Star acting manages to save “The Lucky Ones” from an unfortunate fate ARTS
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UW-OSU BATTLE SET FOR PRIMETIME PAGE 10: Five years later, remembering UW upset of OSU and one of Camp Randall’s greatest games GAMEDAY: Badgers face one of the best and most versatile offenses they’ve seen in a while Saturday
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Thursday, October 2, 2008
Downtown taxi stand facing uncertain future By Abby Sears THE DAILY CARDINAL
A late-night taxi stand serving downtown patrons on the weekends may be in jeopardy if organizers cannot find funding to continue the project, according to city officials. The stand, located on the 600 block of University Avenue, uses Badger Cab, Madison Taxi and Union Cab companies to pick up customers at a common meeting point in order to provide safer transportation options. The stand began as a pilot project in April and resumed business in late August after a summer hiatus. Madison’s Alcohol Policy Coordinator Katherine Plominski said the stand, which runs on Friday and Saturday nights from 12 a.m. to 3 a.m., currently averages 200 to 250 customers per weekend. Despite the positive response, Plominski said the money needed to run the project will run out at the end of this month, leaving the future of the stand uncertain. Plominski and representatives from the cab companies, Madison Police Department and the city’s traffic engineering department will meet Thursday to discuss potential plans for the stand. Plominski said it costs approximately $3,000 to run the taxi stand for one year. All of the money needed for the stand goes to paying a monitor for the stand to supervise the line and usher customers into taxis. Plominski said the position is vital to running an organized stand that
caters to patrons of popular downtown bars nearby. “If people were sober at the stand that would be one thing and it could be orderly … but with intoxicated groups it doesn’t work that way so you have to have someone out there literally to manage the line,” Plominski said. “Even if no one else is in that line they know that there’s a sober professional there. It’s a safety factor as well.” During the pilot phase of the project, volunteers staffed the position. When the stand relaunched at the end of the summer, Madison’s Central Business Improvement District provided $1,000 to pay for the monitor. BID Executive Director Mary Carbine said the organization only intended to temporarily fund the stand with the understanding that other means of financial support would be sought. “We were willing to pitch in for our share to fund a pilot so that this could become a self-sustaining business opportunity,” Carbine said. Plominski said she is exploring several possibilities for funding the stand, including sponsorships from beer companies or splitting the cost between the three participating taxi companies. Madison Taxi General Manager and current stand monitor Rick Nesvacil said his cab drivers and customers alike have utilized the stand and the company’s participation in taxi page 3
Safety guide shows increase in student liquor law violations By Erin Banco THE DAILY CARDINAL
Dean of Students Lori Berquam released the 2008-’09 Campus Safety Guide in a mass e-mail sent to UWMadison students Wednesday, which noted liquor law violations are on the rise. According to the guide, which included 2007 campus crime statistics, liquor law violations topped all other crimes on campus with 871 arrests—up from 427 arrests in 2006. From the liquor violations there were 599 university disciplinary referrals. Berquam encouraged students to visit the new campus safety website and to read the guide for safety tips. “Crime and safety continue to be serious concerns for our campus and city,” Berquam said in the e-mail. “Although a victim of crime is never at fault, there are simple steps you can take to raise your awareness and decrease your vulnerability.”
University of Wisconsin Police Sgt. Bill Larson said 167 burglaries were reported on campus in 2007. “Some of the biggest mistakes made last year were when people were out and about and walking around,” he said. According to Larson, UWPD relies on students to help them crack down on campus crime. “We put as many staff people out as we can, especially if there is a particular area that we are worried about,” he said. “When you see something take the time to look at it and give us a call and let us know.” Larson said the main goal of the guide is to inform and educate students on the importance of campus safety. The guide also advises students to take advantage of campus safety programs like SAFEwalk and the free bus system. For more information on campus safety visit www.safeu.wisc.edu.
KATIE GIBBS/THE DAILY CARDINAL
As part of a national campus tour in support of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, actors Adam Brody and Joy Bryant spoke to students at Memorial Union Wednesday.
Hollywood celebrities visit UW to push youth vote for Obama By Kelsey Gunderson THE DAILY CARDINAL
Actors Adam Brody and Joy Bryant spoke to a full crowd at Memorial Union Wednesday as a part of a nationwide campus tour to mobilize young supporters to elect Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in November. Brody believes young people can have a great impact on the outcome of the election. “The most important way for students to get their voices heard is to get out and vote,” he said. Brody and Bryant said they got involved in the tour because they were unsatisfied with the current administration. “We are not political policy experts, we’re just concerned citizens of the world,” Brody said.
“We believe young people could single-handedly win this election.” The duo also said they believe Wisconsin’s youth specifically can have a huge impact on the swing state’s outcome. “In 2000, Wisconsin had the highest youth vote in the country,” Bryant said. “This election is expected to be just as close.” Brody and Bryant said they think the most pressing issues facing the nation today are education, the war in Iraq and the environment. “I think we need to figure out the Middle East … personally I think it is time to get out of Iraq,” Brody said. “And I think we need to completely overhaul and reboot our energy system to renewable energy.”
Bryant said Obama is the right candidate to address America’s issues. “He was the head of Harvard Law Review, a community organizer, as well as a state and national senator … how much more substance does he need?” Brody said Obama’s popularity is a good thing, referring to those who criticize Obama as a celebrity. “It means people actually like him … they don’t view it as a problem,” he said. According to Brody, Obama’s appeal to young people has generated a large amount of student involvement. “We have 21st century problems to address, and it’s going to be up to young people to fix them,” he said.
ASM Constitutional Committee asks for feedback on draft By Estephany Escobar THE DAILY CARDINAL
UW-Madison students and faculty members offered thoughts and concerns about the newly drafted
Associated Students of Madison constitution during an open information session Wednesday at Memorial Union. Jeffrey Wright, chair of the
LORENZO ZEMELLA/THE DAILY CARDINAL
The Associated Students of Madison host an information session to hear student feedback on a draft of its recently released constitution.
Constitutional Committee, started the meeting by explaining the state of the current ASM government structure, the areas ASM succeeds in and the main problems of the organization. “We are not here to tell you that you should like the draft structure … this isn’t a session to sell this to you in any shape or form,” he said. Wright said current problems facing student government were the inability to communicate with students in a coordinated way, the inability to respond to individual events in a quick manner, ambiguity of the accountability line and the low student input. Major changes to ASM’s structure include establishing clear governing lines between the executive asm page 3
“…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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Creative process a struggle of character(s)
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News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com Editor in Chief Alex Morrell Managing Editor Jamie McMahon News Editor Amanda Hoffstrom Campus Editor Erin Banco City Editor Abby Sears State Editor Megan Orear Opinion Editors Jon Spike Mark Thompson Arts Editors Emma Condon Ryan Hebel Sports Editors Ben Breiner Crystal Crowns Features Editor Sarah Nance Food Editor Marly Schuman Science Editor Bill Andrews Photo Editors Kyle Bursaw Lorenzo Zemella Graphics Editors Meg Anderson Matt Riley Copy Chiefs Jillian Levy Gabe Ubatuba Jake Victor Copy Editors Megan Dwyer Daniel Lyman, Kate Manegold Hannah McClung, Emily Villwock
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MATT HUNZIKER his dark matterials
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ith less than seven hours until I had to hand out copies of my writing assignment to everyone in class, my main characters were once again being incredibly boring: “I am here,” said Susan. “Yes, I see that,” said Dave. “I am walking now.” “Yes, Dave,” replied Susan. “You are walking to work.” Almost everything I had ever been told about the creative process throughout years of writing, art, music and drama classes had stressed the importance of just letting things happen. Like erosion or childbirth, making art was a natural process, not to be forced or tampered with. The class I was currently taking was titled “Beginning Fiction Workshop,” but the biographies of the great writers we analyzed used words that would have seemed more appropriate to archaeology or particle physics. The artists described within “made discov-
eries,” “formed hypotheses” and even “advanced theories.” My understanding was that artists spent their time tuned in to the fascinating people, abstract shapes or disembodied voices that came and went through their minds, documenting the proceedings with the diligence of a stenographer and then searching for a gallery or publishing house. After eight hours of discovery, this approach had left me with Dave and Susan, the two most boring protagonists in all the English language. No matter how hard I tried to envision them as dynamic, plot-driving individuals, in my mind they still resembled the kind of blank-faced Fisher Price people I had played with almost two decades earlier. Now, as then, Dave and Susan displayed a complete lack of interesting, Bohemian life philosophies or sexual chemistry. Without the large plastic parking structure they had once toiled in, the two proved to be of no interest whatsoever. On paper, they could barely fill up a haiku, much less the 10-15 pages I had been instructed to shoot for. In a writing workshop, a dozen students are sequestered in a windowless room around a single, large table, like the members of a criminal jury.
New Beer Thursday High Falls Brew Co. honey brown lager Close your eyes and imagine you’re drinking the sweetest and richest brown ale you’ve ever had. Now add gallons of water, and you will have a vague idea of what the Honey Brown Lager by High Falls Brew Co. tastes like. It has the faintest hint of standard sweet and nutty brown ale flavor, which is further obscured by the carbonation. Realistically, you can’t expect too much in the flavor department from a $5.99 six-pack. Upon first sip, the initial reaction that comes to mind is, “I’ve had this before.” In reality, this beer is indistinguishable enough that it tastes similar to most cheap and inoffensive lagers, with a touch of “honey,” which could easily be confused for just sugar. The beer is boring enough that you’ll want to make a change after one bottle, unless you’re already drunk, in which case taste isn’t the priority. On the bright side, it’s a cheap beer that won’t make you cringe upon consumption. However, that $6 equates to a third of a 30-rack that would get the job done just as well (the 4.5% alcohol content does not stand out). If you prefer to drink a beer that isn’t widely known while paying the same price, this might strike your fancy.
High Falls Brew Co. • Honey Brown $5.99 at Riley’s Wines of the World
For the record The Oct. 1 article “Store display not the real problem” incorrectly called Kathleen Falk a state representative. It should have said she serves as Dane County Executive. The Cardinal regrets the error.
Though forbidden to discuss the proceedings with the outside world, the group’s deliberations are usually polite and constructive, and no one is ever found guilty. Still, people tended to become nervous when taking something they had become emotionally invested in and putting it up for the judgment of others, whether the issues in the work were personal or grammatical. While Dave and Susan continued to loiter around uselessly in my imagination, I concluded that students were right to be self-conscious. Even if the subject of a story was obviously fantastical, I was likely to read into the author’s personality based on their work, which sometimes meant trying to attach hidden psychological motivations to stories about time travel, playing Nintendo or getting high. Assuming that everyone else did the same, I was fearful that my nonexistent plot and emotionally neutered characters would have me branded as a sociopath. My greater worry was that my godawful story, with its leaden characters and comatose action, could only be the offspring of an equally dull and vacuous mind. If that was true, then I had to find some way to disguise the fact.
Thinking that my inner-eye might need a sharper focus, I went to brew a pot of coffee, noticing that it was now about 3:30 a.m. In between bathroom breaks, I continued to check in on Dave and Susan, who now seemed more jittery than I remembered them being but were otherwise unchanged. The coffee had sharpened my focus, but with the result that the profound boringness of the characters now stood out much more clearly than before. “I am still here,” said Susan. “Yes, I see that you remain there,” said Dave. Panicking, I tried to reverse this adjustment with a stiff drink, but found that after a couple of scotches my interest in completing the assignment began to waver dangerously. With precious little time remaining, and my patience exhausted by caffeine, alcohol, dehydration and lack of sleep, I took one last glance at my intractably dull protagonists and decided that I would handle them just as I had dealt with their Fisher Price doppelgangers decades earlier: “Fuck you guys,” I said. “I’m gonna write about dinosaurs.” Are you a publisher looking for a good dinosaur murder-mystery? E-mail Matt at hunziker@wisc.edu.
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Thursday, October 2, 2008
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Text alert test delivers 70-75 percent success
CHARLIE BAKER/THE DAILY CARDINAL
UW-Madison’s “Great people. Great place.” scholarship fund received a donation of up to $430,000 from the UW Credit Union Wednesday.
UW Credit Union gift to fund scholarships Emma Roller THE DAILY CARDINAL
The UW Credit Union announced a $215,000 donation to the university’s “Great people. Great place.” scholarship initiative Tuesday, and agreed to match member donations dollar-fordollar up to an additional $215,000 through the end of the year. “Because of the matching, the gifts are multiplied, which we think is very compelling when people consider even small gifts,” UW Credit Union President and CEO Paul Kundert said at a news conference, adding that plans for the gift began more than a year ago. The credit union was founded in 1931 by UW-Madison faculty and is the most popular educational loan provider for Wisconsin students. It has established a large presence on campus, sponsoring various UW-Madison events such as the Union Terrace Summer Stage, All Campus Party, Parents’ Weekend and UW Athletics. Chancellor Biddy Martin said she is delighted by the credit union’s generosity. “This new initiative certainly adds to [the] … legacy that UWCU has already established for supporting higher education,” Martin said. “We want to ensure that more students
from the state actually are able to attend not only UW-Madison, but partner UW institutions.” Kundert said there is an urgent need to reduce the financial burden on students. “Wisconsin’s communities are strengthened when we allow the talent of our young people to develop regardless of their families’ financial needs,” he said. Sandy Wilcox, president of UW Foundation—the university’s official fundraising and gift-raising organization—said the board of directors will work with the UW Credit Union to match its donations, doubling the amount of money the credit union and its members would supply to needbased students. “I am always pleased when people like the credit union respond,” Wilcox said. “It is a high priority for us to generate more need-based financial aid.” UW Credit Union also announced a $50,000 gift with up to $50,000 matching for UW-Milwaukee, a $10,000 gift with up to $10,000 matching for UW-Green Bay, UWStevens Point and UW-Whitewater, and a $5,000 gift with up to $5,000 matching for Madison Area Technical College.
