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THE BOYS ARE BACK The Badgers team that takes the field for Friday’s season opener in Tampa, Florida, will be the product of a month’s worth of training camp in the shadow of Camp Randall Stadium. PHOTO BY BRANDON HARRISON
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GREAT DANA Junior Dana Rettke flies high for a kill to lead the White team over the Red team at the Badgers’ annual scrimmage last Saturday in the UW Field House. PHOTO BY GREG ANDERSON
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ABOVE THE FLOCK Wisconsin’s Michael Russell II jumps above his ’Mingo opposition for a header during the Badgers’ exhibition match against Forward Madison FC at the McClimon Soccer Complex last week. PHOTO BY TOM LYNN
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HIGH FIVES FOR LITTLE BADGERS Middle blocker Nicole Shanahan greets a young fan waiting to meet her favorite Badgers after the Red vs. White Scrimmage at the UW Field House. PHOTO BY GREG ANDERSON
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GAME RECOGNIZE GAME One of college football’s all-time best, running back-turned FOX Sports analyst Reggie Bush, came to Madison earlier this month to spend time with one of the greats that has followed in his footsteps, Jonathan Taylor. Watch the video here. PHOTO BY BRANDON HARRISON
INFOCUS
ROUND ONE Wisconsin red looks good on you! NHL first-round picks Cole Caufield and Alex Turcotte, joined projected 2020 first-round pick Dylan Holloway and the rest of the Badgers on the ice to practice for their trip this week for games in Vancouver, British Columbia. PHOTO BY PAUL CAPOBIANCO
CONTENTS
AUGUST 28, 2019 ▪ VOLUME 10, ISSUE 1
DARREN LEE
30 EMBRACING THE CHALLENGE His teammates say he’s a calm and steady leader for the Badgers’ offense. Jack Coan earned his spot at QB1 by proving himself as a player — and as a leader.
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IN FOCUS
18 LUCAS AT LARGE 21 BY THE NUMBERS 22 WHAT TO WATCH
A SHARED PATH 18 LUCAS AT LARGE
TOM LYNN
FEATURES
Zack Baun has traveled the path teammate Izayah Green-May now follows, one focused on getting stronger and expanding his game
25 BADGERING 27 BADGERS GIVE BACK 29 VIRAL VIDEO 36 INSIDE FOOTBALL 37 INSIDE VOLLEYBALL 39 INSIDE HOCKEY 41 INSIDE SOCCER
BADGERING
25 DANA RETTKE Junior middle blocker Dana Rettke is back home from an unbelievable summer touring Europe and playing for Team USA 15
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LUCAS AT LARGE
BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM
Baun has traveled path Green-May now follows
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ack Baun sees a little bit of himself in Izayah GreenMay. It’s not necessarily from a physical standpoint, though both were considered undersized projects when they entered the Wisconsin program. In fact, Baun still is — undersized — when compared to the rangy 6-foot-6 Green-May, who has an eye-opening wingspan that rivals many small forwards in college basketball. “He was blessed with very long arms,” said Baun, who sighed. “I wish my arms were that long.” Green-May, a redshirt sophomore, and Baun, a fifth-year senior, make for contrasting bookends at outside linebacker, where they are not only responsible for pressuring the quarterback but setting the edge. Their physiques are uniquely different and so are their experience levels. After missing 2017 with an injury, Baun bounced back to start
NEIL AMENT
TOM LYNN
ZACK BAUN
IZAYAH GREEN-MAY
all 13 games last year and his 63 tackles were the third most on the defense behind T.J. Edwards and Ryan Connelly. By comparison, Green-May had limited snaps and one assisted tackle in six games as a redshirt freshman. “I knew it was going to take some time for him to develop,” Baun said. “And I feel like the developmental process that they have here really did him some justice. He grew into his body. He still has a little bit more work to do. But he’s definitely made strides in the right direction.” Green-May weighed less than 200 pounds (198 at his heaviest) his first year in Madison. “Man, when he came in here, they were calling him ‘Stringbean’ because of the way he looked,” said the 6-3, 235-pound Baun, who had his own growth spurt from his prep quarterback days at Brown Deer High School. “I’m not sure how much he weighed, but it wasn’t nearly enough.”
