INFOCUS
10-ANDOH-YEAH A sellout crowd of 80,462 crammed into Camp Randall Stadium to see the Badgers blitz Heartland Trophy rival Iowa in a 38-14 victory last Saturday that secured the Big Ten West Division title and gave Wisconsin its first 10-0 start in school history. PHOTO BY DAVID STLUKA
INFOCUS
THE CHAMPS Despite drawing the No. 5 seed, Wisconsin ripped through the bracket to win the Big Ten Tournament championship for only the second time in school history and first time outright. The Badgers defeated Indiana in penalty kicks after a scoreless battle through two overtime periods to claim the title. PHOTO BY BIG TEN CONFERENCE
IN
FOCUS
TRICK OR TREAT Junior Khalil Iverson was in a playful mood during the Badgers’ 89-61 win over Yale on Sunday, delivering a careerhigh 17 points and a few distractions along the way. PHOTO (LEFT) BY JOHN FISHER, CAL SPORT MEDIA PHOTO (RIGHT) BY DARREN LEE
INFOCUS
DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY Five goals in only 19 minutes?! It was all smiles for the Badgers as they celebrated the first of the ensuing barrage against Toledo in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The five-goal feat marked the Badgers’ highest output in an NCAA tournament game. PHOTO BY DAVID STLUKA
INFOCUS
PICK-UP GAME Leon Jacobs’ breakaway fumble return touchdown was icing on the cake for the Wisconsin defense last Saturday, capping a dominant effort that saw the Badgers hold Iowa to just 66 total yards — the fewest UW has ever allowed to a Big Ten opponent. Jacobs was named Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week after recovering two fumbles and logging a sack. PHOTO BY GREG ANDERSON
INFOCUS
DRIVE TO WIN Sophomore Courtney Frederickson has her eyes on the prize. Seen here driving for a basket during Wisconsin’s exhibition win against Wisconsin-Platteville Nov. 8, Frederickson and the Badgers also knocked off Charlotte, 80-66, on Sunday at the Kohl Center to improve to 25-18 all time in season openers. PHOTO BY JACK McLAUGHLIN
CONTENTS
DAVID STLUKA
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NOVEMBER 15, 2017 ▪ VOLUME 8, ISSUE 12
RELENTLESS EFFORT This year’s Wisconsin football seniors have been the backbone of a 10-0 season and become the winningest class of all time. For the Badgers’ defensive linemen, it’s simply been a matter of leading by example.
FEATURES 2
LUCAS AT LARGE
IN FOCUS
FUMAGALLI’S FOCUS
18 LUCAS AT LARGE 21 BY THE NUMBERS
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22 WHAT TO WATCH 25 BADGERING 27 BADGERS GIVE BACK
DAVID STLUKA
The big picture is coming into focus for Wisconsin senior tight end Troy Fumagalli, who has kept his attention on the details.
37 INSIDE FOOTBALL
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39 INSIDE BASKETBALL 43 INSIDE VOLLEYBALL 45 INSIDE MEN’S HOCKEY 47 INSIDE SOCCER
54 THIS WEEK IN HISTORY
DAVID STLUKA
51 INSIDE CROSS COUNTRY
BADGERING
KENDRA VAN LEEUWEN Hailing from Canada, the Wisconsin basketball sophomore shares lessons learned her first year, this season’s goals and her happiest day. 15
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
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Brian Mason
Editor/Contributor
Mike Lucas
Senior Writer
Andy Baggot Writer
Chris Hall, Jerry Mao, Brandon Spiegel Video Production
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Paul Capobianco, Kelli Grashel, A.J. Harrison, Brandon Harrison, Patrick Herb, Diane Nordstrom Photography
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LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM
Level-headed Fumagalli stays focused
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f tight end Troy Fumagalli has questions about the Senior Day protocol and the inevitable emotion that is triggered — “I just know that we’ve had a slow start the last two years and that’s my biggest concern right now” — he can tap into his position coach Mickey Turner for answers. Garrett Graham, O’Brien Schofield, Chris Maragos and Turner were among the seniors that were introduced before Wisconsin’s final home game of the 2009 season; a pivotal turnaround year under coach Bret Bielema because it served as a springboard to three consecutive trips to the Rose Bowl. “My family was in town and getting to go out and meet them at midfield kind of brought it all together,” recalled Turner, a tight end/fullback from Camdenton, Missouri. “The biggest thing is if you stay focused on the game, then you can enjoy the rest of the day after the game.” Turner and his classmates enjoyed a memorable sendoff as the Badgers rolled over Michigan 45-24, marking an unprecedented third straight UW home win in the series. Scott Tolzien accounted for five touchdowns (four passing), John Clay rushed for 151 yards and Chris Borland led the defense in tackles. It was the last time that the Wolverines played in Madison. Consider: In 2009, Jim Harbaugh was coaching Andrew Luck at Stanford, while Rich Rodriguez was
coaching Tate Forcier at Michigan. Paul Chryst was Bielema’s offensive coordinator and coaching Tolzien, who guided the Badgers to a win over Miami (Florida) in the Champs Sports Bowl and a 10-3 record. Eight years ago, Drew and Ross Fumagalli were playing linebacker for the Dayton Flyers while “little” brother Troy was still developing as a young athlete in Naperville, Illinois, where he came under the coaching wing of his dad, Doug Fumagalli, a former Holy Cross football player.
