INFOCUS
UPPER DECK Talk about home-court advantage! Celebrated for its already outstanding energy for volleyball matches, UW announced Tuesday that sections of the upper deck of the Field House will be open for fans beginning in the 2018 volleyball season. The new sections, open for the first time since 2007, will raise the capacity of the facility to 7,052. PHOTO BY JACK McLAUGHLIN
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SENIOR WITH CLASS Prior to the women’s tennis match against Ohio State on Sunday, the Badgers honored senior Kelsey Grambeau (second from right). “She's tried to lead by example, and she's done a great job,” head coach Kelcy McKenna said of Grambeau. PHOTO BY GREG ANDERSON
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ON THE WORLD STAGE Current Badger Morgan McDonald and UW legend Mohammed Ahmed both competed in the 5000 meters at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia. Ahmed finished runner-up while McDonald placed eighth overall. PHOTOS BY ATHLETICS AUSTRALIA AND ATHLETICS CANADA
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HOME AGAIN High fives for home games! The Badgers return home for five straight games, taking on Green Bay Wednesday and then a three-game series with Illinois on Thursday and Saturday. PHOTO BY A.J. HARRISON
CONTENTS
DARREN LEE
26
APRIL 11, 2018 â–ª VOLUME 8, ISSUE 30
LITTLE DETAILS His breakout freshman season behind him, Jonathan Taylor is focusing on small factors this spring to achieve big things this fall for the Badgers.
FEATURES 2
VOLLEYBALL
IN FOCUS
UPPER DECK
14 LUCAS AT LARGE
34
For the first time since 2007, the UW Field House will offer additional seating in the upper deck for the 2018 volleyball season.
17 BY THE NUMBERS 18 WHAT TO WATCH 21 ATHLETES OF THE MONTH 23 BADGERING 25 BADGERS GIVE BACK 37 INSIDE VOLLEYBALL
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39 INSIDE SOFTBALL 41 INSIDE TENNIS 45 INSIDE GOLF
52 BADGER HISTORY
NEIL AMENT
47 INSIDE ROWING
LUCAS AT LARGE
THE PROCESS Tight end Troy Fumagalli is embracing the NFL draft process and working his way through the waiting game of a future pro career. 11
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LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM SENIOR WRITER
Fumagalli embracing NFL draft process
T
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oeing the pitching rubber, Troy Fumagalli used a full windup before unleashing a four-seam fastball on the ceremonial first pitch for the Milwaukee Brewers’ home opener at Miller Park. If it looked like the former Wisconsin tight end knew his way around a mound, it’s because Fumagalli was once a promising lefthanded pitcher at Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, Illinois. In fact, he dreamed about a pro career in baseball, not football. “I had a really good year in baseball my sophomore year and I wanted to quit football and play baseball full-time,” he admitted. “My dad convinced me to stay with football, and I’m lucky I did.” Lucky because he had growth plate surgery on his throwing elbow as a prep junior. Lucky because he could still play football well enough to attract a modest number of college recruiters. Fumagalli ended up walking on at Wisconsin. Meanwhile, he didn’t have any offers to play baseball collegiately or professionally. But he went to some scouting camps and “I was getting a bunch of looks” before the elbow injury. Estimating that his fastball was in the mid-to-high 80s, he didn’t come close to that velocity on opening day in Milwaukee. “I had that sports hernia,” he reasoned, “so I couldn’t let it rip.” In early March, Fumagalli at-
tended the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis but he didn’t run or catch passes because of that hernia. This week, he will return to Indy for a “medical recheck.” “I’ll sit down with doctors and they’ll see the progress I’m making,” he said. “Hopefully, they’ll see I’m projected to be ready a week or two after the draft (April 26-28). We don’t see any big issues.”
“HOPEFULLY WHAT I’VE BEEN ABLE TO DO AT WISCONSIN WILL SPEAK FOR ITSELF. I’M TRYING TO EMBRACE (THE DRAFT PROCESS). I’M A FOOTBALL PLAYER AND I JUST WANT TO PLAY.” After leading the Badgers with five catches in a 28-21 loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game, he was thrown a curve in mid-December when the sports hernia was diagnosed. There was even some question whether he would be available for the Orange Bowl. “I ended up feeling okay enough to play,” said Fumagalli, who had three catches for 31 yards in the 34-24 win over Miami. “I was just trying to go out there and make an impact. “It was my last game in a Wisconsin uniform — (Fumagalli finished with 54 receptions for 1,627 yards in 52 career games) — and it would have taken a lot more than that for me to not go
out there.” After returning to Madison, he got treatment for a couple of weeks and was feeling pretty good during the early practices leading up to the Senior Bowl on January 27 in Mobile, Alabama. The Denver Broncos coaching staff handled the North team and at least one of their assistants needed no introduction to Fumagalli. Broncos tight end coach Geep Chryst is the brother of Paul Chryst. “Geep is an awesome guy and very similar to Paul in his football IQ and his love for the game,” Fumagalli said. “I thought I had a great week. I kind of showed them everything I could do.” Since there was only one fullback on the roster, Fumagalli got reps in the backfield along with snaps at tight end. But he reaggravated his hernia the final practice and didn’t play in the game. After undergoing more treatment, the injury was still bothering him. So, he decided on surgery with the intent that he’d resume training shortly after the draft. Fumagalli measured up well — literally — against 16 other tight ends at the scouting combine. He tied for the longest arm length (34 1/8 inches) and had the fourth-biggest hands (10 1/4). “This is funny,” he said. “My left hand measured at 10 and 3/8 inches and my right one was 9 and 5/8. Everyone was like, “Oh, no, he’s missing his finger.
That’s why his hand is so much bigger.”’ It has been well-documented how Fumagalli was born with a congenital birth defect (Amniotic Band Syndrome) and had his left index finger amputated soon after birth. As for the discrepancy in the size of his hands, he says it’s because of an old injury, a broken thumb: “I can’t stretch the right one out fully. But my hands are actually both 10 3/8 inches.” At the collegiate level, Fumagalli has answered questions about his catching radius and his clutch gene. He also has proven to be a competitive blocker at the point of attack. “Depending on what is needed, I would have no problem putting on 10 to 15 more pounds and playing the Y,” he said of the on-line tight end.