A year ago, Green-May got up to 214. He’s now carrying 224 on his frame, a construction site. “I feel it in the weight room, my numbers are getting bigger and I’m trying to keep that going,” said Green-May, a high jumper and hurdler at Bolingbrook (Illinois) High School. “I early enrolled here (in 2017) and I felt the physicality. I felt what it was like to get thrown around. I was light. I still am.” On what he did during the offseason to put himself in a contending position to win the starting assignment (opposite Baun) in training camp, GreenMay said matter-of-factly, “I ate. I had to eat and I’m still eating. I have to keep it going. I’m a hard gainer (because of a high metabolism).” He’s also a fast learner. Or, at least, he’s trying to be. By his own admission, he had some growing and growing up to do. “I came in a young guy, I was
17 years old,” said Green-May, who turned 20 in May. “He (Baun) helped me lock-in on the playbook. Time management was a big thing for me. I was coming late (to meetings) and I couldn’t lock-in on certain plays. But he pulled me aside and helped me out with that.” This is where Baun really sees himself in Green-May. “I was kind of in the same boat my freshman year,” Baun said. “I remember being late and just kind of being that guy who wasn’t taking things seriously. And, then, I found out going into my redshirt sophomore year that’s not how you can function if you want to be a lead guy on this team.” Former UW tailback Dare Ogunbowale and defensive lineman Alec James were on either side of Baun in the locker room. “And just seeing the way those guys functioned made me snap out of my old habits,” said Baun, who was also influenced by Edwards and placekicker Rafael Gaglianone. Baun still remembers Ogunbowale’s message: “Dare told me, ‘Pass things on. Get out of your comfort zone and try to help other people.’” That’s what he did with Green-May. So did outside linebacker Christian Bell, a redshirt junior. “Christian was one of the first guys to reach out to me,” GreenMay recounted. “He said, ‘What do you need? If you need me to call you every morning, I’ll do it.’ And that’s what he did. He called me every morning and got me up. He was one of the guys I
hung out with early on.” Green-May drew recruiting traffic from some other Big Ten programs. But he was attracted to Wisconsin because of its 3-4 defensive scheme. “That defense stuck out to me,” said GreenMay, who was even used briefly at cornerback as a prep. “I knew I wasn’t going to be a 4-down (4-3) guy. “I was going to have to be 270 for that and look at me now, I’m still light.”
“I WANTED TO INCREASE MY CONFIDENCE AND I DID THAT JUST WITH MY PLAY. I’M ABLE TO MAKE PLAYS NOW THAT I WASN’T ABLE TO MAKE IN THE PAST. THAT’S A GOOD SIGN. I’VE JUST BEEN OWNING MY ROLE AS A STARTER AND AS LEAD GUY ON THIS TEAM.”
Growing up 30 minutes from Soldier Field, Green-May has always been a Chicago Bears fan. One of his favorite players is outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, who struggled to put on weight during his early years at the University of Georgia. The 6-6 Floyd is now playing at around 240. “I try to watch guys who are my body type, like Floyd,” Green-May said. “But I watch a variety of guys and moves that I could possibly implement into my game.” On rushing the passer, he added, “It’s confidence, just playing with confidence. I have to turn something into my bread and butter. I have to turn some-
thing into my go-to move.” Holding the point of attack will be the ultimate measure of Green-May. “Being that tall is actually a disadvantage to him because you’ve got to get lower on blocks to leverage the blockers,” Baun said. “It’s all about leverage. You’ve got to get low and bend.” In respect to the lowdown on Wisconsin’s opening opponent, South Florida, Baun volunteered, “They’re going to speed up the game. It’s going to be hot down there and they’re used to it. So, they’re going to spread us out and try to make plays in space. And they’ll test our eyes with their zone read.” Truth is, all eyes will be on the Badgers defense after a very uncharacteristic 2018 season. Even Baun, not unlike the national pundits, had his questions at the start of training camp. “I just wanted to see where this team could be at the END of camp, and we’re there or getting there,” said Baun, carrying the OLB torch passed down from Joe Schobert, Vince Biegel, T.J. Watt, Garret Dooley and Leon Jacobs. “I also wanted to see a bunch of guys come together and truly bond as a team. And I think we did that.” Addressing personal goals, Baun said, “I wanted to increase my confidence and I did that just with my play. I’m able to make plays now that I wasn’t able to make in the past. That’s a good sign. I’ve just been really owning my role as a starter and as lead guy on this team.” Setting an example for GreenMay. As others did for him. ▪
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BY THE NUMBERS TOM LYNN
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WOMEN’S SOCCER ▶ The Badgers ride an eight-game unbeaten streak at the McClimon Soccer Complex, which dates to last season, into their home-opening match Thursday vs. Marquette.