Gas prices could drop to $3.00 per gallon this fall, according to AAA Retail gas prices could drop below $3 per gallon this fall, according to American Automobile Association fuel predictions. AAA expects to see the national average around $3.50 by mid-October and even lower later this season. “As we look at things today it certainly looks good for declining prices in the weeks ahead, and we could be talking about a significant decline,” AAA spokesperson Pam Moen said. Moen said the main reason for declining prices is a drop in demand, particularly because of the current economic hardships. According to the AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report, Wisconsin’s unleaded average for regular gas was reported at $3.64 per gallon at the close of Tuesday’s business day, while the national average was reported at $3.61.
taxi from page 1 the stand has been a good business investment so far. On the issue of continued funding for the project, Nesvacil said he would have to evaluate the stand from a business perspective to see if
Wisconsin’s average price a year ago was just over $2.91 per gallon, and the national average a year ago was $2.78 per gallon. “We said all year that the day would have to come where those prices would have to come back into balance with the reality [of] decreased demand and ample supplies,” Moen said. Although the decline in gas prices is not an indicator of a strong and healthy economy, it will relieve consumers who have paid record high prices this past year, according to Moen. “Once nationwide the supplies of refined gasoline are to a more acceptable level, we could really start to see gas prices drop off, and I suspect we are just at the brink of that now,” Moen said. —Hannah Furfaro
it would be worth putting money into. Additionally, he said collaborating with the other two cab companies as well as the city would be a crucial aspect of keeping the stand open for business. “We can’t do it alone,” Nesvacil said.
UW-Madison’s newest emergency communication method, WiscAlerts-Text, underwent its first test-run Wednesday afternoon. University officials sent a test text-message to nearly 13,500 users at 1:15 p.m., asking anyone who received the message after 1:45 p.m. to text the word “delay” to a specified number. University of Wisconsin Police Lt. Michael Newton, who manages the text-message system, said Wednesday’s test had a preliminary delivery success between 70 and 75 percent.
“Some messages were delayed, and some messages actually failed,” Newton said. “Our vendor, Inspiron Logistics, is working with the cellular companies to figure out what happened on their end.” According to Newton, cellphone companies that experienced problems included T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Virgin Mobile, Alltel and Verizon. “For our first test, we found some areas that need improvement,” he said. After the university analyzes possible problems, Newton said
the service would be tested again, especially necessary as more students and faculty sign up to receive the alerts. “We’d like to get more of the campus signed up—13,470 is a small portion of campus,” Newton said, adding 80 to 100 people had already added the service following the test. To receive texts, log into the MyUW Portal and click on the WiscAlerts logo. For more information on WiscAlerts, visit www. safeu.wisc.edu/wiscalerts. —Amanda Hoffstrom
UW chancellors’ pay raises postponed amid shaky economy The UW System Board of Regents, which was set to consider raising the salaries of four UW chancellors, removed the item Wednesday from the agenda of this week’s Regents meeting. According to UW System spokesperson David Giroux, the Regents will not consider the pay raises because of the poor state of the economy. “In consideration of the extreme turmoil in our economy … this was just the wrong time for our board to consider these kinds of salary adjust-
asm from page 1 and legislative branches through the creation of a student body president and making a student senate. A question and answer session followed the presentation, giving UW-Madison students and faculty the opportunity to ask about the proposed structure and voice their concerns. UW-Madison sophomore Tina Trevino-Murphy said she thought
ments,” Giroux said. The Regents were set to consider raises for UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Carlos Santiago, UW Colleges and UW Extension Chancellor David Wilson, UW-Stevens Point Chancellor Linda Bunnell and UWEau Claire Chancellor Brian LevinStankevich. The item will not likely be put back on the Regents’ agenda in the near future and has been “postponed indefinitely,” according Giroux. He said further cuts in spending are not
currently on the agenda. “The obvious [result] is that we have four chancellors whose salaries will remain even further behind their peers than they would have been,” Giroux said. The salary increases being considered were routine market adjustments, according to Giroux. Such adjustments are considered on a “case by case basis, and this was simply a case of bad timing,” Giroux said. —Justin Eells
there were some positive changes to the structure of ASM that have big potential. Other students said they still have concerns. “Overall, I like it, but I think that caution must be taken with the transition of a more executive position,” said UW-Madison junior Sean McMaster. Johnny Tackett, an ASM Constitutional Committee member, said he was satisfied with the session turnout.
“I think it was a good start … there were some people [that came] to become informed and others that had already studied the draft and gave us great feedback,” Tackett said. McMaster said he thought ASM members answered most student questions well in the open forum. “I definitely think they answered [my questions] as much as possible,” he said. “I just hope they take those questions and comments into consideration before the next draft.”
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Thursday, October 2, 2008
view Cardinal View editorials represent The Daily Cardinal’s organizational opinion. Each editorial is crafted independent of news coverage.
asm must increase reform awareness
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ast night, the Associated Students of Madison held two of three planned listening sessions to discuss the first draft of a revised constitution. Committee members were quick to criticize the current state of ASM in proposing a three-tiered governance system. Chief among their concerns were poor accountability for elected and appointed officials. The committee made it clear that they intend to address this by instituting a “popularly elected president and clearer lines of authority” within ASM. Another major concern with the current state of ASM was poor communication with students—and as a result, student apathy toward ASM. If last night’s session, where only a dozen students were present, is any indicator, student interest in governance on campus is extremely low. Although committee members believe that holding a popular election for president will allow for media
coverage and notoriety, more students must be made aware of these proposals. The lone e-mail advertising these sessions clearly didn’t gather enough student interest for a representative amount of feedback. While centralizing their bureaucracy and electing a senate that emphasizes outreach with student constituents will provide greater accountability, these efforts will mean nothing if students still view ASM as worthless. If the committee members seriously desire student feedback, they must spread the word now— through campus media and increased advertisement on campus—to reach the student populace. Last spring, this editorial board supported ASM’s proposals with “cautious optimism.” This support still stands, but November—when the constitution goes up for vote— will be here soon, and ASM needs more than a handful of interested students to impact the university.
Congress must set aside differences, solve crisis By Paul Axel COLLEGE DEMOCRATS
On Monday, the Dow Jones experienced its worst drop in history, plummeting 777 points. This free fall was the result of the failure of the “Bailout Bill” in the House of Representatives. Although there were various problems with this bill, there was an understanding between Democrats and Republicans that inaction was far more disastrous for the stock market and the economy at large. Especially disappointing were the spiteful partisan attacks that came from both sides and the representatives who voted based on their re-election odds. Let me be clear, I am a strong Democrat, but I believe both sides are at fault for the economic crisis. Congress has become increasingly divisive since 1994. Although that might make for exciting elections, it is horrible for the American people. Now is the time for Democrats and Republicans to come together and find a true compromise that assists financial institutions, but also provides strong oversight and protection for the average citizen. The era of deregulation and the
golden parachute must end, and our representatives need to understand that concept. Deregulation, which began in the 1990s and continued through the second Bush administration, allowed corporations to take irresponsible actions in the name of profit, which ultimately harmed both the businesses and the public. Deregulation is short sighted and is ultimately bad for the economy and the country. We must also limit the golden parachute, which is an agreement between a company and executives specifying benefits the executive will get if fired. While there are positives to the contract, mostly dealing with job retention and company takeover, the parachute can be exploited. For example, Carly Fiorina was CEO and chairperson of Hewlett-Packard. During her tenure, HP’s performance plummeted and thousands of employees lost their jobs. As a reward, Fiorina was given a $21-million severance deal. Executives who send companies into ruin should never receive these ridiculously lucrative deals while other employees lose their jobs. If these large banks and financial
institutions fail, there will be enormous ramifications for Main Street. People with a pension, a 401(k) or stocks will suffer. Local banks will go under and be bought by larger companies. Even the holiday season may be in danger as consumer confidence continues to drop, and many stores may suffer as a result. What’s worse, now the majority of banking transactions are overseen by three companies: Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup. Should anything happen to one of these companies, it could be disastrous for the millions of people with savings accounts, checking accounts, loans or college funds. If these economic woes continue without Congressional intervention, it will be Main Street, not Wall Street that will pay the price. We need to tell our elected officials that we are sick and tired of waiting for a solution. Congress needed to act Monday to solve the economic crisis, but if they don’t act today, we can’t expect much of a tomorrow. Paul Axel is deputy volunteer coordinator of College Democrats. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
Public schools can improve with passionate, educated teachers JOSEPH KOSS opinion columnist
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ast week, Kristen Wall of College Republicans wrote on the current state of Milwaukee Public Schools. While there is wide agreement that the current graduation rate is unacceptable, her solution—to disband the MPS entirely—is drastic, unwise and dangerous. Unquestionably, there is a massive achievement gap growing in our nation’s public schools. In a nationwide 2004 study, graduation rates in the 50 largest cities were 52 percent, while their suburban counterparts graduated 76 percent of their students. Milwaukee ranked 37th of 50 in this study, graduating 46 percent. Detroit, Indianapolis and Cleveland were the bottom three, graduating 25 percent, 30.5 percent and 34 percent, respectively. These school districts are crying out for help. However, it is another claim altogether that “disbanding the MPS is the right thing to do for the welfare of the students enrolled in the MPS System.” The better questions to ask are: What are some of the reasons—social, economic, political—that urban public schools graduate so few students compared to their suburban counterparts? And are there policy and procedural changes that urban public school systems can implement that will increase their graduation rates? Factors such as “barely qualified teachers,” “gang violence” and “Teach for America” are blamed, but these problems are not necessarily connected to the public school system. Employing betterqualified teachers starts with training talented, dedicated students interested in teaching. One main factor in recruiting better-qualified teachers is pay. It is hard to convince a chemistry major to start at $25,000 to teach in a high-needs
school when that same person can make $40,000 in the private sector. You cannot continue to only appeal to the altruistic few by keeping incentives low. Furthermore, gang violence is a function of society writ large, not a system failure of the public school systems. Honest debate about school violence begins with gun control and ends with conversations about the role of family, community and society in raising our nation’s youth. While retention rates for Teach for America alumni in high-need public schools are lower than desired, they are attempting to address the problem, usually by devoting great amounts of time and energy to their job. Throwing well-meaning young adults under the bus to make a baseless emotional claim does a great disservice to any argument against teachers. Yet, there are many things public schools can do to improve their overall success rates. Numerous times, the Boston Public School District has gained notoriety for the great strides they have made in the past 10 years. Some strategies they have employed, including reorganizing large high schools into small schools and small learning communities, show promise as a district-wide approach to increasing graduation rates. Also, the district’s “Project Reconnect” is a proven means of bringing dropouts back to school. During the summer, staff from the BPS Unified Student Services Team contact students who did not complete the school year to encourage them to re-enroll in September. One of the biggest factors still plaguing our public schools is the ongoing prevalence of social class differences between those living in urban cities and those living outside of them. Many make the all-too-common mistake of placing the blame for the education gap on failing schools and underqualified teachers. As important are social determinants, such as differences in child rearing, access to health care, the unavailability of affordable housing and the differences in wealth and asset
holdings of their parents. Anybody familiar with Richard Rothstein’s incredible book “Class and Schools” knows of these achievement determinants. Taken as a whole, Rothstein says that “the influence of social class characteristics is probably so powerful that schools cannot overcome it, no
matter how well trained their teachers are and no matter how well designed” their schools are. If we want to truly improve our public schools and graduate more urban Milwaukee youths, we must look beyond saving “hundreds of dollars in income taxes”—blaming teach-
ers and schools in the process—and instead attempt to narrow the morally obnoxious social and economic inequalities that plague our country. Joseph Koss is a junior majoring in secondary education and social studies. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
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Getting students in and out of UW in four years with a degree, extracurriculars and their sanity becomes a juggling act among advisors, orientation, college planning and personal dedication.
Story by Diana Savage | Graphic by Matt Riley
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he average UW-Madison student arrives on campus as a freshman announcing, “I will graduate in four years.” Don’t let the initially light campus climate fool you, freshmen; to graduate in four years, UW-Madison students must take an average of 15-17 credits per semester. Factor in a part-time job, extracurriculars and social activities, and you can expect to feel as if two full-time jobs have taken over your schedule. And yet, regardless of the activities students must balance. The average time it takes for a UW-Madison student to graduate is still only 4.12 years. As new studies report the decreasing amount of time it takes for UWMadison students to graduate, the campus must inquire: What is the real reason that students graduate so fast? Some students feel pressured to graduate in four years because of the stigma attached to being a super senior or, worse, a super-super senior. “I think five years is acceptable,” UW-Madison junior Brianna Salinas said. “But when you push it, then people start looking at you funny, like ‘how old are you?’”