“Or, I’ll stay where I’m at (248 pounds) and play the H.” With Fumagalli moving on, Kyle Penniston, a redshirt junior, is now out of the shadows and will be challenged to be more productive (13 receptions, 26 games) in the UW offense. “He’s really smart,” Fumagalli said, “and he knows what he’s doing.” Losing “blocking” tight end Zander Neuville to a knee injury against Minnesota was costly. Neuville, a converted defensive end, was an unsung contributor with nine catches and two touchdowns. “We missed him when he was out,” said Fumagalli. “I expect him to have a great year.” The emergence of redshirt freshman Jake Ferguson has been one of the April storylines. Having grown into his frame (6-
foot-5, 240) he can be a serious downfield threat in the seams. “He has the ability to make contested catches,” Fumagalli said. “Stuff that’s tough to teach.” With Neuville still sidelined, Luke Benzschawel has been getting valuable turns. “He can learn from Zander,” said Fumagalli, “and develop into that role when he’s gone.” Fumagalli is seeking a role, too. A fit with an NFL team. Although he hasn’t had any individual workouts, he said, “Hopefully what I’ve been able to do at Wisconsin will speak for itself.” Someone must be listening. “I’m trying to embrace it,” Fumagalli said of the lengthy draft process and accompanying uncertainty. “I’m a football player and I just want to play.” That’s his best pitch. ▪
NEIL AMENT
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BY THE NUMBERS
1
◀ SOFTBALL The Badgers rank first in the Big Ten in sacrifice bunts. Junior Gabby Scherle leads the conference with 11 on the season.
▼ MEN’S ROWING Wisconsin’s varsity eight victory over No. 10 Syracuse last weekend in New York gave the Badgers their first top-10 head-to-head victory in a race since defeating No. 10 Stanford in 2012.
MEN’S TENNIS ▶ Men’s tennis will recognize its seniors this Sunday — Chema Carranza, Josef Dodridge, Darius Mackenzie and Lamar Remy — and celebrate the foursome’s combined record of 228 singles wins and 249 wins in doubles while also leading UW to the 2017 NCAA Tournament, the school's first appearance in seven years.
SU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS/MICHAEL OKONIEWSKI
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7,052
JACK MCLAUGHLIN
VOLLEYBALL ▶ For the first time since 2007, sections of the upper deck of the UW Field House will be open for fans beginning in the 2018 volleyball season. The new general admission sections will raise the capacity of the facility to 7,052, an increase of 1,040 from the previous capacity.
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WHAT TO WATCH JACK MCLAUGHLIN
HOME HITS
SOFTBALL VS. ILLINOIS THURSDAY, APRIL 12 ▪ 1PM GOODMAN DIAMOND ▪ BTN PLUS
DAVID STLUKA
Wisconsin enjoys a homestand this week for a threegame Big Ten series against Illinois. Catch all three games — a Thursday doubleheader at 1 & 3 p.m. and Saturday at noon — streamed live on BTN Plus.
ticket info
MEN’S TENNIS VS. MICHIGAN FRIDAY, APRIL 13 ▪ 3PM NIELSEN TENNIS STADIUM UWBADGERS.COM
Wisconsin returns home to play Michigan at 3 p.m. Friday and Michigan State at noon Sunday. The Badgers will celebrate a decorated class of their four seniors. Fans can watch the matches streamed live on UWBadgers.com.
JACK MCLAUGHLIN
POINT WISCONSIN
VOLLEYBALL VS. LOYOLA CHICAGO SATURDAY, APRIL 14 ▪ 6PM UW FIELD HOUSE ▪ BTN PLUS Spring brings volleyball back to the UW Field House as Wisconsin hosts an exhibition match against Loyola Chicago on Saturday at 6 p.m. Admission is free and fans can also watch the match streamed live on BTN Plus.
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DAVID STLUKA
FEARSOME FOURSOME
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WEDNESDAY 4/11 SOFTBALL vs. Green Bay (Doubleheader) Madison, Wis. 3/5 p.m. Watch: BTN Plus Ticket info »
THURSDAY 4/12 SOFTBALL vs. Illinois (Doubleheader) Madison, Wis. 1/3 p.m. Watch: BTN Plus Ticket info »
FRIDAY 4/13 MEN’S TENNIS vs. #12 Michigan Madison, Wis. 3 p.m.
SATURDAY 4/14 WOMEN’S TENNIS at #12 Northwestern Evanston, Ill. 11 a.m. SOFTBALL vs. Illinois Madison, Wis. Noon Watch: BTN Plus Ticket info » MEN’S SOCCER at Loyola Chicago Rockford, Ill. 5 p.m. VOLLEYBALL vs. Loyola Chicago Madison, Wis. 6 p.m. Watch: BTN Plus View more 4/14 events »
SUNDAY 4/15 WOMEN’S TENNIS at #14 Illinois Champaign, Ill. Noon MEN’S TENNIS vs. Michigan State Madison, Wis. Noon SOFTBALL vs. Illinois Madison, Wis. Noon Watch: BTN Plus Ticket info »
MONDAY 4/16
TUESDAY 4/17
WEDNESDAY 4/18 MEN’S & WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD at Mt. SAC Relays Walnut, Calif. 8 a.m. SOFTBALL at Minnesota (Doubleheader) Minneapolis 4/6 p.m. Watch: BTN
WOMEN’S SOCCER at Notre Dame South Bend, Ind. Noon View more 4/15 events »
ALL TIMES CENTRAL
VIEW FULL CALENDAR ON UWBADGERS.COM »
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STUDENT-ATHLETES OF THE MONTH Congratulations to UW’s Student-Athletes of the Month for April. These honorees have been recognized ― via nominations from Student-Athlete Advisory Committee members, coaches, advisors and sport administrators ― for their accomplishments in athletics, academics, on campus and in the community.
tom walker ‖ senior ‖ men’s rowing
A senior from Princeton, New Jersey, Tom Walker opened the Badgers’ season as the bow seat of the No. 12 varsity eight that defeated No. 10 Syracuse in New York on April 7. That comes after he helped the varsity eight to an 11th-place finish at the 2017 Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships. His success extends into the classroom as the agricultural business management and economics major boasts over a 3.8 grade-point average. Walker raced last summer at the 2017 World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, where he placed ninth in the lightweight men’s pair. As his coaches describe him, “Tom is living proof that it is not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog. While far smaller than the average rower build, his tireless work ethic, relentless attack and positive attitude has not only made him a key player on our roster, but an important member of our top boat two years in a row.”
lily hansen ‖ senior ‖ women’s rowing
A senior from San Anselmo, California, Lily Hansen is the coxswain for the No. 12 Badgers’ varsity eight which most recently swept UCF and Miami in Sarasota, Florida. A 2017 and 2016 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, Hansen is also a 2017 and 2016 Academic All-Big Ten rower as a communicative sciences and disorders major. She has served as the varsity eight coxswain at the NCAA championships in each of her first three seasons, directing the crew to 11th in 2017, ninth in 2016 and 13th in 2015. Off the water may be where Hansen excels the most. Founder of an American Sign Language Club on campus, she also produces yellow ribbons each Veterans Day that she hands out to create awareness of those who serve and in memory of family, including her birth mother, who served in the military. Head coach Bebe Bryans recognizes her contribution the team, “I appreciate the work, the dedication and the study she brings to her craft. Every day is a chance to get better and that is the way she approaches every day and working with her coxswain corps.”
