VOLLEYBALL: BADGERS PREPARE FOR DELAYED 2020 SEASON

facebook.com/badgerherald SPORTS Football: Teams for Badger fans to root for in absence of 2020 season

With the Big Ten football season on hold until at least November, here are teams Wisconsin fans should root for this fall

by Will Whitmore Sports Editor

Though Wisconsin’s football team is not taking the field this weekend, there are still a lot of exciting teams who are continuing their college football season without any hiccups.

While we can’t root for Wisconsin, here are some exciting, appealing teams that Badger fans can stand behind.

Georgia Bulldogs

The Bulldogs are similar to the Badgers — always a bridesmaid and never the bride. Wisconsin fans can sympathize with the Bulldogs as both teams have struggled to take the next step in becoming the conference’s top dog. Like Wisconsin in the Big Ten West, the Bulldogs have dominated their division, the SEC East.

The problem is both programs have struggled when they face off against the representative of the other division in the conference championship game. Georgia has appeared in four of the last eight SEC Championship games, but they have a dismal 1-3 record in those matchups. Similarly, Wisconsin has lost their last four conference championship matchups.

Both schools have also been running back factories, producing top-tier backs that have gone on to have careers in the NFL — Nick Chubb and Sony Michel for Georgia, James White, Melvin Gordon and Jonathan Taylor for Wisconsin. Georgia fans, we Badgers feel your pain and hope your team finally hurdles that final obstacle and secures the team’s first national championship since 1981.

Appalachian State Mountaineers

Appalachian State first made headlines in 2007 when they pulled off one of the great upsets in college football history. As a then FCS team, the Mountaineers silenced 110,000 plus fans at the Big House with a historic win over No. 5 Michigan. Since that monumental victory, the program has soared to another level. Last year, the Mountaineers enjoyed a stellar 13-1 season, winning the Sun Belt and finishing ranked No. 20 in the College Football Playoff rankings. Entering 2020, the Mountaineers looked to turn some heads.

Quarterback Zac Thomas is one of college football’s best-kept secrets. In 2019, Thomas threw for 28 touchdowns and only six interceptions. Thomas also did damage on the ground, scampering for seven rushing touchdowns. A former Sun Belt Conference player of the year, Thomas is poised for a breakout season. Everyone loves an underdog, and the Mountaineers, yet again, are a team that can turn some heads in 2020.

Clemson Tigers

The Tigers are loaded with talent and again ride a “National Title or bust” mentality heading into the 2020 season. For college football fans, this will likely be the last season to cherish the natural talent of quarterback Trevor Lawrence before he makes his move to the NFL. Lawrence, paired up with two-time ACC Player of the Year Travis Etienne — who surprised many by returning to school for his senior year — is one of, if not the most, dynamic tandem in the country.

Though Clemson lost four defensive players to the draft including first-round picks Isaiah Simmons and A.J. Terrell, it’s expected Defensive Coordinator Brent Venables will reload a defense that finished No. 6 nationally in yards allowed per game at 288.3. The strength of Clemson’s defense is their front, led by the mammoth Tyler Davis. In his freshman year, Davis was a second-team All-ACC selection, tallying 5.5 sacks and 51 tackles. The anchor of the defense is linebacker James Skalski, who recorded 105 tackles last season. With an array of talent, the Tigers are a must-watch on television and a favorite to take home their second national championship in three seasons.

North Carolina Tar Heels

If you are looking for an up-and-coming team, the Tar Heels fit the script. In Head Coach Mack Brown’s return to Chapel Hill in 2019, North Carolina exceeded expectations. From 2018, North Carolina’s win total jumped from two to seven, and the Heels are the most suited team to challenge mighty Clemson in the ACC.

North Carolina can hurt opponents through both the air and the ground. Quarterback Sam Howell is one of the best in the country, and as a freshman threw for 38 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. In fact, it was Howell, not projected top-pick Trevor Lawrence, who led the ACC in touchdowns. The Tar Heels also use two capable running backs in Michael Carter and Javonte Williams. In 2019, both Carter and Williams rushed for over 900 yards. The Tar Heels are ranked in the preseason polls for the first time since 2016, so it will be interesting to see if this team can contend for an ACC title.

