Silence hung over the city of Madison for ten minutes Saturday night. It struck when the head referee Dennis Lipski stuck his arms in the air in a vertical, parallel fashion, a mannerism that typically represents ‘touchdown’. To Badger fans, it represented much more.
Another loss in East Lansing.
Another heartbreaking ending to a Big Ten game.
Most importantly, the loss of an opportunity for the programs first ever National Championship.
The mood became that of a funeral. Televisions became coffins and the images of our teams walking off the field in despair became the loved ones we lost. And the city mourned through the night. What else could be done? Expectations for THESE Badgers have never been so high. Sure, Wisconsin began the 2000 season ranked fourth in the nation, but they lost early, and multiple times. These Badgers were 6-0, averaging just over fifty points per game and had introduced traditional power Nebraska into the Big Ten conference with a shocking, but incredibly impressive, 48-17 victory in Camp Randall. In a matter of seconds, it was all gone. The national hype which Wisconsin football received throughout the year, the shot at the national title, the hope for something new; all gone, thought never to be seen again.
With the sense of post-mortem depression, Badger fans move to look forward. Although it looks bleak at this moment (as most seasons do after a big loss), this can still be the most successful season in Wisconsin history.
Wisconsin still has the opportunity to win a program record 13 games. This would include a victory in the first ever Big Ten Championship game (a good nugget for trivia connoisseurs) and a Rose Bowl victory over what is likely to be either Stanford or Oregon, two nationally touted programs from the Pac-12 conference. Also, this would be the first time in program history of three consecutive 10-win seasons. Not even the great Barry Alvarez can put that on his resume.
Wisconsin still has one of the best offenses in the country. Russell Wilson has the second best passer rating in the nation at 204.9 (Robert Griffin III [Baylor] is 1st with 205.7; Case Keenum [Houston] is 3rd with 184.8), and Montee Ball leads the nation with 19 touchdowns, one more than Heisman candidate Trent Richardson of Alabama. The combination makes for one of the most balanced and dangerous attacks to take the field on Saturdays. In fact, Wisconsin has passed for only 52 more total yards than they have rushed for thus far this season. Although the Badgers did lose in East Lansing, they did gain close to 450 total yards and put up 31 points on a defense that has only allowed 223 yards and 13.7 points per game, statistically the best in the conference (yards per game second in the nation behind Alabama). Michigan State had to play a nearly flawless game to defeat a mistake filled Wisconsin team (Michigan State had no penalties compared to 6 by Wisconsin).
Although not has heralded, Wisconsin still has a strong defense. Take away the nine points for the safety and the blocked punt for a touchdown, the defense itself allowed 28 points in the game, 22 before the freak Hail Mary completion at the end of the game. With the best linebacker tandem in the league led by Mike Taylor and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year candidate Chris Borland, the defense has allowed only 13.6 points per game (6th in the nation) as well as only 286.7 yards per game (9th in the nation). With that said, Wisconsin statistically remains a favorite to at the very least go to Indianapolis, if not Pasadena.
After the loss, Wisconsin has a new and straightforward season ahead of them; win and they're in. It all begins at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, where the Badgers have not won since 2004. Ohio State freshman QB Braxton Miller is likely to start the game this coming Saturday. The last time Wisconsin played a freshman quarterback from Ohio State, the Badgers lost a heartbreaker in Madison in 2008 when Terrelle Pryor ran in a game-winning touchdown. Braxton Miller is not Terrelle Pryor, and these are not the Buckeyes of the last seven years. Bucky is down, and as happened in previous years he will get back up. The best way to make up for a big loss is a big win. After that, they play host to Purdue, travel to a terrible Minnesota and a faltering Illinois, then end the season at home against a Penn State team with a lowly offense.
The exposure the program has received most recently has Wisconsin recruiting one of the best incoming classes Monroe Street has ever seen. Appropriately, it starts on the offensive line with the commitment of three 4-star recruits (notably taking one decommitment from each Ohio State and Penn State). Also, a quarterback from De La Salle (CA), a nationally recognized high school program, and recruitment of another running back from Southeastern Wisconsin, adding to the likes of Brent Moss and John Clay. It may be that Head Coach Bret Bielema giving more media access to the program, and strengthening his own relationship with reporters. It may be the fact that Wisconsin players are having recent success in the NFL (12 rookies in training camp, 5 rookies starting Week 1). Whatever it is, young kids are beginning to consider the Badger program as a formidable choice.
Last Saturday night will hurt for a while, but Wisconsin will build off of this. In order to move to the next step, the program must continue to grow and thrive as it has under Coach Bielema. Wisconsin football has made huge strides in the last two decades alone from doormat to conference competitor and now at the threshold of national contender. For the Wisconsin football program, the immediate and long term futures look bright. Badger fans, look toward the motto of the state Bucky represents as the compass for this program. Look, Forward.
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