“When you push [five years], then people start looking at you funny.” Brianna Salinas junior UW-Madison
But a negative perception of delayed graduation is not the only thing driving students to graduate so quickly. According to Jocelyn Milner, director of Academic Planning and Analysis for the Office of the Provost, students involved in co-curricular activities are more likely to finish their degrees on time. Salinas, who plans to finish her degree in the five years designed for engineering majors, balances her double major in geological engineering and geology and geophysics with three student organizations and a part-time job. “Students who challenge themselves tend to do better,” Milner said. “They spend more time on their school work and less time partying. They are better time managers, and they really come out of college having exercised the kind of skill development that we as an institution hope that they will develop.” With over 150 registered student organizations on campus to balance
with schoolwork, it is no wonder students are challenging themselves. “I make a schedule; I usually work the same days each week and have meetings at the same time each week, and then I work around that and plan based on what’s due,” Salinas said, adding that she follows her scholarship advisor Mercile Lee’s advice to study three hours a week per credit. That same stigma driving students to graduate earlier is derived not just from peer interactions, but from advisors and official offices on campus. Studies by the UW Academic Planning and Analysis Office show that students have been completing their degrees faster every year since 2001. Results suggest the increase is partly because of students taking more than the average credit load of 14.3. “I encourage students to take a full credit load,” Milner said. “If students are replacing ... hours in the classroom with partying, then they are not really getting what they came for,” adding that students still have to pay full tuition whether they take 13 credits or 18. APA studies also indicate that students who declare a major earlier finish in a more timely manner. “It doesn’t do any good if we have students who enroll and stay for a long, long time and don’t graduate, or [students who] come and leave,” Milner said. “Their real value is to come and earn a degree.” The web pages of specific colleges at UW-Madison, such as the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, advise students to chart out academic plans that include exactly four years. Results of the APA studies identified some of the factors that result in delayed graduation. The study said students who drop out and reapply are 22 percent more likely to delay their graduation time. Part of the study, however, relied on student surveys about degree completion. The student surveys indicated that poor academic advising and difficulty enrolling in courses were the least significant indicators of delayed graduation. In fact, Salinas partly attributes her path to finishing on time to meetings with her advisor, Donald Woolston. “He was really helpful in steering me in the right direction and never telling me what to do, but giving me suggestions with coursework,” Salinas said. This year’s new student orientation, SOAR, presented a revamped advising system at UW-Madison. Advisors passed out guidance forms to incoming freshmen who were still undecided in an effort to help them decide on
their majors. Advisors tried something new with the informational packets at SOAR this year. “We don’t want to kill them with information or totally bombard them,” Emily Dickmann, Cross College Advising Service advisor, said. Instead of giving the students several packets, advisors like Dickmann provided students with one concise packet.
“It doesn’t do any good if we have students who enroll and stay for a long, long time.” Jocelyn Milner director of academic planning and analysis Office of the Provost
“I think a lot of people leave SOAR thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, I got so much,’
and a lot of it just kind of floats out [of] their brains,” Dickmann said. “I think the information packets are great,” said UW-Madison freshman Cullen Berg, who attended SOAR this year. “I’m glad they don’t give students a 3000-page book on everything.” Although these guidance forms pressure students to declare their majors faster, the advisors do not push the students to make a decision. “I think students are the experts in their own lives,” Dickmann said. “Most students want to graduate in four years. Some students have the time, money and resources. I let them name the goal and then I help them achieve it.” New technology has also contributed to the graduation-time trends. “What the people in curricular services and enrollment management are striving for is to make [course] information available to students in
real-time in ways that are useful to them,” Milner said. The newest system augmenting the MyUW site, Course Guide, is an online feature coming to MyUW in the spring or summer of 2009. The new design will replace class listings in the Course Catalog as well as add new information about classes including its description, prerequisites, sections, textbooks and materials. “Course Guide will prove to be really useful to students,” Milner said. “It is really intended to be a way to communicate the curriculum to students.” New students continue to come to SOAR determined to graduate in four years. UW-Madison freshman Sierra Jin is no exception. “As of now, I am planning on majoring in biology,” Jin said. “Unless I found a major I felt strongly and certain about, I wouldn’t be inclined to change majors.”
featuresfood Breaking cultural barriers through food 6
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By Katie Vann THE DAILY CARDINAL
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The culture shock of food abroad For many, preparing a meal at home has come to mean popping a two-minute frozen dinner in the microwave or throwing together some boxed macaroni and cheese.
abundance of vegetarian-friendly options including fresh, local vegetables and fruits as well as stir-fries with rice and tofu prepared in creative and delectable ways. Although she enjoys indulging in South Korea’s fresh vegetarian fare— her favorite meal is song pyon, a rice cake roasted in pine needles and filled with chestnut meat—she found it difficult to remain vegan in the social culture. Lorig said the Koreans kindly welcomed her and wanted to show their hospitality through food. Adapting to a new diet “They firmly believe the way to gaining your friendship is straight through your gut,” Lorig said. Lorig said her enthusiasm for Korean cuisine was a direct reaction to the people of Korea and their country as a whole. “If the idea of vegetarianism is difficult to grasp for the co-workers and students I interact with everyday, veganism is unfathomable,” she said. As a result, Lorig has become more of a flexitarian, consuming fish and dairy products. “Especially with the limitations of language barriers, sharing food is not just about taste, but is more directly rooted in building community and relationships,” Lorig said. Compared to seaweed, pickled cabbage and sushi, it might be hard to complain about getting used to London’s fish and chips and afternoon high tea sweets. Emily Richter, a UW-Madison senior who studied in London, had little trouble adjusting to British cuisine, but encountered a few dining difficulties when traveling throughout Spain for her spring break. Not only was it difficult to order in another language, Richter said, but meal times also shifted later. “When my friends and I got sick of the fried, meaty Spanish cuisine, we found relief by hitting up local grocery stores and fruit markets for quick meals, or we’d prepare them in our hostel kitchens,” Richter said.
Richter added it is important to experience prepared cuisine of other countries, but there are also other options besides eating out all the time. A more challenging transition Tamara Drossart, a UW-Madison senior who studied in Cape Town, South Africa, loved the fresh fruits and vegetables found in markets or grocery stores in Cape Town and said commercial produce found in the United States cannot compare. While one can find an array of foods available in large African cities, Drossart said, there is “just a lot less of the ready-made and two-minute-meal pre-packaged items you can find in the U.S.” She added if you want good pasta sauce or macaroni and cheese, it all has to be made from scratch. Barbeques and a common traditional food called maize meal are staples in the African diet. Maize meal, added Drossart, is “a white gritty coagulation of corn maize flour that looks like mashed potatoes and tastes like nothing, or possibly cardboard.” It is served with almost every meal, usually with a sauce and some meat. According to Drossart, if you are traveling around Africa, plan ahead and stock up on what you like because you never know what foods will be available in the next city. Andrea Muilenberg, a UWMadison study abroad advisor, lived in Honduras for four years working with the Peace Corps. She said adjusting to a different diet takes longer for some to adapt to. “Often students may be eating things that they’ve never been exposed to before,” Muilenberg said. “We often hear how students love to get care packages from home filled with some foods that remind them of home—peanut butter, candy, even mac and cheese.” Muilenberg added University of Wisconsin study abroad programs try to provide some information about the food culture of the region they have chosen to study abroad in
during their orientation. Whether it’s eating rice and beans three times a day in Honduras, scouring fruit markets in Africa or ordering Spanish paella, living and eating abroad not only toughens our gut, but it also increases our understanding of other societies and individuals. After developing friendships with her co-workers and students, Lorig sees this cross-cultural understanding everyday. “We’ve built that springboard, through the exchange of food, to get beyond the formality of customs and get to know each other as individuals.”
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here is a market in Mozambique, Africa, where, during the summer months, vendors fill the streets with crates of fresh pineapples, plump mangoes, young coconuts and ripe bananas. Locals amble around purchasing ingredients for their daily meals, choosing between rustic breads, exotic fruits and grilled chicken or goat meat. While grocery stores are scarce in some areas of the world and food markets like this one in Mozambique are what people rely on, the United States has a food culture largely based on convenience. There is a variety of fast food drive-thrus and on-the-go meal options.
Imagine having to leave this culture, where Chinese takeout is available at 3 a.m. and grocery stores cater to you 24 hours a day, to being submerged into an atmosphere with different dining habits and a completely new cuisine. For adventurous globetrotters and study abroad students, this is the reality of their experiences. From their time abroad, they say they have found dining is not just about the physical food but an important part of cultural traditions and social interactions. “Eating as a foreigner will always make the cultural implications of food jump out at you,” said Carrie Lorig, a UW-Madison alumni teaching English in South Korea. “You become hyper-aware of how everything you put in your mouth affects your (suddenly disoriented) comfort zone and everyone elses.” Lorig, a vegan, said she had to adapt her eating habits in order to fit into the social culture surrounding food in South Korea. Lorig said South Korea offers an
By Jia Luo and Lena Seeger Jia is a Madison native who has frequented hundreds of restaurants in town and is a longtime blogger. Lena is Jia’s vegan roommate. This weekly column will feature mini-reviews about their recent dining expeditions around the UW-Madison campus. Babcock Hall Dairy Store The Babcock Hall Dairy Store features lots of good ice cream flavors and cheese-related products produced right here on campus. However, a lesser known fact is their yummy $5 sub and chips special offered on Thursdays, which is certainly better than what you would get at Subway about two blocks East. Be sure to come early because the line can get quite long during rush hour, and they sometimes run out of toppings. Overall: 3/4 For more information, check out madisonculinary.blogspot.com.
KATIE VANN/THE DAILY CARDINAL
This market in Spain offers a fresh taste of local ingredients. Unlike the many fast food options in the United States, other countries often have unique, locally grown food that can give students insight into their culture.
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Scandalous. Thirty-five percent of people who use personal ads for dating are already married. dailycardinal.com/comics
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Diamonds
Today’s Sudoku
Anthro-Apology
By Eric Wigdahl wigdahl@wisc.edu
© Puzzles by Pappocom
By Todd Stevens ststevens@wisc.edu
Angel Hair Pasta
Solution, tips and computer program available at www.sudoku.com.
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.
Sid and Phil
By Alex Lewein lewein@wisc.edu
The Graph Giraffe
By Yosef Lerner ilerner@wisc.edu
Today’s Crossword Puzzle
Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com
TAKE YOUR PICK ACROSS 1 Brief briefs? 5 You can’t take it seriously 10 Problem ender? 14 “In ___ of flowers ...” 15 “Any ___?” 16 One of the musical Three B’s 17 “Awaiting your reply” 18 Nigerian currency 19 Winglike structures 20 November 2008 wear 23 Baptism and bris, for two 24 Change for a nickel 25 Big step 28 Numbered rds. 30 Pool hall selections 31 Be extremely expectant 33 My ___, Vietnam 36 They’re cast over the ocean? 40 Hit-and-run participant? 41 Makes smooth, in a way 42 Mount near the Gulf of Catania 43 Pre-Easter purchases 44 They slow mustangs 46 Avoid ignorance 49 Some company execs
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Sought-after group Turns to the right Attila’s crew Considerable winnings, informally Times to write about “Rock Around the Clock,” e.g. Between shores, maybe ___-poly Ballet bends Something to feather
DOWN 1 Political alliance 2 “Long live ...” 3 Judge 4 Word yelled at some parties 5 Subject to limitations 6 “A stitch in time saves nine,” e.g. 7 Guide lines? 8 Energy-supplying compound, for short 9 Twin in a perennial bestseller 10 Diminishes in intensity 11 Aquiline weapon 12 Defeatist’s declaration 13 It involvesone’s quest for a mate 21 Facilitate
22 Immune system component 25 What kids are taught not to pick 26 Oktoberfest horn 27 Use a hammock 28 Takes from Peter? 29 Done-turn connection 31 Poker game locales, often 32 Shortest-named spectrum hue 33 A bunch 34 “___ added expense” 35 “A miss ___ good ...” 37 Boy band active from 1995 to 2002 38 Phonograph inventor’s monogram 39 < 43 Black-tie 44 Riverside insurance 45 GI mail service 46 Winter Olympics athlete 47 A month abroad 48 “Have I got ___ for you!” 49 “Rigoletto” composer 50 Martin Crane’s dog 52 Breakfast chain 53 Mattel offering 54 Relax, as one’s grip 55 Bemoans 56 Adirondack chair part
Awkward Turtle
By Meg Anderson anderson4@wisc.edu
The Daily Code
Crack me
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“QBI SIO WUFFCH’ U JMSWBI?!” Kingpin Quote Start with one-letter words and words with apostrophes, find out how many places the alphabet has shifted, then use that knowledge to decipher the code. Yesterday’s Code:
“Fly LIke an Eagle”
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arts Film gets ‘Lucky’ with strong cast dailycardinal.com/arts
By Ali Rothschild THE DAILY CARDINAL
“The Lucky Ones” is one of a few movies in recent years to deal with the war in Iraq, though this particular one isn’t about the war at all, but three “lucky” soldiers who meet on a plane ride home after facing and surviving combat. With the number of contrivances and plot holes apparent in the script, it would appear at first glance director Neil Burger’s film fails to show much of anything. Instead, it is saved by solid performances from Rachel McAdams, Michael Peña and Tim Robbins. At times surprisingly subtle and touching, the film is a lighthearted, fresh take on the lives of soldiers in modern America.
