Wednesday, September 8, 2010 - The Daily Cardinal

OBAMANOMICS IN ACTION

Relive this year’s Taste of Madison in our new food column, Local Fork LIFE & STYLE

University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Madison notables make Assembly endorsements

Best of Badger Breed

By Anna Bukowski The Daily Cardinal

Danny marchewka/the daily cardinal

Six Hoofer clubs presented their team offerings while getting to know students during the All Hoofer Kickoff held in Memorial Union. The five collegiate teams consist of alpine, equestrian, freestyle, nordic and sailing.

Two candidates for Wisconsin’s 77th Assembly district received key endorsements, Tuesday, with Madison mayor Dave Cieslewicz endorsing Brett Hulsey and former Madison mayor Paul Soglin endorsing Dianne Hesselbein.

Candidate and Dane County Supervisor Dianne Hesselbein announced Tuesday morning Solgin’s support for her campaign in District 77.

“I think she’s going to do the best job in regards to the fiscal problems the state faces this year,” Soglin said.

Cieslewicz’s endorsement for candidate Brett Hulsey came in a statement, saying “In a field of strong candidates, Brett stands out. Brett has experience fighting

against long odds and coming out on top.”

Cieslewicz and Hulsey have worked together for twenty years and though Hulsey considers the recent endorsement important, it will not shift the focus of his campaign.

Hulsey does not consider Soglin’s endorsement of Hesselbein a loss.

“I’ve got [Dane County Executive] Kathleen Falk, Mayor Dave, Former UW Dean Mary Rouse – I have a lot of endorsements,” Hulsey said.

Soglin’s endorsement joins a row of others promoting Hesselbein and her candidacy. Ald. Bridget Maniaci, District 2, formally supports Hesselbein and sees Soglin’s endorsement page 3

Cieslewicz presents Capital Budget to public

By Maggie DeGroot The Daily Cardinal

Mayor Dave Cieslewicz introduced the 2011 Executive Capital Budget to the public Tuesday.

The proposed capital budget for 2011 is $238 million with $88.7 million in borrowing.

The $88.7 million in borrowing is greater than the approximate $84 million that was in the approved capital budget for 2010.

The mayor is proposing to spend $25.7 million in parking utility. These funds would go towards the new underground parking garage, which would be located below the Madison Municipal Building site, Pinckney Street and the market according to the Wisconsin State Journal.

Cieslewicz is proposing to spend

$250,000 on a public market. The public market would replace the Government East garage at East Wilson and South Pinckney Streets.

Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said it’s a big deal that there’s a fair amount of money proposed for the new highspeed rail station as well as the public market or parking garage.

“What remains to be seen is how much the federal government will pay for and so there are certainly tons of questions relating to the exact cost and funding sources of all the activity we hope to accomplish in conjunction with the new Amtrak station,” said Verveer.

“This budget includes over $34 million in G.O. borrowing for reconstruction, expansion and resurfacing of major streets in need of repair

Bucky Badger’s $4,000 mascot head was stolen last Sunday from the apartment of a UW-Madison student who portrays Bucky at sporting events.

The 28-pound head resurfaced Monday morning undamaged outside the W. Gilman Street apartment.

The student said he hosted a small party with friends Sunday night and the head was missing when he awoke the following morning.

The student reported the occurrence to UW officials and the Madison Police department

Danny Marchewka/file photo

Where in the world is Bucky’s head?

and said if the head was returned undamaged, he would not press criminal charges.

According to the reporting officer, it would have been difficult for the thief to explain how they possessed the head.

“It is an uncommon item and would have to be hidden,” stated the officer in the report.

throughout the city,” Cieslewicz said in a statement.

County Road M, Hwy 113 and Williamson Street are some of the major streets outlined by Cieslewicz.

Verveer said he agrees with the mayor’s prioritization of street reconstruction.

“I have fought personally for almost all the downtown streets to be reconstructed during my 10 years in office,” Verveer said.

However Verveer said he was disappointed Cieslewicz has delayed some of the street work he thought would happen next year.

A new section in the budget to be spent towards engineering bike and pedestrian improvements was estibudget page 3

Matt marheine/the daily cardinal

Mayor Dave Cieslewicz announced his Executive Capital Budget Tuesday. The high-speed rail station made an impact on the budget.

New report shows huge gender and racial gaps in employment, wages

By Ariel Shapiro The Daily Cardinal

A new report released Tuesday by the UW-Madison based think tank, Center On Wisconsin Strategy (COWS), exhibits a dismal view not only of the overall economic landscape, but also of the particularly desperate situation that many individuals of underrepresented groups face.

“The State of Working Wisconsin” is released biennially and has been a source of statewide economic evaluation for over 14 years. However, as the 2010 report reads, “the economic

picture for working people is as grim as we have ever reported.”

The report even goes as far to call the 2000s a “lost decade” for economic growth. Income has consistently increased for families through the 1980s and 1990s, but trended backward during the 2000s.

Although the whole of Wisconsin’s population deals with the ramifications of what COWS is calling “The Great Recession,” women, Hispanics and Blacks are far and away suffering the most, according to the report’s statistics.

The unemployment rate for

Whites in Wisconsin is seven percent, but Hispanics see a rate of 16 percent, and Blacks at a staggering 24 percent, a number the report says “far exceeds the national Black unemployment rate.”

This gap in prosperity based on gender and race is also evident by wages. According to COWS, women in Wisconsin earn $0.81 for every dollar a man makes, and, on average, Blacks earn $3.25 and Hispanics $4.05 less per hour than whites.

Additionally, 30.7 percent, or unemployment 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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Wednesday, September 8, 2010

An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892

Childhood reflection: “I kept this piece of crap?”

Volume 120, Issue 6

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News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com Editor in Chief Emma Roller Managing Editor Todd Stevens Campus Editor

Kayla Johnson City Editor Maggie DeGroot State Editor Ariel Shapiro Enterprise Editor Alison Dirr Associate News Editor Beth Pickhard Senior News Reporters Jamie Stark Ashley Davis Opinion Editors Dan Tollefson Samantha Witthuhn Editorial Board Chair Hannah Furfaro Arts Editors Jacqueline O’Reilly Jon Mitchell Sports Editors Mark Bennett Parker Gabriel Page Two Editor Victoria Statz Features Editor Madeline Anderson Photo Editors Danny Marchewka Ben Pierson Graphics Editors

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tHURSDAY: partly cloudy hi 72º / lo 52º

Kathleen Brosnan ‘leen back

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s a child I took a strange liking to cleaning and thought Windex was the solution to any dirty disaster. Ketchup on your shirt? Grab the Windex. Blood oozing from that scab on your knee?