◀ FOOTBALL With 4,171 in just two years, Jonathan Taylor needs 829 rushing yards to reach 5,000 for his career. Only three players have rushed for more than 5,000 through their junior seasons: Georgia’s Herschel Walker (5,596), Wisconsin’s Ron Dayne (5,091) and Oregon’s LaMichael James (5,082).
VOLLEYBALL ▶ Wisconsin returns five All-Americans in seniors Tiffany Clark and Madison Duello and juniors Molly Haggerty, Sydney Hilley and Dana Rettke. Only reigning NCAA champion and No. 1-ranked Stanford returns more All-Americans (6) than the Badgers.
◀ MEN’S SOCCER The Badgers open the season with eyes on a fourth consecutive 10-win season. The last time UW posted at least four consecutive double-digit win seasons was when it rattled off five straight from 1991-96.
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GREG ANDERSON
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TOM LYNN
TOM LYNN
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WHAT TO WATCH TOM LYNN
I-94 RIVALRY
WOMEN’S SOCCER VS. MARQUETTE THURSDAY, AUGUST 29 ▪ 7PM McCLIMON COMPLEX ▪ BTN PLUS Wisconsin returns to Madison for a pair of matches this week at the McClimon Complex, facing Marquette on Thursday and Butler on Sunday. Catch Thursday’s 7 p.m. match vs. the Golden Eagles streamed live on BTN Plus ($).
DAN SANGER
OCEAN BREEZES
FOOTBALL AT SOUTH FLORIDA FRIDAY, AUGUST 30 ▪ 6PM TAMPA, FLA. ▪ ESPN The 131st season of Wisconsin football kicks off Friday when the 19th-ranked Badgers head to Tampa to take on South Florida. Watch the prime-time matchup live on ESPN at 6 p.m. (CT).
DAVID GAUSTAD
GOAL SZN
MEN’S SOCCER VS. UC DAVIS FRIDAY, AUGUST 30 ▪ 7PM McCLIMON COMPLEX ▪ BTN PLUS Wisconsin opens the home season with two matches this weekend. The Badgers play UC Davis on Friday at 7 p.m. and then return to host UAB on Sunday at 7 p.m. Fans can watch both matches streamed live on BTN Plus ($).
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WEDNESDAY 8/28
THURSDAY 8/29 WOMEN’S SOCCER vs. Marquette Madison, Wis. 7 p.m. Watch: BTN Plus Ticket info »
FRIDAY 8/30
SATURDAY 8/31
VOLLEYBALL vs. Florida State Chapel Hill, N.C. 2:30 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL at North Carolina Chapel Hill, N.C. 5:30 p.m.
Watch: ACC Network Extra
Watch: ACC Network Extra
FOOTBALL at South Florida Tampa, Fla. 6 p.m. Watch: ESPN MEN’S SOCCER vs. UC Davis Madison, Wis. 7 p.m. Ticket info » MEN’S HOCKEY at British Columbia (Exhibition) Vancouver, B.C. 9 p.m.
SUNDAY 9/1
MONDAY 9/2
TUESDAY 9/3
WEDNESDAY 9/4
WOMEN’S SOCCER vs. Butler Madison, Wis. 1 p.m. Ticket info » MEN’S HOCKEY at British Columbia (Exhibition) Vancouver, B.C. 5 p.m. MEN’S SOCCER vs. UAB Madison, Wis. 7 p.m. Ticket info »
ALL TIMES CENTRAL
VIEW FULL CALENDAR ON UWBADGERS.COM »
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BADGERING...
