Varsity Magazine - September 27, 2017 by Wisconsin Badgers

INFOCUS

LOLO GOES HIGH Firing one down against Michigan State at the UW Field House, Wisconsin senior Lauryn Gillis (nicknamed Lolo) has racked up an impressive streak of double-figure kills, averaging 2.93 kills per set over the last four matches. PHOTO BY GREG ANDERSON

INFOCUS

LANCE TAKES LAMBEAU A Milwaukee high school standout and All-America tight end at Wisconsin, Lance Kendricks added another line to a unique in-state football resume Sunday when he scored his first touchdown as a member of the Green Bay Packers. Kendricks added some personal flair to his first Lambeau Leap, flashing a “W” while celebrating the score, a 1-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers. Kendricks and the Packers went on to down the Cincinnati Bengals in a come-from-behind 27-24 overtime win. PHOTO BY JOHN FISHER / CAL SPORT MEDIA

INFOCUS

IN FULL BLOOM The Wisconsin womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tennis team, which held its photo day recently on campus, had a successful opening to the season last weekend at the Milwaukee Tennis Classic. PHOTO BY JACK McLAUGHLIN

CONTENTS

DAVID STLUKA

SEPTEMBER 27, 2017 ▪ VOLUME 8, ISSUE 5

THE NEXT CHAPTER No one knows Wisconsin’s strength as “Running Back U” better than Ron Dayne, and he likes what freshman Jonathan Taylor is showing early this season. But it wasn’t always a sure thing that Taylor would be a Badger. He had to work for it …

FEATURES 2

IN FOCUS

12 LUCAS AT LARGE 15 BEHIND THE DESK 17 BY THE NUMBERS

TEACHER’S HEART

Teaching is at the core of Wisconsin defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s stronger connection with the Badgers.

21 BADGERING

DAVID STLUKA

18 WHAT TO WATCH

LUCAS AT LARGE

22 BADGERS GIVE BACK 35 INSIDE FOOTBALL 37 INSIDE VOLLEYBALL 39 INSIDE HOCKEY 42 INSIDE SOCCER 45 INSIDE CROSS COUNTRY 49 INSIDE MEN’S GOLF 50 THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

BADGERS GIVE BACK

BODHI’S BIG DAY

The Badgers helped make a young boy with cancer and his family ‘feel truly important’ at a recent Wisconsin football gameday. 9

Wisconsin Athletic Communications Kellner Hall, 1440 Monroe St. Madison, WI 53711

VIEW ALL ISSUES Brian Lucas

Director of Athletic Communications

Jessica Burda

Director of Digital Content Managing Editor

Julia Hujet

Editor/Designer

Brian Mason

Editor/Contributor

Mike Lucas

Senior Writer

Andy Baggot Writer

Chris Hall, Jerry Mao, Brandon Spiegel Video Production

Matt Restock Advertising

Drew Pittner-Smith Distribution

Contributors

Paul Capobianco, Kelli Grashel, A.J. Harrison, Brandon Harrison, Patrick Herb, Diane Nordstrom Photography

David Stluka, Neil Ament, Greg Anderson, Bob Campbell, The Players Tribune, Cal Sport Media, Icon Sportswire Cover Photo: David Stluka Problems or Accessibility Issues? VarsityMag@UWBadgers.com ÂŠ 2017 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. 11

LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM

Teaching at heart of Leonhard’s effort

alking off the field in the presence of safeties, one old (D’Cota Dixon) and one new (Scott Nelson), Jim Leonhard suddenly broke down into a defensive stance like he was guarding Stephen Curry. Hips back. Knees bent. Butt down. Step, slide. Step, slide. Step, slide. “A lot of sports translate to football,” said the 5-foot-8 Leonhard, “and basketball is one of them.” His impromptu clinic on how footwork influences coverage was for the benefit of Dixon, a wily fourth-year junior from Oak Hill, Florida, and Nelson, an unproven, but promising true freshman from Detroit. “He tries to get us to play our technique as sound as possible,”

can be right 80 percent of the time.” A post-practice teaching session, like the one with Dixon and Nelson, is the essence of Leonhard. The coaching points may have been different only because of where they are in their respective careers. “But if you’re willing to find different ways to explain something and put it in terms that they understand at the time,” Leonhard said, “you can get the value out of it. “To me, the teaching, especially the one-on-one, is the most fun part. I love being able to grab a guy if he’s got a question because you know that you’re getting him better at that moment.” Discussion is encouraged. “You want guys who love foot-

DAVID STLUKA

said Dixon. “Basketball really does correlate with what we do as far as moving our feet. No wasted steps, no wasted motion.” Leonhard was raised by a basketball coach. His dad, Don, coached him in hoops and baseball at Flambeau High School (graduating class: 54) in his hometown of Tony, Wisconsin (population: 106). “If you’ve played basketball,” said Leonhard, a 3-point prep sniper and high-flyer (see his dunk video), “You know how to change directions … how to position your body … how to use your hands.” Skills transfer, he noted, from sport to sport. And the “eyes” have it. “If your eyes are in a bad spot, you’ve got no chance,” he said. “If your eyes are right, you

ball and want to learn,” he said. “Those guys never run out of questions. That’s the beauty of it all. That’s why they continue to get better.” Leonhard says that he’s getting better, too, as a second-year secondary coach and a first-year defensive coordinator. The latter role has drawn the most scrutiny from outsiders nationally. Leonhard, 34, took the DC baton from Justin Wilcox, who took it from Dave Aranda. After all of three games, he said, “I’ve definitely learned a lot. You see the speed of things and the adjustments that have to be made within the game and game plan. “The biggest thing as a coordinator that you always have to keep in your mind is that players make plays. It’s not the calls all the time. “Every once in a while, you can dial up a call and create a very good matchup for one of your guys. But a lot of times, they’ve got to make plays.” And when they’re not made? What then? “Patience,” he replied. As an undrafted free agent and 10-year NFL survivor, he has that quality in abundance. “When things are going wrong, there’s not always a magic answer,” he elaborated. “Sometimes guys have to play well. Other times you have to put them in a better position to make plays.” Communication is one of the boxes that must be checked to play winning defense. Press box to sideline. Sideline to defensive huddle. Coach to coach. Coach

to player. Player to player. “So far, it has gone well,” said Leonhard, who works from the field. “It’s not perfect. Just like a player, it’s not going to be perfect. But I’ve tried to be open as quickly as possible with the guys. “Right after the series, I’ll say, ‘All right, that call was bad. It wasn’t good. We’ll get it corrected and move on.’ Game day is about confidence and trying to create confidence for the guys.

“YOU WANT GUYS WHO LOVE FOOTBALL AND WANT TO LEARN. THOSE GUYS NEVER RUN OUT OF QUESTIONS. THAT’S THE BEAUTY OF IT ALL. THAT’S WHY THEY CONTINUE TO GET BETTER.”

“Sometimes, you’re the one holding them back, not always, but every once in awhile. You just want them to be able to play fast and be confident in what they’re doing every snap. “To this point, the communication with the guys in the box has been very good. There hasn’t been anything we got on film the next day and said, ‘We didn’t see that.’” Equally important has been the trust that Leonhard has placed in his defensive assistants — Inoke Breckterfield, Tim Tibesar, Bob Bostad — and his ability to interact and communicate with them. “It has been a good relationship on how we’re doing things on the coaching staff,” he said.