“HE’S A GUY THAT HAS PUSHED HIMSELF OVER AND OVER,” TURNER SAID OF FUMAGALLI. “HE JUST KEEPS GROWING AND GETTING BETTER AND BETTER. HE HAS BEEN HUMBLE, TOO, THROUGH THE WHOLE THING.” “My father has been coaching me my whole life right up until high school and he’s had a huge impact on me,” said Troy Fumagalli, who was originally a UW walk-on from Waubonsie Valley High School. “That will be pretty cool to see it come full circle and have them all out there (Saturday).” That will include his mother (Char), dad and maybe both brothers. “I know my mom will obviously get a kick out of it,” he said. “She’ll like it more than I will.” Fumagalli is more of a flat-liner. Take it from tight end Zander
Neuville. “Especially this season, our offense has been up and down a lot during the games and the one thing I’ve learned from him the most is that he’s always level-headed,” Neuville said. “He never gets too high or too low. That’s huge. There are times when I’m getting frustrated, and he’s always the same.” Neuville, a converted defensive lineman, has learned something else from Fumagalli. “It’s the way he approaches every day,” he said. “He’s always trying to find ways to get better.” Turner has put a check by that same box. “He’s a guy that has pushed himself over and over,” Turner said of Fumagalli’s persistence in the face of adversity and accolades. “He just keeps growing and getting better and better. He has been humble, too, through the whole thing. He has not made it about him.” One of his Camp Randall Stadium memories was one of his most humbling moments. “My first play ever,” Fumagalli said, “I was next to Rob Havenstein.” Havenstein, a three-year starter with the Los Angeles Rams, was UW’s right tackle; a mountain of a man at 6-foot-8, 321 pounds. Whenever anyone inquired about the correct pronunciation of his name, he would provide a helpful tip. “It’s Havenstein,” he would advise. “It rhymes with Frankenstein.” You get the picture. “So, he
gave me a backside call on a block,” remembered Fumagalli, who was trying to win over the trust of his older teammate. “And I messed it up. I completely blanked.” Havenstein was a gentle soul and giant. But he could be intimidating. “Oh, yeah, he yelled at me,” said Fumagalli. “I kind of kicked myself into gear from there.” Fumagalli never worried about catching a football or throwing a baseball — he was a lefthanded pitcher on his prep team — even though he was born with a congenital disorder (Amniotic Banding Syndrome) that resulted in the amputation of his left index finger. “That was something I’ve always had confidence in,” he said
of his receiving skills. Blocking out the fact that he had only nine fingers was not a problem. Blocking was. “That has always been my biggest area to improve on since I was young,” said Fumagalli. Blocking is not optional in the offense. The Badgers like to get an extra blocker — like Fumagalli — at the point of attack. “I like to picture myself as the eyes of the tailback,” he said. “I’m kind of finding that first hole for him and letting him do the rest. I love pulling. It’s the unique thing about the job.” When Fumagalli is blocking on the edge of the defense, on some of the outside zone runs, he said, “You’ve got guys flying around and you’re flying around, and you don’t always hit them
square on. But you try to make something happen.” Asked when it started to “happen” for him, he said, “My first spring here. That was a point where I started gaining confidence in myself. There was less thinking, ‘I should do this, or I should do that.’ I was relaxing and playing and that’s when you start to grow as a football player.” Fumagalli, named Tuesday a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award given to the nation’s top tight end, never gave much thought to how his journey might end at Wisconsin. “I never really thought about the big picture, I guess,” he said. “I admit that I always believed in myself and I was always thinking that I belonged here. And I tried to prove it the best I could.” ▪ DARREN LEE
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BY THE NUMBERS
DAVID STLUKA
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FOOTBALL ▶ Freshman RB Jonathan Taylor has racked up 1,525 rushing yards and needs 401 over the Badgers’ next four games to surpass Adrian Peterson’s NCAA freshman record of 1,925.
1000
401 DARREN LEE
MEN’S SOCCER ▼ For the newly-crowned Big Ten Tournament champions, the 4-0 win over top seed Michigan marks only the second time in school history and the first time outright that Wisconsin has won the title since the start of the league tournament in 1991.
◀ WOMEN’S SOCCER Talk about peaking at the right time! Three Badgers — sophomores Grace Douglas, Jordan McNeese and Allie Winterfield — scored the first goals of their career in UW’s first-round NCAA tournament victory over Toledo last Friday.
1
JACK MCLAUGHLIN
◀ VOLLEYBALL With her third kill of the match against Indiana last Friday, 6-foot-1 outside hitter Lauryn Gillis became the second Badger this season to earn 1,000 kills, joining teammate Kelli Bates with the notable milestone honor. 21
WHAT TO WATCH
BIG TEN VS. BIG EAST
MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. XAVIER THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16 ▪ 7:30PM KOHL CENTER ▪ FS1
DARREN LEE
Wisconsin will host No. 15 Xavier on Thursday as part of the Gavitt Games, which pits the Big Ten vs. the Big East. Tip off at the Kohl Center is set for 7:30 p.m. (CT) on FS1.
SENIOR DAY
FOOTBALL VS. MICHIGAN SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18 ▪ 11AM CAMP RANDALL STADIUM ▪ FOX
DAVID STLUKA
LIGHT THE LAMP
MEN’S HOCKEY VS. MICHIGAN SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18 ▪ 7PM KOHL CENTER ▪ FOX SPORTS WIS. PLUS Ranked ninth in the country, Wisconsin faces a Big Ten foe with a two-game series against No. 17 Michigan set for Friday and Saturday. The puck drops for both games at 7 p.m. Saturday’s game will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Wisconsin Plus.
BUY TICKETS 22
DARREN LEE
Off to the best start in school history, fifth-ranked Wisconsin closes out its home slate Saturday vs. No. 19 Michigan at Camp Randall Stadium. ESPN College GameDay will broadcast live from the UW campus, while the game kicks off at 11 a.m. on FOX.
WEDNESDAY 11/15 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL vs. Green Bay Madison, Wis. 7:00 p.m. Watch: BTN2Go Buy tickets »
THURSDAY 11/16 MEN’S SOCCER NCAA Tournament First Round vs. UIC Madison, Wis. 7:00 p.m. Buy tickets » MEN’S BASKETBALL vs. #15 Xavier Madison, Wis. 7:30 p.m. Watch: FS1 SOLD OUT
FRIDAY 11/17
SATURDAY 11/18
WOMEN’S SOCCER at NCAA Tournament Second Round vs. (1) South Carolina Columbia, S.C. 5:00 p.m. Tournament info »
MEN’S & WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY at NCAA Championships Louisville, Ky. 9:45 a.m. Watch: FloTrack.org
VOLLEYBALL at Illinois Champaign, Ill. 7:00 p.m. Watch: BTN2Go
FOOTBALL vs. #19 Michigan Madison, Wis. 11:00 a.m. Watch: FOX SOLD OUT
MEN’S HOCKEY vs. #17 Michigan Madison, Wis. 7:00 p.m. Watch: BTN2Go Buy tickets » View more 11/17 events »
SUNDAY 11/19 VOLLEYBALL at Northwestern Evanston, Ill. 1:00 p.m. Watch: BTN Plus WRESTLING at Roadrunner Open Bakersfield, Calif. All day
ALL TIMES CENTRAL
MONDAY 11/20 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL vs. Southern Madison, Wis. 7:00 p.m. Buy tickets »
TUESDAY 11/21
MEN’S HOCKEY vs. #17 Michigan Madison, Wis. 7:00 p.m. Watch: Fox Sports Wisconsin Plus Buy tickets »
WEDNESDAY 11/22
MEN’S BASKETBALL vs. Creighton/ #23 UCLA Kansas City, Mo. Time TBD Event info »
MEN’S BASKETBALL vs. #25 Baylor Kansas City, Mo. 8:30 p.m. Watch: ESPN2 Event info »
VIEW FULL CALENDAR ON UWBADGERS.COM »
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BADGERING...