janet titzler ‖ senior ‖ women’s lightweight rowing
A senior from Palo Alto, California, Janet Titzler is in her third season rowing with the women’s lightweight varsity eight, the program’s top boat. The crew finished fourth in both of the last two seasons at the 2017 and 2016 Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships. She is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten rower as an economics and classical humanities major. A volunteer tutor for Econ 301 and an AmeriCorps volunteer tutoring high school math students in Madison, she’s also spent time as a tour guide on campus. Titzler is also a two-year voting member of SAAC and a two-year team captain. As her coach Dusty Mattison describes her as “a go-getter and it is a pretty awesome thing to watch. She has had a steady rate of improvement all the way through her four years. She has been the one to pull people along as one of the more vocal ones on the team, calling out encouragement and getting everyone going.” 21
FORWARD Be a difference-maker during the University of Wisconsin’s Annual Campaign — it’s what Badgers do. AllWaysForward.org
BADGERING...
GRIFFIN BARELA
Griffin Barela, a freshman from Lakewood, Colorado, recently did something unusual on behalf of the Wisconsin men’s golf team. He earned medalist honors at the D.A. Weibring Intercollegiate in Normal, Illinois, becoming the first Badgers golfer to win an individual tournament championship since 2009. He earned it, too, teeing off in wintry, 26-degree conditions, carding a 4-over-par, 217 total that helped the Badgers to a second-place finish. Barela grew up loving baseball, but eventually embraced golf when he was 12. One of four freshmen on the 10-man roster, he sat down recently to talk about his breakthrough win, the UW student-athlete he admires and his “welcome to college” moment. BY ANDY BAGGOT ▪ UWBADGERS.COM INSIDER
To win your first tournament with the Badgers you had to deal with some nasty conditions. Was your biggest challenge physical or mental? “Definitely more of a mental challenge. It’s not very often that you golf in those conditions. It was not a lot of fun playing in that cold and snow. The biggest challenge was just keeping my hands warm. It was 26 degrees when we teed off for the second round.” Did you learn anything about yourself during that experience? “I thought I could play well in those conditions, but I’d never done it before. It was proving to myself that I could do it. I’ve handled conditions similar to that in the past, but nothing that extreme.” Have you had a “welcome to college” moment? “I got lost quite a bit the first week I was here.” Is there a UW student-athlete you admire? “Eddie Wadja, a senior on the team. He works so hard at everything, especially school and how he handled the fall (season), struggling, but was able to put himself back in the lineup this spring.” Can you describe the culture on your team? “Just fun. They’re probably my nine best friends here. We spend a lot of time together and it’s just a lot of fun to be around them.” DAVID STLUKA
Click to read more »
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BADGERS GIVE BACK SPOTLIGHT
badgers give back
Reading buddies connecting with kids 1-on-1
Student-athlete volunteers enjoy extra time spent in local classrooms BY ANDY BAGGOT ■ UWBADGERS.COM INSIDER
J
ackie Davenport had a good problem on her hands. The director of community relations for Wisconsin Athletics, Davenport was the overseer of a program in which UW student-athletes signed up to be pen pals with students at Randall Elementary School last semester. The Badgers Give Back project turned out to be so popular that Davenport had to turn away some volunteers this semester. But instead of letting those requests go unfulfilled, Davenport had the idea to arrange for UW student-athletes to become reading buddies with the kids. “It provides students extra one-on-one attention on a consistent basis to help them succeed inside and outside the classroom,” Davenport said. The feedback Davenport has gotten from the volunteers has been upbeat and revealing. Senior George Rushing, a former wide receiver for the UW football team, has worked in multiple classrooms and built some strong relationships with the kids. One opened up to Rushing about an issue she was having
with her peers. She told Rushing that kids picked on her because she liked playing hockey and was somewhat of a tomboy. Rushing encouraged her to stay positive and keep doing what she loved “because everyone has different things they’re good at.” Emma Langer, a sophomore with the women’s cross country team, meets every Friday with the same girl. They’ve gotten to know each other so well that the two not only read together, they work on math problems. “Overall, I think the program is very rewarding because of how individualized it is,” Langer reported. Jacqueline Jones, a junior with the women’s lightweight rowing team, meets every Wednesday with the same boy. “He always wears his Wisconsin apparel because he knows I’m coming,” Jones wrote. Maddie Rowe, a sophomore winger with the women’s hockey team, works with the same “super sweet” girl each week. “I’d definitely be a reading buddy again,” Rowe said. ▪
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DARREN LEE
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oments after telling his story to a writer from a national website (Matt Fortuna of The Athletic), Wisconsin’s 19-year-old tailback Jonathan Taylor belied his youth by underscoring the importance of controlling the narrative. The Twitter equivalent would be thinking before hitting send; what should be a universal command. Thinking through things has always been a strong suit for Taylor. “You just have to be you,” said Taylor, whose intellectual curiosity in high school, notably in astrophysics, had him contemplating a Harvard education. “Really everything is about the team.” That selfless, team-first mentality has helped Taylor stay grounded after an historic 2017 season during which he rushed for 1,977 yards and broke Adrian Peterson’s FBS freshman record. “All the success that he’s had,” said UW inside linebacker Ryan Connelly, “hasn’t changed his work ethic or anything else. Honestly, he’s just kind of the same old dude. “The thing I like about him … he’s still enjoying every day. It’s obvious that he’s not getting sick of anything, which can happen if you have success and think, ‘Why do I have to do this now?’” Asked if expectations and increased media
exposure might affect Taylor, Connelly said, “He’ll be fine. From game one to the last game, he didn’t change. He’s just so excited to be here playing football.” Veteran fullback Alec Ingold will be the lead blocker for Taylor, who rushed for over 100 yards in 10 of 14 games. Ingold, a senior-tobe, smirked at any notion Taylor would be anything but grounded. “That’s not even a question,” he insisted. “Everyone knows he’s here to work, he’s here to get better. He’s not worried about accolades right now, which is really cool for a young guy like him. “You can tell big things are coming because he carries himself a good way every day.” After finishing sixth in the Heisman balloting, Taylor is on a short list of preseason favorites, including Stanford tailback Bryce Love, the runner-up to the 2017 winner, Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield. “That definitely comes up,” Taylor said of his Heisman candidacy with interviewers. “It’s definitely flattering — especially when it first came up — but it’s just outside noise right now.” Love, Taylor and Ohio State tailback J.K. Dobbins are generating an early buzz among the Heisman odds-makers.