“I’m using the guys a lot. We have great coaches and I’m going to take their help. “That’s part of being a good leader — learning how to listen. Sometimes you don’t have the right answer. Sometimes somebody else does. If there’s an additional burden or pressure attached to a first-time coordinator, especially given Wisconsin’s recent legacy on defense, Dixon hasn’t noticed it affecting Leonhard. “You can see that he has taken on more of a leadership role in terms of communicating with the whole defense now,” he said. “But it’s really no different for us (secondary).” Leonhard was recently asked in a Big Ten Network interview to name the player that most reminds Leonhard of himself during his UW playing days. He chose linebacker T.J. Edwards and Dixon. Citing heart, passion, intelligence and communication skills, he also emphasized that there are a “handful of guys that I could have picked and talked about all day long.” Local pundits are talking about a UW defense that has yet to give up a second-half score, a stat that surprised Dixon. “I didn’t know that,” he pleaded Monday. “I really hadn’t thought about that.” But he also said, “Hopefully we get to the point where we don’t give up any for the whole game. That’s the goal.” Leonhard, the ultimate competitor, would approve this message. ▪

BEHIND THE DESK BY BARRY ALVAREZ ▪ UW DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS

‘Truly diverse, outstanding’ Hall of Fame class

all of Fame weekend has always been special for me, beginning with Friday night’s induction ceremonies and continuing through Saturday’s on-field introductions at Camp Randall. This is one of our bigger and most talented classes — a truly diverse, outstanding class — and it includes two of my former players, Darrell Bevell and Brooks Bollinger, making it even more fun. Both were coaches’ kids. Both were gym rats. Both had a high football IQ and a fundamental understanding of the game. Were both game managers? Yes. That’s what I wanted in a quarterback. I didn’t care how other people labeled them. It didn’t bother me as long as we were winning. And we won a lot of games — and Big Ten titles — and we went to the Rose Bowl with Darrell and Brooks. We really didn’t inherit a quarterback when I took over the program. We had to find one somewhere when Chilly (Brad Childress) said, “I’ve got somebody; he’s coming off a Mormon mission.’’ With Darrell’s age, and maturity, we were anxious to see what he would do with our offense. We had a lot of weapons in ’93 and he shared the ball. He managed the game extremely well. If you tried to take something away, he would go to the next option. We had a good tight end in Mike Roan, good receivers

and two quality tailbacks in Terrell Fletcher and Brent Moss. In ’99, Ronnie (Dayne) was our centerpiece, the focus of the offense. Brooks gave us an added dimension because he could pull it down and run and move the chains and that frustrated defenses. He was really my ideal quarterback because he posed a dual threat — someone who could throw and someone who could run. Plus, he was a natural team leader. From the start, I thought both Darrell and Brooks would get into coaching someday. They grew up around the game — in the locker room … in the huddle. They’re naturals in this profession. I’m looking forward to this weekend, not only because I’ll be able to catch up with Darrell and Brooks and visit with the other inductees, but because it’s the start of the Big Ten season. When I was coaching, I always made a big deal out of getting into conference play. On the week leading up to the opener, I wanted my assistants to have an extra hop in their step. I wanted the players to understand this is different, this is more meaningful than a non-conference game. For one thing, it’s going to be more physical in the Big Ten and the speed of the game and the urgency is going to pick up. We used to send that message by changing our tempo in practice. We’re coming off a bye this

week. But so is Northwestern. And that’s pretty unique. I thought we made a huge jump in our last game at BYU. Alex Hornibrook was impressive. You could see his command of the game. He knew where to go with the ball. He was deliberate and threw into some tight windows in a lot of third-down situations. We’ve added two weapons with this freshman class in Jonathan Taylor and Danny Davis. I don’t know if anyone ever expects a freshman to come in and be as impactful as these two have. But they’re different cats, now. They’re gamers. They’re playmakers. Looking at the Big Ten, I believe our side — the West Division — is stronger than what people made it out to be going into the season. I know that no one should ever underestimate Northwestern. They have got smart kids and they play hard. Pat Fitzgerald will have them ready. I don’t think it’s any secret that I didn’t like to play the Wildcats. I especially hated playing there in Evanston. Northwestern has given us as many headaches as anyone over the years. Once we start going head to head in the conference, I’m anxious to see how everybody matches up. If you don’t play well, if you’re sloppy with the ball, you’re vulnerable to get beat. We’re going to find out quickly who’s real and who are the pretenders in our league. ▪

BY THE NUMBERS DAVID STLUKA

WOMEN’S HOCKEY ▶ A total of 14 Badgers collected points in UW’s season-opening sweep of Lindenwood last weekend, including Presley Norby, who recorded a team-high four points.

DAVID STLUKA

◀ MEN’S SOCCER With a win over Wright State on Tuesday, senior Chris Mueller and the Badgers extended their home unbeaten streak to an impressive 18 games. UW is 15-0-3 at the McClimon Complex, dating back to the 2015 season.

▼ FOOTBALL Wisconsin enters its Big Ten opener as the league leader in scoring offense, averaging 43.3 points per game. The Badgers have topped the 30-point threshold in seven of their last eight games, dating back to last season.

DAVID STLUKA

43.3

VOLLEYBALL ▶ Freshman Dana Rettke recorded a career-high five service aces, including four in the third set, vs. Michigan on Sunday. That performance ranks in a tie for the second-most in a match in school history. Three of her aces came over a four-point stretch. 17

WHAT TO WATCH

B1G AT HOME

FOOTBALL VS. NORTHWESTERN SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 ▪ 11AM CAMP RANDALL STADIUM ▪ ABC

DAVID STLUKA

Big Ten Conference season is here! Tune in as 10th-ranked Wisconsin hosts West Division rival Northwestern in the league opener at Camp Randall Stadium. Saturday’s game kicks off at 11 a.m. and airs live on ABC and the ESPN app.

buy tickets

ROAD RALLY

VOLLEYBALL AT #8 NEBRASKA SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 ▪ 7PM LINCOLN, NEB. ▪ BTN PLUS

JACK MCLAUGHLIN

BACK-TO-BACK KICKS

MEN’S & WOMEN’S SOCCER AT RUTGERS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1 ▪ NOON/2:30PM PISCATAWAY, N.J. ▪ BTN Both Wisconsin soccer programs travel to Rutgers Sunday and BTN will feature the games in an afternoon doubleheader. The No. 12 Badgers women kick off vs. the Scarlet Knights at noon followed by the men’s game at 2:30 p.m.

GREG ANDERSON

No. 7 Wisconsin hits the road in Big Ten play this weekend against Iowa (Friday, 7 p.m.) and No. 8 Nebraska (Saturday, 7 p.m.). Catch both matches streamed live on BTN Plus and follow @BadgerVB on Twitter for live updates.