Fetch the Windex.

Then I went to college and realized cleaning was for loooosers. In my apartment, sticky beer floors were rarely completely cleaned up because my roommates and I were so rocking we had parties 24/7 and mopping was just a waste of time.

That’s a lie; we were just too lazy.

Upon moving home for the summer though, I had a different sort of cleaning to tackle. I tend to hold on to things I’ll never use again. This is fine when I’m away at college because the room sits all lonesome and probably enjoys the company of the worthless crap. However, when I’m home I need space for all my booty shorts. Therefore, instead of just spiffing up the place with Windex, I needed to actually throw

stuff out. Here are the more memorable items I came across.

In 6th grade I went to Ed Debevic’s (a restaurant where waiters are purposely rude to customers) for my friend Amy’s birthday. We giggled as waiters made fun of other customers, but shit got real when our waiter directed a joke at Amy. He said her yellow, yarn shawl with tassels looked like a rug. She cried instantly because, well, he was right. Even though I should’ve comforted my friend and told the waiter he was a dick (or whatever foul word I used at that age), I thought the waiter was cute and didn’t want him to start making fun of me. So, I quickly exited to the bathroom. What a bitch move.

Anyway, this waiter took orders with a red pen that he accidentally left on our table. I swiped it, and recently realized it’s been buried in my sock drawer ever since. As I look at this red pen, I am ashamed for being such a lousy friend, but even more so, I am creeped out by my 12-year-old self. Who develops crushes on their waiter and decides to steal their pen as a token of remembrance?

I do.

Rummaging through the depths of my closet, I come across a Disney

bag. OMG is this the Jasmine Barbie doll Santa never brought? I hurriedly open the package and find 16 sample bottles of shampoo and conditioner from Disney’s Beach Club Resort. First of all, biggest disappointment ever! Second, why did my mom find it necessary to take so many? Third, I went to Disney in 1996; WHY are these still in my closet?

I own a diary from third grade that I religiously wrote in nine whole times. Almost every entry begins with, “Oh my god, I haven’t written in here in so long,” and ends with, “I promise to write again soon.” The following heartfelt confession stood out the most: “Grace was over. We made a dance routine to ‘Wannabe’ by the Spice Girls. I told her Posh was my favorite and she told me that Posh is ugly and looks like a camel.

When she left I ran to my room and cried.”

Wow, I didn’t know I was such a sensitive child.

I think I hold onto clothes in the hopes of fitting into them again someday. But, when you still have jeans from Limited Too from fourth grade, you’ve gone too far.

The gods must be smiling down

upon me though because I checked the pockets and cha-ching! I found a twenty-dollar bill. Andrew Jackson, you were intended to be spent on Pogs and Crazy Bones, but I think instead I’ll take you to the liquor store and use you to buy cheap beer.

Holla if you owned an Old Navy “Performance Fleece Tech Vest!” Double holla if you wore it in your yearbook picture! Anyone?

No? Moving on… I came across my green-apple colored one, and after snuggling up to it for a few minutes a flood of questions arose.

What makes it a “Tech” vest?

Nothing seems technical about this item of clothing; rather, it is fairly straightforward. Put your arms through the armholes, zip up that bad boy, walk to school flaunting your look and become the flyest kid in the fifth grade. Second, when are they coming back in style? I didn’t hold on to this gem for ten years for nothing. Third, “Performance” fleece?

Is that some sexual double meaning I’m too naïve to understand?

Did you recently clean your childhood bedroom? Please share your horrific findings at kqbrosnan@wisc.edu.

Campus Briefs The best in fake news delivered in briefs for your reading pleasure Increasingly Obese Student Body Demands Escalator for Bascom Hill As the percentage of portly UW students continues to increase for the forty-fifth straight year, the Madison Student Council has formally started a campaign to have an escalator built at the bottom of Bascom Hill to assist the increasingly dietchallenged student body.

In a formal letter sent to Dean Berquam’s office on Monday morning, ASM Chair and self-proclaimed big man Brandon Williams made a list of requests for ways to accommodate the heavier student population.

“We are students, not profes-

sional athletes. It’s simply not realistic that the Wisconsin faculty expects us to eat, drink, study AND walk up a moderate incline to get to class. We cannot all be Michael Jordan. It’s simply not feasible and I think Dean Berquam will understand that,” Williams said.

Williams made it clear that his formal letter was not only about requesting an escalator for Bascom Hill, it also made nearly a dozen other formal requests to help prevent any physical exertion from students, such as: jogging, walking or carrying ones own backpack to class without motorized assistance.

One portion of the letter suggests that each student at UW be provided a free scooter or motorized wheelchair, complete

with a basket to carry items.

Williams wrote the letter with the help of former ASM Chair Tyler Junger.

“Look, we’re realistic, were not requesting that the faculty and staff must allow Ian’s to deliver to classrooms at all times of the day or the professor presiding over the class will face immediate termination,” Junger said.

“Would that policy be nice?

Yes. Would it be permitted in a better world? Of course.

But we’re far more interested in realistic demands. The fact that Jimmy John’s is practically the only eatery available to students on State Street after 2 a.m. is not only disgraceful, it’s dangerous. We are not anorexic peasants and we

will not be treated as such.”

The letter has received widespread suppor t from the student body.

“It’s nice to see ASM finally get something done that matters, quite frankly,” engineering major Thomas Kaarl said.

Kaarl continued, “I think I speak for almost every student at Madison when I say this entire campus feels like one giant military boot camp.

I had a few classes on the third floor of the Humanities building last year, and every time I climbed the damn stairs, I was absolutely soaked in sweat when I got to the top. I mean, I was trying to get an education, not scale Everest ya know?” ­—Phil Vesselinovitch

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© 2010, The Daily Cardinal Media Corporation ISSN 0011-5398

FALL RECRUITMENT MEETING “Listen kids, if you wanna get a real job someday, you know, make some ‘fat paper’ I think you had best get some quality experience under your belt. Your pitiful-looking resumes with “dog-walker” and “babysitter” on ‘em ain’t gonna cut it. So get your arses movin’ down to

2195 VILAS HALL, SEPT. 10 at 4PM For the record Corrections or clarifications?

Call The Daily Cardinal office at 608-262-8000 or send an e-mail to edit@dailycardinal.com.

and make something of your life for once.”

—Dr. Cardinal

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Wednesday, September 8, 2010

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New high-speed rail details emerge from City Hall

By Maggie DeGroot The Daily Cardinal

An update on the proposed Madison High Speed Rail Station was given Tuesday before the Common Council meeting.

