University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Wisconsin vs. LSU
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Gameday: LSU
Jessi Schoville/the daily cardinal
Local Badgers head home to Lambeau By Andrew Tucker The Daily Cardinal
Lambeau Field is one entry on a short list of venues every sports fan should watch a game at before they die, preceded only by Wrigley Field and Fenway Park. It’s a bucket-list item for rivals and nearly a place of worship for Packers fans, but for the people living in Green Bay, it’s an integral part of the community. “High school football and pro football, that’s what Green Bay’s about,” freshman lineman Cole Van Lanen said. “Our community is surrounded by football.” Van Lanen is one of two current Badger players hailing from Green Bay, the other is sophomore fullback Alec Ingold. Both hail from Bayport High School, one of Green Bay’s many public high schools, where the pair led the Pirates to the Division 4A state semifinals. While the pair has already played a number of important games in front of their hometown crowd, their next one will be on a different level entirely. “It’s a pretty special feeling to be able to share that with the community that I’m from. To be
able to play with this team is very special; it’s a childhood dream for sure and I just hope I can make the most out of the opportunity and soak up everything that I can,” Ingold said. Ingold had one particular experience that stuck out to him which would be tempting for any Packers fan: scoring a touchdown and doing a Lambeau Leap. “If it’s close in the fourth quarter, we’d get a 15-yard penalty, I probably wouldn’t [do a Lambeau Leap]. Any other situation, I would,” Ingold said. “You can’t pass that opportunity up; that would be one of those life moments you’d never be able to get back.” For Ingold and Van Lanen, the opportunity to play for Wisconsin in the stadium that means so much to their hometown isn’t just a dream come true, but more of an “Inception”-style dream inside of a dream. “To be on the field as a Badger is a dream come true, and to go on the Packers’ field as a Badger, that would be the top, best dream ever,” Van Lanen said. Relishing this once-in-a-lifetime moment isn’t something
that only pertains to Green Bay natives or Packers fans. Georgia native and professed Mike Vick fan Quintez Cephus echoed similar sentiments, but was quick to stay focused on the real reason the team has this opportunity. “My mom said going in to get everything out of it that I can, to have fun,” Cephus said. “But at the end of the day, it’s a business trip.” The business trip mantra is a cliché often used by players and teams in the NFL, but the freshman Cephus is viewing the game at Lambeau less like a business trip and more like an on-the-job learning experience, like a law student looking for an internship with a big law firm. “To get to talk to one of [the Packers] or any of them would be a humbling experience. We want to be in their shoes one day,” Cephus said. “It’s something that nobody gets to do on a regular game day.” While Cephus is focusing on meeting NFL players as a way to learn about how to live his dream, some of the other players admitted it would be cool to meet their favorite Packers, like Aaron Rodgers. “He’s obviously a guy I look up
to, one of the best in the National Football League, and that would be awesome to see if we could get a close interaction with a guy like him,” Van Lanen said. It wouldn’t be unheard of for the Badgers players to have a run-in with the star quarterback; Rodgers celebrated in the locker room with the basketball team after they beat Baylor in the Sweet Sixteen in 2014. Not only that, but Van Lanen and Ingold both talked about how Rodgers and other Packers players would show up to Bayport’s homecoming and other big games to show some support for local football. Having Rodgers or other Packers players show up to watch a marquee football game is well within the realm of possibility. While much of this Badger team is young or inexperienced, games in NFL stadiums aren’t new to Wisconsin. Over the past two seasons, they’ve played in the stadiums of the Cowboys, Texans, Colts, Chargers and Buccaneers. Added on to that is the fact that this past spring, the team held a practice in Green Bay and spent the weekend acclimating themselves to the facilities.
These sorts of high-profile games have become commonplace in college football, and serve multiple purposes. Firstly, winning against top-tier opponents in big games is a necessity to make the slim field of the four-team playoff. Secondly, they can be effective recruiting tools. Telling a kid from Louisiana that a game is scheduled against LSU could be a lure, and recruits seeing the Motion W on primetime ESPN does a great deal in marketing the team as competitive. The game against LSU is just one of the Badgers’ matchups with college football’s all-time greats this season, with games against Ohio State and Michigan looming on the horizon. “Looking at our schedule this year, it’s challenging, but if you want to do great things, you’re gonna have to beat the best,” Cephus said. Wisconsin has a tall task ahead of them when it comes to beating preseason No. 5 LSU, but with everything the team’s Packers fans and non-Packers fans alike have on the line, walking out of Lambeau with a win would be all the sweeter.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”
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Wisconsin vs. LSU
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LSU Outlook
Daily Reveille sports editor talks Fournette, game preview By Bobby Ehrlich THE DAILY CARDINAL
By some miraculous act of God, Christian Boutwell, sports editor of LSU’s Daily Reveille, was able to get a phone to work in the Bayou and have a conversation with me about the Tigers upcoming bout against UW. Jokes aside, I was able to pick Christian’s brain about LSU and got some fantastic insight about the Tigers and their clash with the Badgers. From Leonard Fournette to the Lambeau Leap, from Dave Aranda to the SEC-B10 rivalry, Christian hit it all. Bobby Ehrlich: How serious is the injury to Fournette? Christian Boutwell: He’s completely fine. He talked the other day and said he’s completely fine. When he got hurt, they stopped music at practice and people stopped talking. But he got in a boot right away to keep it straight. He’ll be completely fine come Saturday. BE: How do the LSU guys feel about new defensive coordinator Dave Aranda? CB: You look at game tape from last year and sometimes Vince Biegel looked faster than lightning because he could shoot through those gaps. Aranda kept the offensive lineman busy. I think LSU’s linebackers are excited about it.