DANA RETTKE VOLLEYBALL ▪ JUNIOR RIVERSIDE, ILL. Junior Dana Rettke had one of the best summers of her life, training with the U.S. National Team for three months as well as traveling with her Badger team for 12 days in Europe. The 6-foot-8 middle blocker was the youngest member of the national team, winning a gold medal in the Volleyball Nations League and being a member of the American team that qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Best memories of touring Europe with the team? “Being with the team after a month and a half of long travel, exploring with my best friends, swimming in Lake Bled and eating too much gelato together.” Best memories of national team tour? “Our last night in Italy on week two of Volleyball Nations League, we all told stories about our favorite parts of the tournament thus far, and we were just laughing and having a great time. Overall, though some of my favorite memories came from getting to know all the players on the team. I’ve gotten to know them as people, not just as volleyball players, and that was really special to me.” What was it like to play as a teammate with former Badger Lauren Carlini? “It was awesome! Lauren is a very fierce competitor and an extremely hard worker. She loves her teammates and will do anything and everything to put the team in the best position to win. I loved her energy, and you can really see her passion for volleyball and her teammates. She has had such a big impact on this program and I really got to see where that came from in her.” What did you work on the most with the national team? “Blocking, blocking, blocking! I really worked on getting my eyes on the setter faster in order to pick up cues before the ball is set. The international game is so much faster, so knowing sets before they happen gives you a huge advantage on making early and correct moves. I got better as the summer went on, but I still have lots of room to improve.” What’s it like being coach by U.S. National Team Coach Karch Kiraly, one of the best volleyball players ever? “It was an honor to be coached by Karch. He is so wise and knows so much about the game, it was really cool to hear his perspective on anything and everything. He’s a great coach and fosters a very positive environment. I’m excited to keep working with him more in the future!” What are you looking forward to the most this season? “Making history and making unforgettable memories with this team. We have a very, very talented group this year, and are looking to win the Big Ten and a national championship.” Click to read more »
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BADGERS GIVE BACK SPOTLIGHT
badgers give back
Competing for a Cause
Badgers fun-filled day of games with Wisconsin Upside Down BY BADGERS GIVE BACK STAFF
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or the Badgers, volunteering has no offseason. On July 10, Wisconsin Athletics came ready to play with Wisconsin Upside Down, a local organization that supports individuals with Down Syndrome and their families. Field Day was an opportunity for student-athletes, coaches and staff to come together during the offseason and create a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for individuals with Down Syndrome. Over 100 student-athletes and staff joined Wisconsin Upside Down for the first ever field day at Camp Randall Stadium. These extraordinary individuals were paired into teams with student-athletes and staff to compete in games of limbo, parachute popcorn, sack races and various water activities. There was no shortage of energy or enthusiasm as teams rallied together to beat the heat with their new friends while creating meaningful friendships. “To have enough volunteers that are also amazing student-athletes that the kids look up to — well that just takes it to another level!” stated Robbin Lyons, President of Wisconsin Upside Down.
Presley Norby, a senior forward on the UW women’s hockey team, was the mastermind behind the field day event. “Everyone involved had a blast and I am so grateful that we had the opportunity to have such a special day!” Norby brought her hockey stick for the teams to use as a limbo bar. “It was so special to see people from Wisconsin Athletics come together for an amazing organization, ” she said. Of course, the day would not be complete without an epic water balloon battle. Laughter and excitement were uncontrollable as all participants threw balloons and cheered each other on. While the cheers of the fall season are just getting started, student-athletes continue to take the time to inspire and bring smiles to faces in their community, truly exemplifying the mission of Badgers Give Back. “They just don’t get the chance to have such carefree fun anymore! Not only that — most have not or will never get to experience life on a college campus, for them this is a chance to ‘BE’ at college,” Lyons explained. For more information about Badgers Give Back, click here. ▪
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VIRAL VIDEO
JT23: BRINGING RUNNING BACK UP NEXT:
WISCONSIN STUDENT-ATHLETES STUDY ABROAD IN PARIS, FRANCE
CATCH UP WITH JACK COAN AND KENDRIC PRYOR
FOLLOW THE BADGERS â–¶
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HIS TEAMMATES SAY HE’S A CALM AND STEADY LEADER FOR THE BADGERS’ OFFENSE. JACK COAN EARNED HIS SPOT AT QB1 FOR THE BADGERS BY PROVING HIMSELF AS A PLAYER — AND AS A LEADER.
BY mike lucas
UWBADGERS.COM SENIOR WRITER
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nwinding after practice, Wisconsin’s Jack Coan did something that starting quarterbacks should never do. At least not figuratively. He looked over his shoulder. Since last January and the arrival of the highly-touted Graham Mertz, a four-star prospect, it would have been easy for Coan to be apprehensive about the competition. Not only did Coan have to hold off the talented newcomer from Kansas, but he had to create separation between himself and returning quarterbacks Chase Wolf and Danny Vanden Boom. As it has evolved over the last eight months, Coan has met and embraced every challenge. “He has a focus and a vision that has been phenomenal to be around,” said QB coach Jon Budmayr. “Since coming back in winter training, he had a plan for himself … no distractions.” When asked last April about the pecking order of the four players competing for the No. 1 job, Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst blithely assured everyone, “We’re going to have a starting quarterback when we play our first game.” When UW opens the season Friday night at South Florida, the 20-year-old Coan will lead the offense on to the field at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. “Every rep that he (Coan) got this camp was with the ones,” Chryst said. “He’s got a better understanding of himself, of our offense and what (opposing) teams are doing. A big part of it is that he’s trusting the work that he has put in.” Coan’s work ethic has been a steppingstone
in asserting leadership. “He (Coan) is definitely one of the leaders,” confirmed Mertz, an early enrollee and true freshman from Overland Park, Kansas. “Our (position) group emphasizes each of us being leaders in our own way. He’s really good at it and we can all learn from him, too. He really kind of set the tone …” By doing so, Coan’s strengths have clearly emerged. “The biggest thing with Jack is his consistency,” said Vanden Boom, a redshirt sophomore from Kimberly, Wisconsin. “On the field and off the field, he’s very consistent. He works extremely hard. Watches a lot of film. He’s always in the weight room. “Any time there’s an optional lift or something like that, you know, Jack is going to be there. He’s just the kind of teammate that you can count on, he’s a great friend as well and someone we trust as the leader of our group.” Wolf, a redshirt freshman from Cincinnati, lived with Coan over the summer. He traced Coan’s timeline and growth to the Bronx and a win over Miami at Yankee Stadium, an hour’s drive from Coan’s home on Long Island. “Starting with the Pinstripe Bowl he was extremely confident,” he said, “and he has carried that confidence over from spring ball.” During the normal ebb and flow of competition, Wolf says Coan has remained steadfast in his approach. Straight-line Jack through thick or thin. “I don’t really know when he’s up or down, which is awesome,” Wolf said. “It’s a great trait to have when you’re a quarterback.”