answering questions about the Heisman. “I’ll Since Wisconsin’s Ron Dayne earned the speak about it a little bit and I don’t think that’s Heisman (1999), only three running backs have bad.” won the award; Reggie Bush in 2005 (since vaNot bad in the context of setting and verbalcated); Mark Ingram in 2009 and Derrick Henizing lofty goals. “Everybody wants to be a betry in 2015. ter player,” he said. “But other than that, things Dayne just happens to be a Taylor whisperer. that are team oriented need to stay team ori“He keeps telling me, ‘Be yourself on the field. ented.” Be yourself off the Wisconsin running field. And things will backs coach John Setfall into place,’” Taylor “HE’S HA ND L I N G I T TH E R I G H T WAY,” tle couldn’t have put said. “He keeps me on SE T T L E SA I D. “ H E ’ S N OT R E A D I N G it better. track.” T HE C LIPPIN G S . H E ’ S N OT L I S T E N I N G “He’s handling it the This week, Taylor TO A LOT O F TH E O U TS I D E S T U FF. right way,” Settle said. will conduct another HE’S FOC US E D O N G E T T I N G B E TT E R “He’s not reading the interview with a naA S A FO OT BA L L P L AYE R .” clippings. He’s not listional writer (Adam tening to a lot of the Rittenberg of ESPN. outside stuff. He’s focused on getting better as com). There will be many more between now a football player.” and the Aug. 31 opener against Western KenBut he’s not the same player; not by a long tucky at Camp Randall Stadium. shot. Taylor was an unknown last August. On “Everybody does have personal goals as a his own team. He was listed behind four other football player,” said Taylor, who doesn’t mind tailbacks on the depth chart before exploding on to the scene. By the end of the season, he had 61 runs of 10-plus yards and three games over 200 yards. He was no longer a secret. “That’s my message to him,” said Settle. “He’s not going to sneak up on anybody this year. Therefore, he has taken it upon himself to realize, ‘I must be prepared.’” Taylor, from Salem, New Jersey, has been formulating his answers during spring practice. “I’ve been working on adding different things to my game,” he said. “I’ve also been honing in on little details and putting more moves in my arsenal so they won’t know what I’m coming with.” Taylor has been focusing on four areas. Receiving. Ball security. Goal line running. Leadership. “If you watch film from practices and games, you can see so much stuff that didn’t go right when I was in there,” said Taylor, rationalizing why it has been so easy to stay grounded.
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RECEIVING “There’s definitely a lot of room for improveLast fall, Taylor had eight catches for 95 ment that sometimes people don’t see. They yards. He was the leading receiver among the just look at the touchdowns and the big runs. running backs. His longest gain was 24 yards But they don’t see the little things. and he didn’t have a touchdown. “Coach Settle definitely sees the little things. UW coach Paul Chryst assigned a route-runOnce in awhile, it’s good to get some praise for ning, pass-catching tuall the things that you’ve tor to Taylor. The tutor? done right. But you also Chryst. “It’s a great opwant to fix the things “EV ERY BO DY WA N TS TO BE A portunity for him to get that haven’t gone your B ET T ER P L AYE R ,” TAY LO R SA I D. that one-on-one time way.” “B UT OT H E R T H A N TH AT, T H I N G S with Coach Chryst,” SetAfter Taylor rushed for T HAT A RE TE A M O R I E N TE D N E E D tle observed. 130 yards in Wisconsin’s TO S TAY TE A M O R I E N TE D.” Throughout the spring, 34-24 win over Miami in Chryst has been drilling the Orange Bowl, Settle Taylor on the nuances of the throw game. Tailmapped out a plan to carry Taylor through the back Garrett Groshek and receiver A.J. Taylor spring. have also taken part in these practice segments. “The first thing we wanted to do was get “We work on routes that we’re going to be him healthy,” Settle said. “That was the main incorporating into the offense during the seafocus through the winter: Get him back. Get son,” Jonathan Taylor said. “I’ve definitely seen him stronger. Now on the field, it’s those little a big difference in catching the ball and my things.” route-running. “Coach Chryst will say, ‘If a defender is going to do this, you want to make sure that you do this (to counter).” Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard has had a say, too. “He will pop in and give us insight on a defensive back’s or a linebacker’s mindset,” Taylor said. “Or he’ll tell us how they will be playing certain coverages (against certain routes).” The end game is clear. “In third-down situations,” Settle said, “we want him on the field.” Taylor wants to be a more complete back and the coaches are accelerating his growth. “When you’ve got a young man who has the type of speed and skill set that he has,” Settle said, “you want to get him isolated and matched up with a linebacker out in space. “We looked at some NFL tape on how some teams use their main back. He (Taylor) has enough wiggle in his game to make people miss and get away from defenders. And he can catch the ball.”
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NEIL AMENT
DARREN LEE
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GOAL LINE RUNNING Again, Settle didn’t mince his words. “In order for Jonathan to help us out in that part of the game,” he said, “he has to be able to get his pads down — he has to be physical and be able to run behind his pads. “He’s not always going to be able to run outside.”
DAVID STLUKA
BALL SECURITY Settle didn’t mince words. “The one thing that was a weakness in his game last year was ball security, so that has been a big focus,” Settle said of Taylor, who fumbled eight times and lost six in 299 carries. During the offseason, Settle broke down the video on Taylor’s fumbles. “On a couple of them the ball was low and those jump out at you,” he said. “We always have a thing about the wrist being above the elbow. Anytime the ball gets low around the hip, it’s exposed. “A couple of the fumbles were when he was fighting for extra yardage — they were heckuva runs. But he has to realize if he’s in high traffic areas to put the off-hand over the ball. Little things. “He also has to understand that last season he was a freshman playing against a lot of seniors. It’s not like high school. These guys are a lot stronger. “There were some situations where he just got caught with the ball being exposed to some stronger defensive players who were able to rip it out.” Taylor has gone to school on that film study and taken the instruction to heart. “Every single situation is different,” Taylor said. “You’ll see one (fumble) where you had the ball too low. Or another, when you’re making a cut, and you have to make sure it’s covered. “There was something to learn from on each and every clip.”
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fidence now.” So is Taylor when his number is called on the goal line. “One of the biggest things,” Taylor said, “is putting it on tape in practices and consistency — showing the coaches that I understand the key points and I’m able to do it.” Bolstering his confidence has been the return of three All-American offensive linemen. Michael Deiter, Beau Benzschawel and David Edwards each got feedback from the NFL Draft Advisory Board. “Those guys had an opportunity to move on to the next level and do some great things,” Taylor said. “But they love this place and decided to come back. “And I’m going to take advantage of that by working with them every day, talking with them during every practice about the run fits and what they’re seeing. It’s definitely exciting.”