Chris Klein, assistant to Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, focused on updates on specific areas of the high-speed rail station.

Klein said the current proposed cost estimate of only the station part of the high-speed rail plan is estimated as being between $11.5-12.5 million.

The proposed glass station building will include ticket kiosks, bathrooms and more. Since having public input there has also been an updated canopy design.

The proposed train would have an engine and 14-15 cars, Klein said.

Passengers are able to board on either side depending on what side the train comes in on according to current designs.

There are alternatives still on the table as they are “refining recommendations,” Klein said.

“The overall design of station, including canopy, is still a piece of the puzzle they [Department of Transportation] are taking public input on,” Klein said.

Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, asked a question concerning how many train tracks there would be at the station.

The Department of Transportation thought of plans for a potential three tracks, but decided on two tracks according to Klein.

The topic of duel engine cars was brought up by Ald. Bryon Eagon, District 8. The trains will have a locomotive on each end or a miniature locomotive, also called a pull car, according to Klein.

Chris Petykowski, of city engineering, also spoke on the proposed highspeed rail plans.

Petykowski spoke of the diagnostic team that comprises of the more technical aspect of the project from DOT. The team works on issues such as safety, fences and warning devices.

The update on the high-speed rail station also corresponded with Mayor Dave Cieslewicz announcing his 2011 Executive Capital Budget.

The proposed budget includes $36.4 million revolving around the high-speed rail station according to the Wisconsin State Journal.

Included in these funds are a public market and the rebuilding of the Government East parking garage among others.

A future public meeting is projected to occur sometime in October concerning the station plans according to Petykowski.

Walker ad accuses Neumann of “pork barrel” spending, being akin to Pelosi The animosity between Republican gubernatorial hopefuls Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and former congressman Mark Neumann is growing fiercer with the approaching primary, with the latest Walker attack comparing Neumann to Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, D-California.

Walker sent out a mailer advertisement criticizing Neumann’s vote as congressman in 1998 for a transportation bill full of what the campaign is calling $9 million in pork projects. The bill was also approved

by Pelosi, and projects included a “bridge to nowhere” and a highway to Canada.

“That’s right,” the ad reads, “Canada.”

However, Neumann denies any connection to the staunch Democrat.

“Scott Walker claims I’m Nancy Pelosi? He must be kidding,” he said in a television ad. “In Congress back in the ‘90s, I fought to cut spending

endorsement from page 1 endorsement as important and knows there is “a lot of interest as to who fills the seat.”

Soglin is a resident of District 77 and his endorsement shows people are not, “being passive in this race,” according to Maniaci.

Maniaci said the, “strongest endorsements you can receive are from people who have worked directly with you.”

Fifteen fellow Dane County Supervisors formally endorse Hesselbein, a number Maniaci attributes to Hesselbein’s good character and strong abilities as a Dane County Board Member.

Hulsey and Hesselbein both serve on the Dane County Board

so hard, the leaders of my own party kicked me off the Appropriations Committee.”

Neumann, who served in Congress for four years during the Clinton administration, said in his ad that “negative attacks are for career politicians.” He described himself as a businessman, unlike Walker, whose political career he said spans 16 years.

However, the Walker campaign said Neumann’s activities in Washington in the 1990s make him the wrong choice for Wisconsin.

“Wisconsin voters continue to ask about the difference between Scott Walker and Congressman Neumann,” said Walker campaign manager Keith Gilkes in a statement. “Congressman Neumann has been spending millions of his personal wealth trying to scrub clean his six runs for office and his support for one of the largest pork barrel spending bills in history while in Washington.”

—Ariel Shapiro of Supervisors.

A key endorsement for any candidate would be from current state assemblyman Spencer Black, Maniaci said. Black is the current representative for District 77 and he will retire this year after serving for 26 years. However, Black has made no indication he plans to make an endorsement.

Hesselbein and Hulsey come from a pool of five democrats in next week’s primary and Cieslewicz will eventually work with the winner of the general election in November.

Cieslewicz said in a statement he would be happy with to work with, “anyone who emerges from the Democratic field. I believe Hulsey is the best choice for Madison.”

Danny Marchewka/the daily cardinal

Mini Red Shirts covered Bascom Hill yesterday to promote the Great People Scholarship Foundation, which supports need-based aid at UW-Madison.

Red shirts raise money for need-based aid

By Ellen Molina The Daily Cardinal

478 decorative mini-bright red shirts covered Bascom Hill yesterday encouraging students to purchase tee-shirts as part of The Red Shirt campaign.

According to The Red Shirt Marketing Director Shannon Timm, The Red Shirt is an awareness campaign to promote the Great People Scholarship Foundation.

The Great People Scholarship is a UW campaign that encour-

budget

from page 1

mated at $4 million.

Along with this is a proposed $500,000 to be spent in 2012 for bike path resurfacing within the Monona Terrace area. $2.8 million for 2011 and $1 million for 2012 are included in the budget for the complete build-out of the Madison Police Department’s new training facility.

The funding for 2011 would be for overall facility infrastructure,

unemployment from page 1 nearly a third, of Black women earn poverty level wages.

Republican gubernatorial candidate former congressman Mark Neumann’s spokesperson Chris Lato said this gap issue can be helped by creating overall growth that “will lead to more opportu-

ages donations to need based aid by pledging to match all contributions.

The Wisconsin Alumni Association founded The Red Shirt in 2008. Each shirt costs $15 with all proceeds going towards the Great People Scholarship Foundation.

Timm said The Red Shirt is an effective way to raise money.

“The Red Shirt is a fun and spirited way for alumni and students alike to give back to the Madison community,” said Timm.

$125,000 has been raised in the past three years. Since the profits earned by The Red Shirt are matched by the UW foundation, the Wisconsin Alumni Association pledged to donate $250,000 to be given in scholarships over the next five years.

The red shirts may be purchased online or in Bucky’s Locker Room throughout the 2010-2011 academic year.

For more information: http:// www.uwalumni.com/theredshirt_ thirdedition.aspx.

classroom space and the construction of a 12-lane indoor shooting range.

Funding of the Central Library was another asset of the mayor’s proposed budget. According to the budget the $27 million dollar project includes the reauthorization of $15 million of borrowing and $4.5 million of other funding from 2010. Private contributions of $8 million are included in other funding.

Cieslewicz proposed to budget

$100,000 to study and create criterion for the development of new neighborhood centers in Madison.

In addition the budget includes funding of $3.5 million for 2012 for the construction of possible neighborhood centers.

