Author: jplucas

Among the 94,000 people in the Rose Bowl, there was one fan keeping an especially critical eye on University of Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien. “He forgot (to avoid) the big hits,” said Jaxson Hinkens, a second-grader in Appleton. Jaxson got to know Tolzien last year when he was 6 and diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma, a high-risk form of cancer.

At no point in the Badgers’ 21-19 loss to the Horned Frogs did they look like the merry band of marauders that had steamrolled through the second half of the season to claim a Big Ten Conference title and land on the Bowl Championship Series’ second-biggest stage.

As the sun sank low behind the Rose Bowl, so did the hopes of every University of Wisconsin football fan. Texas Christian?s 21-19 victory finally silenced the Badger Nation, which had dominated the stadium in both size and noise throughout the game. “It was a heartbreaker,” said Mark Braden, 58, of Lake Geneva, making his fifth trip to the Rose Bowl.

UW players and coaches lament a number of missed opportunities, including a failed two-point conversion with 2 minutes left that could have tied the game.

It?s a house divided. Sarah Beattie went to UW-Madison. Her twin sister, Katherine, attended Texas Christian University. They live about five miles from the Rose Bowl, where the two schools? football teams will meet Saturday.

It?s not only how you play the game — sometimes it?s what you do to get there.

The Wisconsin football team came up short in Saturday?s Rose Bowl. Sunday, thousands of disappointed Badger fans returned home from California. Some Badger fans traveled thousands of miles and spent thousands of dollars to see Bucky play in the Rose Bowl.

Instead of celebrating, the Wisconsin Badgers coaches, players and fans were left lamenting a painful New Year?s Day marked by an offense that couldn?t capitalize on several scoring opportunities and a defense that couldn?t create a turnover or get off the field on third down.

Of the 94,118 fans that filled Pasadena?s Rose Bowl on Saturday, most were decked out in their best Badger cardinal red.

When Tank Carder leaped with perfect timing and swatted Wisconsin?s final pass to the turf, the TCU linebacker felt as if he got a boost from every player at every school that never even imagined playing in the Rose Bowl.

Andy Dalton threw a touchdown pass and ran for a score, linebacker Tank Carder swatted down a 2-point conversion pass attempt with 2 minutes to play, and No. 3 TCU completed a perfect season with its first Rose Bowl victory, 21-19 over fourth-ranked Wisconsin on Saturday.

Noted: Court scholars had expected the court to rule in the Christian group?s favor, as it had in past instances of universities banning Christian groups, like the 1995 Rosenberger v. University of Virginia case. But other similar cases are expected to come before the court soon, giving Christian student groups another shot. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in September that the University of Wisconsin had wrongly denied funding to a Catholic student group, Badger Catholic, based on its religious commitments. The school has appealed the decision to the high court. 

No matter how much fun, how much pageantry and how impressive it all looks, the Tournament of Roses is not something you?ll ever fully appreciate by watching TV.

Local loyalty still runs deep for Wisconsin in Rose Bowl.

In 1960, the University of Wisconsin played and lost in their second-ever Rose Bowl. A member of that historic team is now a professor at UW.

LOS ANGELES ? University of Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst dismissed Tuesday morning reports he is a top candidate to become the offensive coordinator at Texas.

He has carted assistant coaches? artificial Christmas trees to Orlando, passed an entire weight room?s worth of equipment over a security fence, been flashed by an appreciative female fan, and regularly splurges for $425 fill-ups at the gas station.

Great news for Bucky Badgers! The University of Wisconsin is going to the Rose Bowl (yes, again!!)  Wisconsin takes on (crushes?) TCU.  OTR?s Abby Sears is a Badger (and yes, I am, too)…so she got me the shirt below to make sure I was properly attired as I watch the game.  (No, I am not going to the game but I sure wish I were.)  Here is a pic of the shirt and one with Abby and me.

Alex Waskawic is going to experience one of those “moments of happiness” Saturday.

The 2011 Rose Bowl Game between the University of Wisconsin and Texas Christian University has added a new dimension to the Beattie family.

While most Badgers fans will return to Wisconsin, some will be struck by the allure of Hollywood and the entertainment industry. Those people really need to meet Lesley Feinstein.

By the time the Rose Bowl starts today, the University of Wisconsin and TCU won?t be initiating hostilities, they?ll be renewing them.

University of Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema revealed today that defensive end J.J. Watt, who is a prolific Twitter user, has run afoul of the NCAA on occasion with his tweets.

Vince Filak remembers his first trip to the Rose Bowl in 1999.

Owen Schneider was in the fifth grade when he attended his first University of Wisconsin football game.

If Americans are worried about high unemployment rates and a shaky economy, you wouldn?t know that by the rate of spending by visitors to the Rose Bowl game and Rose Parade in Pasadena.

Yawn Wisconsin. That was the school mantra most of my time there, when band members were bigger than the backfield and the start of hunting season was always the state?s biggest highlight in the fall.

Let?s be honest (and even fair and balanced ? and perhaps even a bit arrogant), we all know Wisconsin will win Saturday?s Rose Bowl. Why wouldn?t the Badgers win? In addition to a strong team, they are motivated by representing the best Big Ten university in the nation. (Who has ever heard of the University of Michigan? Isn?t that some mediocre university some place in Minnesota???!!! Or is it in Ohio? It is so easy to forget.)

At some point after Ed Muransky had consumed three or four slabs of prime rib, along with vegetables and Yorkshire pudding, a waitress mentioned that he was halfway to the record.

Bret Bielema said he was not trying to make a point.

He seems to be a mostly forgotten man in an offense that grinds out yardage.

Barry Alvarez knows what it takes to win the Rose Bowl.

PASADENA, Calif. ? The woman looked desperate.

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE, Calif. ? It?s a house divided.

It has admittedly been an emotional week for University of Wisconsin football coach Bret Bielema.

LOS ANGELES ? It?s not difficult to recognize Chris McIntosh as a former football player.

LOS ANGELES ? It has only been 11 years since the University of Wisconsin played in the Rose Bowl, but be advised, everything has changed.

Acting Dane County Executive Scott McDonell has accepted all the responsibilities of his new position ? including placing a semi-official bet on the Badgers.

A couple of Rose Bowl-related items of note:Don?t mess with Texas: At the Santa Monica Pier pep rally Thursday, Gov. Jim Doyle said he offered to make a wager with the governor of Texas, Republican Rick Perry, on the outcome of the Rose Bowl. “You know what the answer is? They won?t bet us on the game,” Doyle said.

To understand what the Rose Bowl means to the University of Wisconsin and its fans, first you have to understand Uncle Charlie.

Bret Bielema?s pre-Rose Bowl presser was clipping along nicely Friday with the Wisconsin coach?s typical mile-a-minute happy talk, at least until yours truly asked a question.