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“ANY TIME THERE’S AN OPTIONAL LIFT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, JACK IS GOING TO BE THERE. HE’S JUST THE KIND OF TEAMMATE THAT YOU CAN COUNT ON, HE’S A GREAT FRIEND AS WELL AND SOMEONE WE TRUST AS THE LEADER OF OUR GROUP.”
“You saw that in the Purdue game,” he said of last year’s triple-overtime victory over the Boilermakers in West Lafayette, “and you saw glimpses of it in the bowl game. He was being true to himself. It wasn’t like he was playing with bad rhythm in those other games. “But I thought he was more himself … his personality came out. He plays with pretty good energy. He enjoys watching the game. Like when the defense is out there, he’s watching the defense play. He just enjoys every aspect of the game.” In road losses at Northwestern (Coan’s first career start) and Penn State, Budmayr thought Coan was too restrained, too mechanical. “He was so locked-in to the whole thing that you didn’t get the freed-up Jack,” he said. “I thought you felt that more in the last couple of games.” Coan can be stoic — bordering on shy — in media group settings. How would Budmayr describe his personality? “He’s interesting,” he said. “He’s got a calmness to him. But he’s got a great appreciation
DAVID STLUKA
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▪▪▪▪ n the midst of describing his football mindset — “I feel like I’m still a little kid out here playing” — Coan literally did look over his shoulder after a recent practice and saw UW offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph playing catch with his three young boys on the Camp Randall Stadium turf. “I remember when I was a little kid going to the field with my dad,” said Coan. “I feel like you just have to have it in you that you’re playing the same game you’ve been playing since you were that little kid. It’s the game you love.” One of Budmayr’s goals has been to appeal to that spirit and “free up” Coan.
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NEIL AMENT
DARREN LEE
JOHN FISHER
for good football. But when things are not gocomfortable. I don’t know what it is with this ing well, he’s going to be about as calm as anyteam. But I feel like we’re a really tight group one can be. and we’re all comfortable with each other.” “When things are going well, he doesn’t get Coan has made a point of reaching out and too upbeat, either. engaging others. “He’s about as level-headed as anybody I’ve “I feel a big part of that is talking to more ever been around.” people,” Coan said. “Like sitting down at the Coan has heard it said about him before and lunch table with new guys and finding out their he didn’t disagree. story whether freshmen, sophomores, juniors “I’ve always just tried to stay in the moment or seniors. I’ve just been branching out and and really enjoy what’s happening; whatever getting to know everybody.” happens, good or bad,” As part of an offseahe conceded. son team building exerWhere does he get cise, the players and staff that from? “LEADERSHIP IS INSPIRING CONFIDENCE IN read, “You Win in the “Definitely not my dad Locker Room First: The YOUR TEAMMATES AND BRINGING OUT THE — my mom definitely,” 7 C’s to build a winning BEST IN THEM AS WELL AS YOURSELF.” he said. “My dad can be team in business, sports very high and very low.” and life.” The co-authors Spoken out of respect for mom Donna and are Jon Gordon and Mike Smith, the former dad Mike, owner of a Sayville, N.Y., landscaphead coach of the Atlanta Falcons. ing company. “We had to do book reports on it and evCoan can be passionate about family. But eryone bought in,” said outside linebacker Zack has Budmayr ever seen him get mad? Baun. “It’s about getting off your phone and “He’ll get upset at himself,” offered Budmayr, engaging with your teammates more. It’s about who went on to say that Coan has a “calming” talking to people outside of your comfort zone influence on his teammates in the huddle. “He other than your position group or the usual has a presence to him that attracts them.” crowd you hang out with.” Coan politely countered, “I’m pretty steady Coan embodies many of the C’s. Most notain games and practices. But I will get mad.” bly C for Consistency. Was it fair for Budmayr to suggest that he Gordon and Smith wrote: has begun to reveal more of himself? “Be the same leader whether you are winning “I’d say that’s fair,” Coan said. “I’m just more or losing.”
