to open a season in Michigan Stadium.
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 5, 2010 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions
Wait, what?
We should not ever have to open a season in Michigan Stadium.
That’s ridiculous.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
Awwwww
Boo-fucking-hoo. Let’s have a pity party. Poor Wisconsin had a tough game early in the season. Feel better now? Or do you need a cookie and some juice, too?
Facts sometimes have a strange and bizarre power that makes their inherent truth seem unbelievable. - Werner Herzog
Was the cursing necessary?
…
…
…
No.
…
{OBrienSchofieldismyHero enters a state of apathy)
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 5, 2010 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions
Since you're heading home
don’t forget your ball.
Facts sometimes have a strange and bizarre power that makes their inherent truth seem unbelievable. - Werner Herzog
2009 was Bielema’s "growing up year". He talked less, made more moves in the offseason, had a great feeling for his players skills and limitations, and made the brilliant Tolzien move.
I'm undecided on the guy.
After 2008, I thought he was going to be mercilessly bad last season. So now I’ll just take a wait and see approach.
However, Joe Paterno will never lose to him again. Joe holds grudges forever. In 2008 against a godawful Syracuse team, we were up by around 30 with the first half coming to a close and the two minute drill wasn’t fast enough. Paterno never does that stuff. Running up the score is for Jimmy Johnson. But Joe really, really hates Syracuse. So watch out, Bertie Bielema.
"I want your money, but I don't want your two cents." - JVP
by ReadingRambler on May 4, 2010 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions
What did Bielema do to earn Joe's wrath?
by HawkeyeRecon on May 4, 2010 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions
Wasn't Penn State the team that Bielema tested his kick-off offsides strategy on?
Thereby risking the health of the Penn State kick-off receivers by giving his gunners a 10 yard head start?
by The Mexican't on May 4, 2010 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions
Yes, that's it.
Really, it actually helped the sport. Bielema’s display got rid of the idiotic clock rules. And Penn State could have just declined the penalties. But hey, I don’t make the grudge rules, Joe does. Poor Bielema just has to take the beatings.
"I want your money, but I don't want your two cents." - JVP
by ReadingRambler on May 4, 2010 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions
JoePa will never lose to Bielema again?
Either JoePa is on his way out soon, or Penn State must be preparing to go on a road winning streak at Camp Randall of historic proportions.
In response to your question
Yes, Joe Paterno will never lose a football to Bret Bielema again.
"I want your money, but I don't want your two cents." - JVP
by ReadingRambler on May 6, 2010 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions
As an Iowa fan I couldn't agree more with this:
and made the brilliant Tolzien move.
That would be the move of inexplicably taking Tolzien out after two successful series and coughing up all the momentum during an Iowa win at Camp Randall.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on May 4, 2010 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions
For some reason, Bielema only looks good against bad/miserable/horrible Iowa teams...
2006, 2007…
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 4, 2010 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions
such is the inverted power of...
Keeping wildlife, an amphibious rodent, for uh, domestic, you know, within the city - that aint legal either, Dude.
by AcrimoniousAngerererer on May 4, 2010 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions
Calling Jay Valai a "dangerous" safety is only half right...
He certainly WAS dangerous, before the B11 outlawed leading with the helmet…..that kid is a thug and as soon as they made a point of suspending players for dirty hits and leading with the crown of the helmet, his name stopped being called all together…
Out of Hound since 2008
Wow, bitter Ohio State fan...
Nothing to see here folks. Just ignore the crumpled form of Dane Sanzenbacher…
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 5, 2010 9:25 AM CDT up reply actions
He took out Boom Herron with a cheap helmet shot that game too
that even took place on the other side of the field, away from the play. But I guess everything worked out, because as I remember, Pryor brilliantly ran for about a 12 yd. dash to the endzone, while Bucky’s LB’s stood and watched. Oh, and then your all world QB tossed a pick to seal the game on the first play from scrimmage. Way to finish…
Out of Hound since 2008
All world QB?
No, Evri*** is a curse word. Sorry.
Your “all-world” QB threw one of the most horrific interceptions returned for touchdowns I have ever seen. In one of the worst blowouts I have ever seen. Todd Boeckman at least got the Buckeyes somewhere, Evri*** exploded like a hydrogen bomb…
And Herron was all but worthless in that game. I thought we did you guys a favor, allowing Wells to run for well over 100 yards…
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 5, 2010 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions
Without Beanie Wells, Ohio State *would* have lost the game.
And that game was the first ever appearance of the Terrell Pryor arm-punt.
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 5, 2010 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions
Some of those Michigan players are the only ones to have lost to Wisconsin twice. Ever.
Which is really sad if you think about the Badger teams of the late 90s…
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 5, 2010 9:44 AM CDT reply actions
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