KENDRA VAN LEEUWEN Kendra Van Leeuwen had a memorable first season with the Wisconsin women’s basketball team in which she started all 31 games. That gave way to an unforgettable summer in which she did her homeland proud as a world medalist. A 5-foot-10 guard from Brantford, Ontario, Van Leeuwen is looking to be a more consistent force for the Badgers. She sat down before a recent practice to talk about the hardest lesson she learned as a freshman, the personal goal she has for this season, and her happiest day since coming to UW. BY ANDY BAGGOT ▪ UWBADGERS.COM INSIDER
You helped Team Canada win a bronze medal in the World Under-19 Championships this summer. Why is that such a big deal to you? “Just being a part of the national team, plus we made history. We were the first Canadian women’s national team to medal at a world championship. It was great being a part of that and contributing, and being able to step on that podium.” Is there a lesson you learned the hard way as a freshman at UW? “I think time management is really important, especially as a student-athlete, realizing that sometimes you put homework above maybe watching a Netflix show. You really have to prioritize. I don’t know if I learned that the hard way, but it’s definitely something I learned and continue to grow upon.” Is there a personal goal you have for this season? “Constantly look forward. To not stay focused on the past. Focus on the past to learn from it, but don’t stay in it.” You’ve said your dream job would be to have a bakery. What’s your specialty? “Cookies and cakes. I’m a sweets person. I like to bake in my spare time when I have the ingredients. It’s fun.” What was your happiest day at Wisconsin? “My first day getting here, being on my own for the first time and realizing that I made the right choice being here as a student-athlete.” DAVID STLUKA
Click to read more »
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BADGERS GIVE BACK SPOTLIGHT
badgers give back
Badgers ‘rake’ in positivity by helping others
When an elder alum needed help, UW’s student-athletes and staff were ready
K
BY ANDY BAGGOT ■ UWBADGERS.COM INSIDER
en Huxhold loves to be outside, loves to dote over his lawn and garden, loves the suburban serenity of his half-acre property in the Town of Middleton. But at 88, there are times when the upkeep is too much for one man to handle. Which helps explain what happened on a chilly, rainy Saturday morning earlier this month. Huxhold watched as nearly two dozen Wisconsin student-athletes grabbed rakes, garden tools and black plastic lawn bags and went about winterizing land he purchased in 2005 after moving back to the area from Las Vegas. The visit was arranged through the Badgers Give Back program after Huxhold’s good friend Duane Kleven, the former UW wrestling coach and current events coordinator for the W Club, played go-between. “They kept coming and coming,” Huxhold said of the clean-up crew, which included BGB and W Club personnel as well as a variety of student-athletes. “I thought the whole athletic department was coming. “I appreciate what they’re doing.” Huxhold lettered in football (1948, ’49 and
’50) and track and field (1949, ’50) at Wisconsin and was inducted in the UW Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000. Huxhold said he got a kick out of guiding the impromptu home improvement project dubbed “Leaf It to The Badgers.” He answered questions about certain perennials and showed the proper way to cut down hostas. “I was particular because I thought my input would make it a lot easier for them,” Huxhold said. All told, 30 or so bags of clippings were collected over the course of the 90-minute endeavor. Huxhold said that everything he hoped to get done was taken care of. “They did better than a good job,” he said. “They did a fantastic job. “It was a wonderful experience because they enjoyed it. It wasn’t really work for them. It was more of a party it seemed. “They asked me afterward how they did. I don’t even have to look at it because I know it’s beautiful. “It was an ideal situation,” Huxhold said. ▪
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OX Sports analyst Chris Spielman was saying linebackers are nothing without linemen; the unsung warriors in the trenches, the ones who eat up blockers, so others can run freely to the ball. Spielman, a three-time All-Pro linebacker with the Detroit Lions, actually did his best work behind the Ball — Jerry Ball, a nose tackle with an insatiable appetite on and off the field. Spielman dropped Ball’s name into Sunday’s telecast of the Packers-Bears game from Chicago. Wisconsin linebacker T.J. Edwards, a frustrated Bears fan, heard what he was saying. Monday, in fact, Edwards, was saying the same
things as Spielman, a College Football Hall of Famer at Ohio State. He was talking about the collaboration between the frontline and linebackers. Edwards was also a name-dropper — singling out Chikwe Obasih, Conor Sheehy and Alec James; the seniors who have a combined 145 games of playing experience (82 starts) dating to 2014. “I know they’re going to do their job to the max,” said Edwards, who has started 35 of the last 36 games behind this trio. “They do their job well and they make our jobs a lot easier.” James was standing within earshot of Edwards.
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“We try to keep him free,” James chimed in. “You need guys flying around in the back end.” After Saturday’s defensive clinic — Iowa was held to 66 total yards and five first downs — Edwards and fellow inside linebacker Ryan Connelly both drew the same conclusion about their roles. “We really didn’t get touched too much,” said Edwards, speaking for Connelly, the leading tackler with nine. “They always do such a good job; they go the extra mile to make our job a lot easier.” Again, he was referencing the D-line. Obasih, Sheehy and James are the “3” in the 3-4 that are bracing for their final Camp Randall appearance. “They’re super different,” Edwards said of their personalities. “Chikwe is always talking. Sheehy is reserved and the true Wisconsin guy. Alec is kind of in the middle and always making guys laugh.” As far as meshing on defense, he said, “All three of them play so well off each other.” Beyond sharing a work ethic, and a commitment to playing with “relentless effort” (their words), what’s the link between Obasih, Sheehy and James?
