Varsity Magazine - December 30, 2019 by Wisconsin Badgers

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CHAMPIONSHIP BOUND Ecstatic in victory, the fourth-seeded Badger volleyball team celebrates its win over No. 1 Baylor in the NCAA National Semifinals. PHOTO BY TOM LYNN

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HOT WHEELS Leaving practice on Thursday, Wisconsin football student-athletes found a creative way to get to the practice field from the locker room at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. Eric Burrell (25) leads the way with Keeanu Benton pedaling, while teammate Rachad Wildgoose (5) hitches a ride from Aron Cruickshank (1). PHOTO BY KELLI STEFFES

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TIME TO LET IT ALL OUT Micah Potter made his Badger debut for Wisconsin menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball in an 83-64 win over Milwaukee last Saturday. The junior forward posted 12 points and 5 rebounds in 13 minutes. PHOTO BY DAN SANGER

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ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET Seniors M.E. Dodge and Madison Duello high five fans and enjoy the red carpet arrival for the 2019 NCAA Championship match in Pittsburgh. PHOTO BY TOM LYNN

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HELLO HILLIARD! Keep an eye out for Sydney Hilliard! Hailing from nearby Monroe, the Wisconsin freshman picked up her first double-double as a Badger in an 68-42 win over Prairie View A&M. The freshman guard led the team in scoring and rebounds with 15 points and 11 rebounds. PHOTO BY TOM LYNN

CONTENTS

DECEMBER 30, 2019 ▪ VOLUME 10, ISSUE 12 TOM LYNN

28 READY FOR ROSES The traits that first revealed themselves in a young athlete on Long Island — intelligence, toughness and competitive fire, just to name a few — will be on display in the Rose Bowl when Jack Coan leads his Wisconsin team into The Granddaddy of Them All.

FEATURES 2

LUCAS AT LARGE

IN FOCUS

CHASING DREAMS

16 LUCAS AT LARGE

19 BY THE NUMBERS 21 WHAT TO WATCH 25 FORWARD360

DAVID STLUKA

How a coach’s eye and a player’s commitment produced an All-America center in Tyler Biadasz

27 VIRAL VIDEO VOLLEYBALL

36 EXCEPTIONAL SEASON

39 INSIDE FOOTBALL 41 INSIDE BASKETBALL 45 INSIDE HOCKEY

51 INSIDE SWIM & DIVE

TOM LYNN

49 INSIDE WRESTLING

Volleyball’s journey to this year’s NCAA final shows again why the Badgers are in the elite ranks of college programs 13

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

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Director of Brand Communications Managing Editor

Brian Lucas

Director of Football Brand Communications

Julia Hujet

Editor/Designer

Brian Mason

Editor/Contributor

Mike Lucas

Senior Writer

Andy Baggot Writer

Chris Hall, Jerry Mao, Bianca Miceli, Brandon Spiegel Video Production

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Contributors

Carissa Brzezinski, Paul Capobianco, A.J. Harrison, Brandon Harrison, Patrick Herb, Diane Nordstrom, Kelli Steffes Photography

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LUCAS AT LARGE

BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM SENIOR WRITER

All-American Biadasz ‘kept chasing’ dreams

t the opening of the summer football camp on the Wisconsin campus, Joe Rudolph quickly sized up the recruitable high school prospects with a discerning eye on potential offensive linemen. Therein was the conundrum. Rudolph wasn’t sure what to make of Tyler Biadasz, a small school defensive end for the Amherst Falcons, a Division 5 power in Wisconsin. “When the camp started, I knew who he was and I watched him do all his testing and go through stuff,” said Rudolph, UW’s offensive coordinator and O-line coach. “I really liked his athleticism, but I wasn’t sure what position he was because he had played defensive line in high school.” During the camp, the 270-pound Biadasz lined up against some highly-recruited centers. “No one wanted to go against him by the end of the day,” Rudolph said. “He was physical. He cared. His toughness never waned. When camp got tougher, he got better. He was plenty athletic enough and he had a demeanor that he would learn anything that you were willing to teach him.” As an Amherst sophomore, Biadasz was approached about playing center. What the heck, they encouraged him, give it a try. “But I really didn’t like it,” he admitted. “So, I didn’t approach it very well, I’d say. In D-5, you play both sides. I played tackle

because I never really liked to snap in high school.” Relying on his instincts, Rudolph never wavered on Biadasz. “There were some good kids in camp and some tough decisions to make,” said Rudolph, who was entrusted with identifying at least one scholarship center out of the handful that he was evaluating. “I remember Paul (Chryst) came up and said, ‘Who do you like?’ “And I said, ‘I like that kid right there, I’ll take him.’”

“I KNEW THAT I KIND OF STUCK MY NECK OUT TO TAKE HIM. BUT I WAS GREAT WITH IT. WHAT I SAW OUT OF HIM WAS A GUY WHO WOULD DO ANYTHING TO DO IT RIGHT AND GIVE EVERY BIT OF EFFORT TO BE REALLY GOOD.” Chryst asked, “Did he play offense (in camp)?” “Nope, not a play,” said Rudolph, laughing. Still, he was not dissuaded. “I thought from Day One that he would be in the O-line and he would be a center,” Rudolph said. “I knew that I kind of stuck my neck out to take him. But I was great with it. What I saw out of him was a guy who would do anything to do it right and give every bit of effort to be really good.” Biadasz appreciated Rudolph’s convictions. “Rudy saw something in me and he went for it,”

Biadasz said. “I would say that he took a shot on me because I never really had played center before. It was pretty remarkable for him to find that in me at that point of time.” It’s even more remarkable today since Biadasz has become the first center in school history to win the Rimington Trophy. Since 2000, the award has honored college football’s top player at that position. Dave Rimington was a two-time Outland winner and consensus All-American at Nebraska. “It’s awesome to be recognized for what you put into it and how much you work at it, and everything like that,” said Biadasz, who answers fittingly enough to the nickname of “Badger” and will be making his 41st consecutive start in the Rose Bowl against Oregon. “It’s kind of crazy to me that no one has won it (the Rimington) here before. It’s pretty remarkable with how many centers are on the wall (in the O-line meeting room) … It’s truly a blessing and kind of cool to be the first one ... it’s something I’m going to carry with me the rest of my life.” Little known fact: Dave Rimington moved to Madison in 1991 and enrolled in graduate school. One of his former Nebraska teammates was Scott Raridon, who was the first strength coach for Barry Alvarez. In 1992, Rimington was one of two graduate assistants on Alvarez’s staff. He worked with the O-line.