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“He has to pick up his keys and his reads a little faster. That’s why we took him out last year. Things happen a lot faster in that short area. Why put that on him (as a true freshman)? “We had a couple of guys who could take that off his plate.” Tailbacks Bradrick Shaw and Chris James were more physical tailbacks. Shaw is not practicing this spring, but Taiwan Deal is. If he can stay healthy, Deal could be a factor in the rotation. The fullback is no longer limited to just blocking in the offense. Ingold, who has appeared in 38 career games, has maximized his chances, especially in short-yard situations, by accounting for 14 TDs (11 rushing, 3 receiving) in just 86 touches. “The only thing in Alec’s way last year was Ram (Austin Ramesh),” Settle said. “But it was good for him to be behind Ram and see how he handles things. He’s playing with more con-
LEADERSHIP Taylor made a favorable first impression on Ingold. “The first time you meet the kid, you know that he’s comfortable in his own skin,” said Ingold. “He’s not trying to be shy. He’s not trying to be boisterous. He is who he is. “Right now (this spring), you can see him challenging himself a lot more, not in an arrogant way, but it’s more, ‘I’m going to take my standard up, so everybody else around me can get better.’” Taylor began setting the example during summer workouts and the work ethic hasn’t changed. Take it from Ingold, who has watched how Taylor has handled himself and says, “You would have never guessed that he’s done the things that he has done.” Some things just come natural for the 5-foot11, 216-pound Taylor, a consensus first-team
line. That first guy is usually the linebacker or All-Big Ten selection and a second-team safety.” All-American. He makes it look so easy and efAnd once he gets to the second level, Ingold fortless when, really, it’s not. pointed out, “He has that breakaway speed.” “I remember the first day we ran a pretty The O-line and Taylor, according to Connelhard bag drill — no pads, shorts and T-shirts,” ly, worked in unison resulting in big plays, five Ingold recounted. “Ram (Ramesh) and I were runs of 50 or more yards. “He trusted the guys thinking, ‘We’ve heard about this guy. Let’s see up front,” Connelly said. “And the guys up front what he can do.’ trusted him.” “It’s a pretty tough There’s also a trust drill. You never get it factor in being a team right the first time. He “T HE FAC T I S , I WA N T TO A S S U ME leader. Settle and Tay(Taylor) asked Coach T HAT LEA D E R S H I P RO L E ,” H E SA I D. lor have talked about it. Settle, ‘How do I do “I WA NT TO BE T H E R I G H T RO L E “Because of the sucthis?’ And, then, he M OD EL TO FO L LOW. I WA N T TO cess that he had, he sees went through it like PORT RAY MYS E L F A S TH AT.” himself as a player who nothing, like it was his needs to lead,” Settle 100th rep. said. “Maybe not by being more vocal. But he “Right there, you could just tell. Everything needs to make sure that when he’s in, he’s on. looked smooth about him. I didn’t know he “The guys can kind of follow the example was going to have that big of a season. But I that he’s setting.” could tell that it was going to be big.” Taylor is all in. “The fact is, I want to assume Taylor, a finalist for the Doak Walker Award, that leadership role,” he said. “I want to be the averaged 6.6 yards per carry. right role model to follow. I want to portray “He always seems to make the first guy myself as that.” And advance the narrative miss,” Ingold said. “That’s huge, especially on even more. our team, because we have a great offensive
“
BRANDON HARRISON
DAVID STLUKA
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“It’s ready to be filled up again.”
Former player and coach reflect on great crowds in UW Field House
L
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BY ANDY BAGGOT ■ UWBADGERS.COM INSIDER
isa Boyd-Piekarski remembers her final home match with the Wisconsin volleyball team for a variety of fond reasons. It was Nov. 30, 1990. The Badgers, fresh off winning the first Big Ten Conference championship in program history, made their NCAA tournament debut with a resounding three-set sweep of Illinois at the Field House. It was a touchstone moment for Boyd-Piekarski, the first All-American in volleyball at UW, and her teammates, still great friends who hang out and travel together nearly three decades later. It was also a bellwether moment for Wisconsin, which has played in two NCAA title matches, five Elite Eights and eight Sweet 16s since that breakthrough, becoming a national power and local attraction in the process. Boyd-Piekarski, a middle blocker from Dalton, Illinois, said the atmosphere at her final
home match with the Badgers was so incredible that she “didn’t want us to win in three (sets) because I wanted to keep playing.” There’s a unique reason for that. The straight-set sweep of the Illini, 15-10, 15-9 and 15-10, came before a crowd of 10,935, which still ranks as the largest turnstile count in UW volleyball history. The benchmark is worth revisiting as the Badgers prepare to re-open portions of the upper deck of the Field House — three on each side for a total of six — bumping capacity from 6,012 to 7,052. That seating capacity could put UW second in the nation for attendance. Nebraska, which seats 8,202 at the Devaney Center, led the nation last season with 17 sell outs crowds. Hawaii finished second, averaging 6,396 fans per match with Wisconsin coming in third at 5,980 fans.
The upper deck at the Field House hasn’t Something else Boyd-Piekarski and her been open since 2007 due mainly to buildteammates were unable to do, once the match ing code concerns. Those issues have been began, was hear. addressed for the 88-year-old facility, which Steve Lowe, the late UW coach, tried to call recently added air conditioning, a video board out plays from the bench area, but his voice and modern headquarwas swallowed up by ters for Wisconsin the constant din. players and coaches. “We couldn’t hear “ WE A LL HA D A COMMON G OA L : Among Boyd-Piekarhim at all,” Boyd-PiekarWE WAN T ED TO PL AY W EL L , ski’s recollections from ski said. “We’d just talk WO RK H A R D A N D MA K E MA D I SON that milestone match among ourselves on P RO U D,” B OY D P I EK A RS K I SA I D. nearly 28 years ago are the court as much as “ I TH IN K B ECAU SE T H E F I EL D things she couldn’t do. we could. The energy H O U S E H A S SU CH A R I C H H I STORY, Like show up at the in that place was unIT' S A RE A L LY U N I QU E A N D COOL UW Athletic Ticket Ofbelievable.” PL AC E TO PL AY.” fice the afternoon of The Field House has
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the match and buy extra tickets to augment her allotment as a student-athlete. “They looked at me and said, ‘Lisa, we’re selling out,’” she said of ticket office personnel. “I couldn't believe it.”
been home to UW boxing, men’s and women’s basketball and wrestling through the years. Volleyball took up full-time residence there in 1986. “For a sporting event, it’s almost an intimate place to play,” Boyd-Piekarski said of a structure that’s on the National Register ▼ TAP TO WATCH - Fans Make the Field House Special of Historic Places. Especially with the upper balcony available for viewing. When Pete Waite coached the Badgers from 1999 to 2012 — he stepped down after amassing a program-best 305 wins and five trips to the NCAA Sweet 16 and beyond — he made a point of having recruits watch matches from the upper deck. “It’s such an awesome view from up there I think it turned the corner for some recruits,” he said, mentioning four-time All-American setter Lauren Carlini as one of those smitten. “You sit alone up there with somebody and walk those upper steps, it’s intense just walking there much less looking down and seeing the court and how awesome that looks.” Click to read more »
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INSIDE VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
Home events in bold. All times CT. Spring: April 14 Loyola Chicago
6 p.m.