“GMC,” Obasih said. Wisconsin’s Greater Metro Conference. Obasih went to Brookfield Central, James to Brookfield East, Sheehy to Milwaukee Marquette. Obasih and James have known each other since middle school. “The cool thing about growing up in Brookfield,” Obasih said, “is there are a lot of sports that intermingle, so a lot of our friends are mutual friends. We’d always be hanging out.” Obasih and James were rivals, friendly rivals. “It was just cool to see someone else doing something great on the other side of town,” Obasih said. “It made me strive to be better.” That holds true of their UW careers. Obasih, James and Sheehy have pulled for each other. In honing their craft, and “handling their business” (their phrase), the competition has made them better. “We like to work hard,” said Obasih. “We don’t care about being the guys in the spotlight, the ‘me’ guys. We take pride in doing the job we do. If we screw up, we’re going to be accountable.” To each other. “We’ve been through a lot together,” said
CHIKWE OBASIH
DAVID STLUKA
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CONOR SHEEHY
S
NEIL AMENT
▪▪▪▪ heehy remembers his first moment in Camp Randall Stadium. It was the 2014 home opener against Western Illinois and he had a tackle, one of only two that he had that season. “I was not as prepared as I am now,” said Sheehy. “I had to get used to the speed of the game.” On what drove him to get better after his early exposure to college football, Sheehy said, “The guys around me. It’s easy to stay motivated when you have a group of guys like that.” Sheehy can be very measured in his response to questions. He’s not about sound bites. But he did “open up” in late August while appearing on the Paul Chryst radio show. “Since I’ve been here, there have been a ton of guys who have been great leaders,” he said. “That’s the great thing Wisconsin does — it teaches guys how to act and how to do things the right way. “One guy who really stood out in my mind was Mike Caputo. When I was a young James, who along with Obasih was redshirted guy, he was a guy that I definitely looked up to as a freshman in 2013. A year later, Sheehy because he always did the right things. arrived and lettered as a true frosh. “He always knew what he was doing, he al“There has been a culmination of a lot of ways knew what other guys around him were things to get us to this point. It’s funny, when supposed to be doyou get here, everying and he just kept one tells you how “WE LIKE TO WORK HARD,” SAID OBASIH. guys in line. That’s fast it goes, and you “WE DON’T CARE ABOUT BEING THE important. try to take advantage GUYS IN THE SPOTLIGHT, THE ‘ME’ GUYS. “Mike always hanof every moment.” WE TAKE PRIDE IN DOING THE JOB WE dled his business And, oh, by the DO. IF WE SCREW UP, WE’RE GOING and people kind of way, James added, TO BE ACCOUNTABLE.” followed.” “It goes fast, it goes Sheehy has takreal fast.” en that same path as a leader, albeit a reticent But there is staying power in the shared exone. perience for Obasih, Sheehy and James. “Me and him talk all the time,” James said “It’s a lifelong bond that we have,” James of Sheehy. “He has got to know you — and said.
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trust you — to open up to you. But he’s a good than James, who has 5.5 sacks, the second dude. He’s one of my close friends.” most on the defense this season. Overall, he Like many of his teammates, Sheehy is a fan has seven tackles for loss. of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), That’s not easy to do from one of the inside which only seems fitting for the hand-to-hand techniques, the 3- or 5-technique. Although combat that comes with his turf. James is still undersized at 272 pounds, he’s “I just think it’s the ultimate competition, active and athletic. He’s a former linebacker, so man-to-man,” Sheehy said. “Being from a team he can run, too. sport where you “He has always have 10 other guys been great at pass “I WOULD SAY WE BRING THE SAME on the field with you rush,” Obasih said. MINDSET WHEN IT COMES TO WORK,” at the same time, Last Saturday, JAMES SAID. “WE DON’T REALLY TALK you can rely on peoObasih got a chance A LOT. WE JUST KIND OF DO OUR WORK ple. to reconnect with AND LET PEOPLE SEE HOW WE WORK. “And you kind of Philadelphia Eagles WE LEAD BY EXAMPLE.” have some fail-safes nose tackle Beau Albuilt in, so to speak. len, who was a UW But when it’s just you and one other guy out senior when Obasih and James got on campus. there, there’s nobody else to rely on. It’s just you.” Playing out of a 4-3 scheme, Allen was one of Sort of like wrestling? the key components, along with Ethan Hemer, “I wrestled in high school,” Sheehy said with Tyler Dippel and Pat Muldoon, who’s currently a grin. a graduate assistant on defense. Nobody has been better at winning those They had a combined 207 games of experione-on-one battles on the line of scrimmage ence.
ALEC JAMES
DARREN LEE
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LAUREN ARNDT
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“We’ve been striving to be a group,” Obasih admitted, “as influential as those guys.” Mission accomplished. After an inauspicious college debut — “I almost puked on the field when we played down in Houston against LSU” — Obasih has been a fixture up front with James and Sheehy. “There was a point my redshirt freshman year,” he noted, “when Sheehy looked at us and said, ‘It’s going to be us for awhile.’ We’ve all grown and tried to stay consistent and get better each year.” That growth is something that bonds them. “I would say we bring the same mindset
when it comes to work,” James said. “We don’t really talk a lot. We just kind of do our work and let people see how we work. We lead by example.” T.J. Watt is the missing link for Obasih and James. They were all roommates for two years. Watt, a starting outside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers, left school after his redshirt junior season. “We were the ‘Step Brothers’,” said Obasih. “We’d feed off each other with our goofiness and tomfoolery. There were a lot of pranks when all of us lived together.” Watt obviously never got to run out of the tunnel for Senior Day introductions. Obasih feared that he might not be able to do so — run, that is — after an early-season injury. Obasih played in the Sept. 1 opener and didn’t play again until Oct. 28. “I was trying to get back earlier than that,” said Obasih, a 31-game starter. What motivated him during his rehab? “I wanted to be a part of a special team,” he said, “that I knew we were going to be — and everyone else knew that we were going to be — since way back in January. “And I wanted to be up and moving by the time Michigan came around.” When Obasih runs onto the field Saturday, he will be greeted by his father, Kemakolam Obasih, and one of his two sisters. His brother and little sis won’t be able to attend the game. “It has just been the five of us for a long time,” he said. “Being a single parent was not easy for my dad, but he was always there for us driving us to football camps and different sporting events. “We’ve probably put in almost 400,000 miles on our Honda Odyssey. I know it has meant a lot to him (Badger football) and he was pretty down all the weeks I was out. “I’ve just wanted to get back out there and make him happy.” When James runs onto the field Saturday, he
will be greeted by his mom Heidi, his dad Jimalways helping me out along the way. mie (a former Minnesota football player) and “They’ve definitely been a big driving force his two grandparents. behind the success I’ve had so far.” “I just hope my mom doesn’t cry, but she’ll When Paul Chryst runs onto the field Saturprobably cry, she’s real emotional,” James said. day, he will be grateful for all his seniors. “They always pushed me. My dad and grandpa “I feel really fortunate to have been with this helped me out; my mom drove me to events. group,” said the third-year UW head coach. “My grandma has “Change is hard for helped me out as anyone. Yet, it’s a “THERE WAS A POINT MY REDSHIRT well. Without them, group that is close FRESHMAN YEAR,” OBASIH NOTED, “WHEN I wouldn’t be anyto each other. SHEEHY LOOKED AT US AND SAID, ‘IT’S where near where “You get that way GOING TO BE US FOR AWHILE.’ WE’VE ALL I am today. I’ve got because you go GROWN AND TRIED TO STAY CONSISTENT to thank them all.” through so many AND GET BETTER EACH YEAR.” When Sheehy different experiruns onto the field ences. They each Saturday, he will be greeted by his mom Elizhave their own story on how they got here and abeth, dad Tim (a former UW baseball player), even their experience while being here. sister Anna and brother Ryan, who’s stationed “The way the underclassmen can thank them at Fort Drum (N.Y.). is having a great week (of practice) and put“They’ve just been very supportive of me ting it all out there (Saturday) to give them a over my time here,” he said. “They’ve always chance to finish their last game at Camp Ranbeen there for me — taking me to practice and dall the right way.”