At the movie’s center is the treatment of soldiers in a society that doesn’t support a war.
McAdams, in her first major role since 2005’s “The Family Stone,” plays Colee Dunn, a young blue-
collar soldier who meets recently wounded (in his privates, to be specific) T.K. Poole (Peña) and middleaged Fred Cheever (Tim Robbins), who is at the end of his tour. The three seem to have little in common until a New York blackout cancels their flights, sending them on a rental-car road trip across Middle America to their respective locations. Cheever is headed home to St. Louis, and Dunn and Poole are bound for Las Vegas so Dunn can return a deceased friend’s guitar to his family and Poole can find professional hookers to cure his impotence. Much of the story seems convoluted and full of many clichéd aspects of road-trip movies, yet, at the same time, it is never quite predictable. There’s your bar fight, your car breakdown, your inevitable sexual tension between the younger pair, but it’s still unclear how everything will play out. As the film progresses, the soldiers discover that, after surviving the war and being “the lucky ones,” America doesn’t welcome them with the open arms and gratitude they had expected. Cheever comes home to find his wife demanding a divorce
Thursday, October 2, 2008
PHOTO COURTESY LIONSGATE
and a son asking for money to go to Stanford. Dunn is mocked at a college bar (though the scene is terribly executed and unrealistic), and Peña is worried his fiancée won’t love him with his new sexual impotence. The script is pretty flat, but McAdams brings a measure of joy and humor that makes the film watchable. Even dressed down with
mousy brown hair and a limp from a leg injury, McAdams’ Colee absolutely lights up the screen. Peña and Robbins are almost as good, and the three play off each other nicely enough to sustain the ridiculous things that come in their way, including a tornado that comes out of nowhere at one point. At the movie’s center is the treat-
ment of soldiers in a society that doesn’t support a war. The stigma of returned soldiers has changed since the wars of the 20th century, and though the movie doesn’t spout any political messages, Burger’s film will no doubt leave audiences satisfied and thinking. Grade: B
Cold War Kids’ mellow follow-up betrays fan base By Jacqueline O’Reilly
that of its single. It is moderately good music. The overall tone Two years after the release of of the album, however, is still Robbers & Cowards, Fullerton, a shocking departure from the Calif.’s Cold War Kids are back band’s debut. with their sophomore album, Loyalty to Loyalty is, by the Loyalty to Loyalty. Cold War Kids’ standards, atypiThis is a highly anticipated album cally mellow. The frenzy of their for hardcore Cold War Kids fans. first album has diminished, and They, along with many other not- in its place is a more somber so-fanatical Cold War Kids fans, had tone. Although Willett’s voice been waiting for the new album isn’t a perfect match for this to drop for some time now. With newfound serenity, the songs such brilliance on their debut record, still manage to keep the listener engaged. The anticipation was CD REVIEW best examples running high to see of their new what Cold War Kids sound on this would deliver next. album include But sadly, “Golden Gate with the release Jumpers” and of Loyalty to “Every Valley Loyalty’s single, Is Not a Lake,” “Something Is Not Loyalty to Loyalty both featurRight With Me,” Cold War Kids ing progressive this anticipation rhythms. only resulted in Overall, Loyalty to Loyalty is disappointment. The song was unusually boring compared to an interesting new side of Cold previous tracks. Although lead War Kids. However, their first singer Nathan Willett’s vocals album distinguished them as are as strong as ever, it felt like masters of hysteria, and that’s a the band as a whole was lacking hard fact to forget when listentheir creative spirit, which was ing to these mediocre melodies. It’s clear Cold War Kids wantso blaringly present on their first album. Each line of the single ed to try out a different sound follows the exact same melody, for their new record. Robbers & and Willett repeats “something is Cowards is thrilling and energetnot right with me” ad nauseam. ic, never letting listeners pause It was uncharacteristic and a far to catch their breath. In contrast, leap from the chaotic sounds Loyalty to Loyalty is much more of Robbers & Cowards, and it subdued and subtle. Its meloappeared Cold War Kids were dies are calmer and lyrics more trying to match the enthusiasm poetic. Instead of hollering their of their first album but had com- message to the masses, Cold War pletely missed the mark. Kids have opted to charm their However, as the musical gods listeners with poetic lyrics and would have it, when Loyalty to resonating melodies. It’s a decent Loyalty dropped in September, album and worth picking up, fans realized the overall quality but it is not what Cold War Kids of the album does not mirror do best. THE DAILY CARDINAL
KEVIN SLANE citizen slane
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Michael Peña, Rachel McAdams and Tim Robbins give convincing performances as a trio of returning soldiers, but audiences will likely give the film’s dull script the same cold reception the characters receive in the film.
Fast Eddie to philanthropy: Newman leaves ‘Cool’ legacy
or those of you who read my column on a regular basis, you know I have already discussed the death of cool once this year with the geriatric pairing of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in the disappointing “Righteous Kill.” However, before Pacino gave us his stoic performance in the “Godfather” trilogy, before De Niro made us care for Jake La Motta in “Raging Bull,” there was Paul Newman. Newman passed away this past Friday at the age of 83, leaving behind a legacy as an unparalleled talent on the screen, a dedicated philanthropist and an avid race-car driver. Movies from the ’50s to the ’80s simply would not be the same without him. His notable roles can’t be contained in a column like this, but highlights include his portrayal of Fast Eddie Felson in “The Hustler” and “The Color of Money,” the title characters in “Hud,” “Cool Hand Luke” and “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” Henry Gondroff in “The Sting,” Reg Dunlop in “Slap Shot” and even his last role as Doc Hudson in the Pixar-animated film “Cars.” Yet, despite the 47 major award nominations, including wins for “The Color of Money” and an honorary Oscar, Newman will be remembered as a man who resented the studio system he was put into, as an actor who refused to play by Hollywood’s rules. Despite his seemingly boundless fame, Newman shied from the public eye, preferring to spend time
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Paul Newman, here playing a mob boss in ‘Road to Perdition,’ wowed with his blue eyes and arresting screen presence for almost 50 years. on his farmhouse in Westport, Conn., with his equally famous wife—actress Joanne Woodward. Newman’s early life was full of the types of stories only Hollywood producers could dream up. He was kicked out of Ohio University for denting the dean’s car with a keg. He enrolled in the Navy, but failed as a pilot because his world-famous babyblue eyes were colorblind. He still served as a radio man, though, and used the GI Bill to attend Kenyon College, where he graduated, in his own words, “Magna Cum Lager.” Additionally, he drove to several racing championships and managed his team to several more in open-wheel Indy Car racing.
Despite his seemingly boundless fame, Newman shied from the public eye.
But beyond the daredevil driving, the stories of drunken revelry and the gritty acting performances, Newman was also a humanitarian. Many people know “Newman’s Own” brand
food products, but few know that all profits from these products go to charity, a total of $220 million so far. Newman founded the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a camp for seriously ill children, which has now expanded to several camps including locations in Ireland, France and Israel. He donated $10 million to Kenyon College and $250,000 to Kosovo relief efforts and runs a $25,000 scholarship for those who protect the First Amendment through the written word. Even when charitable, Newman made sure to reward those who shared his rebellious streak. The simple fact is that this past Friday, America didn’t just lose one of the great actors of all time, but one of the great people of the 20th century. As frequent co-star and close friend Robert Redford said of Newman, “My life—and this country—is better for his being in it.” So, the next time you reach for your salad dressing, flip past “Road to Perdition” on TBS or happen upon an Indy Car race, remember Paul Newman, an American treasure. Need to unload some Newman nostalgia? Send your memories and favorite moments to Kevin at kslane@wisc.edu.
sports OSU upset fades from students’ memory 10
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Thursday, October 2, 2008
By Nate Carey THE DAILY CARDINAL
In 2003, one of the greatest games in the history of Wisconsin football was played, and hardly anyone seems to remember it. The Badgers defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 17-10 that wet and windy night in October, ending Ohio State’s 19-game winning streak, and most UW students don’t even know it happened. It doesn’t seem like it has been that long, only five years since the Buckeyes came in ranked No. 3 in the nation as the defending national champs, and faced a Badger team ranked No. 23. But in football years, especially student-athlete football years, five years is a long time. Players come and go at the blink of an eye, and the fans sitting in Camp Randall Stadium have to constantly learn new players. So on the fifth-year anniversary of Wisconsin’s upset win over the Buckeyes, as Wisconsin looks toward this weekend’s Big Ten home opener against OSU, it seems fitting to look back at how it all happened. But be warned, this is not your typical Cinderella story. It was a game full of drama, scandal, sloppy conditions and bad weather. The Badgers had started off the season 5-1 overall, with a 2-0 record in the Big Ten. Ohio State came in with a 5-0 record and appeared ready to continue its 19-game winning streak. But things didn’t seem to be heading OSU’s way as soon as the team got off the plane. “We did our traveling the day of
the game and got into Madison that afternoon, and it was sunny and nice and warm, and then right before kickoff it turned into a monsoon,” said Paul Keels, the play-by-play announcer for Ohio State. The weather that fateful night, something that both teams had to deal with, only added to the drama. What was a sunny October day quickly turned into a damp and windy night in Wisconsin. With winds up to 15 mph, there was enough air flowing through the Camp Randall tunnels to suck up any pedestrian who left their seat. “It was a rainy, nasty mess the whole game,” Keels said. “I can even remember looking outside of our booth where we were and seeing friends of mine from Cincinnati who were at the game and seeing them look like drowned rats out there right before kickoff.” It was soggy, it was dark, it was windy. And with Jim Sorgi at the helm for Wisconsin, it seemed as if the Badgers would be in for another long night against the Buckeyes. But we all know what assumptions do. Wisconsin held the Buckeyes without a first down in the first quarter and were able to take the lead early in the second quarter on a 2-yard run by Booker Stanley. The running game in itself was a major story, as starter Anthony Davis was out with an ankle injury he had suffered the week before in Wisconsin’s 30-23 victory over Penn State. Wisconsin entered the game planning to use Jerone Pettus, Dwayne Smith and Stanley to replace Davis, and in that order.
Pettus and Smith split time on Wisconsin’s first possession, but it was Stanley who had the biggest impact. He rushed for 138 yards on 31 carries and, of course, scored Wisconsin’s first touchdown. Wisconsin went into halftime with a 7-3 lead, giving up a field goal to Mike Nugent with 4:02 left in the second quarter—which was set up after Wisconsin safety Jim Leonhard fumbled a punt return. The Badgers added to their lead with a Mike Allen field goal from 38 yards out with 5:09 left in the third. The field goal was set up by a Chris Gamble fumble on a Buckeye punt return, and long snapper Matt Katula recovered, avenging Leonhard’s earlier lost fumble. Everything seemed poised for another unbelievable upset in Wisconsin history. That is, until the unthinkable happened. While running for yards on 3rdand-18 from the OSU 28, Sorgi was tackled by linebacker Robert Reynolds. As the players picked themselves up off the pile, Sorgi laid motionless on the ground. While Wisconsin coaches and players assumed Sorgi was just late to get up, the replay showed a shocking revelation. After he was on the ground, Sorgi was choked by Reynolds, who put his hand on top of Sorgi’s throat and pushed down. Sorgi was able to get to the sidelines, but had trouble breathing and couldn’t talk. With Sorgi out, the game plan rested on the shoulders of backup Matt Schabert. Schabert came in and managed
JARON BERMAN/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO
Badgers fans celebrate the 17-10 Wisconsin victory over Ohio State five years ago. This game ended the Buckeyes’ 19-game winning streak. the offense, but with Wisconsin up by a touchdown, there was no need or hurry to throw the ball. That is, until OSU quarterback Craig Krenzel hit Michael Jenkins for a 6-yard touchdown catch a little past midway through the fourth to tie the game at 10. The hopes and dreams of Badger fans were slowly dying and, as the Buckeyes stole back the momentum, the outlook of the game was as
dreary as the weather. With every fairy-tale story, there obviously is a happy ending. For the Badgers, it couldn’t have come a better way. On the Badgers’ very next possession, they led off the drive with a 1-yard rush up the middle by Stanley. On the second play, Schabert hit a football page 11
Wisconsin women’s hockey welcomes Syracuse at Kohl Center By Brandon Storlie THE DAILY CARDINAL
As the Wisconsin women’s hockey program celebrates its 10th anniversary this weekend, the team is in the midst of a youth movement. In an opening weekend that saw sophomore forward Hilary Knight score a school-record five goals Saturday night, the underclassmen on the team made their presence felt. Freshmen and sophomores registered 15 of the 17 goals scored by the Badgers in two games against Quinnipiac.