The operating budget is scheduled to be introduced on Oct. 5.

The Common Council will review the proposed budget, consider amendments and then vote on it along with the operating budget during the week of Nov. 15.

nity for everyone.”

Fellow GOP gubernatorial candidate Scott Walker’s spokesperson Jill Bader said that “by easing the burdens on employers we can put more men and women of all backgrounds back to work.”

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Milwaukee Mayor

Tom Barrett’s spokesperson Phil Walzack said the key to fixing the gap is by creating a qualified workforce through quality secondary and higher education that will “empower people with the skills they need.”

None of the campaigns explicitly advocated for affirmative action initiatives.

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Wednesday, September 8, 2010

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What’s in the fridge?

By Alec Walker the daily cardinal

Taste of Madison highlights city’s best

By Justin Behlke the daily cardinal

As the vendors at the Dane County Farmers Market started to pack up their unsold produce and the last of the market goers strolled around the square, a multitude of tents and kitchen equipment started to take over. Vendors heated grills and prepped food for what would be the 2010 Taste of Madison. A combination of food, beverages and music take over the square every year, and for two days it is a food lover’s paradise.

Over eighty restaurants and caterers produced more than two hundred menu items, and there was much to be tasted. In addition, over 20 beverage stands served everything from wine to milk, so you could be sure that your thirst was quenched. If you want to experience the Madison food scene without making a huge dent in your pocket, this is the way to do it.

Food items ranged in price from $1 up to $4, with endless options to fulfill your deepest cravings. If you were a person craving sauce dripping BBQ, then looking no further than restaurants such as The Haze or Bourbon St. Grille would leave your fingers covered in sauce and your BBQ craving satisfied. If it is a sweet tooth that you were looking to satisfy, places such as Daisy Café and Cupcakery and Sassy Cow Creamery satisfied many foodies. No matter what type of food experience you came looking for, it was sure to be satisfied with a stroll around the Capitol Square.

As I weaved my way through Taste of Madison, enjoying the music coming from one of the three stages, I wanted to give appreciation to the culinary staples of our great state of Wisconsin. The Old Fashioned was able to start out my eating adventures with an order of gooey handmade cheese curds served with a blue tiger dipping sauce.

My savory craving satisfied, I turned to Sassy Cow Creamery to fulfill my craving for sweetness. A dish of their vanilla ice cream was simply satisfying.

By this time my stomach was now full of all things dairy, and I thought what better way to celebrate Wisconsin food than to end my meal with a craft beer brewed locally in the Madison area.

Capital Brewery was there with Supper Club, a classic Wisconsin lager that helped me wash down the day’s eats.

Whether you are new to the city of Madison or have lived here your entire life, the Taste of Madison is sure to bring something new to all taste buds.

Experiencing Madison through its food and music is one of the best ways to become acquainted with this great city. I am sure that many of you reading this who attended Taste of Madison were completely satisfied by the endless food options, cold beverages and three stages of music. If you were not able to attend this year, fear not because in one short year Taste of Madison will be back on the Capitol Square ready to serve you the best of what Madison has to offer.

An old Polish proverb proclaims, “Fish, to taste right, must swim three times—in water, in butter and in wine.”

Because I am part Polish— and accordingly enjoy all three of the aforementioned ingredients—I have steeped many a piece of fish in savory butter, and washed down many a sea-

food meal with a glass of chilled white wine. However, two consecutive weeks spent eating, breathing and catching salmon in Alaska this summer forced me to experiment with my salmon recipes a bit. I sent countless fillets of salmon swimming in aromatic olive oil, tantalizing tomato sauce and creamy, herbinfused chowder.

Yet, for this week’s “What’s

in the Fridge,” I chose to follow a more land-locked route, crafting a terrain of crispy croutons, decadent dressing and gregarious greens upon which lay the sanguine salmon. Finished with a generous sprinkle of shaved parmesan, this salad holds its own against any butter-laden fish recipe. And fortunately, it still invites the company of a glass of chilled white wine!

Salmon Caesar Salad Homemade Caesar Dressing: 5 hardboiled egg yolks 3 tsp Dijon mustard 4 tsp Worcestershire sauce 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil Juice of 1 1/2 lemons 4 cloves garlic 2 tbsp freshly grated parmesan cheese Black pepper and salt to taste

Grilled Salmon: 2 lbs fresh, wild-caught salmon fillets Juice of one lemon 8 cloves garlic (chopped) 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil Freshly ground black pepper Salt

Croutons: Sourdough baguette Extra virgin olive oil Garlic powder Crushed red pepper Freshly ground black pepper

Begin this culinary adventure by whipping up your homemade Caesar dressing. In a food processor or blender, combine the hard-cooked egg yolks, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, garlic and parmesan. Slowly add the olive oil as the mixture continues to blend and stop when the dressing emulsifies. At this point, taste the dressing and adjust the flavor to your preference with salt, pepper and more of any of the other ingredients as needed.

Place the dressing in the fridge to chill for at least an hour.

While the dressing chills, marinate and sauté/grill your salmon. Coat the flesh side of each fillet with garlic, lemon and black pepper. Allow the salmon to marinate for at least 30 minutes. In the meantime, heat a few tablespoons of olive oil in a pan on medium heat (you can also grill the salmon, provided that you coat the skin side with olive oil). Cook the salmon skin side down for 10-15 minutes, or until it flakes at the twist of a fork. If time allows, chill the salmon before serving on the salad.

To make the croutons, cube the sourdough baguette and toss with a few tablespoons of olive oil. Sprinkle generously with garlic powder, red pepper and black pepper, and bake at 400 F until golden brown (approximately 10 to 15 minutes).

Prepare the salad by first tossing the mixed greens with the dressing. Top the greens with croutons and shaved parmesan, and lay the chilled salmon filet over top. Serve alongside a few slices of warmed baguette, as well as a glass of chilled white wine, and enjoy!

Salad: Mixed greens Shaved parmesan for garnish

Eddy Cevilla/the daily cardinal

Log on to dailycardinal.com/life-style to watch the latest installment of “What’s in the Fridge?,” in which Alec prepares this delectable dish.

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Foodies from all over made their way to Madison’s Capitol Square this weekend to revel in the Taste of Madison festival.

*It will be fun!

Friday, September 10 4:00 p.m.

2195 Vilas Hall

arts Not so gaga for Goo Goo Dolls

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Wednesday, September 8, 2010

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By Emily Crain

from their once beloved softness almost all together, relying on The Goo Goo Dolls’ new album, drums and lead guitar instead.