We haven’t seen [that type of defence] in a little bit. BE: How has LSU prepared defensively for Wisconsin? CB: Tre’Davious White was talking yesterday about how [Wisconsin] will spread it around. But their primary goal is to shut down the run game. They want to stop the “ground and pound.” They also focused on getting off the field on third and long. BE: How do LSU’s players feel about coming up to Wisconsin and playing at Lambeau? Are they excited about that? CB: Oh, yeah. Tre’Davious White, one of LSU’s cornerbacks, said the farthest north he’s ever been was Arkansas before LSU played at Syracuse last season. A lot of guys are excited. Some of them have said if they score they’re going to do the ‘Lambeau Leap.’ I know Tre’ did. Some players, though, said they wouldn’t do it so they won’t get a penalty or a punishment from Les [Miles]. I’ve seen some say Lambeau is the NFL version of Tiger Stadium. Clearly, they’re excited about that.” BE: You mentioned the coaching staff saying if LSU’s players ‘Lambeau leaped’ that they would get in trouble? CB: Yeah, I think Les may have given the guys an in-
house punishment if they did it. Supposedly, to some of them, it’s not too bad and they’ll disobey it. The freshman, maybe not. I think it’s a dream of every football player to do that, though. If it’s a senior and he picks one off and takes it back, you can expect them to do it. This is the only time they’ll be at Lambeau Field in college. BE: Big Ten teams have this quasi-rivalry with SEC teams because I think they have a little bit of a little brother complex. The SEC always gets put on a pedestal and everyone always talks about how much better the SEC is than the Big Ten, footballwise. How do SEC teams feel about Big Ten teams? CB: Behind closed doors they think they can beat them all. I think they expect to win. A lot of these Big Ten teams are just big and will try and knock you around a little bit. BE: So do you think LSU is coming into this looking at Wisconsin as a little guy? For Wisconsin, this is a huge game, is that not the case for LSU? CB: LSU got punched in the mouth two years ago. I think that was a little eye-opening for them. I think this year, especially with having a defensive coordinator like Aranda, I think they’re a
little more prepared and they’re ready for a punch. I think they know schemes too. I don’t think they look at them as a little guy. I think LSU is trying to get that first punch. BE: Like Wisconsin, LSU has struggled with QBs in the past. The Tigers have had a fantastic run game and defense, like the Badgers, but a less-than-stellar QB. Is that going to continue again this year? CB: Brandon Harris is a thirdyear starter. Our offensive coordinator has delegated some offensive control to his position guys. Dameyune Craig is the new wide receivers coach and he was a quarterback at Auburn. He’s been really communicating between Brandon and the wide receivers. It’s been little technical football things that now Brandon knows. The wide receivers are giant and they are athletic guys. Between communication and having giant wide receivers, Brandon has all the tools to go out and have a great year. He’s just gotta go out and do it. BE: Do you have a prediction? CB: I think it will be a tight first half. Maybe 17-7 at halftime. Then 34-17, 34-14 by the end. Leonard Fournette is too much. The line is giant guys. I think 34-17.
Games to watch Thursday, Sept. 1: Oregon State at Minnesota 8:00 p.m. BTN
Friday, Sept. 2: Kansas State at No. 8 Stanford 8:00 p.m. FS1 Associated Press Top 25
USA Today Coaches Poll
1. Alabama (33) 1,469 2. Clemson (16) 1,443 3. Oklahoma (4) 1,352 4. Florida State (5) 1,325 5. LSU (1) 1,269 6. Ohio State (1) 1,224 7. Michigan (1) 1,147 8. Stanford 1,029 9. Tennessee 1,021 10. Notre Dame 1,006 11. Ole Miss 718 12. Michigan State 710 13. TCU 707 14. Washington 651 15. Houston 644 16. UCLA 496 17. Iowa 484 18. Georgia 448 19. Louisville 447 20. USC 344 21. Oklahoma State 316 22. North Carolina 283 23. Baylor 280 24. Oregon 218 25. Florida 180
1. Alabama (55) 1,585 2. Clemson (7) 1,524 3. Oklahoma 1,398 4. Florida State (1) 1,351 5. Ohio State 1,321 6. LSU 1,241 7. Stanford 1,149 8. Michigan 1,062 9. Notre Dame 1,034 10. Tennessee 960 11. Michigan State 901 12. Ole Miss 792 13. Houston 668 14. TCU 649 15. Iowa 579 16. Georgia 525 17. USC 468 18. Washington 454 19. Oklahoma State 426 20. North Carolina 422 21. Baylor 383 22. Oregon 361 23. Louisville 331 24. UCLA 296 25. Florida 245
Saturday, Sept. 3: No. 3 Oklahoma at No. 15 Houston 11:00 a.m. ABC No. 16 UCLA at Texas A&M 2:30 p.m. CBS No. 18 Georgia at No. 22 UNC 4:30 p.m. ESPN
An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892 Volume 126, Issue 2
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Editorial Board Theda Berry • Negassi Tesfamichael Ellie Herman • Jack Kelly Amileah Sutliff • Dylan Anderson Sebastian van Bastelaer l
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No. 20 USC at No. 1 Alabama 7:00 p.m. ABC
Monday, Sept. 5: No. 11 Ole Miss at No. 4 Florida State 7:00 p.m. ESPN
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Wisconsin vs. LSU
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Keys to the Game
PHOTOGRAPHER-ARTIST/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Corey Clement returns to the field this weekend following a tumultuous 2015 campaign.