WEDNESDAY 9/27

THURSDAY 9/28 WOMEN’S HOCKEY vs. Mercyhurst Madison, Wis. 7:00 p.m. Buy tickets »

FRIDAY 9/29 WOMEN’S SOCCER at Maryland College Park, Md. 2:00 p.m. Watch: BTN Plus WOMEN’S HOCKEY vs. Mercyhurst Madison, Wis. 7:00 p.m. Buy tickets » VOLLEYBALL at Iowa Iowa City, Iowa 7:00 p.m. Watch: BTN Plus

SATURDAY 9/30 MEN’S & WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY at Greater Louisville Classic Louisville, Ky. 8:30 a.m. FOOTBALL vs. Northwestern Madison, Wis. 11:00 a.m. Watch: ABC Buy tickets » VOLLEYBALL at #8 Nebraska Lincoln, Neb. 7:00 p.m. Watch: BTN Plus View more 9/30 events »

SUNDAY 10/1 WOMEN’S SOCCER at #16 Rutgers Piscataway, N.J. Noon Watch: BTN SOFTBALL vs. DePaul Madison, Wis. 1:00 p.m. Ticket info » MEN’S HOCKEY vs. Michigan Tech Madison, Wis. 2:00 p.m. Buy tickets » MEN’S SOCCER at Rutgers Piscataway, N.J. 2:30 p.m. Watch: BTN

MONDAY 10/2

TUESDAY 10/3

WEDNESDAY 10/4

WOMEN’S TENNIS at Riviera/ITA All-American Championships Pacific Palisades, Calif. All day

VOLLEYBALL vs. #3 Minnesota Madison, Wis. 7:00 p.m. Watch: BTN SOLD OUT

MEN’S TENNIS at ITA All-Americans Tulsa, Okla. All day

MEN’S GOLF at Marquette Invitational Erin, Wis. All day

MEN’S SOCCER vs. Marquette Madison, Wis. 7:00 p.m. Watch: BTN Plus Ticket info » WOMEN’S TENNIS at Riviera/ITA All-American Championships Pacific Palisades, Calif. All day View more 10/4 events »

View more 10/1 events »

ALL TIMES CENTRAL

VIEW FULL CALENDAR ON UWBADGERS.COM »

BADGERING...

PATRICK SEXTON Patrick Sexton, a junior defenseman with the Wisconsin men’s hockey team, loves to talk sports and has an interest in becoming a journalist. So he and a teammate, junior center Dan Labosky, started their own podcast on WSUM, a radio station for UW students. The wide-ranging show called “Beyond the Pond” includes commentary, observations, updates and interviews. It airs live Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Sexton, the son of an NHL executive, took a moment after a recent practice to talk about the endeavor. Why did you and Dan get involved in such a project? “Obviously we talk sports all day long in the locker room, whether it be the MLB playoff hunt, the NFL season getting going, the NHL season just starting up. Dan and I are both avid sports fans, so we thought it would be cool to do that.” Can you give a sense of the show? “Dan and I do our homework before going in. … We do Badger sports. We talk about sports that have happened in the past week, scores and give updates. We talk about upcoming Badger events to promote the school and promote the different programs. We talk sports all day long. We’re sports junkies, so to be able to do something like that is a lot of fun.” You’ve been on both sides of the microphone during your career. Which is more challenging, being the interviewer or interviewee? “I think interviewee just because you don’t know what questions are coming at you.”

DAVID STLUKA

What was it like growing up in a hockey-centric family with two older brothers? “It was awesome. I’ve been going to rinks for God knows how long. I started skating when I was 3. I have a brother three years older than me (Ben) and a brother five years older than me (Michael). We’re all very different. … It was awesome growing up with them. They were hard on me to the point where I respected them and learn from them, but not much where I resented them.” Click to read more » 21

BADGERS GIVE BACK SPOTLIGHT

badgers give back

Letters to Bucky: ‘You succeeded in making him feel truly important’

Badgers help give back through wish experience for young boy with cancer

BY ANDY BAGGOT ■ UWBADGERS.COM INSIDER

amar Remy gave a stranger his time, attention and compassion. In return, Remy got more than he bargained for. A senior standout on the Wisconsin men’s tennis team, Remy spent part of a recent Saturday with Bodhi O’Rourke, a 4-year-old cancer patient being treated at UW Children’s Hospital. They hung out together on the field at Camp Randall Stadium, taking in the sights and sounds as the Badger football team hosted Florida Atlantic. It was an experience neither will forget. Remy, a first-team All-Big Ten pick as a junior, was on hand at the request of Jackie Davenport, the community relations director for the UW Athletic Department. She oversees the

Badgers Give Back Program, which connects student-athlete volunteers from all 23 sports to civic endeavors in the area. A major focus is on UW Children’s Hospital and the UW Carbone Cancer, which is how Bodhi wound up spending time with Remy, creating an almost instant bond. “Bodhi is all about his new friend Lamar,” his mother, Ruthie, wrote in an email to Davenport. “What a kind and gracious guy he is.” Remy, from Roslyn, New York, came into the moment with a simple plan. “Just making him comfortable,” he said of Bodhi, who was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 2½. “When I met him at first he was really clinging onto his dad.” The view from the field at Camp Randall, with nearly 80,000 people looking on, can be

intimidating for adults the first time they expelittle boy” who was thrilled with every aspect rience it, much less a youngster. of the Camp Randall experience, which includ“That’s a lot to deal with,” Remy said. ed a 31-14 victory for the Badgers, souvenirs Eventually, Remy and Bodhi ventured out and interaction with UW players and coaches. onto the field hand-in-hand. They posed for “You succeeded in making him feel truly pictures, waved into video cameras and soaked important, special and pretty darn cool,” his in the scenery. mother wrote. What did they talk The highlight for Remy about? — besides the hugs he “IT’S A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME “He said he was a huge got from his new friend EXPERIENCE,” HIS MOTHER WROTE, Badger fan, so we were — was seeing Bodhi en“AND ONE I KNOW BODHI WILL able to connect that joy himself. HOLD DEAR TO HIS HEART FOR way,” Remy said. “His smiling made me A LONG TIME.” Bodhi, one of five chilhappy that he was hapdren, loves baseball, too, py,” Remy said. “It’s albut he told his mother that he now wants to ways heartwarming to make people smile and give tennis a try because of Remy. just making that day special for him.” “It was pretty heart-warming for me knowing The day was more than special for Bodhi. It that I was able to make an impact on somewas unforgettable. one’s day, especially someone like Bodhi with “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” his what he’s going through,” Remy said. mother wrote, “and one I know Bodhi will hold Ruthie described Bodhi as “a happy, silly, brave dear to his heart for a long time.” ▪