For the freshmen, however, simply stepping on the ice for the first time in a Badger uniform meant the realization of childhood dreams. “For me, it was really surreal,” Wisconsin freshman goaltender Nikki Kaasa said. “This is what I’ve been working for all my life. It was like, ‘Wow, it really came true.’” Others expressed admiration for teammates they grew up watching and with whom they finally have the opportunity to play. “I’m out here playing with the
top players,” Wisconsin freshman forward Carolyne Prevost said. “It’s people you looked up to as you grew up, and you love how they play hockey, so you’re just learning from how they play. PREVOST They’re always helping you and trying to make you better.” All three of the freshman skaters recorded their first collegiate
points in Wisconsin’s sweep of Quinnipiac. Along with sophomore forward Maria Evans, both Prevost and freshman forward Brooke Ammerman tallied their first goals as Badgers. Freshman defender Brittany Haverstock recorded three assists on the weekend. Ammerman was quick to thank her teammates for the on-ice support she received. “It was a great feeling to get that first one out of the way, and everybody was really excited,” Ammerman said. “It was awesome.
There’s nothing like that.” This weekend’s series promises a relatively new experience for everyone involved. Wisconsin hosts the Syracuse Orange, a first-year program that played its first game ever against Colgate Wednesday night. Syracuse coach Paul Flanagan, who is entering his second official season at the school, has an impressive .682 winning percentage in 11 years on the collegiate bench. hockey page 11
Several injuries could hamper Packers’ season NATE CAREY sports magnate rk Pa . St
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s if Sunday’s 30-21 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wasn’t enough, the Green Bay Packers have quickly added injury to that insult. In the fourth quarter of the Packers’ loss, starting defensive end Cullen Jenkins was injured while attempting to bring down Bucs quarterback Brian Griese for a sack. Jenkins left the game and did not return, leaving the team’s already slim defensive line a little bit slimmer. Since Sunday, the Packers have announced that Jenkins tore a pectoral muscle and will require surgery, meaning that he will be out for the rest of the season. Losing Jenkins is a huge loss for the Pack, as they used him on almost any down. Coming in 6'2" and weighing 305 pounds, Jenkins
was the most versatile defensive lineman besides All-Pro Aaron Kampman. The Packers used Jenkins at end on the early downs and moved him inside to defensive tackle on passing situations. Unfortunately for Green Bay, Jenkins is only the latest player to join a long line of injuries, most of which the Packers cannot afford. Here’s the situation: Jenkins is out for the season, and All-Pro cornerback Al Harris is out indefinitely with a spleen injury, much like the injury former Buccaneers quarterback Chris Simms suffered a couple seasons ago. Starting linebacker A.J. Hawk might miss Sunday’s game against Atlanta with a severe groin injury, while safeties Nick Collins (back), Aaron Rouse (knee) and Atari Bigby (hamstring) are all battling injuries and have missed time. Throw in cornerback Charles Woodson, who is playing with a broken toe on his right foot that hasn’t allowed him to practice the last three weeks, and the defense alone seems in disarray.
Oh, and by the way, quarterback Aaron Rodgers has a separated shoulder. To say that the Packers are headed in the right direction is laughable, and anyone trying to plug that line should take that act out on the road and tour. But there is one bright spot in all of this, no matter how dim it is.
But one thing is for certain: Things can’t get much worse.
If anything, this situation will show the fans and media alike what the Green and Gold are really made of. Packer fans only have to look at recent playoff years to see what injuries can do to a team at the end of the season, but have never really packers page 11
sports
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Thursday, October 2, 2008
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Badgers suffer frustrating loss to Western Illinois By Nick Schmitt THE DAILY CARDINAL
The Wisconsin men’s soccer team (4-3-2) lost a hard-fought game 1-0 to Western Illinois (7-2-1) Wednesday night at the McClimon Soccer Complex. The Badgers were coming off a demoralizing 1-1 tie to Michigan last Saturday and could not get it together to get past the Leathernecks. A very uneventful first half ended in a 0-0 tie. The Badgers had a few quality chances at goal, but failed to capitalize on any of them. The Western Illinois defense gave the Badgers problems all night. “They stay compact, they make it a little bit difficult, but having said that, I still thought that later in the game we did some pretty good things, we just couldn’t reward ourselves,” Wisconsin head coach Jeff Rohrman said. Just into the second half, Western Illinois sophomore midfielder Cosimo Patano broke the stalemate with a 30-yard unassist-
hockey from page 10 With the program just getting off the ground in upstate New York, though, Flanagan’s team remains a bit of a mystery. The Orange feature nine freshmen mixed with a handful of upperclassmen, many of whom transferred from other programs, including Mercyhurst, Bemidji State and the University of New Hampshire. At any rate, No. 2 Wisconsin will pack a punch in what will be the first weekend series in the history of Syracuse women’s hockey. While the Badgers host a new opponent at the Kohl Center this weekend, the team will pay tribute to its own impressive history. Wisconsin will welcome back all
ed strike that landed just inside the post past senior goalkeeper Alex Horwath. It was Patano’s second goal of the year. “The kid hit a rip,” Horwath said. “He couldn’t hit it any better, and we gave it to him. We didn’t defend. We didn’t defend in the middle. Midfield didn’t check back and defend him.” Wisconsin controlled the game from that point on and came close to tying the game a number of times. The Badger offense had nine corner-kick opportunities, but was unable to hit the back of the net. The closest they came was a header off the post by junior Bryan Gerster. Wisconsin struggled to finish on any offensive breakthrough the entire night, especially after falling behind. “I thought it took us a little too long to kind of pick up the pace and be the aggressor,” Rohrman said. “It wasn’t really until their women’s hockey alumni from the first 10 years of the program. “To see all the alumni come back and see what they’ve accomplished will give us something extra to play for,” Ammerman said. “It will be a really great experience for all of us.” The 10th anniversary celebration gives the freshmen on this year’s team a unique opportunity to reflect on the history of the program of which they are now a part. “It’s been really nice to see the program grow over the years, and it’s even better to be a part of it now,” Haverstock said. “I’m really excited for this weekend.” Face-off is set for 7:05 p.m. Friday and 12:05 p.m. Saturday at the Kohl Center.
Players of the week: MORITZ BAUMANN & MAREK MICHALICKA BAUMANN
Wisconsin tennis players Baumann and Michalicka won the Baylor Invitation doubles title Sunday. Year: Junior
Year: Sophomore
MICHALICKA
Player of the week: HILARY KNIGHT
KNIGHT
Sport: Hockey Position: Forward Year: Sophomore Goals: 7 Assists: 2
football from page 10 streaking Lee Evans down the sideline for a 79-yard touchdown pass. On the play, Evans had run an out-and-up, a route that consists of a 5-yard out route to the sidelines, but with a quick turn upfield. Gamble provided the coverage on the play, but Evans was able to beat Gamble to the ball, and subsequently to the end zone. “We ran a couple things where I double moved him earlier in the game, but never that route,” Evans said after the game. “We were just out there playing. I knew I was able to get open at certain points. When it came down to make a play for the team, I got open.” It was Evans’ only catch of the game, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. That touchdown would be the winning score, as the Badgers held off
Knight led the Badgers’ offensive attack last weekend against Quinnipiac, scoring two goals Friday and a school-record five goals Saturday evening.
the Buckeyes to break OSU’s winning streak. The game sent a ripple effect throughout both locker rooms. For the Badgers, it was one of jubilation. “To walk off that field and break the nation’s longest [current] winning streak and stay undefeated in the league, it’s one of my most gratifying wins,” said then-head coach Barry Alvarez. “I’m really proud of the staff and the players. It was a great win for us and our program.” For Ohio State, it was one of confusion and disbelief. “It had been so long since they lost a game, for a lot of people, they just didn’t know what to do,” Keels said. “More than anything, no one knew how to act because they hadn’t been there in a while.” —The Wisconsin State Journal contributed to this report.
EMMA VASSEUR/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO
Junior forward Brian Bultman and the Badgers got off to a great start this season, but could not pick up a win in their last three games. guy hit an unbelievable shot and our backs were a little against the wall that we picked up the tempo and were a little more assertive
packers from page 10 faced this type of obstacle so early in the season. But injuries aside, there is still a lot the Packers need to work on. The offensive line—more specifically, left tackle Chad Clifton—is currently in a downward spiral. Clifton, the consummate pro, has proven to be one, two or maybe five steps slower this season. The offensive line as a whole has already given up nine sacks in four games after giving up a total of 19 last season. Running back Ryan Grant has been a shell of his former self. Whether he is really hurting from the hamstring injury that will undoubtedly plague him all
going forward. I thought the last 30 minutes of the game we clearly dominated but just couldn’t get the goal. season, or he will soon be labeled a one-year-wonder remains to be seen, but his inability to see the hole while running the ball is obvious. Offensively, the one bright spot has been wide receiver Greg Jennings, who leads the NFL in yards with 482. My roommate has named him the “Y.A.C. Man,” as his 19.3 yards per catch ranks first among wide receivers with 20 catches or more. Jennings’ 120.5 yards per game is second only to Brandon Marshall of Denver, who is averaging a ridiculous 132.7. But other than Jennings, there really aren’t any healthy players to be overly excited about. Donald Driver is always ready to break out,
“We hit the crossbar, we hit the post, but to come away with 18 shots and only really two on goal, our guys are better than that.” The game was frustrating for the players and Rohrman. Now winless in their last three games, the Badgers need to put together a win-streak if they want to make it to post-season play. “Our backs are up against the wall, we have no choice but to win. We have nine games left, we gotta win six of them if we even want to think about the tournament,” Horwath said. “They’re all big games and we can do it. We’ve shown we can do it. We have played against the best and beaten the best, but we can’t come out here with this anymore. This is unacceptable.” The Badgers head to Michigan State for a battle Sunday with the Spartans. The team will be looking to retaliate for a 3-0 loss to the Spartans last year in Madison. but has not had the chance to fully shine this season, as Jennings has taken over the No. 1 spot on the depth chart. Hawk currently leads the team with 28 tackles, Charles Woodson has already returned two interceptions for touchdowns and Nick Collins has picked off a pass in three straight games. But, again, none of these players are healthy. Only time will tell how the Packers will react to the adverse conditions that lay in front of them. But one thing is for certain: Things can’t get much worse. Who do you think will be the next Packer to get injured? If you have a prediction, send it to Nate at ncarey@wisc.edu.
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Ohio State at Wisconsin Badgers Camp Randall • 7 p.m. • Big Ten Network
PAGE 2 Team rosters and game information PAGE 5 Nat’l Outlook: Championship pic-
ture up in the air after last week’s
5 THINGS TO WATCH
gamedayy
PAGE 4
ONE AND
S
ure, it’s easy to make fun of Bret Bielema’s tired “1-0” philosophy when the Badgers actually go 1-0 every week. But they failed to do
so against Michigan, giving renewed importance to the saying heading into Saturday’s Ohio State matchup. Under the lights, in front of the cameras and with a crowd of 80,000 behind them, the Badgers will try to follow up a heartbreaking “0-1” with what would be their biggest “1-0” of the season. To right the ship, they’ll need to stop Ohio State’s “O” by containing their barrage of offensive weapons and getting back to defensive basics. Story by Dave Heller
If Bret Bielema put anything up in the locker room this week as motivation, it should have been two things. One should be 27-25, the score of last week’s heartbreaking loss to Michigan. The other should be 17-17, the score at the end of the third quarter against Ohio State last year, which was an away game against a team that ended up in the national championship game. On their face, these scores might send two different messages, but they are linked in a very important way. Allowing the other team to execute big splash plays on offense contributed significantly to both outcomes (UW went on to lose the OSU game 38-17 last year). Bielema noted Monday that of the 68 plays for which the defense was on the field against Michigan, there were just eight individual plays that could have changed the outcome of the game. Never will it be more important to prevent the big play than Saturday
against the Buckeyes. They come to Camp Randall with an All-American running back in junior Chris Wells and a dangerous dual-threat quarterback in freshman Terrelle Pryor, who has already gashed opponents with both his arm and his legs. The Badgers know exactly what they are getting in Wells, since they got a heavy dose of it last year. Wells ran for 169 yards and three touchdowns—all three of which came on runs longer than 20 yards. In Pryor, the Badgers have to account for his ability to pass to the speedy Buckeye receiving unit as well as his ability to run, something he has shown to be more than willing and able to do. Bielema called Pryor “an extremely talented playmaker.” Recent history suggests the Badgers will struggle against an offense with so many weapons. Last year’s game against a similar offense in Illinois saw then-sophomore quarterback Juice
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Williams run for 92 yards on 14 carries while passing for an efficient 121 yards. In that same game, Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall ran for 160 yards on 19 carries. The last game the Badgers played against a legitimate dual-threat quarterback was the Minnesota game against quarterback Adam Weber, who accumulated 439 total yards—352 yards through the air and 87 on the ground. If the past is good for anything, it is good for showing how to correct past wrongs, which is the plan for the Badgers and the coaching staff. Instead of concocting a new defense to solve any issue, the coaches are steadfast on mastering the base defense. Outside linebackers coach Randall McCray explained, “They’ve got their base alignments and base rules [that account for] an I-pro team, to a spread team, to a pass team ... there is minor adjustments for each [offense], but ... we don’t really make a lot of adjustment rules for the kids.” McCray went on, “What we always try to do, no matter what the situation, is have a guy and a half [on the tackle] ... you always try to get somebody there and somebody else to help on the tackle.” This philosophy puts the onus on the defense to know their assignments and make sure-tackles, something that evaded them in the second half against Michigan. There is evidence that this approach is effective against a high-powered offense. In 2007’s Capital One Bowl, the Badgers managed to contain Arkansas stud running back Darren McFadden while taking a bend-butdon’t-break mentality. Felix Jones, the other Arkansas running back, was able to complete long gains early, but was shut down as the game progressed. The only difference between that game and the upcoming game against Ohio State is Arkansas had a non-existent passing
game. That means all facets of the Badger defense have to be at their best against the Buckeyes. Shutting down the Ohio State offense is particularly important because the Buckeye defense is that much stronger, and the Badgers cannot expect to light up the scoreboard, especially after their anemic effort against Michigan. Ohio State’s defense gave up 28 points to one of the nation’s best offenses in Southern Cal three weeks ago in Los Angeles. Wisconsin can’t expect to put up the same numbers without superhuman efforts all around. Fortunately, the Badgers have an extra man playing for them this week: the 12th man that is Camp Randall. Under the lights in front of a national
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audience against a ranked opponent, Camp Randall should be deafeningly loud, which should motivate the Badgers while creating miscommunication and frustration for the Buckeyes. Defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks is well aware of the home crowd’s impact going against Ohio State. “The coaches are going to be a lot better, the athletes are going to be a lot better,” he said. “Everything kind of steps up.” Bielema acknowledged a “more hostile environment ... would be our benefit.” Hopefully for the Badgers, the crowd will be enough to push them over the top and render Bielema’s ‘1-0’ saying a mere formality once again.