April 22 vs. Creighton Ankeny, Iowa
1 p.m.
April 27 Marquette
7 p.m.
Fall non-conference: Aug. 24-25 at Big Ten/ACC Challenge Minneapolis Sept. 1-2
HotelRED Invitational
Sept. 7 at Baylor Sept. 9 at North Texas
THIS WEEK The Badgers compete in their first match of spring season on Saturday when they host Loyola Chicago at 6 p.m. in the UW Field House. Admission is free.
teams, traveling and competing in China and Europe this summer. Wisconsin also announced its fall non-conference schedule and released additional seating areas in the UW Field House.
LAST WEEK Wisconsin traveled to Marquette last Friday, practicing with the Golden Eagles at the Al McGuire Center. No score was kept.
NEED TO KNOW Saturday’s match will be streamed live on BTN Plus and can also be heard in the Madison area on WTSO AM 1070 or online with the iHeartRadio app. Live stats will be available on UWBadgers.com and follow @BadgerVB on Twitter for live updates.
GOOD TO KNOW It’s been a busy spring for the Badgers as two players were named to U.S. Collegiate RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
▶ Rettke named to U.S. Collegiate National Team-China Tour
View full schedule/results »
GREG ANDERSON
▲ TAP TO WATCH - Fans Make the Field House Special
Sept. 14-15 at Marquette Invitational Milwaukee
SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
FOLLOW US:
▶ Hart named to U.S. Collegiate National Team-Europe Tour ▶ Volleyball releases non-conference schedule
37
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INSIDE SOFTBALL SCHEDULE (16-16, 2-5)
Home events in bold. All times CT. Mar. 25 Rutgers
W, 6-3
Mar. 27 Northern Iowa
W, 6-2
Mar. 30 at #24 Ohio State L, 7-9 Mar. 31 at #24 Ohio State W, 3-1 April 1 at #24 Ohio State L, 0-7 April 7 at Iowa L, 0-3 / L, 3-4 Doubleheader April 8 at Iowa
L, 3-5
April 11 Green Bay Doubleheader
3/5 p.m.
April 12 Illinois Doubleheader
1/3 p.m.
April 14 Illinois Noon April 18 at Minnesota Doubleheader
4/6 p.m. 5 p.m.
April 21 Purdue
4 p.m.
April 22 Purdue Noon
THIS WEEK Wisconsin is home for a fivegame stretch starting with a doubleheader against Green Bay on Wednesday at 3 and 5 p.m. UW then hosts Illinois for a three-game series starting with a doubleheader at 1 and 3 on Thursday and a single game on Saturday at noon.
career and had her first multihit game.
LAST WEEK The Badgers dropped three games to Iowa, but one Iowa native had an incredible game on Sunday. Sydney Lawson logged the first two hits of her
NEED TO KNOW Live statistics and live streaming links can all be found at UWBadgers.com on the softball schedule page.
GOOD TO KNOW Kelsey Jenkins broke the school record that she’d set last season by reaching base in 32 consecutive games this season, which has been every game this year.
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
April 27 at Nebraska
5 p.m.
April 28 at Nebraska
1 p.m.
JACK MCLAUGHLIN
April 20 Purdue
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
FOLLOW US:
▶ Home runs haunt Badgers in series finale at Iowa ▶ Badgers unable to take down Iowa in doubleheader
39
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INSIDE MEN’S TENNIS SCHEDULE (11-9, 3-4)
Home events in bold. All times CT. Feb. 23 Pennsylvania
W, 6-1
Feb. 25 at Middle Tennessee L, 3-4 Mar. 4
Cornell Green Bay
W, 4-2 W, 4-0
Mar. 17 at Nebraska
W, 4-3
Mar. 25 Iowa
W, 7-0
Mar. 30 Penn State
W, 4-3
Apr. 1
#2 Ohio State
L, 1-6
Apr. 7
at Purdue
L, 3-4
Apr. 8
at Indiana
L, 2-4
Apr. 13 #12 Michigan
3 p.m.
Apr. 15 Michigan State Noon
THIS WEEK Wisconsin (11-9) closes out its home schedule with a pair matches at Nielsen this weekend. The Badgers will face No. 11 Michigan on Friday at 3 p.m. CT before hosting Michigan State on Sunday at Noon. Both matches are free to the public. LAST WEEK The Badgers found a lonesome last weekend, dropping a pair of matches in the state of Indiana. UW dropped a tight 4-3 match at Purdue on Saturday and a 4-2 decision at Indiana on Sunday. Sophomore Daniel Soyfer and senior Chema Carranza and each went 2-0 over the weekend. The duo ranks No. 1 and 2,
respectively in win total for Wisconsin with Soyfer owning a mark of 21-9 and Carranza off to a 17-12 start to the season. GOOD TO KNOW On Sunday, Wisconsin will honor its four seniors who will be playing their final home matches: Chema Carranza, Josef Dodridge, Darius Mackenzie and Lamar Remy. Over their four seasons in the Cardinal and White, the foursome has combined for 228 singles wins and 249 wins on the doubles courts.
Apr. 20 at #6 Illinois
3 p.m.
Apr. 22 at Northwestern
Noon
Apr. 27-30 at Big Ten Tournament Iowa City, Iowa View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
NEED TO KNOW Keep up with all things Badger tennis on Twitter (@BadgerMTennis).
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
FOLLOW US:
▶ Boiled down: Badgers fall at Purdue ▶ Road woes: Wisconsin finds 4-2 setback at Indiana
41
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INSIDE WOMEN’S TENNIS SCHEDULE (8-11, 2-5)
Home events in bold. All times CT. Feb. 17 vs. Arizona Las Vegas Feb. 18 at UNLV
▲ TAP TO WATCH - Kelsey Grambeau Leaves Behind Promising Legacy
THIS WEEK UW hits the road for the final four matches of the regular season, beginning with a challenging two-match swing in the state of Illinois this weekend. Up first, the Badgers will visit No. 12 Northwestern on Friday, April 14 beginning at 11 a.m. CT. Match number two is set for Sunday, April 15 at No. 14 Illinois at Noon CT. LAST WEEK The Badgers dropped two home matches, falling to Penn State on Friday, 3-4. The other defeat came against No. 30 Ohio State on Sunday by a score of 2-5.