DAVID STLUKA

ike many curious 18-year-olds, Jonathan Taylor has been trying to bring context to everything. In doing so, the Wisconsin tailback has received help in the form of text messages from Ron Dayne, the 1999 Heisman Trophy winner. “The fact that he chooses to send me a text,” said Taylor, who has already joined Dayne on a UW short list of true freshmen who have rushed for over 200 yards in a game, “is humbling.” During an illustrious four-year career, the super-sized Dayne rushed for 7,125 yards (including bowls); a mind-boggling total that has yet to be exceeded by anyone at the FBS level. Dayne didn’t make his first career start until the fifth game of his freshman season (1996) and went on to run for 2,109 yards (65 percent of the team’s rushing total, 42 percent of the total offense). On Taylor taking over as the starter in only his second collegiate game, Dayne said, “I’m just so proud of him to get out there as a freshman and do his thing because I know how tough it is.” Tough is relevant to a College Football Hall of Famer like Dayne who averaged 195.8 yards in his nine starts as a freshman. Toughness is relevant to Dayne and the 5-foot-11, 214-pound Taylor. “I like the way he runs over people,” Dayne said excitedly. In particular, he loved Taylor’s 29-yard touchdown against Florida Atlantic. Darting to his left, he made one tackler miss in the backfield, made two more miss on the edge and ran over a fourth. Revisiting the play whereby Taylor lowered his right shoulder and flattened the FAU defensive back without seemingly losing any speed, Dayne couldn’t help but gush, “One of my favorite runs.” Obviously, he had been there and done that himself. Meanwhile, Taylor finished with three scores and 223 rushing yards. But he also lost a fum-

ble and it was the first thing that Dayne addressed in his postgame text to Taylor. After playfully chiding him for the turnover, which came in the third quarter while Taylor was fighting for extra yardage at the end of a run, Dayne revealed, “He texted back laughing emojis.” But the more serious nature of Dayne’s feedback was something that Taylor took to heart. “When you play this game, you have to take the ups and downs,” said Taylor, paraphrasing the Dayne text. “That’s the joy of it; not just accepting the good but accepting the good and bad.’” Along with stressing patience to Taylor in following his blocks — “It’s important that he lets the game come to him” — Dayne has shared some other thoughts. “He’s always telling me to keep smiling,” Taylor said, “and enjoy the game.”

DAVID STLUKA

And, oh, yes, don’t forget to give credit There’s one undeniable connection bewhere credit is due — to his offensive line. tween the 39-year-old Dayne and Taylor. Both “Make sure you keep the big boys up front are from the 8-5-6 (area code) in New Jersey; happy,’” Dayne instructed Taylor. “Make sure Dayne is from Pine Hill and Taylor from Salem. they feel loved. Smack Their respective them in the butt and high schools, Over“IT’S PROBABLY HIS KNACK FOR tell them they’re dobrook and Salem, are THE END ZONE,” SAID DAYNE, WHO ing a great job. Take less than 50 miles RUSHED FOR 71 CAREER TDS. “HE’S care of them.” apart. NOT LOOKING TO JUST GET THE FIRST Although Dayne DOWN. HIS EYES ARE LOOKING DOWN “I call him Jers,” was a physical anomDayne said of Taylor. FIELD. THAT’S HOW I DID IT.” aly as a tailback — “Little Jers.” weighing 267 pounds Jers? Little Jers? as a freshman — there are some things in Tay“Jersey,” he clarified. “Little Jersey.” lor’s makeup as a runner that reminds Dayne Little Jersey? of Dayne. “He’s Little Jersey to me,” said Dayne, laugh“It’s probably his knack for the end zone,” said ing. “That’s what I call him when I talk to his Dayne, who rushed for 71 career TDs. “He’s dad.” not looking to just get the first down. His eyes Why is that? Why Little Jersey? are looking down field. That’s how I did it.” “Because I’m still Big Jersey.”

▪▪▪▪ alem High School head coach Montrey Wright had no trouble picking out his favorite Taylor running highlight even though he had so many to choose from. He could have picked Taylor’s 78-yard touchdown against Woodstown which broke the single-season South Jersey rushing mark (2,510) set by Glassboro’s Corey Clement, the former UW tailback. Or he could have picked Taylor’s 31-yard run in the same game that eclipsed the modern-era state record (2,605) held since 1990 by Hoboken’s Tyrell Dortch, the former Michigan State tailback. In twice rushing for over 300 yards (368 and 344), there were plenty of special runs in those games. But he singled out the second play against Woodbury in the fourth game of Taylor’s senior year.

DAVID STLUKA

“He broke up the sidelines with three kids on his back and he just threw one kid off and went for the score,” Wright recalled. “That was the one play where you had to say, ‘This kid is a beast.’” The first Woodbury tackler had both hands on the back-inside of Taylor’s shoulder pads. “It should have been a horse collar,” Taylor remembered. “Somehow, I lowered my pads and I got out of it — he flipped over my back — and I took it to the house (66-yard TD). “That was pretty crazy and definitely one of my favorite runs.” Without sounding the least bit cocky, he added, “I have a lot of favorite runs.” With Salem trailing, 16-14, in the fourth quarter, Taylor came through in the clutch with a 65-yard touchdown to push his team into a lead that it wouldn’t relinquish in a “must-win” situation. Salem had lost two of its first three games. Taylor conceded afterward he played with urgency and a chip on his shoulder against Woodbury knowing it was his final year and his teammates were counting on their captain. Despite having a 66-yard touchdown erased by a penalty, he still ran for 190 yards and three scores. On the final one, he hopped into the end zone, dragging a tackler who was clutching a leg. Beast mode? “After that, he solidified that name for himself,” Wright said. “You’d watch him punish defenders by running guys over. Jonathan was the type of running back that loved delivering blows.” At the time (early October), Taylor was verbally committed to Rutgers. Near the end of the month, though, he de-committed and flipped to Wisconsin shortly after taking his Madison visit. “That was real tough,” Taylor said. “I was committed. It was not like I was just looking at them (the Scarlet Knights). And I know Jersey

DAVID STLUKA

fans were pumped with Jersey talent staying question that he might have while making him in Jersey. feel at ease. “But my dad told me, ‘You’ve got to make “They wanted to make sure that we were sure you do what is right for you. How do you comfortable with them in our home,” Taylor want to spend your next four years? What do said. “Instead of us trying to make them feel you want?’” that way. And that was a really great vibe.” Wright confirmed how much thought and The irony is that the Badgers had evaluated deliberation that Taylor put into the decision Taylor as a junior and didn’t offer. largely because of the loyalty factor: a South “We were watching film to see if he ran away Jersey native staying home to play for the from anybody,” admitted Settle, UW’s running state school. backs coach. “Or, if he broke one, were people “But the connection running him down? he had with Coach “We saw some “THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE (John) Settle and the things that we liked THAT WE WERE COMFORTABLE WITH head coach (Paul but we didn’t see THEM IN OUR HOME,” TAYLOR SAID. Chryst) solidified him enough speed. We “INSTEAD OF US TRYING TO MAKE with Wisconsin,” he liked his size, we liked THEM FEEL THAT WAY. AND THAT said. “The connechis ability. But in this WAS A REALLY GREAT VIBE.” tion, environment and recruiting class, we family feel sealed the felt that we needed a deal for him. guy with top-end speed. “I’m not saying that Rutgers didn’t have those “We knew we had (Bradrick) Shaw coming things. But Jonathan felt like he belonged inback and we knew we had (Taiwan) Deal. We stantly when he took that (Wisconsin) visit and wanted a burner, so to speak. I think he (Taytalked to people there.” lor) understood. We were honest and upfront Taylor also cited the home visit during which with him. Chryst, Settle and assistant coach Mickey “We wanted to see some senior tape and Turner went out of their way to answer every see him play faster.”

E N ZORAGE

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1. Automatic Emergency Braking: AEB cannot prevent accidents due to carelessness or dangerous driving techniques. It may not provide warning or braking in certain conditions. Speed limitations apply. 2. Blind Spot Warning: Blind Spot Warning is not a substitute for proper lane change procedures. The system will not prevent contact with other vehicles or accidents. It may not detect every vehicle or object around you. 3. Rear Cross Traffic: Not a substitute for proper backing procedures. May not detect all moving vehicles. Speed and other limitations apply. See owner’s manual for details.