DAVID STLUKA

One of the players Rimington took a liking to was Cory Raymer, one of just two UW centers to earn consensus All-America status. The other is Biadasz. (The late Mike Webster, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, was first-team All-Big Ten in 1973, but he was not named to an All-America squad.) Alvarez has always singled out Raymer as the best center that he’s ever coached. Raymer, like Biadasz, was a defensive lineman in high school (Fond du Lac Goodrich). During the recruiting process, Alvarez confessed, “I lied to Cory and assured him that he would play on the D-line.” Rudolph, the starting left guard next to Raymer on the ’94 Rose Bowl team, never lied to Biadasz. “I told him from the jump,” he said of his intentions to play him at center. “Everyone (on the staff) was in agreement, so it wasn’t a tug of war or anything like that.” There was an underlying truth.

“When he came in the door,” Rudolph said, “he had not taken a snap before.” “I learned from scratch,” Biadasz said. It was during the spring of his senior year of high school that Biadasz took the first steps in making the conversion from the defensive line — where he was the 2015 Tim Krumrie Award winner — to center. Biadasz enlisted the help of Amherst teammate Garrett Groshek, then a preferred UW walk-on. “Me and Garrett would get in the weight room and lift and then we would snap afterwards,” said Biadasz. “We lived with each other that summer going in (to their freshman year) and we’d always talk about the calls, protections and hand signals because he was a quarterback at the time.” On Amherst’s state championship team in ’15, Groshek was a record-setting triple option quarterback and the Offensive Player of the Year in Wisconsin.

He has since moved to tailback for the Badgers and gone on scholarship. Rudolph credited Groshek’s selflessness in accelerating Biadasz’s transition to center. “They came in together and Tyler would get Grosh and take snaps all the time,” Rudolph said. “That’s the type of kid that Grosh is, that’s the type of kid that Tyler is. They’ve got the same mindset when it comes to competing, when it comes to making things important and wanting to be their best.” While Biadasz was not raised on a farm — his dad was — he has that type of work ethic. “My background is central Wisconsin farmer-type,” he said. “Whenever they needed help on the farm, I never said no. I remember milking cows with my grandpa and I helped stack hay. I remember my dad would wake up at 6 and get home around 10 at night. You appreciate what farmers do.” Click to read more »

BY THE NUMBERS WILL CIOCI

FOOTBALL ▶ Wth 1,909 on the year, Jonathan Taylor needs 91 rushng yards to join Badgers great Ron Dayne (1996, ’99) and Iowa State’s Troy Davis (1995, ’96) as the only FBS players with multiple 2,000-yard seasons.

◀ MEN’S BASKETBALL D’Mitrik Trice scored a career-high 31 points last Saturday, the 24th Badger in school history to score 31 points in a game and first since Ethan Happ last season.

DAVID STLUKA

91 31 49

DAVID STLUKA

TIM VENUS

WOMEN’S HOCKEY ▶ Daryl Watts’ 49 points through 20 games are the second-most in school history, trailing only Meghan Hunter (54 in 2000-01).

372

◀ WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Kendra Van Leeuwen moved from 10th to eighth for career assists after Wisconsin's victory over PVAMU. She now has a career total of 372.

WHAT TO WATCH DAVID STLUKA

HAPPY NEW YEAR

MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. RIDER TUESDAY, JANUARY 31 ▪ 6PM KOHL CENTER ▪ BTN Celebrate New Year’s Eve at the Kohl Center as Wisconsin closes the non-conference season at home against Rider. Watch the Badgers face the Broncs at 6 p.m. live on Big Ten Network.

buy tickets

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’

FOOTBALL VS. OREGON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1 ▪ 4PM PASADENA, CALIF. ▪ ESPN

TOM LYNN

No. 8 Wisconsin returns to the Rose Bowl for its 10th appearance in The Granddaddy of Them All, squaring off with No. 6 Oregon. Kickoff of the 106th Rose Bowl Game is set for Wednesday, Jan. 1 live on ESPN.

bowl central

TOM LYNN

BIG TEN SEASON

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. PENN STATE SATURDAY, JANUARY 4 ▪ 3PM KOHL CENTER ▪ BTN Wisconsin opens Big Ten play at home against Penn State this Saturday at 3 p.m. Catch the Badgers play the Nittany Lions live on Big Ten Network in the conference opener.

buy tickets 21

WHAT TO WATCH MONDAY 12/30 WRESTLING at Midlands Championships Hoffman Estates, Ill. All day

TUESDAY 12/31

WEDNESDAY 1/1 MEN’S HOCKEY at U.S. Under-18 Team (Exhibition) Plymouth, Mich. 3 p.m.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL at Purdue West Lafayette, Ind. 3 p.m. Watch: BTN+

FOOTBALL at Rose Bowl Game vs. #6 Oregon Pasadena, Calif. 4 p.m. Watch: ESPN Bowl Central »

MEN’S BASKETBALL vs. Rider Madison, Wis. 6 p.m. Watch: BTN Buy tickets »