GOOD TO KNOW Junior Sara Castellano recorded the biggest win of her UW career on Sunday, knocking off Ohio State’s 97th-ranked player, Shiori Fukuda, by a score of 7-6, 6-2. With a pair of wins last weekend, Castellano improved to 5-2 in Big Ten play.
L, 3-4 CANCELLED
Feb. 23 at Virginia Tech
L, 1-6
Feb. 25 vs. James Madison Blacksburg, Va.
L, 3-4
Mar. 3
L, 3-4
at Minnesota
Mar. 16 Rutgers
W, 7-0
Mar. 18 Maryland
W, 5-2
Mar. 23 at Purdue
L, 2-5
Mar. 25 Michigan State
L, 1-6
Apr. 6
Penn State
L, 3-4
Apr. 8
Ohio State
L, 2-5
Apr. 14 at #12 Northwestern 11 a.m. Apr. 15 at #14 Illinois
Noon
Apr. 20 at Nebraska
5 p.m.
Apr. 22 at Iowa
Noon
Apr. 26-29 at Big Ten Tournament Minneapolis View full schedule/results »
SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
NEED TO KNOW Keep an eye on Wisconsin Women's Tennis on Facebook and @badgerwtennis on Twitter for postmatch recaps and score updates.
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
FOLLOW US:
▶ Friday night blues: Badgers face heartbreak ▶ UW ends home season with loss to OSU
43
INSIDE MEN’S GOLF GREG ANDERSON
SCHEDULE
Home events in bold. Sept. 24-25 at Northern Intercollegiate Results »
Sugar Grove, Ill.
Oct. 1-3
at Marquette Invitational Erin, Wis. Results »
Oct. 8-9
at Windon Memorial Skokie, Ill. Results »
Oct. 23-24 at Pinetree Intercollegiate Murfreesboro, Tenn. Results » 2018 Feb. 9-10 at Big Ten Match Play Palm Coast, Fla. Results » Mar. 12-13 at Colleton River Results » Collegiate
LAST TIME OUT For the first time since 2009, a Wisconsin men’s golfer finished a tournament atop the leaderboard. Battling tough conditions all weekend, including snow during the latter stages of the final round, freshman Griffin Barela earned co-medalist honors at the D.A. Weibring Intercollegiate at the Weibring Golf Club in Normal, Illinois. THIS WEEK The Badgers head to West Lafayette, Indiana this weekend for their final tune-up before the Big Ten Championships. UW plays in the Boilermaker Invitational on Saturday and Sunday.
OF NOTE On the strength of top-15 finishes from Barela, junior Jordan Hahn and sophomore Pete Kuhl, Wisconsin tied for second as a team at the Weibring Intercollegiate, behind only 27th-ranked Duke. GOOD TO KNOW Sophomore Nick Robinson tied for third at last year’s Boilermaker Invitational, his best career finish in a 54-hole event, while Hahn tied for 13th. As a team, UW tied for sixth place in the 15-team event.
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
Bluffon, S.C.
Mar. 25-27 at Hootie at Bulls Bay Results » Intercollegiate
Awendaw, S.C.
Mar. 31-Apr. 1
at D.A. Weibring Results » Invitational
Normal, Ill.
Apr. 14-15 at Boilermaker Invitational
West Lafayette, Ind.
Apr. 27-29 at Big Ten Championships
Baltimore, Md.
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
FOLLOW US:
▶ Barela takes the crown in the snow ▶ Badgers go low on final day of Hootie Invitational
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INSIDE MEN’S ROWING SCHEDULE
Home events in bold. Oct. 22
Oct. 28
Oct. 29
Nov. 4
at Head of the Charles Boston Results » at North Star Regatta Minneapolis Results » at Princeton Chase Princeton, N.J. Results »
at Bald Eagle Invite Indianapolis Results »
2018 April 7
at Syracuse
Results »
April 14-15 at Stanford Invitational
LAST WEEK The No. 12 Wisconsin men’s rowing team opened the spring season against No. 10 Syracuse Saturday in New York. The varsity eight edged the Orange’s top boat by two full seconds, recording the fastest time of the day with a time of 6:08.2 over 2000 meters. THIS WEEK The team travels to Redwood Shores, California this weekend to participate in the Stanford Invite. Competition is set to take place both Saturday and Sunday and will feature several of college rowing’s top
programs from around the country. GOOD TO KNOW This weekend the Badgers will face several top-10 teams, including No. 1 Cal. The last time Wisconsin upset a top10 boat, the Badgers’ varsity eight beat out then-No. 10 Cornell by four one hundredths of a second in the IRA championships.
Redwood City, Calif.
April 28
Boston University/MIT/ MSOE/Minnesota
Baraboo, Wis.
April 29
Northeastern
Baraboo, Wis.
May 13
at Eastern Sprints
Worcester, Mass.
June 1-3
at IRA National Championships
Princeton, N.J.
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
NEED TO KNOW Fans can follow @BadgerRowing for team updates and check UWBadgers.com following each race day for a recap of the meet’s events.
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
FOLLOW US:
▶ No. 12 Badgers put squeeze on No. 10 Orange ▶ Connor’s Erg Challenge raises over $23k for cancer research
47
INSIDE WOMEN’S ROWING SCHEDULE
Home events in bold. Sept. 16 at Milwaukee River Challenge Results »
Milwaukee
Oct. 6-7
vs. Iowa/Indiana
Iowa City, Iowa
Oct. 8
at Head of the Rock Rockford, Ill. Results »
Oct. 29
at Minnesota
Nov. 4
Class Day Regatta
2018 Mar. 17-18 at Cardinal Invite Oak Ridge, Tenn. Results » March 31
THIS WEEK After missing a weekend of racing due to inclement weather, the No. 12 Badgers travel to South Carolina for the Clemson Invitational, April 14-15. OF NOTE The Clemson Invitational features 21 schools from nine conferences, including eight teams ranked in the top-20. Notable schools include No. 5 Ohio State, No. 10 Virginia and No. 14 USC, as well as teams the Badgers have already faced this season like Minnesota, UCF, Tulsa and Clemson.
GOOD TO KNOW At last year’s Clemson Invitational, Wisconsin finished third overall after sending all four boats to the A Finals. Wisconsin’s second varsity eight was awarded the Breakout Boat trophy, as voted by participating head coaches and fans on Twitter. NEED TO KNOW Check UWBadgers.com, @BadgerRowing on Twitter and @BadgerWRowing on Instagram for updates through the weekend.