DAVID STLUKA

Taylor, who didn’t start at tailback until his junior year of high school, didn’t have any problem with that assessment or Wisconsin’s concerns over his speed. “It was definitely fair to say,” he said. That spring, he ran with a new purpose on the Salem track team. He had yet to blossom as a sprinter, which was understandable since he didn’t run track in middle school or as a freshman. “There was no better way to work on my top-end speed than during the track season,” said Taylor, recognizing the amount of work required, especially as a novice. “I dove into it headfirst.” As a junior, Taylor won the 100 meters (10.61) at the Meet of Champions earmarking him as the fastest athlete in the state of New Jersey, no small feat. He also won the event as a senior. Former Michigan star Jabrill Peppers, who was out of Paramus Catholic, was the last sprinter to go back-to-back in the 100 at the Meet of Champions. That’s fast company. Literally. “The sport grew on me,” acknowledged Taylor, who was named the South Jersey senior Male Athlete of the Year. “But it also showed how much time I have invested in the sport.” It didn’t take long for Wisconsin to invest fully in Taylor by offering a scholarship. “Jonathan came back,” Settle said, “and played with that speed his senior year.” By then, the Badgers were sold on him. But Rutgers wasn’t their only competition. Some other Power Five schools amped up their recruiting. And, then, there was the lure of Harvard University. “Anytime you have an opportunity to get an education like that (from Harvard), you’ve

got to check it out and evaluate it,” said Taylor, who considered all the pluses of getting an Ivy League degree. “Harvard was a nice place and full of great people. But I knew what I wanted for myself. I wanted a balance between academics and sports. That was the kind of college experience I wanted.” Education has always been stressed in his home, starting with his mom, Elizabeth Taylor, a registered nurse; and his father, Jonathan James, a construction worker. “Even when I first signed up for football,” he said, “they always told me, ‘You won’t be able to do this your entire life, so we want to make sure you take care of your school work.’” A bad grade, even in the eighth grade, he recalled, might have consequences. Like missing a football practice as a penalty. His older brother and three older sisters all reinforced that thinking.

“WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF JONATHAN TAYLOR IN SALEM. WORDS CAN’T EVEN EXPLAIN HOW WE FEEL ABOUT HIM HERE. HE GIVES PEOPLE AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT OUR SMALL TOWN IS ALL ABOUT.”

“My sisters were always very protective of me,” he said. Wright has known the family since Jonathan was 6. They attend the same church. “He was always athletic, always had a lot of energy and always had a smile on his face,” Wright said. “For him to turn out to be the kid he has turned out to be, I’m not surprised. “We are extremely proud of Jonathan Taylor in Salem. Words can’t even explain how we feel about him here. He gives people an example of what our small town (pop: 4,824) is all about.” Salem High School’s most famous alum is from its Class of 1968: former Penn State tailback Lydell Mitchell, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and a nine-year NFL veteran.

Mitchell came back to Salem for a game last October and spoke to Wright’s team after a 4635 victory over Pennsville during which Taylor had touchdown runs of 63 and 75 yards. Mitchell also met individually with Taylor, complimenting him on his “character.” He liked the way Taylor handed the ball to the official and celebrated with teammates after scoring. He also liked his commitment to hitting the books. As a junior, Taylor qualified for enrollment in Salem’s International Baccalaureate program, a challenging pre-college curriculum. “It’s a very rigorous program, one of the best in the country,” said Wright, a Salem alum. “I watched Jonathan get A’s and B’s and still continue to do what he did on the football field. “He had the student-athlete part down to a T when he was in high school. He spent countless hours all night doing homework and then came to practice the next day bringing the same energy. “It’s hard for a teenager to do that. But he did, and it was wonderful to see.” Taylor took every challenge in stride. As part of the Baccalaureate program, he opted for choir as his elective. And before a game during his junior year, he was in a group singing the national anthem. “I knew we had concerts, spring and winter, and things like that at the school,” he said. “But I didn’t know I would have to sing before a football game. The crowd was pretty shocked.” So was Taylor. But he still rushed for 165 yards in a win over a previously unbeaten foe. He confessed to not being much of a singer. “But we ended up with the W,” he said of his priorities.

Reflecting on the Baccalaureate program, he said, “I definitely feel like it prepared me for college. The things I’m doing now, I’ve done in high school. So, I’m glad that I took it.” Taylor is intrigued by chemistry. Team chemistry and biochemistry. Some other good habits have carried over to Wisconsin, notably his film study. “He’d come to our coaches meetings on Sundays and watch film and game plan with us,” Wright said. “That says a lot about his character. He wanted to be a leader, he wanted to get better. “Jon wanted to be that guy that knew everything that was going on so he could get a feel for what was going to be open to us and he always wanted to sit down and hear what we had to say. “It was pretty impressive to see how much information we were giving him and how much coaching he was taking to get better at his craft.” Settle noticed the same things as soon as Taylor stepped on campus. “That’s kind of why he had the chance to play early and often,” Settle said. “He had great

study habits, stayed in the (play) book and asked questions.” Taylor has been a quick study. After getting stopped on the goal line against Florida Atlantic — three straight runs resulted in one yard — Settle spliced together a video of some NFL players at work. Tailbacks like Melvin Gordon, Ezekiel Elliott and Marshawn Lynch were featured. “Coach Sett wanted me to see guys with low pad level,” he said. “Sometimes the hole is not going to be there, so you have to get your pad level down and burst through. “It definitely helped me. During our next game (at BYU), I had another goal-line situation. And I made sure I executed every single thing I had seen so far.” Taylor scored on a 1-yard run. To date, it’s Settle’s favorite run. “He has taken to coaching,” Settle said. “And that’s what impresses you — to have a young guy be that in tune with what’s going on.” The best may be yet to come. “We really haven’t seen him get out and run,” said Dayne, “and show his speed-speed.” Big Jersey was gushing again.

DAVID STLUKA

INSIDE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (3-0, 0-0)

Home events in bold. All times CT. Sept. 1 Utah State

W, 59-10

Sept. 9 Florida Atlantic W, 31-14 Sept. 16 at BYU Sept. 30 Northwestern Oct. 7

at Nebraska

W, 40-6 11 a.m. 7 p.m.

Oct. 14 Purdue TBA Oct. 21 Maryland

11 a.m.

Homecoming

Oct. 28 at Illinois Nov. 4

at Indiana

11 a.m. TBA

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Three Weeks of Wisconsin Touchdowns

THIS WEEK The Big Ten Conference season has arrived for 10thranked Wisconsin (3-0), which hosts West Division rival Northwestern (2-1) in the league opener for both teams at 11 a.m. Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium. LAST WEEK The Badgers were idle following their 40-6 win at BYU in their non-conference finale on Sept. 16. GOOD TO KNOW The Badgers have outscored their first three opponents by 100 points (130-30). Their average margin of victory of

33.3 points is the best mark by a Power Five conference team this season, ahead of Washington (32.8 ppg), Penn State (32.3 ppg) and Alabama (31.3 ppg). NEED TO KNOW Saturday’s game kicks off at 11 a.m. (CT) and airs live on ABC and the ESPN app, with Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard and Allison Williams on the call. Matt Lepay, Mike Lucas, Mark Tauscher and Patrick Herb will call the game statewide on the Badger Sports Network and worldwide via iHeartRadio. Live stats are available via UWBadgers.com and the Badger Gameday app.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Lucas: Surprise! You’re on scholarship

Nov. 18 #8 Michigan TBA Nov. 25 at Minnesota

TBA

Dec. 2

Big Ten Championship

Indianapolis, Ind.