FRIDAY 1/3 MEN’S BASKETBALL at #5 Ohio State Columbus, Ohio 6 p.m. Watch: FS1

THURSDAY 1/2

SATURDAY 1/4

SUNDAY 1/5

MONDAY 1/6

WOMEN’S HOCKEY at Battle at the Burgh vs. Colgate/ #3 Northeastern Pittsburgh 1/4 p.m.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL vs. Penn State Madison, Wis. 3 p.m. Watch: BTN Buy tickets » WOMEN’S HOCKEY at Battle at the Burgh vs. Robert Morris Pittsburgh 6 p.m. MEN’S & WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING at Denver Denver All day

ALL TIMES CENTRAL

VIEW FULL CALENDAR ON UWBADGERS.COM »

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FORWARD360 SPOTLIGHT

The Wisconsin Shoe Project Spreading joy one pair of shoes at a time

he holiday season is a time to spread joy and give back to those around you. However, for Wisconsin Athletics, this is in effect all year long. Thanks to the Wisconsin Shoe Project, in partnership with apparel provider Under Armour, kids from Wisconsin Athletics’ community partners are given an unforgettable experience throughout the year that will create memories that will last a lifetime. The Wisconsin football team went undefeated in home games at Camp Randall during their 2019 season. This success extended off the field as well, when players greeted a special guest from the Wisconsin Shoe Project after each game. These children, selected from one of UW Athletics seven community partners, were able to be on the field for the post game celebration and were gifted a pair of size-appropriate Under Armor shoes by a football student-athlete. UW Athletics’ seven community partners include American Family Children’s Hospital, Wisconsin Upside Down, Special Olympics of Wisconsin, Goodman Community Center, Lussier Community Education Center, Randall Elementary School and Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Dane County. “The Wisconsin Shoe Project is a terrific way for us to continue to reach out to our community through our Badgers Give Back program,” said UW Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez.

“I am proud of our student-athletes for their continuing involvement in initiatives like this and I am very appreciative of our partners at Under Armour for their support.” One young fan, Bennett Chart from Wisconsin Upside Down, spent a memorable day with the Wisconsin Shoe Project and Wisconsin football in their triumphant victory over Iowa. “This was an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience for Bennett and our family. From the time we were welcomed at the stadium until the time we left it was an awesome experience,” says Bennett’s father, Nathan Chart. Bennett and his family were greeted by junor safety Madison Cone after the big win. Cone and Bennett spent time on the field becoming friends, exchanging shoes and taking pictures to commemorate the experience. But the excitement didn’t end there as Wisconsin’s All-American center Tyler Biadasz surprised Bennett and his family with the Wisconsin-Iowa rivalry’s Hartland Trophy. “It shows that we are definitely not alone in this journey. We are always looking for ways of celebrating Bennett’s uniqueness as opposed to dwelling on the challenges, and participating in the Wisconsin Shoe Project really was one of these times for our family.” To learn more about the Wisconsin Shoe Project, watch the Big Ten Network special. ▪ 25

VIRAL VIDEO

KAYLA KONWENT GRADUATION RECEPTION SPEECH UP NEXT:

CHRIS ORR GRADUATION RECEPTION SPEECH

WOMEN’S HOCKEY ANNUAL HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT

FOLLOW THE BADGERS ▶

TOM LYNN

DAVID STLUKA

ayville High School football coach Rob Hoss felt like the timing was right for a heart-to-heart with Jack Coan, who was then completing the eighth grade. The year before, Hoss had promoted Coan, a seventh grader, to the junior varsity team. Now, he was preparing him for a much bigger jump. “I was really hard on him when he was young — obviously, I knew he had the potential,” said Hoss, who won five Long Island Class III championships and posted a 130-29 record (.818) over 15 years. “As a coach, you figure out every kid is a little different and every kid needs to be treated a little differently. Some kids respond to yelling; some kids respond more to encouragement.” Hoss was tough on Coan because of what was at stake: the varsity’s starting quarterback job. “We had a kid who was a junior who had been in the system longer,” Hoss noted. “I kind of spoke to both separately, but I said to Jack, ‘You’re going to have to beat this kid out. The bottom line, all things being equal, I may go with the upperclassman just because he has earned the right to play.’” Because Hoss didn’t want to lose the locker room, trumping age with youth, he made it

clear to Coan, “Look, you’re just better than him, not only as a player, but you can handle the emotion of the game, the highs and lows. But you’re going to have to beat him out. “He was OK with it. It was not something he saw as a threat or a mountain too high. That’s just the way he is. He competes in everything. I play him in ping pong, he has to win. I play him in golf, he has to win. At the beach, you’re playing corn hole and he has to win. He has to win everything.” In the end, Coan won the starting assignment based on his talent and unflappable demeanor. “He’s always been one of those kids,” Hoss said, “no matter what happened during a game — whether it be a mistake, a turnover, a misread — he would come off the field and sometimes I would give it to him pretty good, but he just never got too low with a mistake. “Even with an amazing play, and obviously there were a lot of them (during his prep career), he never got too high. He was one of those kids who almost had a flat line of a heartbeat. Everything was always the same, he was so even-keeled.” Coan’s leadership emerged with maturity, Hoss suggested. Teammates gravitated to-

wards him (It has been no different with the ▪▪▪▪ lmost everybody knows something Badgers, some of whom have playfully referred about Oregon quarterback Justin Herto him as the “Long Island Laser.” His O-linebert, the “academic Heisman” recipient men even broke out “Jacky Heisman” T-shirts (Campbell Trophy) and the lynchpin of a Quack earlier in the season). Attack that is averaging 35.9 points per game. “He was a captain for me before he was a Only Marcus Mariota, the 2014 Heisman Trosenior, which is very rare in our program,” Hoss phy winner, has posted better career numbers said. “He’s not going to say a whole hell of a for the Ducks. lot. But he’s always does things the right way. The 6-foot-6, 237-pound Herbert, a senior Rarely if ever does he make a mistake sayfrom Eugene, Oregon, ing anything that could has thrown for 10,403 bring bad attention to “HE’S NOT GOING TO SAY A WHOLE HELL OF A LOT. yards and 95 touchhim or his team.” BUT HE’S ALWAYS DOES THINGS THE RIGHT WAY. downs in 43 career Despite calling Coan RARELY IF EVER DOES HE MAKE A MISTAKE games. On the season, the “ultimate teamSAYING ANYTHING THAT COULD BRING BAD he has 32 TD passes and mate” — a powerful ATTENTION TO HIM OR HIS TEAM.” just five interceptions endorsement at any