“It’s not okay to be moody — people don’t know what to expect and lose trust in you.” “Consistently remove any seeds of complacency.” “Commit to consistent improvement.” “Be humble — life-long learner; headlines become fish wrap.” “Be hungry — push yourself and your team to be great.” It’s pretty much what you would want out of any player, but particularly a quarterback. Coan could put a check by each of those boxes. “Leadership is inspiring confidence in your teammates and bringing out the best in them as well as yourself,” Coan opined. “I’ve definitely tried to focus on that this spring and during winter and summer conditioning and obviously in fall camp.” It has been part of Coan’s plan since the bowl game. A self-review was another part. “Mentally, I went through all of my plays from last season, and I went through all of Alex’s plays,” he said, referencing Alex Hornibrook. “I graded them out myself and tried to see tendencies in what I was doing bad and what I was doing good and I tried to improve upon that.” Noted Budmayr, “Once you get to where you’ve had an opportunity to rep it in a game, it’s good to go back and see, ‘OK, how did I do with it and what can I learn from it?’” Begging a follow-up question: How can the offense be better with Coan? “He has the ability to stretch the ball down the field,” Budmayr said. “He’s a great decision-maker. He’s learned situational football. He understands there are times to be aggressive and times to not be as aggressive with the ball in your hand. “He can make all the throws and he’s pretty dynamic with his feet when things break down and he can present some issues that way. “I’m just excited for him to continue growing in all those areas.”
INSIDE THE QB ROOM During his Sunday presser, Paul Chryst singled out the quarterback room. “I thought the whole group had a really good camp,” he said. Wolf and Mertz shared line two on the depth chart. “Their styles are a little bit different,” Chryst said. “They’re both kind of figuring out who they are and how they can play to their strengths in our offense … I love what Graham and Chase have done. But they’ve got to keep going and they’ve got to keep growing. But I like where they’re at.” Many of the 7 C’s apply to the collective bond between Coan, Wolf, Mertz and Vanden Boom. C for Communicate. C for Connect. C for Care. C for Character. “If the meeting is at 8:30, we’ll all get in there at 8:10 and we’ll just chat or play some darts,” said Wolf. “We just enjoy being around each other. It’s a close room. I know there’s competition on the field, but we still care about each other … except when we’re playing darts.” Vanden Boom is the leader on the dart board, followed by Coan. Vanden Boom and Coan also rank one-two on the locker room ping pong table in the overall team standings. “I’m like five or six,” Wolf said. “Graham is unranked because he stinks.” In this case, C is for Chuckle. “It’s an awesome room,” Mertz said. “A lot of people from the outside might think, ‘Oh, they probably hate each other.’ But we really care about each other and we just want to see each other really grow and maximize our potential. We’ve all kind of had the same mindset on that.” ▪ 35
INSIDE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (0-0, 0-0) Home events in bold. All times CT. Aug. 30 at South Florida Sept. 7 Central Mich.
6 p.m. 2:30 p.m.
Sept. 21 #7 Michigan
11 a.m.
Sept. 28 Northwestern Oct. 5
Kent State
Oct. 12 #18 Michigan St. 2:30 p.m.
Homecoming
Oct. 19 at Illinois
11 a.m.
Oct. 26 at #5 Ohio State Nov. 9 ▲ TAP TO WATCH - 1-on-1 With BTN’s Gerry Dinardo
THIS WEEK The 131st season of Wisconsin football kicks off Friday when the 19th-ranked Badgers (0-0 overall, 0-0 B1G) head to Tampa to take on South Florida in a prime-time matchup that airs on ESPN. Friday’s game marks the second all-time meeting between the teams. LAST WEEK The Badgers enter 2019 following an 8-5 campaign that culminated with the program’s fifth consecutive bowl game win, a 35-3 triumph over Miami in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl.