Leonard Fournette crucial for both sides By Matt Tragesser
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Halting the Heisman
After accumulating nearly 2,000 rushing yards and 23 total touchdowns in 2015, junior running back Leonard Fournette will undoubtedly be the focal point of LSU’s offense come Sept. 3. The Heisman favorite will be motivated to run through a Wisconsin defense that limited him to just 18 yards on 8 carries in his season opener at NRG Stadium in 2014. While Fournette will be one of the most skilled players the Badgers will face this season, UW returns every piece of its front seven except for linebacker Joe Schobert. If Wisconsin can limit the 6-foot-1, 230-pound back to under 100 yards, consider it a success.
1
The Fournette Show
After being compared to NFL superstars Adrian Peterson and Todd Gurley, Leonard Fournette will be heavily relied on in the Tiger offense this season. Within just two seasons, the junior has compiled 3,273 yards from scrimmage and 33 touchdowns and will look to solidify his case as a potential first round pick in the 2017 NFL draft. It will certainly be interesting to see whether or not the back can penetrate UW’s stout defense. The Badgers boast one of the top linebacking corps in the country with Vince Biegel, TJ Edwards and Chris Orr and finished the 2015 season with the fourth-best rush defense in the FBS. Yet, despite this potential, UW’s defense has struggled to contain running backs in their last two season openers. In fact, in their previous two season openers, starting running backs have amassed 257 yards and four touchdowns. If LSU can exploit UW’s defense, it could turn ugly quickly.
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Calm, cool and collected
Having never played at Lambeau Field in school history, the Wisconsin players will have the opportunity of a lifetime playing in one of the most prestigious stadiums in the country. While the matchup against LSU is officially listed as a neutral-site game, the location will certainly be an advantage for the Badgers as the stadium lies just a few hours north of Madison. With ESPN College Gameday showing up for the game, UW can make a statement with a win in the national spotlight against a College Football Playoff contender. Yet, with all this attention, the Badgers will need to remain focused. In 2015 and in 2014, UW had season openers in similar environments and ended up losing both matchups. However, with two straight years of this type of experience, Wisconsin may be better prepared this time around.
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Aranda’s arrival
Recently hired Tiger defensive coordinator, Dave Aranda, will take over a loaded LSU defense. Aranda comes to Baton Rouge after serving as Wisconsin’s defensive coordinator for the past three seasons. While it may take some time for his players to adjust to his schemes, the defensive mastermind is notorious for producing stellar defenses. Between 2013 and 2015, the Badgers finished in the top ten in total defense in the FBS under his play calling. After analyzing and practicing with UW offensive players for three years, Aranda will provide LSU with a significant edge. Whether or not his players can adjust and follow his lead is something to look out for. If Aranda can immediately instill his successful defensive schematics for the Tigers, the Badgers will likely struggle to move the ball.
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Cruisin’ Clement
In 2014, senior running back Corey Clement rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns despite playing second fiddle to Heisman candidate Melvin Gordon. Led by his power, quick agility and ability to catch the ball, Corey became one of the better backs in the nation even though he was a primarily used in a backup role. In 2015, however, that story changed. Plagued with injuries and a suspension, the running back finished the year with just over 200 rushing yards and became an afterthought on the national level. Now, with a clean slate and a motivation to showcase his talents, Clement could be poised for a Heisman-like year. The back certainly has the skillset to become the focal point of the Badgers’ offense this fall.
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PHOTOGRAPHER-ARTIST/THE DAILY CARDINAL
The last time the Badgers opened the season in an NFL stadium, they were bullied by the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Leonard Fournette by the numbers 2,987 Career rushing yards
Quarterback quandary
While LSU boasts one of the best rushing offenses in the country, the Tigers must develop a sound passing game in order to give Fournette some breathing room. Last season, junior quarterback Brandon Harris produced an efficient, but quiet year as he threw 13 touchdowns and just clipped over 2,000 passing yards. If the dual-threat quarterback can develop a chemistry with his receivers and be poised in the pocket, he will present Fournette with better running opportunities as the Badgers will have to avoid stacking up the box. With a new defensive coordinator and a secondary that only returns one starter, Harris will have plenty of opportunities to throw the ball down the field. This question mark for the Tigers on offense will be a big X-factor and give the Badgers some hope in the season opener.
32 Career rushing touchdowns 6.5 2015 yards per rush 3,367 Career scrimmage yards 10 First-place Heisman votes in 2015
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DC Sports Big Ten Power Rankings
Badgers claw way back into rankings By Zach Rastall THE DAILY CARDINAL
College football is officially back, which means the race for a Big Ten title is technically anyone’s to win (yes, even you, Purdue). There is no shortage of intriguing storylines heading into the year. Can Jim Harbaugh lead Michigan to its first conference title since 2004? Will Ohio State be able to stay in the national title picture despite only returning three starters? Can Michigan State win back-to-back Big Ten titles for the first time in 50 years? Will Iowa prove that 2015 was no fluke? Which team will capture the conference crown and earn the right to be steamrolled by Alabama in the College Football Playoff? All those answers and more will begin to be answered when Big Ten football gets back into full swing this weekend.
1. Michigan Wolverines
This could be it. The year Khaki Jesus leads Michigan back to the Promised Land. Jim Harbaugh continues to grab more headlines than any coach in all of college football, but there’s a reason for the hype. Harbaugh and his coaching staff are beginning to stockpile talent and the Wolverines are going to have a formidable defense this season. Plenty of questions on offense remain and Michigan has a daunting conference schedule, which includes road games against Michigan State, Iowa and Ohio State. So will the Wolverines be able to win its first Big Ten title since the Lloyd Carr era and find themselves in the College Football playoff conversation? My money is on Khaki Jesus smiting the non-believers.