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with two stretches of 100 or more pass attempts without a pick. He looms as a Top-10 selection in the NFL draft. On the other hand, what do we know about Jack Coan? What makes him tick?

DAVID STLUKA

TOM LYNN

level — Hoss has often pondered, “What makes this kid tick?” Coan is not an open book or easy to read sometimes. Even for people in the inner circle like Hoss. His actions have always spoken louder than his words. “You’re intrigued by him because he doesn’t let you all the way in,” Hoss said. “I’ve known Jack for a long time and everything is at arm’s distance a little bit. I don’t know if that’s a self-protection mechanism or not. He was sort of an old soul and he always had that aura about him. “He didn’t act like other adolescents or high school kids. On Sundays, I would be at his house and while his friends were watching football and eating wings, him and I would be studying tape. He was always willing to put his social life — and his life — on hold for the team. He was the captain of the ship.” Though that ship sailed from Sayville for Hoss, who retired in 2017, and Coan, they’ve stayed in touch. “He’s very comfortable with who he is,” Hoss said. “The fans always want you to be something that maybe you’re not. But he’s never going to step out of himself because it’s not who he is.”

“Jack is Jack,” said his dad, Mike Coan. “He’s a guy who’s all in. He’s all about football. He’s all about team. Jack has been like that his whole life. He’s a pretty determined kid and once he has his mind set on something, he conquers it. He’s just a different type of kid. “I remember my wife (Donna) says to me, ‘Mike, you’ve got to see Jack. He’s 2 years old and he’s riding a two-wheeler (bicycle) already.’ I go, ‘What?’ Sure enough, I go to the park and I see him riding a two-wheeler around the park. I knew then that he was a little different.” Mike Coan recalled waking up in the middle of the night to a banging noise in the backyard. “I’d look at my watch and it would be 12:30,” he said, “and Jack is outside throwing the lacrosse ball against the backstop. It’s freezing out and he’s out there by himself at midnight. He’s that type of kid.”

Jack Coan was all-county in lacrosse and verbally committed to play the sport at Notre Dame as a freshman. But once the football recruiters started calling, including Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh, who got him to visit Ann Arbor, he focused on following his dream and honing his skills as a quarterback. “People started noticing Jack,” Mike Coan said. “Phil Simms called me one day and says, ‘I’d love to meet him and throw with Jack.’ We walked into the bubble (a local indoor training facility) and within 30 seconds Phil says, ‘This kid can spin it.’ Phil calls me all the time about Jack.” Simms, 65, a CBS color analyst, played 15 seasons for the New York Giants. After throwing for over 33,000 career yards, the Giants retired his No. 11 jersey. A first-round pick from Morehead State, he was the MVP of Super Bowl XXI completing a record 22 of 25 passes against the Denver Broncos. In short, he has impeccable credentials to council quarterbacks, especially developing ones. “We text every now and then throughout the season,” said Jack Coan, who ironically grew up a fan of the New York Jets, not the Giants. “I know he’s always watching our games, him and his son Matt are always keeping in touch. Great guys.” One of the things that the 6-foot-3 Simms taught him was to be was “violent with your feet when throwing.” He also tutored the 6-3 Coan on his throwing motion, making sure to keep it more compact. He has proven to be a quick study. This season, Coan led the Big Ten in completion percentage (.701) while throwing for 17 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Only Scott Tolzien (.729) and Russell Wilson (.728) have completed a higher rate of passes in a single season at Wisconsin. What makes Coan tick? His physical tools. What else? His toughness.

Unbeknownst to the public this year, Coan much of that comes from his mom, Donna. played through a high-ankle sprain, an injury Coan is passionate, tough, industrious. He that frequently sidelines players for multiple says much of that comes from his dad, Mike. weeks. He didn’t miss a start and took most of “I get a lot of my fire and competitiveness the snaps in practice. from him,” Jack said. “He always likes to say, “I sprained my ankle once before — and I ‘You got your heart from me.’ To this day, he’s had to sit out one game in the lacrosse seaby far the hardest working man I’ve ever met son — but it wasn’t in my life. I don’t think a high-ankle sprain,” anyone can come Coan said with a sigh. close to him … he’s a “I REMEMBER MY WIFE (DONNA) SAYS TO ME, “The most you feel it non-stop worker.” ‘MIKE, YOU’VE GOT TO SEE JACK. HE’S 2 YEARS is in practice. There Hoss confirmed as OLD AND HE’S RIDING A TWO-WHEELER (BICYCLE) were some weeks much about his friend ALREADY.’ I GO, ‘WHAT?’ SURE ENOUGH, I GO where I was just hopMike Coan, the owner TO THE PARK AND I SEE HIM RIDING A ing to be good going of a landscaping comTWO-WHEELER AROUND THE PARK. I KNEW into the game. But you pany. THEN THAT HE WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.” just fight through it. “His dad is crazy, a “You think about the workaholic; it’s always guys around you and you want to do whatever work, work, work, work,” Hoss said. “He doesn’t you can to help the team, so you do whatever have to work, they do well, but he works. He you can to get healthy. It helped me grow up. doesn’t have to dig ditches. He doesn’t have With my mom and dad always pushing me to to mow lawns. But he owns the business and be tough and fight through little injuries, and he’s never going to send his guys out without stuff like that, it definitely helped me.” him being there. Coan is grounded, humble, smart. He says “He’ll be in the middle of working — it can