Something for the Rest of Us, reminds While this might work for any listeners that the Goo Goo Dolls have other band, it doesn’t work for the their own style, one that appeals to Goo Goo Dolls. It is not what we those both interested and not inter- are used to, can why change what is ested in mainstream music. This is still enjoyed? Instead, on Something the style they should stick to, and for the Rest of Us, the Goo Goo Dolls while a few songs on their new album go more with a varied instrumenshow some promise, the rest of the tal approach, one seen previously tracks could be left in their hit, “Stay out as they lack the With You.” It’s a CD REVIEW originality the group style focused on the once possessed. impact of guitar and While the new a dominant drum album has great presence, instead of musical value working to preserve and is definitely the delicacy of an worth listening acoustic guitar.

Something for to, it falls short This new, the Rest of Us of the expectaharder personalThe Goo tions built on top ity works well Goo Dolls of the high qualwith Something for ity the Goo Goo the Rest of Us’ lyrDolls delivered with their original ics, but the tracks would be more music, the music that put them enjoyable if the instrumentals were on the map. The slow, alternative taken down a notch, or four. feel created by copious amounts When Goo Goo Dolls fans are of acoustic guitar helped to cre- forced to choose between listening ate hits like “Iris,” “Rockabye,” to their newest album or getting “Sympathy” and “Black Balloon.” a little nostalgic and indulging It was music that was easy to lis- in their older hits, most would ten to in almost any setting. undoubtedly go with the oldies.

In Something for the Rest of Us, This is not just because they are the Goo Goo Dolls move away more popular and have been stuck

The Daily Cardinal

photo courtesy warner bros. records inc.

For years, the Goo Goo Dolls have been producing countless hits that spotlighted their softness and attention to detail. Their latest release forgoes this style and focuses on something a little more robust. in people’s heads for the better part of a decade, but because they are more motivational and make a greater positive impact on one’s mood. The songs and music are great, but Something for the Rest of Us just feels as if the Goo Goo Dolls were trying too hard to make a new impression on main-

stream music.

Not all of the tracks hold little value, though. The album’s title track best reflects the softer acoustic style of the Goo Goo Dolls’ past, and the acoustic version of “Home” is equally delicate, even though it has a few other instrumental missteps.

All in all, the Goo Goo Dolls have produced an album worth investigating, even though it serves as a total change of pace. While it won’t replace their previous works or trump hits like “Slide,” it will keep Goo Goo fans entertained, even if the band is using new, less catchy methods.

Todd talks television premieres: five shows to keep an eye out for this season Todd Stevens the todday show

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he birth of a television series begins with a pilot.

The show’s creative team puts together one sample episode of the series, shows that to the network execs, and hopes it gets picked up. That’s basically what this column is today, only you, dear readers, are the network execs.

I hope you relish the power.

Appropriately enough, this column goes to print the same time most pilots reach television screens. So as a preview of what’s in store in this column, let’s preview what’s in store for the television

scene with the five most promising shows of the season—all apologies to William Shatner, as “$#*! My Dad Says” didn’t make the cut.

“Boardwalk Empire” (premieres September 19 on HBO) HBO must not like being dethroned. With the advent of “Mad Men” and “Breaking Bad,” AMC is now the place to go for marquee television. So how does HBO respond? By calling in former “Sopranos” writer Terence Winter as showrunner, a star studded cast featuring Steve Buscemi and a little known director named Martin Scorsese to tell the tale of Atlantic City’s rise (or fall) to the East Coast’s favorite den of sin in “Boardwalk Empire.” It is one of the most ambitious projects

HBO has ever greenlit, and with the pedigree gathered, “Boardwalk Empire” looks to give “Mad Men” a run for its money as the best show on television.

“Detroit 187” (premieres September 21 on ABC) “The Sopranos” keeps sewing its seeds all over the television landscape. With Winter captaining “Boardwalk Empire” and Matthew Weiner churning out excellence every week on “Mad Men,” writers from the hit mob show are a hot commodity. ABC couldn’t get one, so they hired one of the show’s actors instead. Starring Michael Imperioli, “Detroit 187” appears to be a basic police procedural, but Imperioli’s presence should go

photo courtesy cbs production Corporation

“$#*! My Dad Says” is one of the many new shows premiering this fall, but it is unlikely that William Shatner’s talents will trump those seen in shows like “Undercovers” and “Detroit 187.”

a long way. The bigger question is whether the dilapidated setting of Detroit will make the show feel like a poor man’s version of “The Wire,” but hopefully Imperioli is talented enough to show us just how cold it is in the D. “Running Wilde” (premieres September 22 on Fox) If “The Sopranos” had an equivalent in the comedy world, it would be the universally critically loved “Arrested Development.” But unlike “Sopranos,” the creative team and cast of “Arrested Development” haven’t proliferated across the airwaves much. Hopefully that will change with “Running Wilde,” the new brainchild from “Arrested Development” mastermind Mitch Hurwitz. Joining Hurwitz is Will Arnett as the titular Steven Wilde, a narcissistic rich manchild—basically, Steven Wilde is Gob Bluth all over again. Also imported from “Arrested Development” is the almost always hilarious David Cross playing Arnett’s environmentalist rival, so the show is a lock for at least a few uncomfortable chuckles.

“Undercovers” (premieres September 22 on NBC) Now if you want to create a successful show and can’t hire a writer from “The Sopranos” or Mitch Hurwitz, the next best option is to contact J.J. Abrams. After “Lost” and “Fringe,” Abrams’ name has become its own brand signifying intrigue and mind-blowing convoluted plotlines. “Undercovers” sees the Abrams name draw back a bit from his recent science fiction efforts into a show more akin to “Alias” with a married couple.

Featuring the little-known Boris Kodjoe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as a husband and wife spy team,

the show will likely be lighter than anything Abrams has done recently, both in its humorous tone and lack of clouded smoke monsters.

“The Walking Dead” (premieres October 31 on AMC) Zombies on television. As of now, I’m having trouble thinking up a three-word combination with more pop culture geek appeal than that.

And based on the epic four-minute trailer for “The Walking Dead” released this summer, AMC doesn’t plan to disappoint the zombie-loving faithful. Spearheaded by “The Mist’s” Frank Darabont, “The Walking Dead” promises all of the blood, guts and post-apocalyptic settings of zombie classics like “28 Days Later,” only it will be on every week. Forget room for failure, this is the one surefire spectacular debut of this movie season. I bank my column’s entire miniscule amount of credibility on it.

Think Todd is too elitist for not previewing the TV version of “$#*!