DAVID STLUKA

Nov. 11 Iowa TBA

View schedule on UWBadgers.com »

SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

▶ Jim Leonhard knows football, knows Wisconsin ▶ Press Pass: Responses and Steps

INSIDE VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE (10-1, 1-1)

Home events in bold. All times CT. at K-State Invitational, Manhattan, Kan.:

Sept. 1

vs. Syracuse

W, 3-0

vs. Arkansas

W, 3-0

Sept. 2

at Kansas State

W, 3-0

HotelRED Invitational, Madison, WI:

Sept. 7

Lipscomb

W, 3-0

Sept. 9

Texas A&M

W, 3-0

Badger Classic, Madison, WI:

THIS WEEK No. 7 Wisconsin (10-1, 1-1) takes to the Big Ten road for the first time this week, traveling to Iowa (12-3, 1-1) and 8th-ranked Nebraska (9-3, 2-0). The Badgers and Hawkeyes face off on Friday at 7 p.m. from Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. On Saturday, Wisconsin takes on the Huskers at 7 p.m. from Devaney Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. LAST WEEK Wisconsin split its Big Ten-opening weekend, falling to Michigan State, 3-2, on Friday before sweeping No. 20 Michigan, 3-0, on Sunday. After two matches, the Badgers

are in a six-way tie for fifth in the conference standings. GOOD TO KNOW The Badgers lead the Big Ten in assists per set (13.56) and opponent hitting percentage (.122). Wisconsin has hit better than all 11 opponents this season, averaging .325 on the season, which ranks third in the Big Ten and fourth nationally. NEED TO KNOW Both road matches this weekend will be streamed live on BTN Plus. Fans can also listen on 100.9FM in the Madison area or online using the iHeartRadio app. Follow @BadgerVB on Twitter for live updates.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Badgers blast past No. 20 Michigan

W, 3-1

Sept. 16 Southern Miss

W, 3-0

Sept. 22 Michigan State

L, 2-3

Sept. 24 #20 Michigan

W, 3-0

Sept. 29 at Iowa

7 p.m.

Sept. 30 at #8 Nebraska

7 p.m.

Oct. 4

#3 Minnesota

Oct. 7

at #16 Michigan St. 5:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

Oct. 11 #8 Nebraska

8 p.m.

Oct. 13 Indiana

7 p.m.

Oct. 18 at Maryland

5 p.m.

Oct. 21

GREG ANDERSON

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Badgers Sweep Against Big Ten Foe Michigan

Sept. 14 Marquette

at #3 Minnesota 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 25 at #3 Penn State 6 p.m. View full schedule » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

▶ Late rally not enough to overcome Spartans ▶ WSJ: Lauryn Gillis back to full speed for Big Ten opener

INSIDE MEN'S HOCKEY SCHEDULE (0-0)

Home events in bold. All times CT. Oct. 1

Michigan Tech

Oct. 6

Ohio State TBA

Oct. 7

Ohio State TBA

2 p.m.

Oct. 13 at #13 Boston College 6 p.m. Oct. 14 at Merrimack

6 p.m.

Oct. 20 vs. N. Michigan

7 p.m.

Green Bay, Wis.

Oct. 21 vs. N. Michigan

5 p.m.

Green Bay, Wis.

Oct. 27 St. Lawrence TBA Oct. 28 St. Lawrence TBA Nov. 3

#7 North Dakota TBA

Nov. 4

#7 North Dakota TBA

Nov. 10 at Michigan State

TBA

Nov. 11 at Michigan State

TBA

Nov. 17 Michigan TBA Nov. 18 Michigan TBA Nov. 25 Mercyhurst TBA Nov. 26 Mercyhurst TBA

GOOD TO KNOW The Badgers’ game on Oct. 1 is the earliest the program has ever started a season.

TBA

View full schedule »

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Who’s Ready for Wisconsin Hockey?

THIS WEEK Men’s hockey (0-0-0) opens its 2017-18 season against Michigan Tech (0-0-0) in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Kohl Center.

at #3 Minnesota

DAVID STLUKA

Dec. 1

SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

NEED TO KNOW Listen to Sunday’s game on 1070 WTSO with Brian Posick and Ian Perrin calling the action. Follow along on twitter @BadgerMHockey.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ UW students form men’s hockey student organization ▶ Wisconsin picked for third in Big Ten preseason poll

INSIDE WOMEN'S HOCKEY SCHEDULE (2-0-0, 0-0-0)

Home events in bold. All times CT. Sept. 16 South Korea

W, 8-0

Exhibition

Sept. 22 Lindenwood

W, 3-1

Sept. 23 Lindenwood

W, 4-0

Sept. 28 Mercyhurst

7 p.m.

Sept. 29 Mercyhurst

7 p.m.

Oct. 6

at Syracuse

3 p.m.

Oct. 7

at Syracuse

2 p.m.

Oct. 13 at Minnesota St. 7 p.m. Oct. 14 at Minnesota St. 3 p.m.

THIS WEEK No. 2 Wisconsin (2-0-0) wraps up its four-game homestand with a weekend series against Mercyhurst (0-0-0). The Badgers and Lakers will battle at LaBahn Arena on Thursday at 7 p.m. before a wrapping the series with a 7 p.m. contest on Friday. LAST WEEK UW opened its 2017-18 season with a sweep of Lindenwood, defeating the Lady Lions 3-1 on Friday and then earning a 4-0 triumph on Saturday. Six different Badgers scored while sophomore transfer Kristen Campbell earned a pair of wins in net.

GOOD TO KNOW This weekend’s series features two of the winningest coaches in NCAA women’s hockey history in UW head coach Mark Johnson and Mercyhurst head coach Michael Sisti. Sisti has 444 career wins, which ranks second in NCAA history, while Johnson’s 430 triumphs rank third.

7 p.m.

Oct. 21 Bemidji State

7 p.m.

Oct. 28 at #3 Minnesota 4 p.m. Oct. 29 at #3 Minnesota 3 p.m. Nov. 4

Ohio State

Nov. 5

Ohio State Noon

DAVID STLUKA

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Badgers Shut Out Lindenwood, Complete Series Sweep

Oct. 20 Bemidji State

2 p.m.

Nov. 10 at #7 Cornell

2 p.m.

Nov. 11 at #7 Cornell

2 p.m.

Nov. 24 vs. #8 Northeastern 3 p.m.

Washington, D.C.

View full schedule » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

NEED TO KNOW Tickets are still available for this weekend’s series on UWBadgers.com while fans can follow the action on Twitter @BadgerWHockey.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Badgering: Claudia Kepler

▶ Baylee’s Blog: Racing into the weekend ▶ Balanced Badgers blitz Lady Lions 4-0

INSIDE MEN'S SOCCER SCHEDULE (5-2-2, 2-1-0)

Home events in bold. All times CT. Aug. 25 at Tulsa

T, 2-2

Aug. 27 vs. Oral Roberts

T, 1-1

Tulsa, Okla.