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TOM LYNN

back Graham Mertz, a four-star prospect with suitors from all the major teams in Power Five conferences. Mertz, an early enrollee, went through spring drills and was seemingly always trending on the internet. “I would always ask about it and Jack would say, ‘Yeah, dad, he’s good,’” Mike Coan said. “Jack is not afraid of competition. He wants it. He embraces it. It makes him better and just works harder.” Before leaving Sayville, Jack Coan was ready to compete with whomever, wherever. “I felt like coming into college, anywhere I would go, there would be a lot of competition from guys who were older and some that were younger than me,” he said. “It wasn’t a surprise to have a be 96 degrees out, sweating, bee stings — and bunch of competition. It always brings out the he’ll go to the gym in his work boots and with best in you. grass all over him. And he’ll do a 45-minute “It’s good because nothing is ever going to workout and then he’ll go back to landscapbe given to you.” ing. There’s no doubt where Jack gets his work Plus, he emphasized, “You wouldn’t want it ethic from.” any other way.” His father set the bar very high as far as nevThe quarterback room has been as solid as er taking any shortcuts. it has been in years at “He’d come home and Wisconsin. Coan, Mertz, everything would be full “IT WASN’T A SURPRISE TO HAVE A BUNCH OF Chase Wolf and Danof dirt. You’d shake his ny Vanden Boom have COMPETITION. IT ALWAYS BRINGS OUT THE hand and they were calformed a bond, a muBEST IN YOU. IT’S GOOD BECAUSE NOTHING lused like nobody else’s,” tual admiration society IS EVER GOING TO BE GIVEN TO YOU.” Jack said. “Seeing him go among friends. to work before I’d wake “A lot of people have up and come home really late at night, it just asked me, ‘How have I helped him (Mertz)?’” made me really look up to him and I wanted to Coan said. “We’re always talking to each other work as hard as my dad.” and he’s helped me just as much as I’ve helped What makes Coan tick? His work ethic. him. All the quarterbacks are asking each othWhat else? His competitiveness. er, ‘What are you seeing on the field?’ and stuff There was no escaping the hype and hooplike that.” la surrounding Wisconsin’s signing of quarterMertz downplayed all the noise that accom-

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panied his arrival and presence on the roster. “I really don’t listen to it. I’m not on Twitter, I go on Instagram a little bit,” said Mertz, who has retained his redshirt by appearing in only two games. “Recruitment goes away once you get here. For me and for him, it was just competing every day. We never really saw it that way (me against him). “Constant competition is a great thing. I think we push each other every day and we know it. That’s where our competition just rises. As far as helping each other out, I know during film and stuff, we can ask each other questions; the more the better, that’s how you go into a game … ready to go.” What makes Coan tick? His readiness to be a leader. “I’d say from last year, my leadership definitely grew a good amount,” he acknowledged. “It’s just my chemistry with all the guys, having a whole offseason preparing with them — throwing routes, being around the linemen and everyone on the team — and just meshing with them.”

Now that he’s on the clock to play in his first Rose Bowl, Coan remembered watching previous ones with his dad; slightly more detached, obviously, than he is right now. “We were usually in Florida over one of our winter breaks,” he said, “and we’d go to a pizza place and watch the game. Probably the most memorable one for me was two years ago when Oklahoma and Georgia played into double overtime (a CFP semifinal won by the Bulldogs).” Meanwhile, Mike Coan conceded, “I still have to pinch myself. I can’t believe it.” But he had a keepsake, a father-son moment from watching the Rose Bowl together. “I’d say, ‘Jack, can you imagine playing in this game someday?” “And he’d say, “Yeah that would be crazy.’” Not so anymore. “This whole experience is a dream come true,” Jack Coan said, “just to be around a program like this one with a group of guys that are best friends and love each other. It’s pretty special.” TOM LYNN

TOM LYNN

Exceptional season holds huge promise for future Volleyball’s journey to NCAA final shows again why the Badgers are in the elite ranks of college programs BY ANDY BAGGOT ▪ UWBADGERS.COM INSIDER

hirty or so hours after one long, massive project had ended in sorrow, Wisconsin volleyball coach Kelly Sheffield awoke early Monday morning to the idea of starting another. It’s just how he rolls. The offseason was entering its second day. Sheffield planned to devote a good chunk of it taking his daughters, Lexi and Reagan, to a matinee showing of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” He also wanted to get caught up after an extended road trip and catch his breath. But first he laid there, quietly juggling a series of energizing thoughts, each geared toward getting the Badgers one step farther down the road. “What do we have to do?” he wondered. “How can we expand peoples’ games?” Wisconsin was fresh off a spectacular, if unfulfilling, season in which it won the Big Ten Conference title, knocked off top-seeded Baylor and advanced to the NCAA championship match for the third time overall and second on Sheffield’s seven-year watch. But instead of bringing home the first nation-

al title in program history, the Badgers were outdone by defending NCAA titlist Stanford at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Cardinal have won a record nine national championships — three in the last four years — for good reason and it was evident during a 25-16, 25-17, 25-20 sweep that prompted Sheffield to describe the performance in admiring tones. “They’re right up there with the best of them,” he said of Stanford, mentioning Penn State and its “awfully, awfully special” fouryear run of dominance from 2007 to ’10 as well as recent championship clubs at Nebraska (2015, ’17) and Texas (2012). “You can put them on par with any of them.” Which helps explain Sheffield’s plea to his players the moment the match was over. No tears, at least not in public. “They were playing one of the all-time greats and (the Cardinal) were on top of their game,” he said. “(Wisconsin players) had absolutely nothing to hang their head about, nothing to feel like they had failed. “It’s really easy to get small in those mo-