DAVID STLUKA
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INSIDE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (10-0, 7-0)
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
W, 40-6
Sept. 30 Northwestern W, 33-24 Oct. 7
at Nebraska
Oct. 14 Purdue Oct. 21 Maryland
THIS WEEK Off to the best start in school history, fifth-ranked Wisconsin (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten) closes out its home slate Saturday by hosting No. 19 Michigan (8-2, 5-2) at Camp Randall Stadium for the first time since 2009.
win last Saturday vs. Iowa. That surpasses the 2016 senior class, which won 41 games, for the most in a fouryear span in program history. Senior Day ceremonies for the 2017 class will be held prior to Saturday’s game.
LAST WEEK A tremendous defensive performance that saw the Badgers not yield an offensive touchdown and give up just 66 total yards powered Wisconsin to a 38-14 win over Iowa in the annual battle for the Heartland Trophy.
NEED TO KNOW Saturday’s game kicks off at 11 a.m. (CT) and airs live on FOX, with Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt and Jenny Taft 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.
GOOD TO KNOW UW’s seniors became the winningest class in school history by securing their 42nd RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
▶ Lucas: ‘A heckuva of a performance by our defense’
W, 17-9 W, 38-13
Homecoming
Oct. 28 at Illinois
W, 24-10
Nov. 4
at Indiana
W, 45-17
Nov. 11 #25 Iowa
W, 38-14
Nov. 18 #19 Michigan
DARREN LEE
▲ TAP TO WATCH - Speak Out with Obasih and Sagapolu
W, 38-17
11 a.m.
Nov. 25 at Minnesota 2:30/2:45 p.m. Dec. 2
Big Ten Championship
Indianapolis, Ind.
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
FOLLOW US:
▶ Young receivers step up with Cephus in mind ▶ How the Badgers Looked Inward to Build a Perennial Power
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INSIDE MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE (2-0, 0-0)
Home events in bold. All times CT. Nov. 1
Northern Iowa W, 69-38
Nov. 5
UW-Stout
Exhibition
W, 85-56
Exhibition
Nov. 10 S. Carolina St. W, 85-50 Nov. 12 Yale
W, 89-61
Nov. 16 #15 Xavier
7:30 p.m.
2017 Hall of Fame Classic, Kansas City:
Nov. 20 vs. #25 Baylor 8:30 p.m. Nov. 21 vs. Creighton/#23 UCLA TBA
THIS WEEK The UW men’s basketball team (2-0) will host No. 15 Xavier on Thursday, Nov. 16 as part of the Gavitt Games, which pits the Big Ten vs. the Big East. Tip off at the Kohl Center is set for 7:30 p.m. (CT) on FS1.
GOOD TO KNOW After entering the season with 18 career points, junior Andy Van Vliet has scored 31 points in the Badgers’ first two games of the year. He has hit a team-high six 3-pointers on the young season, shooting 60.0 percent from long range.
LAST WEEK The Badgers cruised to a pair of runaway wins over South Carolina State (85-50) and Yale (89-61) to open the 2017-18 season. Four players averaged double figure scoring totals on the week led by Ethan Happ, who came away with 16.0 ppg and 11.0 rpg.
NEED TO KNOW Wisconsin’s Gavitt Games matchup with Xavier will be televised on FS1 and the radio broadcast can be heard on the Badger Sports Network. Follow @BadgerMBB on Twitter for updates.
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
▶ Iverson leads way as Badgers overpower Yale
8 p.m.
Nov. 27 at Virginia
8 p.m.
Dec. 2
Ohio State
4 p.m.
Dec. 4
at Penn State
6 p.m.
Dec. 6
at Temple
6 p.m.
Dec. 9
Marquette
11 a.m.
DARREN LEE
▲ TAP TO WATCH - Iverson's Career High 17 Points Leads Badgers Past Yale
Nov. 24 Milwaukee
Dec. 13 Western Kentucky 7 p.m. View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
FOLLOW US:
▶ Phenomenal Freshmen: ‘We’re just doing what we love’ ▶ Wisconsin welcomes Currie in 2018 Signing Class
39
INSIDE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE (1-0, 0-0)
Home events in bold. All times CT. Nov. 8
UW-Platteville W, 107-58 Exhibition
Nov. 12 Charlotte
W, 80-66
Nov. 15 Green Bay
7 p.m.
Nov. 20 Southern
7 p.m.
2017 Paradise Jam, Washington, D.C.:
Nov. 23 vs. Syracuse
10 a.m.