Rounding out the Big Ten’s trio of undefeated teams is Kirk Ferentz’s Iowa Hawkeyes. With each passing week, the possibility of Iowa finding its way into the College Football Playoffs seems less and less implausible. The Hawkeyes are 8-0, including a 4-0 mark in conference play, and just about have their ticket punched to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship Game. Iowa’s schedule is extremely manageable the rest of the way, with road games against Indiana and Nebraska and home matchups with Minnesota and Purdue rounding out its schedule. In previous years, it would be reasonable to expect the Hawkeyes to falter down the stretch and finish at 9-3. That’s how they operated under the old Kirk Ferentz. But not Kirk Ferentz 3.0. Kirk Ferentz 3.0 is running the table, basking in the glory of his own brilliance as Iowa captures the weird ice cream cone-shaped trophy for winning the national championship and earns him his well-deserved 25-year, $200 million contract extension.
36 turnovers in 2015—they have the potential to make respectable strides this season. That being said, this definitely won’t be a one-year fix for Durkin and his coaching staff.
6. Wisconsin Badgers
Quite frankly, the Badgers could be one of the best teams in the Big Ten. The defense brings back several key starters and should be fine despite defensive coordinator Dave Aranda’s departure. On offense, running back Corey Clement could be poised for a breakout season after a rough 2015 and the offensive line should be better (even with Dan Voltz’s surprise retirement), which would make life a lot easier for new starting quarterback Bart Houston. But man oh man is that schedule a doozy. Besides the season opener against LSU, Wisconsin opens up its Big Ten slate with Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State and Iowa, with the game against the Buckeyes the only one of those to be played in Madison. A record better than 8-4 would be quite an accomplishment for Paul Chryst and Co.
9. Penn State Nittany Lions
It’s not quite a make-orbreak year for head coach James Franklin, but he definitely has something to prove this season. Quarterback Christian Hackenberg is gone to the NFL and the offensive line still might end up being as sturdy as wet paper, but there is plenty of talent on both sides of the ball for new offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead, especially running back Saquon, Barkley and co-defensive coordinators Brent Pry and Tim Banks. The Nittany Lions aren’t quite ready to contend in the stacked Big Ten East, but fans would surely be disappointed with a third straight 7-6 finish.
12. Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois made one of the most intriguing coaching hires in all of college football this past offseason, bringing in former Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith to take the reins of the program. While this hire could turn out to be solid in the long run, even if Smith hasn’t coached at the collegiate level since 1995, the lack of offensive playmakers and roster turnover on defense will likely keep the Illini from a bowl game in 2016.
4. Iowa Hawkeyes
I wouldn’t count on the Hawkeyes running the table again in the regular season, but they still should be considered the team to beat in the Big Ten West. Most of the starters from last year’s 12-2 team are back, including quarterback C.J. Beathard and cornerback Desmond King. A heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship Game and a blowout loss to Stanford in the Rose Bowl was an unfortunate end to an otherwise phenomenal season. But perhaps that will just put a chip on the Hawkeyes’ shoulder in 2016.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
Most teams that only return three starters from the previous season would be expected to take a major step back. Then again, most teams aren’t coached by Urban Meyer. Plus, it also helps that one of those returners is quarterback J.T. Barrett, who just might be the best player in the entire Big Ten. This a roster loaded with former four- and five-star recruits guided by one of the best coaches in all of college football. The Buckeyes will be contending for yet another Big Ten title and I honestly could have just flipped a coin to decide where to put Michigan and Ohio State in these rankings.
October road games against Iowa, Michigan State and Ohio State will determine whether or not Northwestern can contend for a Big Ten West title.
3. Michigan State Spartans
7. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Do not be the least bit surprised if the Gophers represent the Big Ten West in Indianapolis come December. Much like other teams of recent years, defense will be Minnesota’s strength in 2016. The offense has plenty of question marks and seems to lack many obvious playmakers, but the team’s schedule looks fairly manageable (no Michigan, Michigan State or Ohio State definitely helps). The play of redshirt senior quarterback Mitch Leidner may very well be the determining factor in how far the Gophers can go in Tracy Claeys’s first full season as head coach.
10. Indiana Hoosiers
The Hoosiers made a major breakthrough last season by making a bowl game for the first time since 2007 and just the second time since 1993. But the question still remains whether or not they can do it again. Even though Indiana lost quarterback Nate Sudfeld to graduation, head coach Kevin Wilson has proven that he can put together an effective offense year in and year out. However, it’s up to new defensive coordinator Tom Allen to try and cobble together a respectable defense at a program that hasn’t held opponents under 30 points per game since 2009.
13. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Rutgers made a really fantastic hire by selecting Ohio State defensive coordinator Chris Ash as the program’s next head coach. On paper, the Scarlet Knights actually look pretty decent on defense and could overachieve this year. But they’re still probably a couple years away from having all the pieces to be a true threat with an Ohio State-style spread offense. The ceiling for Rutgers in 2016 is not finishing last in the Big Ten East.
5. Nebraska Cornhuskers
The Cornhuskers did win three of their final four games in 2015, but head coach Mike Riley has something to prove after going 6-7 in his first season in Lincoln. The good news is Nebraska’s seven losses came by a combined 31 points, so the team wasn’t really as bad as its record indicated. With Tommy Armstrong back at quarterback, the Cornhuskers should be solid on offense. If they can find consistency on defense, they are good enough to contend in the Big Ten West. A division title would be a nice tribute to punter Sam Foltz, who was tragically killed in a single-car crash in late July.