Sept. 2

Grand Canyon

Sept. 8

at Michigan

Sept. 13 Northwestern

W, 3-1 L, 1-2 W, 3-1

Sept. 16 Loyola-Chicago W, 2-0 Sept. 19 at Duke Sept. 23 Penn State

L, 3-4 W, 1-0

Sept. 26 Wright State W, 2-1 2OT

THIS WEEK Wisconsin (5-2-2 overall, 2-10 Big Ten) hosts a midweek game against Wright State (5-4-1, 2-1-0) on Tuesday at 7 p.m (CT) before heading to Piscataway, New Jersey for a Sunday afternoon matchup with Rutgers (1-7-1, 0-4-0) at 2:30 p.m.

GOOD TO KNOW Senior Tom Barlow has scored a goal in three of the last five games and has picked up an assist in two of the last five. In Tuesday's 2-1 double overtime win over Wright State, Barlow recorded a team season-high eight shots, including three shots on goal.

LAST WEEK The Badgers dropped a tough and high-scoring game, 4-3, to Duke on the road before bouncing back with a 1-0 win over Penn State on Saturday night.

NEED TO KNOW Sunday’s match will be live on the Big Ten Network. Live statistics can be found at UWBadgers.com while live updates will be available on Twitter (@BadgerMSoccer).

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Our fort: Wisconsin extends home win streak to 14 ▶ Shootout in Durham: Badgers fall 4-3 to Duke ▶ Barlow named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week

at Rutgers

2:30 p.m.

Oct. 4

Marquette

Oct. 7

#4 Michigan State 7 p.m.

7 p.m.

Oct. 10 Green Bay

7 p.m.

Oct. 13 #3 Maryland

6 p.m.

Oct. 21 at #1 Indiana 6:30 p.m. Oct. 24 at Milwaukee

7 p.m.

Oct. 29 at #16 Ohio State Noon Nov. 4-12

Big Ten Tournament

Columbus, Ohio

View schedule on UWBadgers.com »

SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

JACK MCLAUGHLIN

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Badgers Defeat Nittany Lions at Home

Oct. 1

INSIDE WOMEN'S SOCCER SCHEDULE (8-2-0, 2-1-0)

Home events in bold. All times CT. Aug. 18 Kentucky Aug. 20 vs. #2 Stanford

Milwaukee, Wis.

Aug. 24 Creighton

W, 1-0 L, 0-5 W, 2-0

Aug. 27 Northern Illinois W, 2-0 Aug. 31 at #3 Virginia Sept. 3

at William & Mary W, 3-1

Sept. 7

at Drake

W, 1-0 OT

Sept. 21 Michigan St.

W, 2-1 OT

LAST WEEK The Badgers split action at home over the weekend, taking down Michigan State 2-1 on Friday night but falling 2-1 to Michigan on Sunday afternoon. Both games went into overtime, marking the third-straight overtime game for the Badgers.

GOOD TO KNOW UW has outshot opponents in seven of 10 contests this season, including both contests over the weekend. Wisconsin outshot Michigan, 21-12, and Michigan State, 13-7. NEED TO KNOW Friday’s game against Maryland will be streamed live on BTN Plus while Sunday’s game at Rutgers will be live on the Big Ten Network. Live statistics can be found at UWBadgers.com while live updates will be available on Twitter (@BadgerWSoccer).

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ No. 9 Badgers drop overtime thriller to Michigan

L, 1-2 OT

Sept. 29 at Maryland

2 p.m.

Oct. 1

at #16 Rutgers

Noon

Oct. 6

Purdue

7 p.m.

Oct. 8

Indiana

1 p.m.

Oct. 12 at Illinois

JACK MCLAUGHLIN

THIS WEEK No. 12 Wisconsin (8-2, 2-1 Big Ten) heads out on a twogame road trip this weekend. The Badgers’ first stop will be at Maryland (7-2-1, 1-2) on Sept. 29 for a 2 p.m. CT contest in College Park. UW wraps up the road trip at 16th-ranked Rutgers (8-0-2, 2-0-1) on Sunday at noon.

W, 3-0

Sept. 16 Minnesota Sept. 24 Michigan ▲ TAP TO WATCH - Women’s Soccer vs. Michigan State Highlights

W, 1-0

7 p.m.

Oct. 15 at Northwestern 3:30 p.m. Oct. 21 at Iowa

7 p.m.

Oct. 25 #6 Penn State

7 p.m.

View full schedule »

SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

▶ Rice keeps Badgers rolling ▶ Clem named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week

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INSIDE MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDULE

Home events in bold. All times CT. Sept. 2 at Indiana Open Results »

Bloomington, Ind.

Sept. 8 at ISU Country Financial Results » Invitational

Bloomington, Ill.

Sept. 16 Wisconsin “Mayflower Results » Day” Open Sept. 30 at Greater Louisville Classic 8:30 a.m.

Louisville, Ky.

Oct. 13 Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational 11 a.m. Oct. 29 at Big Ten Championships Bloomington, Ind. 9 a.m. Nov. 10 at NCAA Great Lakes Regional 11 a.m. View full schedule »

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Wisconsin Hosts Mayflower Day Open

THIS WEEK The No. 7 Badgers head to Louisville, Kentucky, the site of the 2017 NCAA Championships, for the Greater Louisville Classic on Saturday. The men will compete in the 8K gold race at 8:30 a.m. CT at E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park. LAST TIME OUT Wisconsin won its home opener, the Mayflower Day Open, on Sept. 16 as true freshman Tannor Wagner earned his first collegiate victory. UW defeated UNI and Illinois Chicago in

the triple dual at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Course.

Terre Haute, Ind.

A.J. HARRISON

SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

GOOD TO KNOW UW has found prior success at the meet as the Badgers won the 2014 Greater Louisville Classic before finishing seventh at the 2015 edition of the meet. NEED TO KNOW Fans can follow the action on Twitter (@BadgerTrackXC) and a full recap will be available following the meet on UWBadgers.com.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Wagner leads Badgers in home debut ▶ Photo Gallery: Badgers shine at Mayflower Day Open

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INSIDE WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDULE

Home events in bold. All times CT. Sept. 2 at Indiana Open Results »

Bloomington, Ind.

Sept. 8 at ISU Country Financial Results » Invitational

Bloomington, Ill.

Sept. 16 Wisconsin “Mayflower Results » Day” Open Sept. 30 at Greater Louisville Classic 8:30 a.m.

Louisville, Ky.

Oct. 13 Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational 11 a.m. Oct. 29 at Big Ten Championships Bloomington, Ind. 9 a.m. ▲ TAP TO WATCH - Wisconsin Hosts Mayflower Day Open

THIS WEEK After a week off from competition, the No. 16 Badgers head south to Louisville, Kentucky for the Greater Louisville Classic on Saturday. The women will race in the 6K gold race at 9:20 a.m. CT at E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park, the site of the 2017 NCAA Championships. LAST TIME OUT Wisconsin won its home opener, the Mayflower Day Open, on Sept. 16 as sophomore duo Alicia Monson and Amy Davis finished first and second, respectively, for the Badgers. The Wisconsin women’s cross country team

defeated UNI and Illinois Chicago in the triple dual at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Course. GOOD TO KNOW The Badgers last made an appearance at the Greater Louisville Classic in 2015, finishing strong with a sixth-place finish. In 2014, Sarah Disanza won the 5K race in 16 minutes, 41.92 seconds to lead the Badgers to the team crown.