My Dad Says?” Think William Shatner will dominate? Insult him at ststevens@wisc.edu.

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Is it gun or bow hunting? In Cleveland, Ohio it is illegal to catch mice without a hunting license. dailycardinal.com/comics

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Taking a 200-level class

Today’s Sudoku

Evil Bird

By Caitlin Kirihara kirihara@wisc.edu

© Puzzles by Pappocom

Branching Out

By Brendan Sullivan bsullivan3@wisc.edu

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.

The Graph Giraffe Classic

By Yosef Lerner graphics@dailycardinal.com

Crustaches

By Patrick Remington premington@wisc.edu

Today’s Crossword Puzzle

First in Twenty

By Angel Lee alee23@wisc.edu

Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com

RABBIT TRANSIT ACROSS 1 Slacker’s shoe?

7 Chief Norse deity 11 “Whether ___ nobler in the mind ...”

(Hamlet) 14 Polished and suave 15 Boring voice 17 “Rock the ___” (hit song by The Clash) 18 Lay claim to 19 “The Addams Family” cousin 20 Least amount to Yogi?

22 “One ___ the money ...”

23 Chemistry rooms 24 Suffix for “prop” or “meth” 25 Chapter in history 26 Old word meaning “before” 27 Whipped up butter 31 Asian staple 33 Concentration thwarter 34 Gibberish from a river creature?

40 Defibrillator operator’s call 41 Lady of Brazil 43 Eastwood TV series of old 46 Auto additive 49 Broadcast-regulating

gp.

50 “These ___ the times that ...”

51 Window part 52 “... a little tom-___sang ...”

53 AWOL wildcat?

58 Act human, according to a proverb 59 Droid X maker 60 Right this minute 62 Shrouded in mystery 63 Razes 64 Lion’s place 65 Kemo ___ (the Lone Ranger) 66 Rubbernecks DOWN 1 Satan 2 Handel’s “Messiah,” e.g.

3 Like some art 4 Fantastic, in Beatlemania 5 Empower 6 Judge again, as a case 7 Sharif and Khayyam 8 Coed’s quarters 9 Crucifix inscription 10 Time to draw?

11 Everyone, without exception 12 Harmonically perfect 13 Appeared to be 16 ___ Friday’s

(restaurant chain) 21 Moniker of one on Mount Rushmore 27 Prison inmate 28 ___ and hers 29 Employ for a purpose 30 Rip apart 32 Use acid for artistic purposes 33 Word between “here” and “there” 35 Wallach of “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” 36 Wine variety 37 “No” to Rob Roy 38 Laundry detergent additive 39 Completely surround 42 Woman on stage 43 Broadsided 44 In a melodic style 45 “I’m Henery the Eighth, I Am” composer R.P. 46 “Don we now our ___ apparel ...”

47 Historical records 48 Group of six 51 Come in second, at the track 54 Barfly 55 States of anger 56 Writer/director Ephron 57 Talkative 61 Caesar’s eggs

Washington and the Bear

By Derek Sandberg kalarooka@gmail.com

opinion dailycardinal.com/opinion

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

view Cardinal View editorials represent The Daily Cardinal’s organizational opinion. Each editorial is crafted independent of news coverage.

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keep investing in infrastructure

n his speech at Laborfest in Milwaukee over the weekend, President Barack Obama began the push for a new policy that would improve the nation’s infrastructure as a way to put people back to work and get the economy moving again.

While critics will say the plan will merely create short-term work and not long-term employment, it is the best way to create jobs over the next couple of years.

During his presidency, Obama has put an emphasis on infrastructure projects as a method for job creation to stimulate the economy. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is a clear example of this policy, where the president decided to invest in various projects, including infrastructure, as a way to lower unemployment.

Plans like the ARRA and these infrastructure projects accomplish the fundamental goal of putting people back to work, even if that work is only guaranteed for a short time. Ideally, people who were unemployed can then spend money

and stimulate the economy, hopefully creating more permanent jobs.

According to recovery.gov, the Obama administration’s website that tracks and reports where money from the Recovery and Reinvestment Act goes, the legislation created 16,352 jobs in Wisconsin alone between April 1 and June 30, 2010. At this point, it is impossible to say if this will result in 16,352 permanent jobs that last beyond the ARRA’s projects, but for now it is the right policy.

We also cannot be sure if this infrastructure investment will result in temporary work or long-term employment for all of its projects, but some of the projects should.

If a high-speed rail between Madison and Milwaukee becomes a reality, there is the possibility for both short-term work and permanent jobs. In the next few years, Wisconsinites would find jobs constructing the railroad and, once it is completed, some could find permanent employment working on those lines. Granted far fewer people would earn a permanent career than would

work to build the railroad, but there would be both short- and long-term employment from such a project.

Also, regardless of their impact on the economy, these infrastructure improvements are necessary. Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz remarked that road construction in Madison this summer has not necessarily been a matter of going into debt, but instead investing in the city’s future by creating better streets.

We will need to improve America’s infrastructure sometime, and the possibility of creating jobs and stimulating the economy only sweetens the deal. Even today we enjoy the benefits of public works projects from the New Deal, a program that put Americans back to work in the last great financial crisis. Spending opponents such as Mark Neumann, Scott Walker and Ron Johnson would do well to remember that. It stands to reason that fixing America’s infrastructure now would lead to benefits future generations can enjoy as well.

These measures are a good first step, but the obvious question and biggest point of contention is what comes next. In the short term, infrastructure projects will put people back to work and hopefully provide a jolt to the economy through consumer spending.

The question is whether or not this will result in long-term recovery that will employ Americans for decades, not just for a few months.

We cannot say what the solution to America’s economic woes is, but putting people to work on infrastructure projects is the best policy for now.

Illegal immigration issues in guv’s race MATT BEATY opinion columnist

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his summer has been full of controversial pieces of legislation, on both national and local levels. Perhaps the most controversial law passed was the Arizona immigration law. The law would give Arizona state law enforcement the right to enforce Federal immigration laws, and in some cases check for immigration status. Immigration is such a hot-button issue because it is important to everyone in America, even Wisconsinites.

While a similar law is unlikely to pass in Wisconsin, the nature of the law should resonate in every state.

When the federal government fails to do its duties, in this case enforcing illegal immigration, states should have the right to enforce those laws.

There is no doubt that immigration is important to America. New workers, ideas and culture are vital to perpetuating the American way of life.

That is why it is essential to have an efficient legal immigration system.

However, allowing illegal immigration is damaging to the nation’s foundational definining laws. It shows that our leaders are not willing to follow the laws they are meant to enforce which ultimately erodes the viability of America’s laws.