BIG PLAYS, BIG TROUBLE Head coach Bret Bielema said only a handful of plays turned the game for Michigan last Saturday. Here are a few of the more painful ones, all of which came in the second half. 3rd Quarter • Michigan QB Steven Threet completes 26-yard TD pass to Kevin Koger 4th Quarter • Wisconsin DE Matthew Shaughnessy called for 15-yard roughing the passer penalty on a Michigan 3rd-and-15 • Michigan RB Brandon Minor completes 34-yard TD run • Michigan LB John Thompson returns INT 25 yards for a TD • Michigan QB Steven Threet completes 58-yard run on TD drive
care if you’re the right guard on punt. I don’t “careI don’t if you’re the left tackle on kickoff return. I don’t care if you’re our defensive tackle from the line of scrimmage or you’re right guard on a routine offensive play. Every play counts, and you never know when that one play is going to have a huge effect on the game. That’s a point that we’ve really tried to ingrain in our guys, and we didn’t want to have a learning experience that we did on Saturday, but hopefully we do. —UW head coach Bret Bielema
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INSIDE THE GAME
the matchup/series
time/media
coaches
noteworthy
Wisconsin Badgers (0-1 Big Ten, 3-1 overall) vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0 Big Ten, 4-1 overall) series: Ohio State leads the series, 5117 with five ties.
Time: 7 p.m. TV: Big Ten Network Radio: Wisconsin Radio Network (with Matt Lepay and Mike Lucas)
Wisconsin’s Bret Bielema (third year as head coach: 23-6 career) and Ohio State’s Jim Tressel (eighth year as head coach: 77-17 career).
For the second time in his three year career at Wisconsin, Bielema enters week two of Big Ten play at 0-1.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Wisconsin Badgers
team roster
01 01 02 02 03 03 04 05 05 06 07 08 08 09 09 10 11 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 15 16 16 16 17 17 18 19 20 20 21 23 24 24 25 26 28 29 30 32 33 33 34 35 36 37 38 41 41 41 42 43
Freeman, Marcus LB Herron, Daniel RB Jenkins, Malcolm DB Pryor, Terrelle QB O’Neal, Jamario DB Saine, Brandon RB Coleman, Kurt DB Chekwa, Chimdi DB Washington, Taurian WR Schwartz, Grant WR Hines, Jermale LB Gant, Aaron DB Posey, DeVier WR Hartline, Brian WR Rose, Robert DL Torrence, Devon WR Sabino, Etienne LB Scott, James DB Stonebumer, Jake WR Barclay, Devin K Sanzenbacher, Dane WR Amos, Andrew DB Kascandi, Ben WR Bauserman, Joe QB Oliver, Nate DB Ruhl, Kyle WR Thomas, Lamaar WR Trapasso, A.J. P Domicone, Zach DB Oltorik, Ross QB Schuck, Ryan WR Boeckman, Todd QB Buchanan, Ben P Howard, Travis DB Johnson, Orhian DB Pettrey, Aaron K Washington, Donald DB Russell, Anderson DB Patterson, Nick DB Gentry, Tyson P Williams, Marcus RB Pentello, Rocco DB Moeller, Tyler LB Wells, Chris RB Lane, Shaun DB Evege, Donnie DB Rice, Taylor DB Gantz, Joe RB Laurinaitis, James LB Wells, Maurice RB DeLande, Bo RB Rolle, Brian LB Georgiades, James RB Spitler, Austin LB Jackson, Tony LB Martin, Jamil RB Mattimoe, Michael K Sweat, Andrew LB Williams, Nathan DL
6-1 5-10 6-1 6-6 6-0 6-1 5-11 6-0 6-2 6-0 6-2 6-0 6-3 6-2 6-5 6-1 6-3 5-10 6-5 5-11 5-11 6-1 6-1 6-2 6-0 6-1 5-11 6-0 6-3 6-2 6-0 6-4 6-0 6-1 6-2 6-2 6-0 6-0 6-1 6-2 5-10 6-0 6-0 6-1 5-10 5-11 5-11 6-0 6-3 5-10 6-0 5-11 6-1 6-3 5-11 6-0 5-11 6-2 6-4
239 193 201 235 205 217 188 188 179 194 210 194 205 186 285 193 232 170 230 195 175 183 209 220 215 164 186 229 215 210 204 244 200 180 178 199 194 205 209 165 202 194 216 237 175 189 171 199 240 196 184 221 240 234 227 227 160 220 245
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Sr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Sr. So. Jr. So. So. So. So. Jr. Fr. Jr. Jr. So. Fr. So. Fr. So. So. Jr. So. Fr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Fr. So. Jr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Sr. So. Fr. So. Fr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Fr.
46 46 48 48 49 50 51 52 53 53 55 57 57 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 69 70 71 72 72 73 74 75 76 77 79 80 81 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 87 88 89 90 92 93 94 96 96 97 98
Christian, K.C. Larson, J.D. Smith, Spencer Thoma, Jon Majalap Lukens, Ryan Brewster, Michael Homan, Ross Chappelear, Gar Goebel, Garrett Howe, Patrick Miller, Andy Ingham, Tom Malone, Chris Person, Ben Cordle, Jim Ebner, Doug Moses, Andrew Mitchum, Kyle Blenkenship, Evan Gray, Bryan Slagle, Zach Browning, Bryant Rehring. Steve Larimore, Dexter Sika, Scott Kerr, Josh Adams, Mike Boone, Alex Shugarts, J.B. Smith, Connor Skinner, Jon Robiskie, Brian Crawford, Ricky DiLilo, Nic Small, Ray Potokar, Dan Worthington, Doug Pretorious, Ryan Ballard, Jake Smith, Brandon Wilson, Lawrence Nicol, Rory Hummel, Garrett Gibson, Thaddeus Denlinger, Todd Abdallah, Nader Wells, Keith McQuaide, Jake Mobley, Willie Heyward, Cameron Thomas, Solomon
RB TE RB P RB OL LB LS DL LS OL DE OL OL OL OL OL OL OL DL OL OL OL DL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL WR WR TE WR WR DL K TE TE DL TE WR LB DL DT DL LS DL DT DL
team roster
5-11 6-4 6-2 6-2 6-0 6-5 6-0 6-2 6-5 6-2 6-6 6-1 6-1 6-3 6-4 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-2 6-1 6-4 6-7 6-2 6-2 6-4 6-8 6-8 6-8 6-4 6-5 6-3 6-2 6-5 5-11 6-0 6-6 5-9 6-6 6-2 6-4 6-5 5-11 6-2 6-2 6-4 6-5 6-2 6-3 6-6 6-5
209 229 225 201 238 296 229 250 280 204 279 243 268 323 297 271 280 291 290 285 297 312 335 300 280 286 322 312 298 321 306 199 215 237 180 180 276 169 256 251 274 252 183 240 292 300 210 219 265 287 240
So. Sr. Fr. Jr. Sr. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. So. So. Jr. So. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Fr. Sr. So. So. Sr. So. So. So. Fr. Sr. Fr. So. Sr. Sr. So. Fr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr. So. So. Jr. Sr. Fr. So. Fr. So. Fr.
01 Toon, Nick WR 02 Casillas, Jonathan LB 02 Harris, Xavier WR 03 Moore, Maurice DB 04 Evridge, Allan QB 04 Merill, Otis DB 05 Lukasko, Andrew DB 06 Anderson, Isaac WR 07 Henry, Aaron DB 07 Kyle Jefferson WR 08 Pleasant, Aubrey DB 09 Beckum, Travis TE 10 Smith, Devin DB 10 Phillips, Curt QB 11 Levy, DeAndre LB 12 Valai, Jay DB 13 Jones, Daven WR 14 Cromartie, Marcus DB 14 Stallons, James QB 15 St. Jean, Culmer LB 16 Offor, Chukwuma DB 16 Tolzien, Scott QB 17 Langford, Allen DB 17 Preisler, Mike RB 18 Welch, Philip K 18 Sherer, Dustin QB 19 Hartmann, William DB 20 Ewing, Bradie RB 20 Williams, T.J. WR 21 Maragos, Chris DB 22 Hampton, Adam DB 22 Smith, Erik RB 23 Goins, Mario DB 24 Johnson, Shelton DB 25 Carter, Shane DB 26 Fenelus, Antonio DB 27 Emanuel, Nate WR 27 Sorensen, Blake LB 28 Jones, Dex RB 28 Ring-Noonan, Coddye DB 29 Brinkley, Niles DB 30 Brown, Zach RB 31 Moody, Prince DB 32 Clay, John RB 32 Kossoris, Eric WR 34 Rentmeester, Bill FB 36 Turner, Mickey TE 37 Claxton, Kevin DB 38 Holland, Tyler RB 39 Hill, P.J. RB 41 Rouse, Kevin LB 42 Prather, Erik LB 42 Spitz, Sam FB 43 Hubbard, Leonard LB 43 Korslin, Rob TE 44 Pressley, Chris FB 45 Moore, Dan DL 46 Davison, Zach TE 46 Rosemeyer, Tyrell LB
6-3 6-2 5-11 5-11 6-2 5-11 5-10 5-11 6-0 6-5 6-1 6-4 5-11 6-3 6-3 5-9 6-1 6-1 6-5 6-1 6-0 6-3 5-11 6-0 6-4 6-3 5-11 6-1 6-0 6-0 5-11 5-11 6-1 6-0 6-2 5-10 6-1 6-1 6-1 5-10 5-10 5-11 5-11 6-2 6-1 6-1 6-4 6-2 5-11 5-11 6-0 6-3 6-1 6-1 6-5 6-1 6-2 6-4 6-0
Do you like football? Talking about football? Writing about football?
214 226 182 167 212 175 174 176 191 175 198 235 185 215 228 197 200 175 172 228 173 200 189 199 190 213 197 212 180 189 192 184 186 175 202 175 192 217 220 200 177 207 190 237 198 248 252 195 193 236 227 227 245 230 247 259 280 235 235
So./Fr. Sr./Sr. Jr./Jr. Jr./So. 5th/Sr. So./Fr. So./Fr. Jr./So. So./So. So./So. Sr./Jr. Sr./Sr. Fr./Fr. Fr./Fr. Sr./Sr. Jr./So. So./So. Fr./Fr. So./Fr. Jr./So. So./Fr. Jr./So. 5th/Sr. So./Fr. So./Fr. Sr./Jr. Sr./Jr. Fr./Fr. Fr./Fr. Sr./Jr. So./Fr. Fr./Fr. So./Fr. Fr./Fr. Sr./Jr. Fr./Fr. Jr./So. So./So. Fr./Fr. Fr./Fr. Jr./So. So./So. Sr./Jr. So./Fr. So./Fr. 5th/Sr. Jr./Jr. Fr./Fr. Jr./Jr. Sr./Jr. So./Fr. Sr./Jr. Fr./Fr. Fr./Fr. So./Fr. 5th/Sr. Jr./Jr. Fr./Fr. Fr./Fr.