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
vs. UCF/Miami Sarasota, Fla. Results »
April 7
Big Ten Double Dual (Ohio State, Rutgers)
Baraboo, Wis.
ANNA LEACH
▲ TAP TO WATCH - Wisconsin Rowing Spring Training 2018
CANCELLED
April 14-15 at Clemson Invitational
Clemson, S.C.
April 28-29 vs. Syracuse/Princeton
Princeton, N.J.
May 12
at Big Ten Championships
Indianapolis
May 25-27 at NCAA Championships
Sarasota, Fla.
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
FOLLOW US:
▶ Callie at the Catch: Water you doing this Spring Break? ▶ Badgers sweep Saturday in Sarasota
49
INSIDE WOMEN’S LIGHTWEIGHT ROWING SCHEDULE
Home events in bold. Oct. 8
Oct. 22
at Head of the Rock Rockford, Ill. Results »
at Head of the Charles Boston, Mass. Results »
Oct. 29
at Minnesota
Nov. 4
Class Day Regatta
2018 March 31
vs. UCF/Miami Sarasota, Fla. Results »
April 7
at Big Ten Double Dual (Ohio State, Rutgers)
Baraboo, Wis.
CANCELLED
April 14-15 at Knecht Cup
West Windsor, N.J.
April 21-22 at SIRA Regatta
Oak Ridge, Tenn.
April 29
at EAWRC Championships
Oak Ridge, Tenn.
May 11-12 at Dad Vail Regatta
THIS WEEK The Badgers open their spring racing season with a trip to the Knecht Cup this Saturday and Sunday in West Windsor, New Jersey. GOOD TO KNOW Six of the top seven ranked women’s varsity lightweight eights will take part in the
races at the site of the 2018 Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships.
Philadelphia
June 1-3
at IRA National Championships
West Windsor, N.J.
PAUL CAPOBIANCO
▲ TAP TO WATCH - Wisconsin Rowing Spring Training 2018
View full schedule/results »
SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
NEED TO KNOW Check UWBadgers.com, @BadgerRowing on Twitter and @BadgerWLTRowing on Instagram for updates through the weekend.
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
FOLLOW US:
▶ Women’s lightweights No. 4 as season continues this week ▶ Wisconsin lightweights sign 12 for 2018-19 school year
51
THIS WEEK IN BADGER HISTORY
CAMP RANDALL 100 SPOTLIGHT:
MILT BRUHN
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 MIKE LUCAS UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
M
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ilt Bruhn was paid an endearing compliment by one of his Big Ten fraternity brothers, Minnesota coach Murray Warmath, who offered a testimonial to his personality and character. “College football needs men like Milt Bruhn,” he said. “There’s not a finer or nicer man in the country.” Bruhn’s players felt the same way. Linebacker Bob Richter, no relation to Pat, has never forgotten walking into Bruhn’s office for the first time. “It was like I was talking to the Wizard of Oz,” said Richter. “Milt had that stately, overwhelming demeanor yet he was just one of the real nice guys.” Bruhn was a Gopher by heart. He was a native of St. Bonifacius, Minnesota (Mound High School). He
was also a Gopher by design. He attended the University of Minnesota and was a starting offensive lineman for Bernie Bierman on two national championship teams. In addition, he was the starting catcher and senior captain of a Minnesota baseball team that won the 1935 Big Ten title. The irony is that Bruhn fashioned a 7-3-1 record against the Gophers during his 11 seasons as Wisconsin’s head coach (52-45-6 overall). The school got its money’s worth out of the avuncular Bruhn, who won two outright Big Ten championships and took the Badgers to a couple of Rose Bowls. Bruhn’s salary was $20,228 and he worked on a year-toyear basis with no contract. One month after Bruhn was inducted into the UW Athletics Hall of Fame as one of its charter members in 1991, he passed away from a heart attack. He was 78.
▪▪▪▪ “He had his moments when he was not very hapPete Bruhn can still remember coming home from py about things.” school and seeing the two head coaches working Bruhn usually got his message across. on the Xs and Os at the dining room table. “He was honest and fair,” said Steve Underwood, “They would be drawing out plays together,” he a co-captain along with Richter on the ’62 team. said. “He was a great guy when dealing with him perOne was his dad, Milt Bruhn. sonally. But he could get very mad when the team The other was Vince Lombardi. was screwing up. One of his favorite phrases was, “They were close friends,” Pete Bruhn said. “They ‘Okay, guys, you’re milling around like cattle.’” had a good relationship.” That was classic Milt He was a coach’s kid, so Bruhn, who wasn’t known “HE UNDERSTOOD THE SKILLS OF he wasn’t in awe of anyone. for a fire and brimstone apHIS PLAYERS,” UNDERWOOD SAID OF But can you imagine walking proach. BRUHN, “AND HE RECRUITED THE into your house — as a 17 or “He left the motivation up RIGHT PEOPLE FOR THE JOB.” 18-year old — and the great to his assistants,” Underwood Lombardi is breaking down said. plays in your dining room? “You take everything in “He had good people around him,” said Richter. stride at the time,” Pete said. “Looking back on it People like Fred Jacoby, Clark Van Galder and Lanow, it was quite an event.” Vern Van Dyke. Lombardi took over the Green Bay Packers in Underwood pointed out that Bruhn knew what 1959, the same year the Badgers, under Milt Bruhn, needed to be done to be successful. lost to Washington in the Rose Bowl. The friendship “He understood the skills of his players,” he said, steadily grew between Lombardi and Bruhn, who “and he recruited the right people for the job.” would annually take his staff to Green Bay for a few of days of meetings with Lombardi’s assistants. To read the rest of the story, click here. For the “My dad used to get together with Lombardi and complete list, visit CampRandall100.com. they would exchange ideas on blocking schemes and how to run a pro-style offense,” said Pete Bruhn, who lettered as a backup center on the 1962 Rose Bowl team. “He adopted the offense for (Ron) Vander Kelen and (Pat) Richter especially.” Bruhn was also good friends with Oklahoma’s Hall of Fame coach Bud Wilkinson, who helped shape Bruhn’s thinking on the nuances of the split-T offense. Bruhn and Wilkinson were teammates on a couple of unbeaten Big Ten championship teams at the University of Minnesota. “He wasn’t a fiery guy but he was an imposing presence,” Richter said of the burly Bruhn, a former offensive guard. “A teddy bear comes to mind. He was a really nice guy, a terrific gentleman. He had kind of gruff voice when he would yell at us and things like that. But he was very jovial.” Not always, Pete Bruhn noted. “He could be fiery,” he said. “He picked up a couple of things from what Woody Hayes would do (at Ohio State). My dad had a bobble head doll that he threw against the wall one time. He would do things like that once in a while — things out of character — to kind of shock the group.
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