14. Purdue Boilermakers
8. Northwestern Wildcats
Yes, the Wildcats are coming off the fourth 10-win season in school history. But can they attain that level of success for a second consecutive year? The defense, anchored by Anthony Walker Jr., should be stellar once again. But the progression of quarterback Clayton Thorson and running back Justin Jackson and how the team navigates
11. Maryland Terrapins
Maryland tapped Michigan defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin as its new head coach back in December, which has already paid dividends on the recruiting trail. As long as the Terrapins don’t continue to turn the ball over at an alarming rate—they ranked dead last in the FBS with
In a fair and just world, college football would have a relegation system and the Boilermakers would have been banished to the MAC three years ago. Instead, Purdue enters Year 4 of the Darrell Hazell era looking to somehow make something akin to progress in the Big Ten West. Hazell, who has gone 6-30 with the Boilermakers, tried a coaching staff shakeup during the offseason. Will it help pull them out of the division cellar? Probably not.
gameday dailycardinal.com
Wisconsin vs. LSU
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Column
College football gameday one-of-a-kind By Thomas Valtin-Erwin THE DAILY CARDINAL
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Football is back, brats are on the grill and everyone has their bibs on. College football saturdays are unparalleled in sports. March Madness can stake its claim, but anything that lasts just a month is too short to be the best. What makes college football so great? Take your pick. It could be the atmosphere of the stadiums. There’s a reason college football stadiums make up most of the country’s biggest athletic facilities. People want to see the kids compete. Everyone’s loud, everyone’s drunk and everyone is dying to see their team dust the opponent. It doesn’t get any bet-
ter than 80,000 wild and reckless fans screaming at the top of their lungs for a couple dozen kids to play a game. That’s another part of why college football is so fantastic. Every one of the players is just a kid. No one is older than about 25, and the vast majority of them are just 20 years old. These kids have spent the last two decades of their lives working towards a 60-minute exhibition of their hard work. By nature of the NCAA’s questionable policy on paying players, every one of the players on the field is playing for free. None of them are there to earn a living. As in any profession, every sport has its fair share of players that aren’t desperately in love with the game, but need the money. But in
college football, this isn’t the case. Most of the players have nothing at stake. They have no money to lose should they quit. They are just playing football for the love of the game. For 60 minutes, millions of people train their eyes on 22 young kids who run around a field of grass smashing into each other. And somehow, it’s absolutely mesmerizing. Year after year after year, college football dominates the ratings. Perhaps that’s because of the sheer volume of games. With 128 teams playing nearly every week, there is never a moment when you can turn the television on during the season and not find a game to watch. And those games between schools of 1,000 students
DE Conor Sheehy
RB Corey Clement
DE Chikwe Obasih
FB Austin Ramesh
NG Olive Sagapolu
TE Troy Fumagalli
ILB T.J. Edwards
WR Robert Wheelwright
ILB Chris Orr
WR Jazz Peavy
OLB Vince Biegel
LT Ryan Ramczyk
OLB T.J. Watt
LG Jon Dietzen
CB Sojourn Shelton
C George Panos
CB Derrick Tindal
RG Beau Benzschawel
SS D’Cota Dixon
RT Jacob Maxwell
FS Leo Musso
so many teams. Gone are the days where all that mattered were a storied program and an undefeated record. Teams can make last second pushes (hi, Ohio State) to squeak into the foursome and dominate the rest of the way. Watching that Buckeyes team that won the inaugural CFP was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life. They played without anything to lose, and it paid off. College football is beautiful. College gameday is even more so. So relish while you can. Enjoy these moments with your friends before the game and after. Get to the stadium and cheer on your team. You might never get the chance again.
Stadium Déjà Vu
UW Expected Starters QB Bart Houston
each are almost always the most interesting. They’re competitive, they’re high-quality and they are always on. Football shouldn’t really be that fascinating. It’s horrifyingly violent and, with thousands of games every year, it seems bound to get repetitive. But it doesn’t. Every single game is a unique storyline with new players rising to the challenge and taking over. No two games have ever been quite alike. The new College Football Playoff system has only made the season more interesting, as teams now vye for twice as many spots as they did in the old days of the BCS. With a bona fide playoff system, college football has provided an achievable end goal for
Maximum Capacity 80,000
80,321
80,735
Camp Randall
Lambeau Field
40,000
DRIVE BADGERS WILD (and support scholarships, too)
P P.J. Rosowski K Rafael Gaglianone LS Connor Udelhoven PR Jazz Peavy
TheRedShirt™ unites Badgers and supports students like Noah Beavers x’17.
KR Natrell Jamerson KO Andrew Endicott B U Y YO U R S T O DAY AT U WA L U M N I .CO M / T H E R E D S H I R T
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Badger Bio
Ingold’s versatility integral to his success By Kelly Ward THE DAILY CARDINAL
Like many students, Alec Ingold will be going home for Labor Day weekend. A native of Green Bay, Wisconsin, the sophomore fullback is getting the chance of a lifetime to play in front of a hometown crowd in one of the most storied stadiums in the country. “It’ll be something special,” Ingold said of Saturday’s game. “I can’t really put it into words how I feel cause I’ll probably get choked up, but it’s gonna be a really, really special experience for me and all the guys that have family coming to that game. It’s gonna be really interesting and really fun.” A three-sport star at Bay Port High School, Ingold wrestled and played baseball in addition to football. His versatility as an athlete that came from playing multiple sports has also helped him play multiple positions since he arrived in Madison. A quarterback and safety in high school, Ingold was initially recruited by the Badgers to play linebacker. After injuries to both Corey Clement and Taiwan Deal left the team thin at running back last season, Ingold, then a true freshman, stepped up
and proved that he could perform. “I’ve played the laundry list of positions,” Ingold joked. “Hopefully I’ve found my home now.” Running backs coach John Settle thinks that Ingold is no joke, though. “It’s allowed [Ingold] an opportunity to become a total football player,” Settle said. “The more you can do, the more you learn the game, seeing things from the perspective on the other side of the ball, I think it gives him an edge.” Ingold is both well-rounded in athletics and life in general—freshman teammate Cole Van Lanen described him as a role model. “He kinda came in and was the guy that didn’t know anybody, but now I’ve got him, and I’ve had him over the last year, so I’ve gotten to meet a lot of people,” Van Lanen explained. “He was like my gateway here, so it hasn’t been a hard transition for me; it was really nice.” Outside of football, Ingold can be found on the Terrace at open mic night or enjoying a meal at Capriotti’s or Glaze. When he gets back to his apartment, he can usually be found watching Netflix with friends. “I’m an avid Netflix guy,” Ingold said. “I like all the superhero shows,
The Flash, Superman, Batman. I watched “Game of Thrones” all summer, and I finished all six seasons in like two weeks.” When he’s watching football, Ingold is a passionate Green Bay Packers fan who also admires Russell Wilson. “I’ll cheer for the Seahawks every once and awhile, but never when they’re in Green Bay,” Ingold said. In terms of players who he models his game after, Ingold particularly looks up to one former Badger fullback who now plays for the San Diego Chargers. “The new Derek Watt, professional athlete, he’s a pretty cool guy to model after,” Ingold said. “Just seeing how he’s grown up and into the NFL, even though I only got to know him for a year, he’s a really special guy who I aspire to be like.” Ingold will get his first chance to cement his own mark as a member of the long line of successful Badger fullbacks in a place close to his heart, and in front of his family. Lambeau Field is known as a magical place for football players and fans alike — and Alec Ingold is hoping to make a little magic of his own.