Even if the Badgers don’t take the field this fall, there are still a lot of exciting and alluring teams to follow in 2020. While the Badgers should be everyone’s top choice, these four teams will be electrifying to watch this season.

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facebook.com/badgerherald BANTER Spice up your sad, drab study space for optimal scholarly-ness Find motivation to get out of bed, ditch your furnished barstool and read this article for online school inspo

by Keagan Schlosser Banter Editor

Remember the good ole days? The days of going to a coffee shop with a friend, opening your laptop and talking for two hours instead of studying? Procrastination never felt so good …and so expensive! My oat milk dirty chai is like seven dollars — what the hell?

If you didn’t know by now, those days are gone. You can’t just say “I’m going to the library” to feel good about yourself anymore. You’re going to actually have to study. In pretty limited spaces too.

If you’re like me and get distracted by anything, skimming textbooks at home isn’t the most appealing. But now that both lectures and homework will be hosted in your twin XL, it’s time to start investing in some new study spaces.

First, let’s start inside the home. If you’re in a residence hall, some of this may not apply to you, as you have the luxury of sharing a common area with everyone on your floor/ dorm. Don’t knock it, though — that’s how I made all of my ~friendly acquaintances~ freshman year.

Whether you’re in a sorority house or Hub suite, you’re bound to have a common space. Your roommates may resort to the couch but choose to be a bit unique.

I’m currently writing this article in my kitchen, and boy are my creative juices flowing! A simple change of scenery can really get you out of a slump.

Another handy tip is to change your physical positions. You can stand and work to feel like one of those people who have treadmills in their cubicles.

The floor is also a fabulous option. Sure it requires some extra posture work, but staying grounded is always important.

In terms of scenery in your apartment or house, change it up! This may be a weekly challenge, but it’s something that is incredibly important to keep you alert.

I recommend stealing university property so that your interior reflects a university building. Shuffle it from room to room every once in a while, and you’re golden!

One thing that has always helped me focus is being in a place with very few people around. This is generally a good rule to follow in a pandemic as well.

But, this one can be a toughy. The University of Wisconsin is a 40,000 person campus, so there’s bound to be a dirty, indie kid with a cold Colectivo americano already camping out in your spot.

Start brainstorming ~different~ study spots now and your individuality complex will thank you later. If you want to be unique AND lazy, here are my top picks. Don’t tell

your friends.

Regent Street McDonald’s parking lot

This one is fun and classic! Grab your dollar coke and park it out front, buddy! People don’t often think of this area of Madison for academia, but Regent is sure cute and cozy.

Sure, the cute and quaint Indie Coffee is right across the street from Micky-D’s, but just think of the ambiance the parking lot provides. The traffic as white noise, the grease in the air — nothing has motivated me to study more.

Nature

Who would have thought that us humans could use the great outdoors to our advantage. That’s right — for FREE you can go and sit on the grass and study! Miss Gaia won’t even make you buy a drink. (Unless you’re bolder than I am, you will have to plan around your pee schedule.)

Of course, you will have to fight the inability to read or see with the constant wind and/or sun in your business. But maybe you’ll get lucky and find a nice spot under a tree. Soak it in while it lasts — word is there’s a polar vortex scheduled for late September.

That one single-stall bathroom in MemU if you go down the hall towards the theater, but, like, before you turn the corner, it’s just on the left — you’ll know it when you see it

I know, I know ew! Besides the fact that you’ll be thinking about inhaling fecal matter during the entire study sesh, this option is actually a very private one. The unions will technically be open during the school year and who’s gonna stop you from taking a tinkle?

Little do they know, you’ll be completing a midterm on the toilet. Obviously keep your pants on if you want. Seriously though, so few people probably think to use this bathroom, it’s your safest choice. It’s also close to food if you need it!

Besides versatile study spaces, you also have to think about the rate at which you study. With everything behind a screen, you might feel the need to constantly switch from school to work to Instagram to Twitter to work to TikTok to school.

Take breaks — actual, real, not-socialmedia breaks. Bake a pan of spinach artichoke dip and eat it in one sitting. Watch all of Orville Peck’s music videos and text me about how much you love them. Try on the most extra thing in your closet, throw it on the ground and neglect it for two weeks.

It’s the simple things that are going to get us through. Go out of your comfort zone this week — your GPA will thank me later. Just kidding, that’s very personal and none of these tips are proven to help with anything.

