Category: Athletics

A Kirk Daubenspeck Medical Fund is being established at the State Bank of Cross Plains, 455 S. Junction Road, Madison, 53717. Those wishing to donate can do so at any of the bank?s area locations. Daubenspeck and his wife Peggy have a 1-year-old son and another child on the way.

A moment of silence was held for Daubenspeck prior to Friday night?s WCHA game between the Badgers and Minnesota at the Kohl Center.

Several former University of Wisconsin men?s hockey players planned long ago to be in Madison this weekend to watch the Badgers host rival Minnesota at the Kohl Center. Their trips took a sad, solemn turn when it was learned that former UW goaltender Kirk Daubenspeck was critically injured in a car crash Thursday.

The University of Wisconsin Athletic Department had its operating budget request of $88.368 million for 2011-12 approved without rancor or debate Friday. Members of the UW Athletic Board voted unanimously to allow the department to spend $5.29 million more than its current operating budget of $83.219 million, an increase designed primarily to address two major capital projects.

Dense fog is being blamed for a crash Thursday on U.S. 18/151 near Ridgeway in Iowa County that critically injured former UW-Madison hockey goalie Kirk Daubenspeck.

Daubenspeck played for the UW-Madison hockey team from 1993 to 1997. He holds school records for most saves in a game (75) and most saves in a period (26), and was the team’s most valuable player in 1996 and 1997.

Greg Jackson, who recently completed his first season on the Wisconsin coaching staff, has taken a job with the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League.

First impressions, second thoughts and the third degree: Whether he meant to or not, Ohio State center Jared Sullinger did us all a huge favor over the weekend. In the process of making a controversial accusation ? that someone spit in his face not once, but twice during a visit to the Kohl Center to play the University of Wisconsin men?s basketball team ? he created some invaluable reference material regarding social media that we can all learn from.

Former University of Wisconsin football player Jack Ikegwuonu and his twin brother, Bill, were charged Tuesday with retail theft for allegedly stealing a $150 pair of shoes from a Madison store in October.

The University of Wisconsin Athletic Department is seeking an operating budget for 2011-12 that is $5 million more than its predecessor, but one that projects a surplus of $142,100. The increase ? to $88.368 million from $83.219 million ? is related mainly to two capital projects: a $27.9 million hockey and swimming complex adjacent to the Kohl Center that was approved by the state, and a $76.8 million athletic performance center adjacent to Camp Randall Stadium that awaits the go-ahead from state lawmakers. The proposed budget for 2011-12, unveiled Tuesday during a meeting of the UW Athletic Board?s facilities and finance committee, must be approved by the full board at its meeting Friday.

Bob Baptist of the Columbus Dispatch blogged recently about being told that the Ohio State coaching staff has a video clip file of a certain “technique” by the University of Wisconsin men?s basketball team to win jump balls.

Former University of Wisconsin football player Jack Ikegwuonu and his twin brother, Bill, were charged Tuesday with retail theft for allegedly stealing a $150 pair of shoes from a Madison store in October.

Madison ? Although the final figures are not in, University of Wisconsin officials project to record a surplus of more than $94,000 from the football team?s appearance in the 2011 Rose Bowl.

The University of Wisconsin Athletic Department is seeking an operating budget for 2011-12 that is $5 million more than its predecessor, but one that projects a surplus of $142,100.

After then-No. 1 Ohio State lost at Wisconsin on Saturday, we brought you the news about Buckeyes freshman Jared Sullinger claiming on his Twitter account that he had been spit on before and after the game at the Kohl Center.On Monday during the Big Ten coaches? teleconference, both coaches were asked about the incident. They offered decidedly different answers in return.

Junior guard Jordan Taylor, who scored 27 points during the University of Wisconsin men?s basketball team?s 71-67 victory over then-No. 1 Ohio State Saturday afternoon at the Kohl Center, was named the Big Ten Conference?s player of the week, the Big Ten announced Monday.

Whether he meant to or not, Ohio State center Jared Sullinger did us all a huge favor over the weekend.

The UW System Board of Regents approved salary increases for UW-Madison football head coach Bret Bielema and offensive coordinator Paul Chryst Friday in a closed session.

The University of Wisconsin football team won?t get a chance to avenge its loss to Texas Christian in the Rose Bowl to open the 2011 season ? but both schools were approached about the idea by a third party.

Here?s an interesting story, in the Wall Street Journal, about the Kansas men?s basketball team paying senior citizens to make sure student-athletes attend classes. Among the other schools that apparently use “class checkers” is the University of Wisconsin.

University of Wisconsin athletic department officials are looking into an allegation by Jared Sullinger, a 6-foot-9 freshman forward for the Ohio State men?s basketball team, that somebody spit on him Saturday at the Kohl Center “Yes, we?re looking at it,” UW assistant athletic director for external relations Justin Doherty said Sunday. “We were made aware of it (Saturday) night. That?s about where it is right now.”

When the final buzzer sounded and Wisconsin?s upset of No. 1 Ohio State was complete, the crowd at the Kohl Center went into a frenzy. Fans rushed the court to celebrate with the Badgers, who had just ended the Buckeyes? run at an undefeated season.

University of Wisconsin athletic department officials are looking into an allegation by Jared Sullinger, a freshman forward for the Ohio State men?s basketball team, that somebody spit on him Saturday at the Kohl Center.