GAGE MEYER/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Green Bay native and sophomore fullback Alec Ingold will have the opportunity to play at Lambeau Field this Saturday.
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Wisconsin vs. LSU
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National Outlook
Despite new faces, SEC continues dominance of preseason FPI rankings By Thomas Valtin-Erwin The Daily Cardinal
College football’s return has finally crept up on the nation and left fans and pundits scrambling to predict the outcome of the season. The College Football Playoff Selection Committee has turned every viewer into a psychic for the third year in a row, and with all four spots in the playoffs wide open, everyone thinks their team has what it takes. Spoiler alert: they don’t. In a league with 128 teams, making a four-team playoff is hard. If every team in the country were equally good, they would each have about a 3 percent chance of being chosen to play for a national championship. Of course, every team isn’t equal. Some teams will be great every year, while others are doomed to wallow in misery for eternity (hello, Kansas). Arguably the best projection system for college football is ESPN’s FPI, or football power index. As expected, the top end of the list is very SEC-heavy. Of the top seven teams, four are SEC schools. There are some perennials (No. 5 LSU and No. 1 Alabama) and some newcomers (Ole Miss and Tennessee), but just like every preseason, the SEC looks poised to dominate. The Volunteers are easily the
most intriguing team to eclipse the top 10. They were consistently highly ranked by FPI last season but finished the year with a 9-4 record following a rough 3-4 opening to the season. Those four losses, however, came by just 17 total points and against some of the top teams in the country. Tennessee now looks forward to a relatively easy schedule that includes a few opportunities for signature wins at No. 18 Georgia and at home against Alabama which would put them in prime position to sneak into the playoffs. Elsewhere, No. 4 Florida State lays claim to the highest FPI score in the country. The Seminoles made a strong push at the end of last season but didn’t have a strong enough resume to justify a spot in the final four. This year, they come into the season with a top-five AP ranking and look like one of the most dangerous teams in the nation. FSU is lead by dynamic running back Dalvin Cook, who burst onto the scene last year with nearly 1,700 yards and 19 touchdowns, finishing seventh in Heisman voting. His productivity is backed by a stifling defense which might roll through the ACC like No. 2 Clemson last season. Wisconsin clocks in at just 37th in
Graphic by Thomas valtin-erwin through tableau public
FPI, their lowest preseason rating in quite some time. The loss of starting quarterback Joel Stave certainly plays a role, although this team will rely primarily on running back Corey Clement and a stiff defense to win games. A ruthless schedule puts the Badgers in a precarious position, and wins will be hard to come by.
The No. 7 Michigan Wolverines have the highest FPI score of any Big Ten team despite being ranked one spot behind No. 6 Ohio State in the AP Poll. They have the easiest schedule of any team in the top 30, but their three toughest games all come on the road against No. 12 Michigan State, No. 17 Iowa and
the Buckeyes. As with every season, there is a slew of teams with the potential to take home CFP National Championship Trophy. As the season unfolds, those that really have a shot will begin to separate themselves. Until then, though, all there is to do is sit back and watch.