Photo - Finding your ideal study space can be tricky, but knowing the underground places to bust out your laptop makes it all the easier

Photo - The Badger Herald’s resident astrologist and all around good guy, Jeff Atkins Courtesy of Creative Commons

Photo - It’s Virgo season! Two wildly dominating and sensitive virgins, Aidan Gallagher and Jason Derulo Courtesy of Creative Commons

facebook.com/badgerherald BANTER Feeling conceited? Silly horoscopes for post Sylly Week blues

Everything you could possibly want to know about yourself this week – things aren’t looking good for you, water signs

by Jeffrey Atkins Banter Contributor

Aquarius

Jan. 20 - Feb. 18

You should go get tested for STDs. I mean everybody should, but you should go right now. Like, drop what you’re doing and go get tested immediately.

Pisces

Feb. 19 - March 20

The full moon is in Pisces this week, and that means you should avoid foods high in keratin and omega-3 fatty acids. These nutrients will block vital essences from circulating through your body, and you will suffer professionally as a result. Eat lots of fast food to get that promotion you’ve been angling for.

Aries

March 21 - April 19

Ares was the ancient Greek god of war. I’m not sure if this has anything to do with the sign Aries, but it seems too close to be a

coincidence. Whatever. To be honest I don’t really know what’s up for Aries this week. Just wing it, I guess.

Taurus

April 20 - May 20

Taurus is the sign of the bull, and if you ask me a whole lot of it has been coming out of your mouth lately. Start telling the truth more, because people are starting to catch on. It starts out innocently enough — a white lie here and there never hurt anybody. But before long you’re sending remittances to your secret family in Antigua and moonlighting as a wrestler under the stage name Guenther to pay off your gambling debts.

Gemini

May 21 - June 20

The stars are aligning for Gemini this week. You should be making that big decision you’ve been mulling over for a few weeks. Pay no heed to the fact that your entire future hinges on this one choice, and if you go down the wrong path your entire life will be ruined. Choose now, because if you wait any longer you’ll completely fuck it up.

Cancer

June 21 - July 22

Cancer is the Crab sign, but that doesn’t mean you have to be so crabby all the time! Lighten up toots! You look much prettier with a smile on your face. Remember — when you’re smiling the whole world smiles with you, but when you’re crying it makes people feel uncomfortable. Lucky Numbers for Cancers this week are 7, 29, 42, 55 and 0.

Leo

July 23 - Aug. 22

Marilyn Monroe once said that blondes have more fun, but personally I think Leos do. This week you’re going to be outgoing, sociable and friendly to a fault. Just remember that not everybody likes you as much as you think, so keep that in mind the next time you extend that handshake.

Virgo

Aug. 23 - Sept. 22

The Sun is in Virgo until Sept. 22, meaning it’s time for you to get your shit together. Do that task you’ve been putting off for the last week. That pile of dishes you have in the sink isn’t gonna do itself, and I think I heard a mouse crawling around in it last night. I mean come on, when we signed this lease we talked about dividing up the chores evenly, but you haven’t washed a single dish since we moved in. It smells like goddamn rotten eggs in here.

Libra

Sept. 23 - Oct. 22

Libras are primarily concerned with Justice and Balance, making them excellent Jenga players. They also tend to solve problems with diplomacy, but the movement of the moon this week might make that difficult. If you run into problems trying to solve conflicts with words, consider using your fists.

Scorpio

Oct. 23 - Nov. 21

Scorpios have intense intellects, and that could cause problems this week if you’re interacting with people who don’t like nerds. Make sure not to come off as a know-it-all dork this week. Maybe look into a prescription for contact lenses.

Sagittarius

Nov. 22 - Dec. 21

You should satisfy your innate Sagittarian thirst for adventure this week. Throw caution to the wind and see where the week takes you. Try out that new restaurant you’ve been thinking about, ride the bus to the end of the line, or if the opportunity should arise, smoke some cool new drugs.

Capricorn

Dec. 22 - Jan. 19

Capricorns take heed — this week will be extremely painful for you. I recommend shutting yourself inside your home and leaving only for the bare necessities. Do not expose yourself to the cruelty of the world. Consider buying an Xbox.

Photo - Knowing your sign and the traits and icons associated with it are akin to knowing your identity