Nov. 10 at NCAA Great Lakes Regional 11 a.m.

Terre Haute, Ind.

Nov. 18 at NCAA Championships Louisville, Ky. 11 a.m. View schedule on UWbadgers.com »

SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

NEED TO KNOW Fans can follow the action on Twitter (@BadgerTrackXC) and a full recap will be available following the meet on UWBadgers.com.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Davis, Monson lead Badgers to Mayflower Day Open titles ▶ Photo Gallery: Badgers shine at Mayflower Day Open

INSIDE MEN'S GOLF SCHEDULE

Home events in bold. Sept. 10-12 Badger Invitational Results » Sept. 24-25 at Northern Intercollegiate Sugar Grove, Ill. Results » Oct. 1-3

at Marquette Invitational

Erin, Wis.

Oct. 8-9

at Windon Memorial

Evanston, Ill.

Oct. 23-24 at Pinetree Intercollegiate

Evanston, Ill.

2018 Feb. 9-10

at Big Ten Match Play

Palm Coast, Fla.

Mar. 12-13 at Colleton River Collegiate Bluffon, S.C.

Mar. 25-27 at Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate

LAST WEEK UW earned a share of ninth place at the Northern Intercollegiate at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill. Sophomore Nick Robinson, on the strength of back-to-back 2-under par rounds of 70 in the first two rounds, paced the Badgers by tying for 23rd place. THIS WEEK Wisconsin will compete in the Marquette Invitational Oct. 1-3 at Erin Hills Golf Club, site of the 2017 U.S. Open.

GOOD TO KNOW Through six rounds as a Badger, freshman Griffin Barela has displayed remarkable consistency. He has recorded four rounds under par and his highest 18-hole score was a first-round 74 at the Northern Intercollegiate. Additionally, the last time Marquette hosted a tournament at Erin Hills, the Badgers finished sixth out of 11 teams. Four current Badgers played in the tournament, led by current senior Michael Abrahamson, who earned a share of 14th place.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Kuhl sets the pace on final day of Northern Intercollegiate

Awendaw, S.C.

DAVID STLUKA

Mar. 31-Apr. 1 at D.A. Weibring

Invitational

Normal, Ill.

View full schedule » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

▶ Career day propels Robinson into top 10 ▶ Presidents Cup 2017: Steve Stricker takes charge

THIS WEEK IN BADGER HISTORY

DAVID STLUKA

CAMP RANDALL 100 SPOTLIGHT:

JOE THOMAS

The Camp Randall 100 honors a prestigious group of 100 people who shaped the first century of Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin Athletics revealed a new honoree every day from May 24 through the Badgers’ 2017 opening game vs. Utah State Sept. 1. BY ANDY BAGGOT UWBadgers.com Insider

hen all is said and done, Joe Thomas will be one of the most acclaimed players in Wisconsin football history. He was a two-time first-team All-American at left tackle and is the first Badgers performer to win the Outland Trophy as the best interior lineman in the nation. He was a first-round NFL draft pick of Cleveland and is putting together a Hall of Fame-worthy career in which he’s been chosen for the Pro Bowl for 10 consecutive seasons. UW has long had a reputation for producing elite offensive linemen and Thomas, who played from 2003 to ’06, is among the very best. He was the first true freshman to see action on the offensive line during the famed Barry Alvarez

coaching era (1990 to 2005). Thomas, from Brookfield, Wisconsin, was assigned the only one-on-one block on the UW offensive line 90 percent of the time over his final three seasons. He played on Wisconsin teams that improved every year (7-6, 9-3, 10-3 and 12-1), set a program standard for wins in a single season as a senior and was a part of two squads that won a school-record-tying nine consecutive games (2004, ’06). Thomas had close ties with three UW head coaches. He played three seasons for Alvarez and one with Alvarez’s successor, Bret Bielema. Thomas was recruited to Madison by Paul Chryst, the tight ends coach in 2002 and offensive coordinator in 2005 and ’06 who took over the program in 2015. Thomas also had a front-row seat to the latest renovation of Camp Randall Stadium, which occurred from 2001 to ’05.

JAY TALBOTT / ICON SMI

▪▪▪▪ as “probably the best defensive end we had faced The odd thing about Joe Thomas’ favorite Camp that year” and the challenge was memorable in a Randall memory is that involves a game in which he good way. played sparingly. “I remember blocking him on one run play and He was a true freshman reserve the night of Oct. doing a pretty good job,” Thomas said. “In my mind I 11, 2003. He estimates he played eight or 10 snaps pancaked him, but I don’t know if that clashes with as a blocking tight end during a 17-10 Big Ten Conreality.” ference victory over previously-unbeaten Ohio State. Thomas, one of six UW offensive linemen to be That’s the game where first-round NFL draft picks backup quarterback Matt since 2000, chuckled. “WHEN I DECIDED TO COME TO Schabert connected with “I did a pretty good job WISCONSIN, IT WAS THE TYPE OF GAME wide receiver Lee Evans for in that game when I had a THAT I DREAMED OF PLAYING IN. TO BE a 79-yard touchdown late in chance to block him,” he ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THAT AND TO the fourth quarter to break said of Smith. “It was one of EXPERIENCE A WIN LIKE THAT IN MY FIRST SEASON WAS KIND OF SURREAL.” a 10-10 tie against the dethose moments where you fending national champions. realize, ‘Hey, I really might “The emotions and the feelings that I had, they albe able to play at this level if I’m able to handle a ways seem to come back when I talk about or think guy like that.” about that game,” Thomas said. “An incredible atThe following season, the Badgers ventured to mosphere.” Columbus, Ohio, and handed Ohio State a 24-13 Thomas has vivid memories of the crowd, 79,793 setback. strong, and its impact. Thomas finished his col“To this day, one of the lege career 2-0 against loudest atmospheres I’ve the Buckeyes — who were ever played in,” he said. ranked third and 18th, re“And certainly one of the spectively — knowledge most exciting and electric that comes in very handy atmospheres. for a guy now living and “When I decided to working in Ohio. come to Wisconsin, it was “Everybody out here’s an the type of game that I Ohio State fan, so it’s great dreamed of playing in. To being able to tell them that be able to experience that I have no ill will towards and to experience a win the Buckeyes because I like that in my first season never lost to them in my was kind of surreal.” career,” he said. “It’s a good Thomas, listed at 6-footone-upper I always have in 6 and 312 pounds, said his my back pocket.” relatively brief exposure Another memorable to the action that night encounter for Thomas at was enlightening. One of Camp Randall was the Big his assignments on mulTen opener in 2005 when tiple plays was to block a last-minute quarterback Ohio State defensive end keeper by John Stocco proWill Smith, a first-team duced a 23-20 victory over All-American who would 14th-ranked Michigan. be chosen by New Orleans To read the rest of the stoin the opening round of the ry click here. For the comNFL draft in 2004. plete Camp Randall 100 list, Thomas described Smith visit CampRandall100.com.