Nov. 24 at G. Washington Noon
THIS WEEK The Badgers (1-0) continue their three-game, season-opening home stand when they take on intra-state rival Green Bay (1-0) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Wisconsin wraps up the home swing when it hosts Southern University (10) on Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. THIS WEEK The Badgers improved to 25-18 all time in season openers, including a 13-6 mark at home, after downing Charlotte, 80-66, on Sunday. Outscoring Charlotte 52-19 in the first half, Wisconsin pulled away in the second quarter, outscoring the 49ers 33-12. The Badgers shot 81.3 per-
cent (13-16) from the field in the period. GOOD TO KNOW UW shot an impressive 52.6 percent (10-19), including 66.7 percent (10-15) in the first half, from 3-point range against the 49ers. Sophomore Suzanne Gilreath scored a game-high 20 points, hitting 4-9 from deep, just one off her career best.
Noon
Nov. 29 at Pittsburgh
6 p.m.
Dec. 2
La Salle
Dec. 4
at #16 Marquette 7 p.m.
Dec. 6
UT-Rio Grande Valley 7 p.m.
Dec. 8
at Butler
11 a.m.
JACK MCLAUGHLIN
▲ TAP TO WATCH - Wisconsin Wins Season Opener Against UNC – Charlotte
Nov. 21 vs. Vanderbilt
7 p.m.
Dec. 10 Savannah State
2 p.m.
Dec. 14 Milwaukee
7 p.m.
Dec. 28 Iowa
7 p.m.
Dec. 31 at Purdue
1 p.m.
2018 Jan. 4
#24 Michigan
7 p.m.
Jan. 7
#15 Maryland
2 p.m.
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
NEED TO KNOW Both games will be streamed live on BTN Plus. Games can also be heard in the Madison area on 100.9FM or online with the iHeartRadio app. Live updates are also available on Twitter @BadgerWBB.
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
▶ Badgers strike gold in season opener
FOLLOW US:
▶ McMorris named to Cheryl Miller Award watch list ▶ Bucky and Books: The Perfect Combination
41
INSIDE VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE (17-8, 8-8)
Home events in bold. All times CT. Sept. 24 #20 Michigan
W, 3-0
Sept. 29 at Iowa
W, 3-0
Sept. 30 at #8 Nebraska
L, 2-3
Oct. 4
#6 Minnesota
Oct. 7
at #14 Michigan St. L, 1-3
L, 2-3
Oct. 11 #4 Nebraska
W, 3-1
Oct. 13 Indiana
W, 3-0
Oct. 18 at Maryland
W, 3-0
at #5 Minnesota
L, 1-3
Oct. 25 at #1 Penn State L, 1-3 ▲ TAP TO WATCH - Highlights: Wisconsin vs. Purdue
THIS WEEK No. 12 Wisconsin (17-8, 8-8 B1G) wraps up the road portion of the Big Ten season with two matches this weekend. The Badgers travel to Illinois (18-9, 9-7) on Friday for a 7 p.m. match from Huff Hall in Champaign, Illinois. Wisconsin takes on Northwestern (14-14, 4-12) for the second time this season on Sunday. The two teams will play at the Evanston Township High School in Evanston, Ill., at 1 p.m. LAST WEEK For the fourth straight week, the Badgers split in Big Ten action last weekend. UW swept Indiana before getting swept for the first time this
season, falling at No. 21 Purdue on Saturday. GOOD TO KNOW Senior Lauryn Gillis earned her 1,000th career kill at Indiana last Friday. With her third kill of the match, the 6-foot1 outside hitter became the second Badger this season to earn 1,000 kills, following Kelli Bates who earned the milestone against Ohio State on Nov. 3.
Oct. 28 Northwestern
W, 3-0
Nov. 3
Ohio State
L, 2-3
Nov. 4
Maryland
W, 3-1
Nov. 10 at Indiana
W, 3-0
Nov. 11 at #21 Purdue
L, 0-3
Nov. 17 at Illinois
7 p.m.
JACK MCLAUGHLIN
Oct. 21
Nov. 19 at Northwestern 1 p.m. Nov. 24 #1 Penn State
7 p.m.
Nov. 25 Rutgers
7 p.m.
View full schedule/results »
SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
NEED TO KNOW Both games will be streamed live on BTN Plus. Games can also be heard in the Madison area on 100.9FM or online with the iHeartRadio app. Live updates are also available on Twitter @BadgerVB.
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
▶ Rettke earns eighth Big Ten Freshman of the Week award
FOLLOW US:
▶ Wisconsin falls to No. 21 Purdue ▶ Badgers overpower Hoosiers
43
INSIDE MEN’S HOCKEY SCHEDULE (7-5-1, 2-2-0)
Home events in bold. All times CT. Oct. 6
#19 Ohio State
Oct. 7
#19 Ohio State W, 3-2
L, 2-3
Oct. 13 at #13 Boston College W, 5-2 Oct. 14 at Merrimack
W, 4-1
Oct. 20 vs. N. Michigan L, 4-5 OT
Green Bay, Wis.
Oct. 21 vs. N. Michigan
W, 4-0
Green Bay, Wis.
W, 4-2
Oct. 28 St. Lawrence
L, 3-6
Nov. 3
#4 North Dakota L, 2-3
Nov. 4
#4 North Dakota T, 2-2 OT
GREG ANDERSON
Oct. 27 St. Lawrence
Nov. 10 at Michigan State W, 6-3
THIS WEEK No. 9/10 Wisconsin (7-5-1, 2-2-0 Big Ten) plays host to Michigan (6-3-1, 2-1-1 Big Ten) on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 17-18, with both contests beginning at 7 p.m. at the Kohl Center. LAST WEEK The Badgers skated to a split last weekend at Michigan State, taking a 6-3 victory last Saturday, before dropping a 2-0 contest to the Spartans on Saturday. GOOD TO KNOW The Badgers have seven skaters who have scored at least four goals, though none has more than six. That balanced scoring gives the Badgers two
more 4+ goal scorers than any other Big Ten team. Notre Dame is second with five. The Badgers swept Michigan last season at the Kohl Center, winning 5-2 and 6-4 on Feb. 17 and 18. UW took three of the four meetings between the schools last season. NEED TO KNOW Friday’s game airs on BTN Plus at BTN2Go.com, while Saturday’s game will broadcast on Fox Sports Wisconsin Plus and stream for BTN cable and satellite subscribers on the BTN2Go app and at BTN2Go.com. Both games air on the radio on 1310 WIBA and the Badger Radio Network. Listen online on the iHeartRadio app.