On Nov. 2, Wisconsin voters will take to the polls to vote for governor, the state’s executive, and it is important to fully understand the top Republican and Democratic candidates’ view on immigration. With their current opinions, Republican Scott Walker’s stance on illegal immigration is better suited for Wisconsin than Democrat Tom Barrett’s.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has taken a typical liberal stance towards illegal immigration. At first, Barrett said the Arizona law took a random approach that would not benefit the cause of cracking down on illegal immigration. He recently voiced his concern for the cost of expelling illegal immigrants and suggested adopting a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already living here.

Yet, using amnesty to solve the illegal immigration situation is poor practice that shouldn’t have been done in the Reagan administration and should not be considered an option today. In 1986, Reagan’s sweeping immigration reform granted amnesty to three million illegal immigrants. Meaning that three million individuals who broke American law went unpunished. But more importantly, granting amnesty to existing immigrants avoids actually trying to fix our legal immigration system while simultaneously destroying law.

On the immigration issue, Republican frontrunner Scott Walker notably changed his position on the Arizona immigration law after the law’s revision. He states that the law, as it is now, protects the United States’ 10th Amendment and protects against racial profiling. Walker claims that he would sign a similar bill into law.

Though Scott Walker, like nearly every politician, has changed his position, his current stance is best for the state of Wisconsin. His willingness to sign a law that gives state law enforcement the ability to reasonably check immigration status is vital to preserving the law and hopefully to slow the rate of illegal immigration. He supports punishments for hiring illegal immigrants and deportation.

Concerns with deportation, the opposite of amnesty, lie in the realm of fiscal conservatism; is it fiscally possible to deport all illegal immigrants? But there are times when money should be

the issue and times when it should not take priority.

Many of Walker’s views are not pragmatic; they are expensive and will expel workers and consumers.

However, pragmatism is not as important as keeping a solid rule of law.

While our nation is built by immigrants in part, it is primarily built on a foundation of the law. Without the rule of law, any nation will crumble and fail. Barrett’s ideas—amnesty and a permit for non-citizens—are detrimental to the structure of our society.

A robust and enforced word of law is vital to any society. It protects citizens from themselves and from the government. Proper enforcement will also slow down illegal activity. When the word of law is poorly enforced a society can expect problems, like drug and gun runners easily getting in because of relaxed immigration enforcement.

When governors and executives fail to enforce laws, the citizens suffer.

Illegal immigration needs to be addressed, and Walker is willing to get that done. The legal immigration system cannot be reformed if executives, through allowing amnesty, show that it is easier to come to America illegally.

The illegal immigration debate will not go away soon. A strong and stable immigration system is vital to keeping our nation a world leader.

However, having executives who faithfully execute the laws and are willing to do what is legal and necessary to do so is even more important. Of the two front-runners for Wisconsin’s governor, Scott Walker is the candidate with the immigration policy that best upholds the word of law and allows for future reforms in the immigration system.

Matt Beaty is a sophomore intending to major in mathematics and computer science. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

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Feingold will fail to bring Wisconsin forward MATT PAYNE opinion columnist

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his year’s Senate race has turned out to be a challenging one for Wisconsin’s Senator Russ Feingold. In fact the most recent aggregate from pollster.com puts his opponent, business owner and political newcomer Ron Johnson, ahead by one percentage point. The senator, first elected in 1992, is now running in one of the toughest reelection bids he’s ever faced.

Johnson has not only shown his ability to run an effective grassroots campaign, but was able to effectively outraise Feingold last reporting period. The race, once thought to be a safe seat for Feingold, has garnered nationwide attention largely due to the fact that it illustrates the deep dissatisfaction the nation has for this administration and Congress.

Feingold and his Democratic colleagues have failed to make the economy a top priority

Yet there’s more to this race than just anti-Washington sentiment. While it’s true that people are tired of Washington insiders like Feingold continuing on with the tired rhetoric that government knows best, Senator Feingold, in the mind of many Wisconsinites, is simply out of touch with the people of the state. Once considered an independent voice for Wisconsin, the senator has become just another Washington politician, accustomed to the business as usual crowd and faithfully following the party line.

In addition to his new role as a party faithful, Senator Feingold and his Democratic colleagues have failed to make the economy a top priority, even with record high unemployment. They opted instead to tackle healthcare reform. Healthcare reform, which a majority of the state’s residents opposed, was passed despite bipartisan opposition and a majority of Americans against it. Now, according to a recent Gallup/ USA Today Poll, 56 percent of Americans still disapprove.

Even many college students, who so hopefully looked to both Barack Obama and Democrats like Senator Feingold for leadership and change are now faced with a 9.5 percent unemployment rate and an economic crisis which until recently, had not been given much attention. College graduates face perhaps the toughest challenge finding a job as companies are less willing to hire new inexperienced workers. Despite the fact that many young people may agree with Senator Feingold on social issues such as gay marriage, the abysmal economic situation has caused many to lose faith in the Democrats who promised

to make it a top policy issue.

The only solution Feingold and other Democrats could find for the economy was an $862 billion dollar stimulus package that most economists agree has done nothing substantive for the economy and has cost more than the entire Iraq war. Now he wants yet another $50 billion stimulus package to focus on building new infrastructure such as roads, railways and runways.

The President touted the new plan in Milwaukee over the weekend saying that “Over the next six years, we are going to rebuild 150,000 miles of our roads—enough to circle the world six times.” What President Obama and Senator Feingold don’t understand however, is that right now America doesn’t need to spend $50 billion dollars to rebuild a road that circles the world six times, it needs an economic recovery. More importantly it needs jobs. As we learned through the first stimulus package, building projects like this can create some temporary employment at a high cost, but not neccesarily a permanent job.

Most Wisconsinites are tired of the worn-out rhetoric that the government is the only vehicle by which jobs can be created. They understand that a job isn’t created by a government bureaucrat, but by a small business owner. They understand that the economic recovery cannot be led by a federal government thousands of miles away in Washington, but by local businesses and investors in cities and states across the country, including Wisconsin, that are willing to spend money and hire workers once again. That’s why they’re looking to someone who has private sector experience and a deep understanding of private enterprise and the economy to get us out of this economic mess we have been in for the last two years.

They are looking to someone like Ron Johnson who has extensive knowledge of the private sector and will represent the interests of Wisconsin rather than those of Washington.

Feingold is falling in the polls because he and Democrats like him have failed to deliver real solutions to solve our economic woes. In addition, the once independent Feingold who stuck to his principles has become just another Washington politician who is more willing to listen to special interest groups and lobbyists of his party than he is willing to the people of his state.