ments. My message was that you’ve earned “Dramatically different” is how Sheffield dethe right to project strength as well.” scribed the evolution. The Badgers finished 27-7 overall after “That doesn’t just happen,” he said. “A lot of opening the season 4-4. All four losses came work goes into being comfortable and confiat the hands of ranked opponents. Three of dent and trusting and courageous and patient.” the setbacks came, uncharacteristically, at the It’s easy to understand why Sheffield is alraucous UW Field House. ready drawn toward the bright light of next After consecutive losses to No. 10 Washingseason. The Badgers return most of their fireton in a non-conference home-and-home sepower, including first-team All-America middle ries, Wisconsin won 10 of the next 11 matches blocker Dana Rettke, first-team All-America versus ranked opponents and didn’t lose again setter Sydney Hilley, second-team All-Ameriat home. ca outside hitter Molly Haggerty and honorSheffield declined to compare growth spurts able mention All-America outside hitter Grace of his Badgers teams, but it’s obvious this one Loberg. grew exponentially. “I think we’re bringing in some nice pieces “All I know with this group is that they unto help,” Sheffield said of his three-person rederstood this is a long season and we weren’t cruiting class, all of whom rank in the top 30 far off from where we wanted to be,” he said. nationally. “There may be room for a transfer “They trusted the process.” or so as well.” No one strayed from The bottom line: “We’ll the path. No one tapped be right there in the mix the emotional brakes. again,” Sheffield said. “YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT WE WANT TO BE ONE No one gave in to selfish The goal remains unOF THE BEST TEAMS IN THE COUNTRY. ONE DAY temptations. changed. WE’RE HOPING TO BREAK THROUGH.” “They trusted the pro“We’re certainly trying cess,” Sheffield repeatlike the dickens to bring ed. “It’s easy to say when you’re winning all the a championship to Madison,” Sheffield said. time. It’s easy to trust the process when things “I know with some fans it’s championship or are going your way. What’s a little bit harder is bust and it’s a horrible season (minus a nationwhen things aren’t going your way. al title). I can’t look at it that way. I won’t look “Trusting the process means you stay coachat it that way. That’s so small. able, that you’re still trying to find ways to get “Year in and year out we want to be one of better, that you’re being a great teammate and the best teams in the country. One day we’re you’re coming in with great enthusiasm every hoping to break through.” day,” Sheffield said. “That’s trusting the proSheffield has nothing but pride for the way cess. That can get tested when you have some his team went about its business this season. losses that you’re not expecting. “The ways that I measure success, these guys “This group never deviated. They stayed aced it as individuals and as a group,” he said. with it.” “We’ve got great people coming back and Sheffield noted how the four early losses people with great character coming in. I guarincluded a cluster of six failed sets that were antee it will be a group that’s fun to watch and decided by three points or less. Those tight sitthey’re giving up a night to cheer for because uations provided a lot of valuable insights that they do things the right way and they inspire translated to the rest of the season. along that way with how they go about it.”

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INSIDE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (10-3, 7-2) Home events in bold. All times CT. Aug. 30 at South Florida W, 49-0 Sept. 7 Central Michigan W, 61-0 Sept. 21 #11 Michigan W, 35-14 Sept. 28 Northwestern W, 24-15 Oct. 5

Kent State

W, 48-0

Oct. 12 Michigan State W, 38-0

Homecoming

Oct. 19 at Illinois

L, 23-24

Oct. 26 at #4 Ohio State L, 7-38 Nov. 9

#18 Iowa

W, 24-22

Nov. 16 at Nebraska

W, 37-21

Nov. 23 Purdue

W, 45-24

Nov. 30 at #9 Minnesota W, 38-17 ▲ TAP TO WATCH - The Badgers have arrived in Cali!

THIS WEEK Eighth-ranked Wisconsin (103) makes its 10th appearance in The Granddaddy of Them All when it faces No. 6 Oregon (11-2) in the Rose Bowl Game on Jan. 1. LAST WEEK The Badgers have been idle since the Big Ten Football Championship Game on Dec. 7. GOOD TO KNOW Wisconsin has won five straight bowl games, the longest streak in Big Ten history. The Badgers are making their

sixth appearance in a New Year’s Six bowl game in the last 10 years. NEED TO KNOW The 106th Rose Bowl Game kicks off at 4 p.m. (CT) and airs live on ESPN, with Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Maria Taylor and Tom Rinaldi on the call. Matt Lepay, Mike Lucas and Patrick Herb will call the game on the statewide Badger Sports Network and worldwide via iHeartRadio. Live stats are available via UWBadgers.com and the Badger Gameday app.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Photo gallery: Badgers in Pasadena

Dec. 7

at Big Ten Championship vs. #2 Ohio State Indianapolis L, 21-34

Jan. 1

at Rose Bowl Game vs. #6 Oregon 4 p.m.

Pasadena, Calif.

View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

▶ Rose Bowl special for Alvarez, now for grandson Ferguson ▶ Behind the Badgers Podcast: Rolling to the Rose Bowl

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CH. 84

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INSIDE MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE (7-5, 1-1) Home events in bold. All times CT. Nov. 13 McNeese St. W, 83-63 Nov. 17 Marquette

W, 77-61

Nov. 21 Green Bay

W, 88-70

at Legends Classic, Brooklyn, N.Y.:

Nov. 25 vs. Richmond

L, 52-62

Nov. 26 vs. New Mexico L, 50-59 Dec. 4

at NC State

Dec. 7

Indiana

L, 54-69 W, 84-64

Dec. 11 at Rutgers

L, 65-72

Dec. 21 Milwaukee

W, 83-64

Dec. 28 at Tennessee W, 68-48 Dec. 31 Rider

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Trice Scores Career High vs UW-Milwaukee

THIS WEEK Fresh off a 20-point road win over Tennessee, Wisconsin returns home to host Rider in its final game of the year and to wrap up its non-conference schedule. Tip is set for 6 p.m. on BTN. LAST TIME OUT D’Mitrik Trice scored 20+ points for the second straight game and Brevin Pritzl added a season-high 17 points off the bench, as the Badgers earned an impressive 68-48 win at Tennessee on Saturday.