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
▶ Wisconsin-Notre Dame to play at United Center on Jan. 21
Nov. 11 at Michigan State L, 0-2 Nov. 17 #17 Michigan
7 p.m.
Nov. 18 #17 Michigan
7 p.m.
Nov. 25 Mercyhurst
7 p.m.
Nov. 26 Mercyhurst
5 p.m.
Dec. 1
at #7 Minnesota 7 p.m.
Dec. 2
at #7 Minnesota 7 p.m. View full schedule/results »
SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
FOLLOW US:
▶ Consistency in net, special teams needed to stop splits ▶ U.S. Drops Final Game in Deutschland Cup
45
FORWARD Be a difference-maker during the University of Wisconsin’s Annual Campaign — it’s what Badgers do. AllWaysForward.org
INSIDE MEN’S SOCCER SCHEDULE (10-4-5, 4-3-1) Home events in bold. All times CT. Sept. 13 Northwestern
W, 3-1
Sept. 16 Loyola-Chicago W, 2-0 Sept. 19 at Duke
L, 3-4
Sept. 23 Penn State
W, 1-0
Sept. 26 Wright State W, 2-1 2OT Oct. 1
at Rutgers
W, 3-2
Oct. 4
Marquette
W, 3-0
Oct. 7
#6 Michigan St. T, 1-1 2OT
Oct. 10 Green Bay
POSTPONED
Oct. 13 #3 Maryland
L, 4-5
Oct. 21 at #1 Indiana
L, 1-2 2OT
Oct. 24 at Milwaukee T, 0-0 2OT
▲ TAP TO WATCH - Badgers Win Big Ten Men's Soccer Title
THIS WEEK The Wisconsin men’s soccer team is back in the NCAA tournament and will host a first-round game against UIC on Thursday night at 7 p.m. This will be the Badgers’ sixth time hosting an NCAA game in program history and first time since the 2013 season. LAST WEEK The Badgers earned their seventh berth to the NCAA tournament after being crowned Big Ten Tournament champions for just the second time in program history and the first time outright. The last time the Badgers won the
Big Ten Tournament in 1995, they also won the program’s only national championship. GOOD TO KNOW The Badgers are getting hot when it counts, sporting a five-game unbeaten streak headed into the NCAA tournament and were just recently ranked as the No. 10 team in the country by TopDrawerSoccer.
W, 2-0
Big Ten Tournament:
BIG TEN
Oct. 29 at Ohio State
Nov. 5 at (4) Maryland W, 2-1 Nov. 10 vs. (1) Michigan W, 4-0
Westfield, Ind.
Nov. 12 vs. (2) Indiana
Westfield, Ind.
T, 0-0 WON 4-2 IN PKS
NCAA Tournament:
Nov. 16 Illinois-Chicago
7 p.m.
View full schedule/results »
SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
NEED TO KNOW Live statistics can be found on UWBadgers.com while live updates will be on Twitter (@BadgerMSoccer).
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
▶ Champs: Wisconsin claims first Big Ten title in 23 years
FOLLOW US:
▶ We’re going to the ‘ship ▶ Photo Gallery: Men’s Soccer wins Big Ten Tournament
47
INSIDE WOMEN’S SOCCER SCHEDULE (14-5-2, 6-3-2) Home events in bold. All times CT. Sept. 7
at Drake
W, 3-0
Sept. 16 Minnesota
W, 1-0 OT
Sept. 21 Michigan St.
W, 2-1 OT
Sept. 24 Michigan Sept. 29 at Maryland
L, 1-2 OT T, 2-2 2OT
Oct. 1
at #16 Rutgers L, 0-1 OT
Oct. 6
Purdue
W, 2-1
Oct. 8
Indiana
T, 0-0 2OT
Oct. 12 at Illinois
W, 1-0
Oct. 15 at Northwestern L, 0-2 Oct. 21 at Iowa
W, 3-0
Oct. 25 #11 Penn State W, 1-0 Big Ten Tournament:
Oct. 29 at (3) Minnesota W, 2-0 Nov. 3
vs. (2) N’Western L, 1-2 2OT Westfield, Ind.
▲ TAP TO WATCH - Confidence Returns After 5 Goal First Round Win
THIS WEEK Wisconsin is moving on to the second round of the NCAA tournament and will face South Carolina on Friday at 5 p.m. CT.
GOOD TO KNOW Three Badgers, Grace Douglas, Allie Winterfield and Jordan McNeese, scored the first goals of their careers in the first-round game.
LAST WEEK The Badgers used a second-half explosion to defeat Toledo 5-0 in their NCAA tournament opener. It was the most UW has ever scored in an NCAA tournament game.
NEED TO KNOW Friday’s game will be broadcast live on SEC Network+ but a live statistics link will be available on UWBadgers.com and live updates can be found on Twitter (@BadgerWSoccer).
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
Nov. 10 Toledo W, 5-0 Nov. 17 at (1) S. Carolina 5 p.m.
DAVID STLUKA
NCAA Tournament:
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
FOLLOW US:
▶ Fab Five: Second-half outburst leads Badgers to NCAA win ▶ Photo Gallery: Fab Five
49
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 Results »
Louisville, Ky.
Oct. 13 Nuttycombe Wisconsin Results » Invitational
Nov. 10 at NCAA Great Lakes Regional Results »
THIS WEEK Joe Hardy and Oliver Hoare will run as individuals at the 2017 NCAA Cross Country Championships on Saturday in Louisville, Kentucky. The men’s 10K race takes place at 10:45 a.m. CT at the E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park.
GOOD TO KNOW Thanks to their top-25 finishes at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, Oliver Hoare, Joe Hardy and Ben Eidenschink each earned all-region honors from the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
LAST WEEK The Badgers finished third at the 2017 NCAA Great Lakes Regional as Oliver Hoare and Joe Hardy each netted top-10 finishes. Hoare, the 2017 Big Ten Cross Country Champion, was third at the regional meet while Hardy was sixth.
NEED TO KNOW Fans can follow the action on Twitter (@BadgerTrackXC) and can watch the meet live on FloTrack.
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
Terre Haute, Ind.