Graphic by thomas valtin-erwin through tableau public
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Wisconsin vs. LSU
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Rosters
Wisconsin Badgers 1 Love, Reggie 5 James, Chris 6 Clement, Corey 7 Shaw, Bradrick 8 Shelton, Sojourn 9 Booker, Titus 9 Lyles, Karé 10 Currens, Seth 11 Nelson, Nick 11 Peavy, Jazz 12 Hornibrook, Alex 12 Jamerson, Natrell 13 Bondoc, Evan 13 Houston, Bart 14 Dixon, D’Cota 14 Groshek, Garrett 15 Lotti, Anthony 15 Wheelright, Robert 17 Rushing, George 18 Williams, Caesar 19 Dunn, Jack 19 Musso, Leo 20 Ramesh, Austin 20 Volpentesta, Christian 21 Farrar, Arrington 21 Saari, Mark 22 Johnson, Patrick 23 Ogunbowale, Dare 23 Stokke, Mason 24 Brookins, Keelon 24 Krumholz, Adam 25 Tindal, Derrick 26 Burrell, Eric 27 Gaglianone, Rafael 27 Pryor, Kendric 28 Deal, Taiwan 28 Mielke, Blake 29 Carriere-Williams, Dontye 29 Laufenberg, Troy 30 Maternowski, Aaron 30 Trezy, Serge 31 Figaro, Lubern 32 Jacobs, Leon 34 Brodner, Sam 34 Obasih, Chikwe 36 Ferguson, Joe 37 Endicott, Andrew 37 Verstegen, Bret 38 Rosowski, P.J. 39 Hintze, Zach 39 Whalen, Jake 41 Hescock, Jake 41 Praschak, Max 42 Lloyd, Gabe 42 Watt, T.J. 43 Connelly, Ryan 43 Roy, Peter 44 Steffes, Eric
WR RB RB RB CB CB QB S CB WR QB CB S QB S QB P WR WR CB WR S FB DB S RB S RB ILB S WR CB S K WR RB S CB RB FB CB S FB RB DE S K S P K OLB TE OLB TE OLB ILB WR TE
6-3 5-10 5-11 6-1 5-9 5-11 6-0 6-3 5-11 6-0 6-4 6-0 6-1 6-4 5-10 5-11 6-0 6-3 6-1 6-0 5-7 5-10 6-1 5-9 6-2 6-0 5-11 5-11 6-2 5-11 6-1 5-11 6-0 5-11 5-11 6-1 6-2 5-10 5-10 6-0 6-2 6-0 6-2 5-10 6-3 6-1 5-9 5-11 6-3 6-0 6-1 6-7 6-2 6-4 6-5 6-3 6-0 6-5
225 208 227 211 168 190 214 208 204 184 219 188 203 235 197 209 186 211 192 179 178 194 251 191 220 207 203 205 217 218 186 175 184 219 179 224 199 189 189 239 201 182 238 218 267 195 173 183 211 175 236 252 210 240 243 235 187 262
SR JR SR FR Sr FR FR FR FR JR FR JR SO SR JR FR FR SR JR FR FR SR JR FR SO SO FR SR FR JR FR JR FR JR FR SO FR FR FR FR SR JR JR FR JR JR SR FR SO FR FR FR FR FR JR SO SO SR
45 46 46 47 48 48 49 49 50 51 51 52 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 65 66 66 67 68 68 71 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 81 82 84 85 86 87 89 90 92 93 94 95 96 96 97 98
Ingold, Alec Popp, Jack Thomas, Nick Biegel, Vince Cichy, Jack Herl, Mitchell Bell, Christian Penniston, Kyle Orr, Chris Burks, Noah Grady, Griffin Maxwell, Jacob Pfaff, David Edwards, T.J. Jeanty, Dallas Dooley, Garret Baun, Zack James, Alec Maskalunas, Mike Panos, George Johnson, Tyler Udelhoven, Connor Biadasz, Tyler Kasl, Patrick Deiter, Miachael Connors, Brett Ramczyk, Ryan Sagapolu, Olive Benzschawel, Beau Thomas, Kelly Dietzen, Jon Moorman, David Hegeman, Tiedt Van Lanen, Cole Estes, Kevin Roberge, Gunnar Kapoi, Micah Schmidt, Logan Dretzka, Ian Erdmann, Jason Edwards, David Fumagalli, Troy Houden, Henry Taylor, A.J. Neuville, Zander Finco, Ricky Cephus, Quintez Cesear, Jake Benzschawel, Luke Patterson, Jeremy Rand, Garrett Sheehy, Conor Preston, Keldric Allen, Connor Hirschfeld, Billy Loudermilk, Isaiahh Howe, Kraig
Game Information Lambeau Field Green Bay, WI
Kickoff: Sept. 3 2:30 p.m.
LSU TIGERS FB WR ILB OLB ILB TE OLB TE ILB OLB OLB OL DE ILB ILB OLB OLB DE ILB OL OLB LS OL OL OL OL OL NT OL DE OL OL DE OL OL NT OL OL OL OL OL TE WR WR TE WR WR LS TE NT DE DE OLB P DE DE DE
6-2 6-2 6-2 6-4 6-2 6-4 6-4 6-4 6-0 6-2 6-3 6-6 6-2 6-1 5-11 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-5 6-3 6-0 6-3 6-5 6-6 6-6 6-6 6-2 6-6 6-6 6-6 6-5 6-4 6-5 6-5 6-4 6-3 6-4 6-6 6-6 6-7 6-6 6-4 5-11 6-5 5-8 6-1 6-5 6-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 6-4 6-0 6-6 6-7 6-3
238 210 240 245 233 254 247 236 227 231 211 313 269 244 232 247 231 266 217 326 239 228 291 291 325 306 314 340 321 274 333 305 235 287 263 281 334 306 322 324 285 248 204 194 270 188 195 200 259 350 274 288 259 167 290 277 268
SO FR FR SR JR FR FR FR SO FR FR SO FR SO FR JR FR JR FR SO FR SR FR FR SO SO JR SO SO FR FR FR FR FR FR FR SO SR FR FR FR JR FR FR SO SO FR FR FR SO FR JR FR FR SO FR FR