GOOD TO KNOW Wisconsin’s 20-point win at Tennessee marked a school record for the largest, non-conference, true road win over a major conference team. UW’s previous record was 16 in an 82-66 win over LSU back in 1953.

6 p.m.

Jan. 3

at #5 Ohio State 6 p.m.

Jan. 8

Illinois

Jan. 11

at #21 Penn St. 1:15 p.m.

Jan. 14

#15 Maryland

Jan. 17

at #14 Michigan St. 6 p.m.

Jan. 21

Nebraska

8 p.m.

Jan. 24

at Purdue

6 p.m.

8 p.m. 8 p.m.

View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

NEED TO KNOW Wisconsin’s game against Rider begins at 6 p.m. CT Tuesday on BTN. All radio broadcasts can be heard on the Badger Sports Network. Follow @BadgerMBB on Twitter for updates.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Lucas: Singular focus earns vital road win against Vols

▶ Perspective has Krabbenhoft, team focused on what matters ▶ Lucas: Tougher than the test

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INSIDE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE (8-4, 0-1) Home events in bold. All times CT. Nov. 26 Eastern Illinois W, 63-55 at Bahamas Hoopfest, Nassau, Bahamas:

Nov. 29 vs. Ball State

W, 67-56

Nov. 30 vs. #25 Arkansas L, 64-68 Dec. 5

at Georgia Tech L, 41-60

Dec. 8

at N. Dakota St. W, 64-63

Dec. 12 Alabama State W, 85-67 Dec. 20 Prairie View A&M W, 68-42 Dec. 28 Rutgers Dec. 31 at Purdue

THIS WEEK Wisconsin hosted its Big Ten opener against Rutgers on Saturday, Dec. 28, falling 6461. Next up, the Badgers travel to West Lafayette, Indiana on Dec. 31 to face Purdue. Tip-off is at 3 p.m. LAST WEEK The Badgers defeated Prairie View A&M 68-42 in their last non-conference game at the Kohl Center. The team finished the non-conference 8-3.

GOOD TO KNOW Sophomore Imani Lewis recorded her ninth career double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds, her fourth of the 2019-20 season.

3 p.m.

Jan. 4

Penn State

3 p.m.

Jan. 9

at Nebraska

7 p.m.

Jan. 12

at Michigan State 1 p.m.

Jan. 16

Michigan

7 p.m.

Jan. 19

Iowa

2 p.m.

Jan. 22

at #24 Minnesota 7 p.m.

Jan. 25

Nebraska

11 a.m.

TOM LYNN

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Hilliard’s Double-Double Leads Badgers Over PVAMU

L, 61-64

View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

NEED TO KNOW Badger fans can listen to the game on 100.9 FM and follow @BadgerWBB on Twitter for in-game updates.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Badgers edged out by Scarlet Knights

▶ Badgers add preferred walk-on Natalie Leuzinger ▶ Wisconsin seeing double: Badgers take down Panthers

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SCHEDULE (7-10-1, 2-7-1-1)

TOM LYNN

INSIDE MEN’S HOCKEY Home events in bold. All times CT. Nov. 8

at #20 Omaha

W, 5-2

Nov. 9

at #20 Omaha

L, 2-5

Nov. 15 #4 Notre Dame W, 3-0 Nov. 16 #4 Notre Dame L, 4-5 OT Nov. 22 at Minnesota

L, 1-4

Nov. 23 at Minnesota

T, 3-3 OT

Nov. 30 Michigan

W, 3-2

Dec. 1

Michigan

L, 1-3

Dec. 6

at Michigan St.

L, 0-3

Dec. 7

at Michigan St. L, 4-5 OT

Jan. 1 vs. U.S. Under-18 Team (Exhibition) 3 p.m.

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Badger Hockey Digest - 1st Half Top 10 - 12-21-19

THIS WEEK Wisconsin men’s hockey (7-10-2, 2-7-1-1) eases back into action with an exhibition game on Jan. 1 at the U.S. Under-18 Team in Plymouth, Michigan at 3 p.m. LAST WEEK The Badgers last skated on Dec. 6 and 7, falling twice at Michigan State. GOOD TO KNOW Four Badgers will be in the Czech Republic representing Team USA at the 2020 World Junior Championship in the Czech Republic. The

tournament runs Dec. 26 through Jan. 5. Sophomore defenseman K’Andre Miller (Minnetonka, Minnesota) a silver medalist with Team USA in 2019, headlines the Badger contingent that includes fellow sophomore defenseman Ty Emberson (Eau Claire), as well as freshman forwards Cole Caufield (Stevens Point) and Alex Turcotte (Island Lake, Illinois).

Plymouth, Mich.

Jan. 10

#6 Ohio State

8 p.m.

Jan. 11

#6 Ohio State

7 p.m.

Jan. 17

#18 Michigan St. 8 p.m.

Jan. 18

#18 Michigan St. 7 p.m.

Jan. 24

at #15 Notre Dame 6 p.m.

Jan. 25

at #15 Notre Dame 5 p.m.

Jan. 31

Minnesota

7 p.m.

Feb. 1

Minnesota

8 p.m.