Matt Payne is a junior majoring in Chinese and economics. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

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dailycardinal.com/sports

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Boise State has an easy road to the national title, but they don’t need it

Women’s Soccer

PARKER GABRIEL

parks and rec

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DANNY MARCHEWKA/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

Junior forward Laurie Nosbusch, UW’s top returning scorer, will need to spark the offense now that she’s healthy and playing.

UW looking to rebound after tough start

By Parker Gabriel THE DAILY CARDINAL

Many UW sports, including women’s soccer, jumped in to their regular season schedules before regular production started. Here is a look at where the team has been already this year, and what lies ahead.

The women’s soccer team did not waste any time finding stiff competition to begin the regular season slate this fall.

Opening the season ranked No. 20, Wisconsin dropped three straight games and did not manage a goal against some of the top units in the country.

The slide was bookended by top five teams including No. 3 UCLA in the opener and No. 4 Portland on September 3.

“Ideally, we are not where I would want us to be at this point of the season.”

Paula Wilkins head coach UW women’s soccer

Wisconsin finally broke into the score book on Sunday against Washington, as freshman Kodee Williams tallied a goal and helped the Badgers to a 1-1 draw against the University of Washington. Though the result improved, head coach Paula Wilkins said the team still has plenty to learn.

“Ideally, we are not where I would want us to be at this part of the season,” Wilkins said. “We

knew this was going to be a challenging start to our season. I think in the long run this is going to be an important series of games for us in terms of building.”

The Badgers have also been battling a bit of an injury bug, as both of the returning forwards, sophomore Paige Adams and junior Laurie Nosbusch missed time with injuries. Nosbusch, the team’s leading scorer from last season, is now back and will be relied upon to improve UW’s offensive output.

In goal, senior Michele Dalton has started three contests while junior Lauren Gunderson started in the team’s loss to Portland. As the team moves forward with the rest of their non-conference schedule and into Big Ten play, Wilkins said competition between the pipes, and at other positions, will help the team stay sharp.

“I’m really happy to have [depth] because what we’re finding with the program is that it’s all over the field that we’re having some competition and some stuff in practice,” she said. “I think that only makes the team stronger at the end, and they help each other, so it’s a good thing.”

This weekend, UW returns to Madison for games against South Dakota St. and UW-Milwaukee.

Wilkins said that, despite the slow start, the team is primed to have a big weekend.

“To get them to move in the right direction on Sunday was a step in the right direction,” Wilkins said. “For me, I’m going to keep trying to figure out how to solve it.”

t seems only natural that, instead of using my first sports column to sound off on something that I’ve always had a strong opinion on, I’d feel obligated to begrudgingly admit something I hoped would never, ever be true.

Those blue-turf boys up in Boise are really fucking good at football.

There isn’t a whole lot of room left for debate, it seems, after the Broncos’ dramatic 33-30 victory over Virginia Tech on Monday night. Yeah, they blew a threescore lead, but when it mattered, the Hokies just had no answer for junior quarterback Kellen Moore and the Boise attack.

Now, this is not to imply that head coach Chris Petersen should start watching film on Alabama and Ohio State in anticipation of a national title game matchup. I wouldn’t even go as far as to say that Boise deserves a shot to play for the title if they go undefeated this year.

Just because this team has legitimate talent does not mean that it plays a legitimate schedule. Aside from a clash with Pac-10 member Oregon State on Sept. 25, the remainder of the Broncos schedule is unthinkably easy. After Monday’s win, ESPN reporters pointed to a home date with Fresno State and a road trip to Nevada as possible trap games.

Really?

I guess Fresno State has given Wisconsin some problems in recent years, but I doubt very strongly that many Boise boots will quake on that atrociously unnatural turf when the Bulldogs come running down the tunnel.

However, while the argument over whether or not Petersen, who holds an out-of-this-world 49-4 record since taking over the program prior to the 2006 season, should get the chance to lead his (presumably) unbeaten team into a title game can wait for a couple of months. Today, it at least has to be said that this team has the ammunition to compete with the biggest and baddest programs in the country.

Uniforms aside, this team passes the eye test. They’re physical on defense, fast on offense and at times bottled up Virginia Tech’s offense so thoroughly that the Hokies looked about as capable as New Mexico State (that snoozer doesn’t actually show up on Boise’s schedule until Oct. 2).

Coming off of a phenomenal freshman campaign that included 1655 yards (5.6 per carry) and 21 touchdowns, sophomore running back Ryan Williams managed a paltry 44 yards on 21 carries.

Last year, Williams’ lowest rushing total was 71 yards, and that came against Alabama, the eventual national champion, in his first collegiate game. Junior dual threat quarterback Tyrod Taylor faired better against Boise’s defense, but they got consistent pressure, knocked him down in key spots and broke up several passes.

The list seems to go on and on.

Not only did senior wide receiver Austin Pettis catch two touchdowns, including the game winner with just over a minute to play, he blocked Virginia Tech’s first punt of the game and set up Boise’s first touchdown.

Maybe the most striking play of the game was a 71-yard touchdown run by junior running back D.J. Harper in the third quarter. After he broke in the secondary, it looked as if a couple of Hokies might have

had an angle to bring him down.

Instead, Harper turned on the jets and ran away from everybody.

In a sport obsessed with speed, speed, 40-yard dash times and speed, the fact that nobody on the traditionally formidable Hokie defense could come close to keeping up with the backup tailback for the largest university in Idaho speaks volumes to how far the program has come.

Because the AP preseason rankings put Boise State at No. 3, it could conceivably roll through its schedule and hope that either Alabama or Ohio State, ranked first and second respectively, falters somewhere in the gauntlet of their power-conference schedules. Although the BCS is virtually impossible to figure out, it seems highly unlikely that any school could jump over BSU as long as it beats up on those WAC opponents every week.

Maybe that will happen, Moore will win the Heisman, and they can design an all-blue championship ring for Petersen to wear on his all -blue field until he bails for greener pastures. This would be cool with me if it makes the brass in leagues like the Big Ten and SEC think seriously about pushing for a playoff system in college football.

Alas, for the time being, this is a situation that is not going to disappear. People, myself included, will continue to call for either a reform in the ranking process or more consistent competition for the Broncos.

As much as I hate to admit it, even that pipe dream scenario might not stop this particular team from bringing home some serious hardware.

Do you think Boise State deserves to play for a national title? Do you love the blue turf? E-mail Parker at pjgabriel@dailycardinal.com