1 Jackson, Donte 2 LaForge, Trey 2 Toliver II, Kevin 4 Brossette, Nick 5 Guice, Derrius 6 Harris, Brandon 7 Fournette, Leonard 8 Lewis, Caleb 8 Smith, Saivion 9 Jefferson, Rickey 10 Sullivan, Stephen 11 Anderson, Dee 12 Dickens, Micah 12 McMillan, Justin 13 Thomas, Dwayne 14 Scott Jr., Lindsey 15 Dupre, Malachi 15 Westly, Tony 16 Etling, Danny 17 Lewis, Xavier 17 Scheyd, Tiger 18 White, Tre’Davious 19 Dillon, Derrick 21 Paris, Ed 22 Fulton, Kristian 22 Raborn, Bailey 23 Thompson, Corey 24 White, Devin 25 Davis, Drake 25 Lemoine, T.J. 26 Battle, John 27 Fournette, Lanard 27 Surtain, Brandon 28 Williams, Darrel 29 Landrum, Louis 29 Williams, Andraez 30 Monroe, Eric 30 Ostrom, Michael 31 Jones, Justin 31 Lewis, Cameron 32 Lavigne, Leyton 32 Williams, Jalen 33 Adams, Jamal 33 Gallman, Trey 34 Culp, Connor 34 Henry, Reshaud 35 Gonsoulin, Jack 35 Voorhies, Devin 36 Gamble, Cameron 38 Growden, Josh 39 Gage, Russell 40 Riley, Duke 41 Ducre, David 41 Wallace, Abraham 42 Delahoussaye, Colby 43 Thorton, Ray 44 Escort III, Clifton 44 Moore, J.D. 45 Divinity Jr., Michael 46 Bower, Tashawn
DB QB CB RB RB QB RB QB CB S WR WR CB QB DB QB WR DB QB CB QB CB WR CB DB P S LB WR DB S RB DB RB WR DB DB WR WR WR DB WR S FB PK RB PK LB PK P WR LB FB DB PK LB DL FB LB DE
5-11 6-6 6-2 6-0 5-11 6-3 6-1 6-4 6-2 6-0 6-6 6-5 5-11 6-2 6-0 5-11 6-4 6-1 6-1 6-0 6-1 6-0 5-11 6-1 6-1 5-11 6-2 6-1 6-3 5-10 6-2 5-10 5-8 6-1 5-10 6-2 6-0 6-0 5-8 6-2 5-11 6-3 6-1 6-2 5-11 5-9 5-9 6-2 5-11 6-2 6-0 6-1 6-0 6-0 5-10 6-3 6-0 6-4 6-2 6-6
173 211 193 209 212 218 235 218 192 209 235 202 195 196 201 210 195 175 215 190 188 197 181 203 188 209 222 255 217 173 202 199 180 233 189 175 191 180 177 196 173 221 213 257 186 199 165 223 189 198 179 230 236 189 180 222 221 241 234 253
SO FR SO SO SO JR JR FR FR SR FR FR JR FR SR FR JR JR JR FR SO SR FR JR FR FR SR FR FR FR JR FR SR JR FR FR FR FR FR FR SO FR JR S0 FR JR FR JR JR FR JR SR SO SO SR FR FR JR FR SR
46 47 47 48 48 49 50 50 51 52 53 54 54 55 56 57 58 58 59 59 60 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 93 94 95 96 97 98 99
Von Rosenberg, Zach Barney, Chance Mouton, Bry’Kiethon Alexander, Donnie Lamarque, Ronnie Key, Arden Ferguson, Blake Garnett, Layton Rucker, Jonathan Beckwith, Kendell Nola, Ben Kairdoif, Justin Luke, Rory Valentine, Travonte Patterson, M.J. Godchaux, Davon Abdul-Aziz, Jibrail Burns, Hunter Ballis, John Harper, Jordan Roberts, Marcus Mikush, Justin Malone, K.J. Clapp, Will Savage, Jakori Weathersby, Toby Smith, Michael Okeke, Chidi Simmers, Turner Campbell, Donavaughn Dodd, Andy Magee, Adrian Allen, Willie Teuhema, Maea Boutte, Josh Pocic, Ethan Brumfield, Garrett Cushenberry III, Lloyd Pettigrew, Jamal Jeter, Colin Chark, D.J. Dural, Travin Moreau, Foster Abdul-Aziz, Jamil Roddy, Caleb Ferguson, Jazz Martin, Sci Washington, Jacory Smith, DeSean Lawrence, Rashad LaCouture, Christian Neal, Lewis Anthony, Andre Newsome, Seth Washington, Isaiah Alexander, Ed Logan, Glen Herron, Frank Clark, Deondre Gilmore, Greg
TE LB FB LB FB DE SNP LB LB LB LB DL OL NT LB DT OL LB SNP DE DL OL OG C OL OT OL OL OL OL C OG OL OG OG C/OG OG OL TE TE WR WR TE DL TE WR DE TE TE DT DT DE DE DE DE DT DE DT DE DT
6-5 6-1 6-1 6-1 6-2 6-6 6-4 6-3 6-1 6-3 6-4 6-2 6-4 6-4 6-4 6-4 6-2 6-0 6-1 6-3 6-0 6-4 6-4 6-5 6-5 6-5 6-2 6-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 6-5 6-7 6-5 6-5 6-7 6-3 6-4 6-7 6-7 6-3 6-2 6-6 6-2 6-5 6-5 6-4 6-6 6-5 6-3 6-5 6-2 6-5 6-0 6-4 6-2 6-4 6-4 6-4 6-4
250 220 265 212 227 238 227 250 249 247 195 265 272 356 225 299 289 225 224 228 313 281 303 309 300 302 290 312 274 344 318 309 310 315 346 302 305 306 250 254 187 207 250 293 276 223 240 249 249 301 301 272 219 276 236 333 315 305 272 308
FR JR SO JR FR S0 FR FR JR SR FR FR FR SO JR JR SO JR JR SR SR SO JR SO FR S0 FR FR S0 FR JR FR FR S0 SR SR S0 FR FR SR JR SR SO FR FR SO FR SO SR FR SR SR FR FR SO FR FR JR JR JR
TV: ABC Radio: Badger Sports Network
KAITLYN VETO/THE DAILY CARDINAL
The Wisconsin Badgers open their season against the No. 5-ranked LSU Tigers at Lambeau Field. They are looking to avenge a loss in the 2014 season opener.