47 McFadden, Jaevery 48 Neal, Joshua 49 Flasch, Ryan 50 Schofield, O’Brien 51 Grimes, Jasper 52 Hodge, Elijah 53 Taylor, Mike 54 Newkirk, Mike 55 Briedis, Eriks 56 Groff Matthew 57 Woodward, Drew 59 Megna, Tony 60 Current, Jake 60 Opsol, Zach 61 Cromwell, Chris 62 Wojta, Kyle 63 Urbik, Kraig 64 Burge, Robert 64 Hein, Jordan 65 Schafer, Joe 66 Konz, Peter 67 Oglesby, Josh 68 Carimi, Gabe 69 Jones, Kenny 70 Zeitler, Kevin 71 Vanden Heuvel, Eric 73 Bergmann, Jordan 74 Moffitt, John 75 Kemp, Andy 76 Nagy, Bill 77 Cascone, Dan 78 Bscherer, Jake 79 Stehle, Jeff 81 Peck, Dave 81 Wagner, Ricky 82 Byrne, Jake 84 Kendricks, Lance 85 Gilreath, David 86 Theus, Elijah 87 Kirtley, Richard 87 Watt, J.J. 89 Graham, Garrett 90 Wickesberg, Ryan 90 Mains, Anthony 91 Chapman, Jason 92 Shaughnessy, Matthew 93 Nzegwu, Louis 94 Reierson, Jeremy 94 Westphal, Tyler 95 Butrym, Patrick 95 Debauche, Brad 96 Fischer, Matt 97 Kelly, Brandon 98 Garner, Ricky 98 Nortman, Brad 99 DeCremer, Kirk
LB LB LB DL DL LB LB DL DL OL LS LB OL LS OL LS OL OL DL OL DL OL OL DL OL OL OL OL OL OL DL OL DL LS TE TE TE WR WR WR DL TE P DL DL DL DL TE DL DL P K DL DL P DL
6-3 5-10 6-1 6-3 6-2 6-1 6-2 6-3 6-5 6-2 6-4 6-0 6-4 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-6 6-7 6-4 6-5 6-6 6-7 6-8 6-2 6-4 6-7 6-6 6-4 6-6 6-4 6-3 6-7 6-6 6-5 6-7 6-5 6-4 5-11 6-2 6-2 6-6 6-4 6-6 6-1 6-4 6-6 6-3 6-6 6-6 6-4 6-2 5-11 6-6 6-5 6-3 6-5
220 245 220 232 285 227 205 264 265 220 228 199 278 221 305 219 332 305 280 285 300 328 301 265 285 324 280 323 315 300 288 294 290 246 262 254 227 165 184 191 265 237 225 210 285 253 228 220 240 264 218 179 230 232 215 230
Sr./Jr. 5th/Sr. 5th/Sr. Sr./Jr. So./Fr. Sr./Jr. Fr./Fr. 5th/Sr. Fr./Fr. Fr./Fr. Sr./Jr. So./Fr. Fr./Fr. Jr./So. Fr./Fr. So./Fr. 5th/Sr. Fr./Fr. Sr./Jr. Fr./Fr. Fr./Fr. So./Fr. Jr./So. Jr./So. Fr./Fr. Sr./Sr. Fr./Fr. Jr./So. Sr./Sr. Jr./So. Sr./Jr. Jr./Jr. Sr./Jr. 5th/Sr. Fr./Fr. Fr./Fr. Jr./So. So./So. Sr./Jr. Sr./Jr. So./So. Sr./Jr. So./Fr. Fr./Fr. 5th/Sr. Sr./Sr. So./Fr. Fr./Fr. Fr./Fr. So./Fr. So./Fr. Sr./Jr. Fr./Fr. Jr./So. Fr./Fr. Jr./So.
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Saturday, October 4, 2008
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Bitter Badgers look to vent at OSU’s expense By Jonathan Roffe GAMEDAY
When looking at Wisconsin’s schedule during the preseason, everyone in Madison circled the home game against Ohio State as the most important of the season. In the preseason, both teams were ranked in the top 15, and National Championship hopes were running high for both squads. Both teams have lost since then, but one reason the game is still highly anticipated is the great offense vs. defense talent matchups that will be on display. Like most years, Ohio State is once again the breeding ground for NFL talent, especially on defense. To say Ohio State’s defense is talented is an understatement. Their defense is comprised of what many consider the most NFL-ready players in college football. Although the defense has
many award winners, the two players people will most likely be keeping their eyes on are Butkus Award winner and senior linebacker James Laurinaitis and All-American senior cornerback Malcolm Jenkins. These players are the cream of the crop at their respective positions, and many consider them the reason Ohio State had National Championship aspirations coming into the season. Many teams get chills down their spines just looking at the power Ohio State’s defense has to offer, but not the Badgers. That isn’t to say they don’t respect the talent on Ohio State defense, they just won’t be surprised the challenge that awaits them. “They’ve got a great defense, and they’re just going to bring what they bring every week,” senior offensive lineman Kraig Urbik said. “They’re not going to change anything up for us.”
The Badgers have the confidence to beat Ohio State because they have enough talent on offense to counter the power of what many consider to be the best defense in college football. It all begins with Wisconsin’s own top talent, senior tight end Travis Beckum. The team hopes Beckum is well-rested coming into this weekend’s matchup after being unable to play most of this season due to a lingering hamstring injury. Beckum began the season by
sitting out two blowout victories over opponents Akron and Marshall. During the third game of the season, Beckum was finally used and was a key factor in Wisconsin’s 13–10 victory against Fresno State. Unfortunately, he was held out for the majority of the loss to Michigan due to the injury. Last week’s loss to Michigan is one of the reasons that the matchup of Wisconsin’s offense against Ohio State’s defense comes into such an important focus. Many
of the Wisconsin players are still feeling the lingering effects of the Michigan loss and understand that a win over Ohio State is a necessary step forward if the season is to be salvaged. “If we let this loss to Michigan define who we are, give us any sort of identity, then it will beat us in the end,” said senior fullback Chris Pressley. “We have to make sure we rally around each other and say, ‘Look, we have a whole lot more to play for.’”
CHRISTOPHER GUESS/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO
The Badgers have sorely missed tight end Travis Beckum’s presence this season, and his return could be just what they need.
$
$
$
$ $ $1000 for $ $ 1000 words. $ wants to give you
$
It’s pretty simple. Write an essay of no more than 1000 words. We’ll judge all the entrants and determine the winner. You win, we’ll give you $1000 and publish your essay in the paper. (Note: 1,000 words is a maximum, you may certainly write less.) Topic: Getting our generation to vote. Analyze the problems and offer a solution to engage our generation and get them to the polls. Who: Any UW undergraduate or graduate student can submit one (1) essay. Deadline: Friday, Oct. 10
Send submissions or inquiries to edit@dailycardinal.com Sponsored by UW alum and retired national AP columnist Steve Wilstein
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12345 things to watch
LORENZO ZEMELLA/THE DAILY CARDINAL
compiled by Nick Schmitt
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Freshman Phenom Ohio State brings to Camp Randall a rising star in freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor. Since the Buckeyes’ 35-3 loss to USC, Pryor has taken over the majority of snaps in Jim Tressel’s offense. Unlike the former starter, senior Todd Boeckman, Pryor is both a dangerous threat on the ground as well as through the air. The freshman has racked up 292 rushing yards this year while averaging over six yards a carry. Last week against Minnesota, Pryor rushed for 97 yards. In order to slow down the Buckeye offense, it is vital the Badgers control Pryor and stop his big-play ability. The Badgers had enough trouble last week against Michigan with the running game of freshman quarterback Stephen Threet. Wisconsin will rely greatly on its speed at the linebacker position and will look for another big game from senior linebacker Jonathan Casillas.
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Which Evridge Will Show? One of the important questions coming into the 2008 season was how senior quarterback Allan Evridge would adjust to taking over for Tyler Donovan. He has shown signs of both excellence and mediocrity during Wisconsin’s first four games. But the second half at Michigan last week has left Badger fans with a sour taste in their mouths. After peaking against Marshall by going 17-for-26 for 308 yards and one touchdown, Evridge struggled against Fresno State. He completed 50 percent of his passes and accumulated 143 yards through the air. Last Saturday in Ann Arbor, Evridge had statistically the worst game of his Badger career. He was intercepted twice, with one taken back for a touchdown that gave Michigan the lead, and fumbled twice as he was being sacked. He looked uncomfortable in the pocket and held the ball for too long. The Badgers will need Evridge to minimize his mistakes if they want to beat one of the Big Ten favorites.
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Recovery Some losses are tougher than others, and last week’s crushing defeat to a below-average Michigan team was not an easy one for the Badgers to endure. Wisconsin was unable to survive a crazy weekend of college football where seven top-25 teams lost. Now with the four roughest weeks of Wisconsin’s schedule coming up, the team needs to learn from its mistakes and focus on the Buckeyes. If Ohio State takes an early lead, the Badgers need to show their resilience and keep their concentration instead of letting it all fall apart again. The Badgers also need to recover from their recent turnover problems, as they now have eight turnovers in four games. A fast start will be critical for Wisconsin to get Camp Randall rocking. And once the crowd gets behind the Badgers, Wisconsin must maintain momentum to put away the Buckeyes for good.
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Nowhere to Run Teams across the nation know the Badgers rely heavily on the run. Stopping Wisconsin becomes a whole lot easier when defenses are able to turn the Badgers into a onedimensional offense. Michigan consistently had eight men in the box last Saturday, and the Badgers simply failed to convert on the ground, especially late in the game when they needed to. They were a dismal 6-19 on third down conversions, half of the six coming in the last two drives of the game. The Badgers finished the game with 158 rushing yards, but if the 46-yard run by freshman John Clay is subtracted, Wisconsin was held to 112 yards on 43 attempts. That comes out to an unimpressive 2.6 yards per carry. In order to compete offensively against the Buckeyes, Wisconsin has to open up the run by using its passing game effectively and wisely. If the Badgers can prove to Ohio State they are a two-dimensional team, Wisconsin can open up their entire playbook.
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Injury Bug The injury bug has bitten the Badgers early this year, especially on offense. Both of Wisconsin’s top tight ends have recently missed playing time. Junior Garrett Graham missed last week due to an ankle sprain, and preseason AllAmerican senior Travis Beckum was severely limited in his number of snaps last weekend due to a strained right hamstring he’s been battling all year. The Badger passing attack has suffered lately without the presence of Graham and Beckum. Sophomore wide receiver Maurice Moore was also absent from last week’s game. He had a groin injury but is expected to be ready for practice and the contest on Saturday. If Beckum is healthy and plays, he is only 22 receiving yards away from moving up to sixth on Wisconsin’s all-time list. A healthy offense and a consistent passing game will be essential for the Badgers to compete and beat Ohio State.
Board of Directors Sheila Phillips Babu Gounder Nik Hawkins Jennifer Sereno Vincent Filak Al Morrell Janet Larson Chris Long Benjamin Sayre Jeff Smoller Terry Shelton Jason Stein l
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© 2008, The Daily Cardinal Media Corporation ISSN 0011-5398 GameDay is a publication of The Daily Cardinal. Each reader is entitled to one complimentary copy. Any additional copies must be picked up at the Cardinal offices, 2142 Vilas Communication Hall. The Cardinal is a nonprofit organization run by its staff members and elected editors. It receives no funds from the university. Operating revenue is generated from advertising and subscription sales. Capital Newspapers Inc., is the Cardinal’s printer. The Daily Cardinal is printed on recycled paper. The Cardinal is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The Daily Cardinal are the sole property of the Cardinal and may not be reproduced without specific written permission of the editor in chief.
Cover photo by Danny Marchewka
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Home field, bright lights should bring out Badgers’ best WISCONSIN OFFENSE VS. OHIO STATE DEFENSE
WISCONSIN DEFENSE VS. OHIO STATE OFFENSE
Wisconsin senior quarterback Allan Evridge drew some criticism last week for the time he spent in the pocket against Michigan. Look for Evridge to add an extra step to the twostep drop he ran last Saturday in Ann Arbor. The Wisconsin backfield will need to perform better in the blocking scheme to give Evridge the time he needs. The return of tight ends Garrett Graham and Travis Beckum gives Evridge some more reliable targets this week. The Badger running game will take precedence yet again behind the strengths of junior P.J. Hill, and freshman running back John Clay should see more carries. His 6'2" frame matches up well against a big Ohio State defensive backfield. USC head coach Pete Carroll referred to Ohio State’s unit as “the best defense in America.” Led by junior linebacker Marcus Freeman and senior linebacker James Laurinaitis, the Buckeyes will look to pressure quarterback Allen Evridge. The Wisconsin offensive line is big enough to hold the Ohio State front line at bay, but if Ohio State linebackers continually come with the blitz, Wisconsin will need to get rid of the ball fast.
Freshman quarterback phenom Terrelle Pryor tore apart Minnesota’s defense last week with two rushing touchdowns and one through the air. Pryor, who some have compared to former Texas quarterback Vince Young, could be in for a big game if the Badgers do not apply pressure. The combination of Pryor and junior halfback sensation Chris Wells will require the Badgers’ defense to stay on their toes. Wells rushed for 106 yards on 14 carries last week and will look to improve upon a slow start that has been hampered by injuries. The Badgers struggled against the option in last year’s matchup with Juice Williams and Rashard Mendenhall of the Fighting Illini. Saturday’s matchup will pose a similar threat. The Wisconsin defense has performed well of late. Its defensive backfield matches up well with the Ohio State receiving corps, where Buckeye senior wide receiver Brian Robiskie stands as the only threat. Senior defensive linemen Jason Chapman and Matt Shaughnessy will need to provide pressure up front to keep Pryor from running wild. Wisconsin’s defensive speed is impressive, but it will need to stay poised if it is going to be able to cover the entire field.