WALT MIDDLETON
Oct. 29 at Big Ten Championships Bloomington, Ind. Results »
Oct. 29 at NCAA Championships Louisville, Ky. 10:45 a.m. View full schedule/results »
SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
FOLLOW US:
▶ Badgers punch their ticket to NCAA championships ▶ Wisconsin takes third at NCAA Great Lakes Regional
51
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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 Results »
Louisville, Ky.
Oct. 13 Nuttycombe Wisconsin Results » Invitational Oct. 29 at Big Ten Championships Bloomington, Ind. Results »
Terre Haute, Ind.
Nov. 18 at NCAA Championships Louisville, Ky. 9:45 a.m.
THIS WEEK No. 17 Wisconsin wraps up its season on Saturday at the 2017 NCAA Cross Country Championships in Louisville, Kentucky. The women’s 6K race at E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park begins at 9:45 a.m. CT. LAST WEEK The Badgers finished third at the 2017 NCAA Great Lakes Regional in Terre Haute, Indiana as Sarah Disanza finished fourth, Amy Davis took ninth and Shaelyn Sorensen finished 13th at the meet.
GOOD TO KNOW This year’s appearance marks the 29th time that the Badgers will compete at the NCAA cross country championships and the second-straight year the team will race at nationals. Last year UW finished 14th as a team at the meet.
WALT MIDDLETON
Nov. 10 at NCAA Great Lakes Regional Results »
View full schedule/results »
SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
NEED TO KNOW Fans can follow the action on Twitter (@BadgerTrackXC) and can watch the meet live on FloTrack.
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
FOLLOW US:
▶ Badgers punch their ticket to NCAA championships ▶ Badgers earn third-place showing at Great Lakes Regional
53
THIS WEEK IN BADGER HISTORY
GREG ANDERSON
CAMP RANDALL 100 SPOTLIGHT:
BRENDAN SMITH
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
H
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ow talented was the Wisconsin men’s hockey team in 2009-10? Ten members of that squad reached the NHL — including all six defensemen — which helps explain how the Badgers advanced to the NCAA championship game for the ninth time in program history. Brendan Smith was a driving force on that club, a junior defenseman with a lethal shot and rambunctious game who wound up being a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. “It’s a testament to the coaches,” he said of former UW coach Mike Eaves and assistants Mark Osiecki and Kevin Patrick, “but a huge testament to (Osiecki) because he was a big driving force to getting all those (defensemen) there.” The group of blue-liners includes a two-time Stanley Cup champion in Justin Schultz, a U.S. Olympian in Ryan McDonagh and four current NHL front-liners in Smith (New York Rangers), Schultz (Pittsburgh),
McDonagh (Rangers) and Jake Gardiner (Toronto). Smith, McDonagh and Gardiner were first-round NHL draft picks, while Schultz and Cody Goloubef were second-round choices. John Ramage was taken in the fourth round. In June, Smith signed a free-agent deal to stay with the Rangers, where he counts McDonagh as a friend, teammate and asset. “It’s a good situation,” Smith said. “I think we did well.” All 10 of those future NHL players were on display Feb. 6, 2010 when the Badgers hosted Michigan in the inaugural Camp Randall Hockey Classic. The outdoor contest drew 55,031 fans who braved 20-degree weather to see UW wage a dramatic third-period comeback and prevail 3-2. “It was such a cool experience,” Smith said. One of three outdoor games in program history, the Camp Randall Hockey Classic coincided with Smith’s 20th birthday. He celebrated in a couple unique ways. “It was probably one of my top-five best moments,” Smith said.
GREG ANDERSON
▪▪▪▪ Brendan Smith’s first recollection of the Camp Randall Hockey Classic has nothing to do with his two third-period power-play goals or the Heisman Trophy pose he struck after the first. “It was the cold,” he said. Smith, from Mimico, Ontario, said his late grandfather attended the game and had a complaint afterward. “Man, that was the coldest place I’ve ever been in my life,” he told his family. Another prominent Smith memory? “It was just a battle of a game,” he said. Winger Jordy Murray provided an early lead for the Badgers, but Michigan tied it in the first period on a conversion by winger Scooter Vaughn and took a 2-1 lead midway through the third on a goal by center Kevin Lynch. Smith was sitting next to Goloubef on the makeshift bench when “Jump Around” — the popular anthem for UW football games — began to play in the third period. Smith remembers watching fans react to the music and being energized. “It was crazy,” Smith said of the atmosphere. “We heard rumors that the crowd might not be as good.” In other words, attendance of 30,000 to 40,000. Turns out the game drew the third-largest crowd pose made famous by Michigan kick returner Desto see an outdoor college hockey game, dating back mond Howard on the way to winning the award in to 2001. 1991. “There were guys with no shirts on,” Smith mar“I totally regret that,” Smith said, noting that it veled. “Crazy.” was “a little cocky.” The Badgers rallied behind their top power-play The pose was brief, but memorable. unit — Schultz at the point, center Derek Stepan “Some of the guys were like, ‘Hey, if you score, and winger Michael Davies along the half wall, cenyou need to pull it (out),’” Smith said of the celebrater Blake Geoffrion in the slot and Smith at the right tion. “It was one of those times where you’re in the circle — which finished the season with a respectmoment and you pull it, so I pulled it out.” able conversion rate of 20.3 The scene soon repeated percent. itself, minus the Heisman “IT WAS SUCH A COOL EXPERIENCE,” The two scoring sequencreference. SMITH SAID. “IT WAS PROBABLY ONE es were almost identical. Summers was busted for OF MY TOP-FIVE BEST MOMENTS.” After Michigan defensemslashing with 1:56 left in an Chris Summers was whisregulation. Again the scoring tled for tripping at 14 minutes, 16 seconds, Schultz sequence began with Schultz and Stepan moving moved the puck from the left point to Stepan near the puck to Davies along the left wall. Again Davies the left circle who nudged it down the wall to Dafound a seam to feed Smith in the far circle. Again vies near the goal line. Smith buzzed a one-timer past Hogan with 1:22 reFrom there, Davies zinged a pass through the slot maining. to Smith, a left-handed shot, for a one-timer that To read the rest of the story click here. For the beat goaltender Bryan Hogan at 14:28. complete Camp Randall 100 list, visit CampRanDuring the celebration, Smith struck a Heisman dall100.com.
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