When the final buzzer sounded and Wisconsin?s upset of No. 1 Ohio State was complete, the crowd at the Kohl Center went into a frenzy.

After the Ohio State men?s basketball team?s 71-67 loss in Madison, Wis., on Saturday, freshman forward Jared Sullinger accused Wisconsin fans of spitting on him.

University of Wisconsin Chancellor Biddy Martin sees the new compensation packages for head football coach Bret Bielema and offensive coordinator Paul Chryst as a necessary step to retain talented employees.

Less than 72 hours after surviving a trip that showed how tough life on the road can be in the Big Ten, No. 14 Wisconsin will try to make sure top-ranked Ohio State?s travel experience is less rewarding.

The University of Wisconsin football team won?t get a chance to avenge its loss to Texas Christian in the Rose Bowl to open the 2011 season ? but both schools were approached about the idea by a third party.

University of Wisconsin swimming and diving coach Eric Hansen will lead the United States women?s team at the World University Games in China this August. Hansen has a long history as a coach at international competitions, most recently as the men?s coach at the World Short Course Champions and assistant men?s coach for the Pan Pacific Championships in 2006.

University of Wisconsin men’s and women’s swimming and diving coach Eric Hansen has been chosen as the head coach of the U.S. women’s team at the 2011 World University Games in Shenzhen, China.

The latest issue of Red Line Report takes its first stab at ranking the top prospects for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft and two University of Wisconsin men?s hockey recruits are included.

It will be tempting for some to take issue with the pay raises forthcoming for University of Wisconsin football coach Bret Bielema and offensive coordinator Paul Chryst. The UW Board of Regents is expected to approve their new deals at its meeting later this week.

When the University of Wisconsin football team lost out on Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) quarterback Jacoby Brissett Friday — the highly regarded prospect announced he?d chosen Florida over Miami (Fla.) with the Badgers third — it reminded me of a conversation last month with Barry Alvarez.

University of Wisconsin Badgers football lost another assistant coach, but gained a player.

Despite studying several job opportunities after helping Wisconsin win a share of the 2010 Big Ten Conference football title, offensive coordinator Paul Chryst is committed to UW and preparing for the 2011 season. Chryst, who is preparing for his eighth season on the UW staff, spoke to reporters Wednesday for the first time since being courted by Texas to take over as the Longhorns? offensive coordinator.

University of Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst said he wasn?t seeking other job opportunities and wasn?t looking to leverage a more lucrative contract when the offseason began.

Bret Bielema is happy with the 28 recruits he officially added to the fold Wednesday, but the University of Wisconsin football coach is holding out hope that his demeanor can be upgraded by the end of the week.

UW received signed national letters of intent from 20 prospects and announced that eight preferred walk-ons from around the state had committed to the program for 2011-12. The class ? currently ranked 38th by Rivals and 39th by Scout ? doesn?t include a scholarship quarterback.

It didn’t take Brooks Bollinger long to find a new gig.

The former University of Wisconsin quarterback, who went on to an eight-year professional career before announcing his retirement last month, has landed a high school coaching job in the Twin Cities. Bollinger, who lives in suburban Eagan, will take over the program at Hill-Murray, a private school in St. Paul, Minn., according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

History can provide you with all sorts of impeccable reference material, but sometimes it lies through its teeth.

EVANSTON, Ill. ? With the game on the line, Lisa Stone turned to her one-two punch to knock out Northwestern.Seniors Lin Zastrow and Alyssa Karel scored the first 14 points of a 20-5 game-ending run as the University of Wisconsin women?s basketball team pulled away to a 62-50 victory over Northwestern to maintain its share of first place in the Big Ten Conference.

Volleyball coach Pete Waite and men?s soccer coach John Trask had their contracts renewed but not extended by the University of Wisconsin Athletic Board at its monthly meeting Friday.

Wisconsin has given football coach Bret Bielema a contract extension after he led the Badgers to their first Rose Bowl since 2000. The University of Wisconsin Athletic Board on Friday approved extending Bielema?s five-year contract through Jan. 31, 2016. Terms were not disclosed.

UW Athletic Department officials are not ready to release an expense report on Rose Bowl costs, said Justin Doherty, assistant athletic director for external relations.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin football coach Bret Bielema has won a contract extension after leading the Badgers to their first Rose Bowl since 2000.

Ken Rice, once one of the youngest news anchors ever on TV in Madison, is now a veteran of two decades on television in Pittsburgh. This week seemed like a good chance to catch up with Rice, and to ask, among other things, who is crazier, Packers fans or Steelers fans?

….Rice’s college experience included internships at WISC-TV (Ch. 3) and WMTV-TV (Ch. 15). It was also on the Madison campus that he formed a lasting friendship with a fraternity brother, Steve Levitan, who is now one of the hottest producers in Hollywood after creating “Modern Family” for ABC.

Does anything here seem askew? According to a sports story last week, the UW Board of Regents is about to approve the expenditure of $316,668 for pay increases for UW Athletic Department staff. Will that provide pay increases for 10 staff members, or 15? No, it will go to just two football coaches….If athletics has a few hundred thousand extra floating around, why not re-direct it to student financial aid, or better yet, the state general fund?

The University of Wisconsin women?s basketball team had the night off Thursday, but the Badgers were still big winners. The Badgers moved into a four-way tie for first place in the Big Ten Conference, thanks to No. 18 Iowa?s 66-64 victory over Michigan State in Iowa City, Iowa.