View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

NEED TO KNOW The game will air on the radio on 1070 WTSO and on the iHeartRadio app.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ ‘12 Days of Hockey’ giveaways in season’s second half

▶ Wisconsin hockey hosts outdoor skate event on Jan. 4 ▶ Four Badgers named to U.S. National Junior Team

SCHEDULE (18-1-1, 10-1-1)

DAVID STLUKA

INSIDE WOMEN’S HOCKEY Home events in bold. All times CT. Nov. 16 Minnesota State W, 3-2 Nov. 17 Minnesota State W, 6-1 Nov. 22 at St. Cloud State W, 5-3 Nov. 23 at St. Cloud State W, 6-2 at Country Classic, Nashville, Tenn.:

Nov. 29 vs. Harvard

W, 5-1

Nov. 30 vs. #8 Boston College W, 5-3 Dec. 6

#10 Minn. Duluth W, 4-3

Dec. 7

#10 Minn. Duluth W, 5-2

at Battle at the Burgh, Pittsburgh:

Jan. 4

vs. Robert Morris 6 p.m.

vs. Colgate/#3 Northeastern Jan. 5 1/4 p.m.

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Women’s Hockey Annual Holiday Tournament

THIS WEEK The top-ranked Badgers resume action this weekend with the Battle at the Burgh tournament in Pittsburgh. UW opens the tournament on Saturday at 6 p.m. against Robert Morris and will face either Colgate or third-ranked Northeastern on Sunday. LAST TIME OUT UW ended 2019 with a convincing sweep over No. 10 Minnesota Duluth, defeating UMD 4-3 on Dec. 6 before earning a 5-2 win on Dec. 7. Abby Roque, Sophie Shirley

and Alexis Mauermann each had two goals during the sweep. GOOD TO KNOW The Badgers head out of break with the most wins in women’s college hockey (18) and currently lead the WCHA by one point over rival Minnesota.

Jan. 10

at Bemidji State

6 p.m.

Jan. 11

at Bemidji State

3 p.m.

Jan. 24

#2 Minnesota

7 p.m.

Jan. 25

#2 Minnesota

3 p.m.

View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

NEED TO KNOW Fans can follow the games on Twitter (@BadgerWHockey) and a free stream of the games will be available on YouTube.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Badgers shine in opening games of the Rivalry Series ▶ Back at Home: Sis Paulsen’s Journey

INSIDE WRESTLING SCHEDULE (7-1, 0-1) Home events in bold. All times CT. at Battle on the Midway, San Diego:

Nov. 1

vs. Fresno State W, 31-8

vs. Army

W, 16-15

vs. Navy

W, 24-12

Nov. 7

at Buffalo

W, 33-3

Nov. 8

at Edinboro

W, 28-15

Nov. 23 at #18 Utah Valley W, 31-13 Dec. 1

at #1 Iowa

Dec. 7

at Cougar Clash

Edwardsville, Ill.

Dec. 19 Kent State

L, 3-32 Results »

W, 42-6

Dec. 29-30

at Midlands Championships

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Jump Around Monday With Chris Bono (12/23/19)

THIS WEEK Wisconsin travels to the Midlands Championships hosted by Northwestern. They will face elite opponents, including rematches against Iowa at this tournament. LAST WEEK In their first home meet, the Badgers claimed a dominant victory against Kent State. They recorded four pins and two technical falls to earn the 42-6 win.

GOOD TO KNOW For the Badgers’ first annual sock toss, fans donated 933 pairs. All of the socks that were thrown on the mat were donated to the Lussier Fund.

Hoffman Estates, Ill.

Jan. 10

at #5 Minnesota 8 p.m.

Jan. 12

#7 Nebraska

2 p.m.

Jan. 17

#3 Ohio State

7 p.m.

Jan. 31

at Indiana

6 p.m.

Feb. 2

at #12 Purdue

TBA

Feb. 7

#2 Penn State

8 p.m.

Feb. 9

Michigan State

3 p.m.

View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

NEED TO KNOW Evan Wick qualified for the Olympic Trials at the Senior National meet in Fort Worth, Texas last weekend. Wick took fourth place in the elite tournament to secure a spot at the USA Olympic Team Trials in April.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ All in a day’s Wick: 165-pounder headed to Olympic Trials

▶ No. 4 Badgers have a pin party in home opener ▶ Seth Gross: The Long Road Home

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INSIDE MEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING SCHEDULE (2-1, 1-0) Home events in bold. All times CT. Oct. 4

Green Bay

Oct. 25 at Virginia Nov. 8

W, 219-74 L, 124-193

at Minnesota W, 177-123

Nov. 21-23 at NC State/GAC Fall Invitational Greensboro, N.C. Results » Dec. 4-7

at Toyota U.S. Open

Atlanta

Jan. 4

at Denver

Jan. 25

Northwestern

Feb. 2

Badger Red/White Meet

Feb. 26-29 at Big Ten Championships

Bloomington, Ind.

Mar. 4-6 at NCAA Zone Diving Championships

Dallas

THIS WEEK No. 24 Wisconsin will travel to Denver, Colorado, on Saturday, Jan. 4 to compete against the Pioneers. LAST TIME OUT Select Badgers competed in Atlanta, Georgia, for USA Swimming's Toyota U.S. Open. In their last time out as a team, the Badgers placed third in North Carolina at the NC State/GAC Fall Invitational in Greensboro. RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Finishing up in Greensboro

GOOD TO KNOW Senior Cameron Tysoe came away third in the 200 Men’s Back with a time of 1:41.92 on his last day in Greensboro and junior MJ Mao added a first-place finish (1:55.55) in the 200 Breast.

Indianapolis

DEB LINDSEY

Mar. 25-28 at NCAA Championships View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

NEED TO KNOW Fans can follow along by following @BadgerSwimDive on Instagram and Twitter.

▶ Beata, Beata, record beater ▶ One day down, two to go