Advantage: Even
Advantage: Ohio State
SPECIAL TEAMS
COACHING
Wisconsin freshman kicker Philip Welch has been fairly consistent thus far. Welch has missed only two field goals under 50 yards, which came off a blocked kick during the Fresno State game and an early miss at Michigan. Sophomore kick returner David Gilreath has the game-changing speed to break free and give the Badgers good field position throughout the game. The Ohio State return game has lacked talent since the departure of Ted Ginn Jr., and field-goal duties will rest with senior Ryan Pretorius, who has been criticized for low kicks being blocked at the line of scrimmage. Aaron Pettrey and A.J. Trapasso fill in for kickoffs and punts, and both are reliable.
Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema is coming off his first loss after entering the fourth quarter with a lead. He will undoubtedly stress the importance of putting away the Buckeyes early. The Badgers cannot afford another Big Ten loss if they want to keep their Rose Bowl hopes alive. Jim Tressel has compiled an impressive winning percentage in his tenure at Ohio State—the Badgers are the only Big Ten team with a winning record against him. Wisconsin has beaten Tressel in three of their five meetings. The Buckeye coach will be looking to reaffirm their national title hopes with a big road win at Wisconsin. A loss will all but kill their chances.
Advantage: Wisconsin
Advantage: Ohio State —Compiled by Tom Hart
gameday projected winner: Buckeyes prefer Columbus, sunlight When Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel thinks about the nighttime in Madison, he thinks about Oct. 11, 2003. As the owners of a 19-game winning streak, the Buckeyes were the envy of the college football nation. The Badgers were overmatched on paper, but the night-game excitement galvanized the team, as Camp Randall’s big lights helped illuminate the bull's-eye on Ohio State’s back.
JARON BERMAN/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO
With 31 carries for 125 yards and a touchdown, running back Booker Stanley almost single-handedly moved the offense until the 5:20 mark in the fourth quarter. With starting quarterback Jim Sorgi injured by a dirty defensive play, the angered Badgers offense, now led by backup quarterback Matt Schabert, struck deep to Lee Evans for a game-winning 79-yard touchdown.
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LORENZO ZEMELLA/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Last week Michigan’s defense stifled the Badgers in the second half, allowing just six points and returning an interception for a touchdown. The Badgers must avoid another second-half meltdown to come out victorious against Ohio State.
National recognition means wins against tough teams MATT FOX the fox hole
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f you were one of the unfortunate Badger fans present in Ann Arbor last weekend, there’s a good chance the Wolverines’ fight song has been playing continuously in your head since the moment the ref blew the final whistle. The Badgers’ stunning loss sent Wisconsin crashing back down to Earth. Newsflash: Things aren’t about to get any easier. But instead of sulking over last week’s loss and writing their team off, Wisconsin fans might want to consider the Badgers’ fortunate position this year. The Big Ten is exceptionally competitive again with several top contenders, and if the Badgers find a way to turn their season around, they might finally earn the national respect that many believe they have been lacking in the past. Even after such a devastating loss, the next two night games at Camp Randall Stadium will be two of the most highly anticipated Badger games in recent memory. Wisconsin last played Ohio State at home five years ago, when the unranked Badgers defeated the No. 6 Buckeyes 17-10 in another game under the lights at Camp Randall. In the last few years, the Buckeyes have been a major obstacle in the way of the Badgers’ chances for more national respect when postseason bowl decisions are made. This season feels no different, as both teams have suffered crushing losses and have a tremendous amount to prove. The Penn State Nittany Lions began the season unranked but have now become one of the favorites to win the Big Ten crown. Penn State’s quarterback, Daryll Clark, has kicked the offense into high gear. Wisconsin won’t soon forget its humiliating blowout loss to the Nittany Lions last season, while Penn State certainly remembers its last visit to Madison, a loss in the final minutes that lowered its morale and injured its iconic coach, Joe Paterno. Last weekend, the Badgers learned
a difficult lesson: Even with a significant lead, you can never take anything for granted on the road. But now they’re on the flip side, as Wisconsin’s fans can change the momentum just as quickly. The grossly underrated task of putting together a drive, despite the volume of thousands of screaming fans will be placed not on the Badgers, but their opponents. It should be noted that Wisconsin is the first school in Big Ten history to open up conference play in consecutive games against Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State. But those who feel that this year’s schedule is unfair might consider looking back to Wisconsin’s 2006 season. The Badgers went 12-1, and in practically every other season this would have proven to be enough for a BCS Bowl bid. However, a weak conference and an even weaker overall schedule came back to bite the Badgers. Wisconsin played just one ranked opponent all season, a road loss to No. 6 Michigan.
packing these high-caliber opponents so closely together, Wisconsin has certainly put its entire season on the line. But in the end, we’ll find out whether Wisconsin still has what it
takes to come out on top and live up to its lofty preseason expectations. For the next two night games—whether you’re a fan of the Badgers or even college football in general—it just doesn’t
get any better than this. If you are still crying over Wisconsin’s tough schedule or last week’s loss to Michigan, beg for Matt’s sympathy at mfox2@wisc.edu.
It should be noted that Wisconsin is the first school in Big Ten history to open up conference play in consecutive games against Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State. But this season, Wisconsin truly controls its own fate. This year there were no glaring Big Ten opponents left off the schedule. The Badgers already have their signature out-ofconference victory, a road win over a talented Fresno State squad. Also, Wisconsin’s two toughest opponents, Ohio State and Penn State, will both have to defeat the Badgers at home if they want to earn a victory. The public may not be aware, but Wisconsin has booked almost all of its opponents for the 2012 season schedule. Does anyone really know whether Wisconsin will be able to match up with the quality of its opponents when most of these players haven’t even graduated high school yet? The answer is it’s simply impossible. The reality is that in college football, the stakes on each game are outrageously high. A single loss or mistake can essentially end an entire season. By
CHRISTOPHER GUESS/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO
Senior linebacker James Laurinaitis is one of many prolific foes standing in the way of a marquee win for UW.
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SATURDAY’S BIG GAMES Purdue vs. (6) Penn State, 11 a.m.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
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NATIONAL OUTLOOK
Championship picture blurs with upsets
(2) Alabama vs. Kentucky, 2:30 p.m. (19) Vanderbilt vs. (13) Auburn, 5 p.m. Colorado vs. (5) Texas, 7 p.m. (23) Oregon vs. (9) USC, 7 p.m.
WEEK FIVE POLLS AP TOP 25
1. Oklahoma (43) 1,599 2. Alabama (20) 1,565 3. LSU 1,466 4. Missouri (1) 1,453 5. Texas 1,362 6. Penn State (1) 1,252 7. Texas Tech 1,105 8. BYU 1,098 9. USC 1,087 10. South Florida 1,035 11. Georgia 1,018 12. Florida 914 13. Auburn 860 14. Ohio State 829 15. Utah 713 16. Kansas 650 17. Boise State 549 18. Wisconsin 520 19. Vanderbilt 459 20. Virginia Tech 290 21. Oklahoma State 277 22. Fresno State 232 23. Oregon 199 24. Connecticut 126 25. Wake Forest 107 Others Receiving Votes: Maryland 46, Michigan St. 42, Kentucky 40, Ball St. 38, Tulsa 32, Northwestern 32, TCU 30, Illinois 24, North Carolina 21, Florida St. 14, Mississippi 13, Georgia Tech 10, California 5, Nebraska 5, Oregon St. 3, Boston Coll. 3, Colorado 2
USA TODAY/COACHES
1. Oklahoma (57) 1,520 2. LSU (1) 1,399 3. Missouri 1,398 4. Alabama (2) 1,350 5. Texas (1) 1,310 6. Penn State 1,146 7. BYU 1,054 8. Texas Tech 1.047 9. USC 990 10. Georgia 888 10. South Florida 888 12. Ohio State 854 13. Florida 832 14. Auburn 776 15. Utah 684 16. Kansas 555 17. Wisconsin 521 18. Boise State 446 19. Vanderbilt 351 20. Oregon 286 21. Fresno State 280 22. Oklahoma State 229 23. Connecticut 180 24. Virginia Tech 161 25. Wake Forest 148
Others Receiving Votes: Northwestern 98, Michigan St. 88, Kentucky 86, Ball St. 43, Maryland 40, Tulsa 38, Florida St. 31, TCU 25, California 20, Georgia Tech 18, Illinois 14, Nebraska 8, Oregon St. 6, North Carolina 5, Clemson 5, Notre Dame 3, Cincinnati 2, Mississippi 1, Duke 1
LORENZO ZEMELLA/THE DAILY CARDINAL
A more consistent offensive effort against Michigan could have allowed Wisconsin to build on their 19-point lead, rather than give it away. By Drew Simon GAMEDAY
Of all instances of a weekday game foreshadowing the college football weekend, none were greater than last Thursday’s. Unranked Oregon State, led by freshman running back Jacquizz Rodgers, set off a domino effect in the top 25 with a victory over the No. 1 USC Trojans. From there on out, the rest of the dominoes fell as the top 25 posted a 10-8 record, including losses from the No. 3, No. 4 and No. 9 teams. Georgia, last week’s No. 3 team, was embarrassed in its own stadium by No. 8 Alabama and was relegated to the No. 11 spot while Alabama moved up to No. 2. Unranked Ole Miss used a blocked field goal to topple No. 4 Florida in Gainesville, and everyone reading this article knows what happened last week to the Badgers in Ann Arbor.
USC DROPS THE BALL The question asked before last week’s games was what team would eventually face USC in the National Championship. The question now being asked is what two teams will be playing for the National Championship. With USC’s upset at the hands of the Beavers, no Pac-10 team is undefeated, making the conference
huge a underdog to send a team to the National Championship. In the Big Ten, only Penn State can currently make a case for a National Championship bid, but only if it can win on the road at both Wisconsin and Ohio State. It will be interesting to see who comes out of these two conferences to meet in the Rose Bowl, as this may be the first time since 2003 that neither a Pac-10 nor Big Ten team will be in the National Championship.
BIG 12 BEHEMOTH Arguably the nation’s best conference, the Big 12 boasts four teams in the top 10, including new No. 1, Oklahoma. There will be many teams competing for the Big 12 Championship, but posing the biggest threat to Oklahoma at the moment are the Missouri Tigers, led by quarterback and Heisman hopeful Chase Daniel. The senior, who finished fourth in Heisman voting last year, has looked unstoppable this year and will hope to carry the Tigers’ momentum on through the season. The Texas Longhorns will have a chance to overthrow the Sooners in two weeks, but in order to get the upset they will need a big game from their junior quarterback, Colt McCoy. McCoy, who is the team’s leading passer and rusher, has complet-
BRAD FEDIE/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO
Brian Robiskie (80) will need to form chemistry with freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor if Ohio State is to take the Big Ten title.
ed 80 percent of his passes this year and has his Longhorns firing on all cylinders. No. 7 Texas Tech, No. 16 Kansas and No. 21 Oklahoma State will also pose a small threat to the aforementioned teams, but it is unclear who will come out on top so early in the season.
SABAN AT IT AGAIN As always, the SEC boasts some of the greatest talents in the college game. For now it appears Alabama is the best team in the conference, but with such an abundance of great teams, upsets are always in the making. The team from the SEC West presenting the greatest challenge to the Tide is LSU. Head coach Les Miles always has his Tigers prepared for big games, which gives them a great chance of running the SEC and making it back to the National Championship. Another team that poses a threat in the SEC are the Florida Gators. After losing on a late blocked field goal to Ole Miss, the Gators will look to rebound against LSU this week, and there is no doubt that Heisman-winning junior quarterback Tim Tebow is ready to chomp. Other challengers for the SEC title are Vanderbilt, Auburn and Georgia. All three teams play each other during the year, and if one team
can prove more dominant than the others, it will position itself nicely for an SEC Championship. Like the Big 12, there is a great chance the winner of the SEC will find itself playing for the National Championship due to a lack of challengers from other conferences.
MWC AIMING HIGH From the Big East it appears South Florida will make the strongest run for a conference title, while the ACC is a bit unclear. No team is undefeated and it may be two-or-threeloss teams that make the ACC Championship game. In all of the hoopla that surrounds the major conferences, the question is who will be this year’s Boise State? It may be the Broncos again, but a more realistic option will come from the Mountain West Conference, as both Utah and Brigham Young University are top 15 teams. While the MWC does not have a title game, Utah and BYU meet on the last day of the season and will likely be fighting for an at-large bid to a BCS Bowl. The chances of Utah or BYU making their way to the national championship are slim, as it would take at least one loss, maybe more, by each of the teams currently ranked in the top six.
BRAD FEDIE/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO
Derrick Williams (2), is one of the nation’s best returners and has already returned two kickoffs for touchdowns this year.
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