GOOD TO KNOW Going 102-33 (.756), Wisconsin joins Alabama (127), Ohio State (115), Clemson (112), Boise State (109), Oklahoma (105) and Stanford (102) as the only FBS programs to average 10 wins per year over the previous 10 seasons.
▶ Ferguson’s attention to detail setting up big fall ▶ Groshek-Taylor tag team adds versatility 36
Nov. 16 at #24 Nebraska Nov. 23 Purdue Nov. 30 at Minnesota Dec. 7
Big Ten Championship
Indianapolis
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
NEED TO KNOW Friday’s game kicks off at 6 p.m. CT and airs live on ESPN, with Dave Flemming, Louis Riddick and Paul Carcaterra on the call. Matt Lepay, Mike Lucas and Patrick Herb will call the game statewide on the Badger Sports Network and worldwide via iHeartRadio. Live stats are available via UWBadgers.com and the Badger Gameday app.
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
▶ Seltzner and O Line aim to seize the moment
#20 Iowa
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INSIDE VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE (0-0, 0-0) Home events in bold. All times CT. at Big Ten/ACC Challenge, Chapel Hill, N.C.:
Aug. 30 vs. Florida St. 2:30 p.m. Aug. 31 at N. Carolina 5:30 p.m. HotelRED Invitational, Madison, Wis.:
Sept. 5
#16 Marquette
7 p.m.
Sept. 6
#20 Baylor
8 p.m.
at Clemson Invitational, Clemson, S.C.:
Sept. 13 vs. South Carolina 5 p.m. 2 p.m.
Sept. 19 #13 Washington 8 p.m. ▲ TAP TO WATCH - Experienced Group Leads Badgers into 2019 Season
THIS WEEK No. 5 Wisconsin (0-0 overall) opens the 2019 season on Friday-Saturday, competing in the sixth-annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Wisconsin (25-7 in 2018) and No. 3 Minnesota (27-4) represent the Big Ten, taking on Florida State (1910) and North Carolina (8-19) from the ACC in the tournament at Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill, N.C. LAST WEEK For the fifth straight season, Wisconsin opens the year ranked among the top 10 teams in the country. The Badgers are ranked fifth in the AVCA Preseason Top 25 poll. UW was also picked to win the 2019 Big Ten title in a vote of league coaches.
GOOD TO KNOW The Badgers are 31-14 all time in season openers, including a 13-5 neutral mark. Wisconsin opened the 2018 season with a 2-0 mark, defeating North Carolina, 3-0, and Florida State, 3-1, at the Big Ten/ACC Challenge in Minneapolis. NEED TO KNOW All matches this weekend will air on ACC Network Plus. Badger fans can listen to the matches on 100.9 FM in the Madison area or online with iHeartRadio with Jon Arias and Diane Nordstrom on the call. Follow live updates on Twitter @BadgerVB.
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
▶ Wisconsin picked as Big Ten volleyball preseason favorite
Sept. 21 at #13 Washington 8 p.m. Sept. 27 #17 Purdue
7 p.m.
Sept. 29 Indiana
1 p.m.
Oct. 2
#8 Penn State
8 p.m.
Oct. 5
at #2 Nebraska
7 p.m.
Oct. 9
at Northwestern 6 p.m.
Oct. 13 #3 Minnesota
3 p.m.
Oct. 18 #6 Illinois
8 p.m.
GREG ANDERSON
Sept. 14 at Clemson
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
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▶ Red and white, the perfect match ▶ Badgers ranked fifth in preseason poll
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INSIDE MEN’S HOCKEY SCHEDULE (0-0-0, 0-0-0) Home events in bold. All times CT. Aug. 30 at British Columbia 9 p.m.
Exhibition
Sept. 1
at British Columbia 5 p.m.
Exhibition
Oct. 11 at Boston College Oct. 12 at Merrimack
6 p.m.
Oct. 18 Minnesota Duluth Oct. 19 Minnesota Duluth Oct. 25 Clarkson Oct. 26 Clarkson Nov. 1
at Penn State
Nov. 2
at Penn State
Nov. 8
at Omaha View full schedule/results »
SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
▲ TAP TO WATCH - Wisconsin Hockey || Jump-Starting the Season
THIS WEEK The Badgers (0-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 B1G) head to Vancouver, British Columbia, for an international trip and for a pair of exhibition games at the University of British Columbia. Friday’s game begins at 9 p.m. CT, while Sunday’s contest is slated for a 5 p.m. start. GOOD TO KNOW The games will mark the unofficial Wisconsin debuts for the Badgers’ highly-touted fresh-
man class that includes Alex Turcotte (Los Angeles Kings fifth overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft), Cole Caufield (Montreal Canadiens 15th overall pick) and Dylan Holloway (projected top-15 pick for the 2020 NHL Draft). NEED TO KNOW Follow along with Wisconsin’s trip on the Wisconsin men’s hockey social media channels (@BadgerMHockey).
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
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▶ Why the Badgers can be most exciting college team ▶ As his NHL draft year begins, Holloway absorbs advice
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INSIDE MEN’S SOCCER SCHEDULE (0-0-0, 0-0-0) Home events in bold. All times CT. Aug. 30 UC Davis Sept. 1
UAB
7 p.m. 7 p.m.
Sept. 6
vs. Bowling Green 5 p.m.
Evanston, Ill.
Sept. 8
vs. Lehigh
Evanston, Ill.
Sept. 12 at Butler Sept. 15 #20 Portland
12 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 7 p.m.
Sept. 20 at #2 Indiana 4:30 p.m. Sept. 24 Marquette
7 p.m.
Sept. 27 #1 Maryland 7:30 p.m.
THIS WEEK The Badgers (0-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 B1G) open the regular season with a pair of home games at McClimon Soccer Complex. Opening night takes place Friday at 7 p.m. against UC Davis. UW returns to the field to take on UAB on Sunday at 7 p.m. LAST WEEK Wisconsin played a trio of exhibition games, drawing at Saint Louis, before dropping one-goal games to Forward Madison FC and Loyola-Chicago at McClimon.
GOOD TO KNOW The Badgers open the season with eyes on their fourth consecutive 10-win season. The last time the program posted at least four consecutive double-digit win seasons came from 1991 to 1996 (five seasons).
at Milwaukee 8:30 p.m.
Oct. 6
#7 Michigan St. 12:30 p.m.
Oct. 11 at Rutgers
6 p.m.
Oct. 15 SIUE
7 p.m.
Oct. 19 Penn State
7 p.m.
TOM LYNN
▲ TAP TO WATCH - John Trask Press Conference: "Ready From Day One"
Oct. 2
Oct. 25 at #24 Michigan 5 p.m. Oct. 30 Northwestern
7 p.m.
Nov. 3
2 p.m.
at Ohio State
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
NEED TO KNOW Wisconsin’s first two regular-season games of the season on Friday and next Sunday will stream at BTN+ ($).
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
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▶ Elan Koenig is ready to lead the Badgers to a Big Ten title ▶ Join Wisconsin men’s soccer at McClimon this Fall
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INSIDE WOMEN’S SOCCER SCHEDULE (1-1-0, 0-0-0) Home events in bold. All times CT. Aug. 22 at UCF
W, 1-0
Aug. 25 at #1 Florida St. L, 0-1 OT Aug. 29 Marquette Sept. 1
Butler
Sept. 5
at Loyola-Chicago 7 p.m.
Sept. 8
Green Bay
8 p.m.
Sept. 20 at Maryland
3 p.m.
Sept. 22 at Rutgers
11 a.m.
Sept. 27 Ohio State
5 p.m.
▶ Badgers drop overtime heartbreaker to No. 1 Florida State 42
▶ No. 16 Badgers charge past Knights
12 p.m.
Oct. 3
Michigan
8 p.m.
Oct. 6
at Purdue
12 p.m.
Oct. 11 Minnesota
5 p.m.
Oct. 17 Iowa
7 p.m.
Oct. 20 Nebraska
1 p.m.
Oct. 24 at Illinois
8 p.m.
Oct. 27 at Northwestern 2:30 p.m. View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
GOOD TO KNOW Fans can watch both games this weekend on BTN+ ($) and follow all the action on Twitter (@BadgerWSoccer).
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
1 p.m.
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TOM LYNN
LAST WEEK UW opened its season with a 1-0 win at UCF on Thursday night as Dani Rhodes scored in the 64th minute and Jordyn Bloomer saved a penalty kick late in the game.
NEED TO KNOW After her goal on Thursday night, Rhodes moved into a tie for seventh place in school history in career goals with 26. She looks to become the first player under UW head coach Paula Wilkins to score 30 goals at Wisconsin.
1 p.m.
Sept. 14 at #4 UCLA
Sept. 29 #7 Penn State
THIS WEEK After opening their season in Florida, the No. 15 Badgers (1-1-0 overall, 0-0-0 B1G) return to Madison for a pair of matches at the McClimon Soccer Complex. UW hosts rival Marquette on Thursday in a 7 p.m. matchup before taking on Butler on Sunday at 1 p.m.
7 p.m.